January 9 Speaker

Matt Russell, Iowa Farmers Union

Matt Russell became the Executive Director of the Iowa Farmers Union in September. He is a fifth-generation Iowa farmer who grew up on a commodity and livestock farm in Cass County. He now co-owns and operates Coyote Run Farm, near Lacona, Iowa, with his spouse Patrick Standley. Russell is the former State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Iowa for the Biden Administration. In 2018, he became the Executive Director of Iowa Faith and Climate Network, a statewide faith-based climate action organization. Prior to that, he spent 12 years on staff at the Drake University Agricultural Law Center. He’s been an active member of Iowa Farmers Union for over 20 years.