IOUX CITY, Iowa — Morningside University had the honor of hosting the 2025 National Association of Agriculture Educators (NAAE) Region III Summer Conference from June 16–18, 2025. Morningside welcomed educators from across the region to our campus for an event filled with learning, collaboration, and hands-on experiences.

Participants explored ways to incorporate hands-on learning about agriculture into their classrooms through experiential learning at Morningside and the surrounding area. Highlights included how to manage a greenhouse when attendees visited the Lags Greenhouse, and visits from local industry leaders Versova, Terraplex, and TransOva. They also sampled Morningside-grown produce and experienced the Ag and Food Studies Department facilities through a progressive dinner through the campus greenhouse, garden, outdoor classroom and agriculture teaching labs.

Industry tours took participants on visits to local food processing, manufacturing and livestock production entities. Each of these locations were able to showcase how agricultural learning concepts from the classroom are applied in the real world.

“We were excited to host ag teachers from across the Midwest and share some of the great resources and connections our area has to offer. It was a fun and meaningful way to support the people who are growing the next generation of ag leaders,” said Ag & Food Studies Externship Coordinator Melissa Nelson.

This conference wasn’t just about learning — it was about building community. Ag educators swapped ideas, made connections, and worked together to find new ways to inspire the next generation of leaders. Morningside is committed to growing the next generation of agriculture leaders. Learn more about our hands-on programs and real-world connections by clicking here.