Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today nine Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grant recipients to expand small-scale meat processing capacity within Iowa. These cost-share grants, totaling $355,000, will help small businesses, many of whom are located in rural communities, make essential equipment purchases and facility improvements. Projects include the addition of new smokehouses, installation of freezer systems, expansion of processing lines, and the replacement or modernization of vital equipment, among other improvements.

Sixty Choose Iowa members from across Iowa will welcome guests on Saturday and Sunday, Sept.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is investing an additional $200,000 for the second full year of the Choose Iowa Farms to Food Banks Program. Under the Department's Choose Iowa program, the successful initiative received a second year of funding from the Iowa Legislature during the 2025 session. Secretary Naig made the funding announcement in Hiawatha during a visit to HACAP (Hawkeye Area Community Action Program), one of six food banks partnering with Choose Iowa and its members. 

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that Choose Iowa will host its inaugural statewide

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recognized 16 Iowa students whose artwork was selected for inclusion in the 2025-2026 Choose Iowa Coloring Calendar during a ceremony at the 2025 Iowa State Fair. 

Choose Iowa will present free cooking demonstrations and food presentations daily at 1 p.m. in The Kitchen inside the Maytag Family Theatre Building throughout the 2025 Iowa State Fair. The Kitchen is located on the Grand Concourse between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) building and the Barksdale’s State Fair Cookies building. 

Over the 11 days, the line-up will feature nearly 30 Choose Iowa members as well as award-winning chefs and culinary professionals from across Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (July 31, 2025) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig welcomes Iowa State Fairgoers to indulge in fun ‘Fair Sweet Fair’ experiences with Choose Iowa during the annual 11-day event slated for Aug. 7 through Aug. 17 in Des Moines. 

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 15, 2025) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today launched the Choose Iowa Passport, a free, interactive digital platform designed to help Iowans and visitors find farms and farm stands, orchards, you-pick opportunities, farm-to-table dining and restaurants, farmers markets, and even boutique shops featuring locally-sourced Iowa products including Iowa raised meats.

ALGONA, Iowa (April 22, 2025) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has awarded 33 Choose Iowa value-added grants to Iowa farmers and small businesses located in 28 counties. Grant recipients were eligible to receive up to $25,000 in cost-share per project to increase or diversify their agricultural product offerings, expand markets and shorten supply chains.