February 2020 - 33

VGN
seven
Q&A WITH LIZ KOLBE
Liz Kolbe was on of six women
recently chosen by Iowa State
University (ISU) Extension and
Outreach staff as " Women
Impacting Agriculture. " They
were recognized as women who
are making positive changes and
creating a more sustainable Iowa
by improving economic resiliency
and stability; conserving natural
resources; and being influential
agricultural leaders, family members
and community volunteers.
According to information
provided by ISU, Kolbe has three overarching interests in Iowa
agriculture: a diversified agricultural landscape, profitable
farms, and local food production. She works toward these
goals every day as the Horticulture and Habitat Programs
Manager for Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI).
Kolbe works with farmers who raise crops ranging from
vegetables and fruits to flowers and mushrooms, helping
diversify the Iowa agricultural landscape. Her programming
is equally diverse, spanning from in-field practices to business
management, and even farmer life balance and wellness.
Kolbe primarily works with vegetable and fruit farmers
and orchardists, as well as other nonprofit and government
agencies, and educators around the state of Iowa. Her
work goes beyond the plants; Kolbe is also committed
to improving Iowa's rural economy. She supports natural
resource conservation by working with individual farmers on
conservation-oriented projects.
Kolbe directs all the farmer-led programming for
horticulture farmers. One reason she is impactful in her role
at PFI is that her position responsibilities align with her own
personal values. She is thankful to continually work toward
growing the community of farmers around the state of
Iowa, connecting them to each other to develop and sustain
strong networks.
While Kolbe is quick to attribute the success of the network
of collaborating farmers to the hard work and contributions
of the Iowa farmers she serves, it is clear that she is a catalyst
within this community.
2
What are your goals for the next 12 months?
I have an extensive list of work goals I check in with regularly, but I think the
most important goal each year is to engage more fruit and vegetable farmers in PFI's
programming and to connect them with one another.
1
What are the best words of advice you've ever
received?
My favorite aphorism is: " What you feed, grows, " or some variation of this idea based
on the parable of the two wolves. I first saw it on a friend's tattoo in college that said,
" The one you feed. "
3
What do you do to relax?
Sit in the sun, weed my prairie, go to the
gym, toss a Frisbee, shoot baskets, listen to
a sci-fi or fantasy novel, and lie on the couch,
of course!
4 What would
be your lasting
you like to
legacy?
Not ready for this question!
Perhaps a legacy of
effective teamwork.
5
6
What are the top three things on your bucket/
must-do list?
I don't really have a bucket list, but most of them would relate to experiencing
natural features ... sea kayaking, a pack trip on horseback, learning to fly fish,
doing a multi-pitch climb.
What work
would you have
pursued if you had
not been in the
fruit and vegetable
industry?
Maybe coaching, maybe
working at a research
institute or foundation.
7
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February 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2020