Investigate Midwest is bringing its live storytelling series back to Iowa City on Thursday, Nov. 12, with four local voices sharing personal stories about the role food plays in our lives, from farming and family traditions to the connections built around the table.
The event, Farm to Table: A Live Storytelling Event, will be held at Trumpet Blossom Cafe in Iowa City. It is being co-produced with the University of Iowa's Event Management Certificate program.
The storytellers are being coached by Erin Jordan, an adjunct instructor at the University of Iowa and member of Investigate Midwest’s Board of Directors.
What to expect
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the storytelling program beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Charity Nebbe, an award-winning journalist and talk show host at Iowa Public Radio, will return as emcee for the Farm to Table storytelling event.
Guests can enjoy live music, food and drinks from Trumpet Blossom Cafe, trivia and a silent auction.
The event is designed to bring community members together for an evening of entertainment and conversation while supporting Investigate Midwest's independent, nonprofit journalism, with proceeds supporting the newsroom's investigative reporting on agriculture, food systems and rural communities.
How to get tickets
Farm to Table: A Live Storytelling Event takes place Thursday, Nov. 12, at Trumpet Blossom Cafe, 310 E. Prentiss St., in Iowa City.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the program begins at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
Investigate Midwest is an independent, nonprofit newsroom. Our mission is to serve the public as a watchdog over influential agricultural corporations and institutions through in-depth and data-driven investigative journalism.
More on our featured storytellers below.
Anna Geyer
Anna Geyer farms with her husband Dave on a farm west of Iowa City. In addition to leading the management of the agroforestry acres of their farm, she advocates for perennial farming and native crops regionally, and has developed a line of products from the elderberries that she grows. Anna loves gathering people on the land and over the years has operated numerous land-based businesses on the farm, including cut flowers, artisan wood-fired bread and pizza, and currently, a folk school and retreat space.
Nina Elkadi
Nina B. Elkadi is a writer based in Iowa City, where she is an Iowa Arts Fellow at the University of Iowa's Nonfiction Writing Program. Her work on agriculture and corporate manipulation of science can be found in Politico Magazine, National Geographic, Civil Eats, Inside Climate News and more. You can follow her work at Corn Belt Confidential.
Leslea Collins (Lea)
Lea is a writer, cantorial soloist, and teacher. Before becoming an enthusiastic (and very busy!) mother of four, Lea earned her Master's and Doctoral degrees in Cultural Studies of Sport and taught at the university level. Lea has taught dance, yoga, and exercise classes throughout her adult life and has conducted conflict mediation sessions, facilitated various small groups, and studied group dynamics. More on Lea at https://lesleaharavoncollins.substack.com/.
Jake Mayer
Jake Mayer provides marketing, communication and event support for the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He writes news and other content for the school’s website, maintains the school's YouTube channel and manages the social media accounts along with a staff of undergraduate students. He created, produces and engineers the SJMC and About the Abstract Podcasts. He also drums in the corridor pop punk/emo band Sad Dads.
Charity Nebbe
Charity Nebbe, an award-winning journalist and talk show host at Iowa Public Radio, will return as emcee for the Farm to Table storytelling event. Nebbe, whose voice is recognized across the state, has hosted "Talk of Iowa" since 2010 and also hosts the popular podcasts "Garden Variety" and "Unsettled." Iowans may also recognize Nebbe as the host of "Iowa Life" and "Iowa Ingredient" on Iowa PBS.
