Iowa Women in Agriculture Pre-Conference Tour
and 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer Celebration
August 5, 2026
Tour Information
Welcome to the 2026 pre-conference tour!
We’ll be uptown girls as we head to the Des Moines metro to learn about women in agriculture in Iowa and across the globe! Pre-registration is required and costs $40.
This year’s tour includes lunch rather than dinner. Please plan ahead for the earlier start time. The tour takes place from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm.
We begin at the historic Wallace House to hear stories about Nancy Wallace. She wrote the Hearts and Homes column for Wallaces’ Farmer where her readers engaged as sisters. Follow us to HoQ Restaurant, where local foods are combined to create global flavors. Enjoy our private event and guest speaker, Shae-Lynn Ramthun.
Next, we’ll visit the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, a world-class museum recognizing the great achievements in agriculture. Our docents will highlight amazing women who fought hunger around the world. We’ll cross the Des Moines River one more time for a special tour of the Iowa State Capital. We’ll learn about the agricultural artwork, visit the four-story law library, and go to the top of the golden dome for a panoramic view of the city.
We ask that you travel to the tour sites in personal vehicles and seek out others to carpool with. Parking suggestions will be provided. We will have one 15-passenger ISU van for those who prefer to travel this way. Please reserve your seat in a van by contacting Madeline directly at schultz@iastate.edu.
The tour will take place rain or shine, so please be prepared for the weather. In the case of severe storms, we will use email to notify you of changes.
Tour Itinerary
10:00 am – Optional: Van departs from Courtyard Marriot, travel about 11.6 miles
- 2405 SE Creekview Dr., Ankeny, IA 50021
10:30 am – Tour the Wallace House
- 765 16th St., Des Moines, IA 50314
11:30 am – Luncheon at HoQ Restaurant
- Guest Speaker: Shae-Lynn Ramthun
- 303 E 5th St., Des Moines, IA 50309
1:00 pm – Depart HoQ Restaurant, travel 0.5 miles
1:30 pm – Tour the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
- 100 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309
3:00 pm – Depart World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, travel 0.9 miles
3:30 pm – Tour the Iowa State Capital
- 1007 E Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50319
5:00 pm – Tour Concludes
5:30 pm – Optional: Van returns to Courtyard Marriot (travel 9.6 miles)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4HrjXjtYXeJBXW5G8
Tour Guides
- Madeline Schultz, ISU Extension and Outreach
515-290-4082 (cell), schultz@iastate.edu - Lisa Scarbrough, ISU Extension and Outreach
515-971-4214 (cell), lscarb@iastate.edu
Tour Information
Wallace House
One hundred years ago, Henry A. Wallace, the grandson of Nancy Cantell Wallace, revolutionized farming by commercializing hybrid seed corn. Join us for a tour of Nancy’s home and learn more about this influential Iowa family. In the heart of Des Moines’ Sherman Hill neighborhood, Wallace House still reflects the spirit of hospitality and curiosity that defined the family’s legacy. The Italianate Victorian-style house was built in 1883 and restored beginning in 1988. The Classical style wrap-around porch features Ionic Roman columns. The stacked bay windows and a second story balcony are typical of the style. The kitchen garden was redesigned in 2008 with a new fence, walking path, perennials, benches, and a brass plaque from the Wallace Publishing Company. https://wallace.org
HoQ Restaurant
Our tour features a three course meal and non-alcoholic beverages at HoQ restaurant. Suman and Cynthia Hoque are passionate about creating healthy seasonal dishes with flavors from around the world. They believe the best meals begin with the best ingredients. That’s why a large share of their ingredients come from local farms. They handpick their suppliers and are proud to serve local foods in the restaurant. https://hoqtable.com
Luncheon Speaker
Shea-Lynn Ramthun, Soil Health Organizer at the Land Stewardship Project, is a 6th generation farmer in Cannon Falls, Minn. Her family has a herd of rotationally-grazed Black Angus cattle that they raise from start to finish. Additionally, they farm a variety of crops using no-till and cover cropping methods. The Land Stewardship Project’s mission is to foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture, and to develop healthy communities. https://landstewardshipproject.org
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
Home of the World Food Prize, the Hall is a public museum, educational facility and a place of inspiration for all Iowans. It is a magnificent setting where people of all ages can explore the awe-inspiring stories of some of Iowa’s greatest heroes and the achievements of world-renowned scientists and leaders who have been named World Food Prize Laureates. The educational exhibits range from The History of Agriculture Timeline chronicling significant events and inventions for feeding the world to The Greatest Global Challenge: How we will feed nearly 9 billion people by the year 2050. https://www.halloflaureates.org/
Iowa State Capitol
Iowa State Senator, Annette Sweeney, will join us for this personalized tour. Along the way, we’ll discover paintings of agricultural significance, visit the legislative chambers and law library, and climb the steps to the top of the golden dome.
The Iowa State Capitol signifies the remarkable spirit of Iowa. Built between 1871 and 1886, this magnificent building is the only five‑domed Capitol in the nation, blending architectural artistry with more than a century of civic life. One of the most striking and meticulously crafted statehouses in America, the building features sweeping marble staircases, hand-painted murals and a breathtaking law library famed for its cast-iron spiral staircases. Outside, the landscaped grounds highlight memorials, monuments and views across the city. https://www.legis.iowa.gov/resources/tourCapitol