Ag Breakfast 2026

The Ag Breakfast is an annual event to bring farm and business together for an early morning breakfast served by Chamber Volunteers.

Join us for this year's Ag Breakfast as we explore Farm to Table. Learn how local businesses bring fresh, locally sourced food from the farm to your table. Featured panelists include Twisted River Farm, Skyview Market, Clarion Locker, and Healthy Harvest of North Iowa.

Breakfast will be completely FREE to attend for all, thanks to generous sponsors. The Agribusiness Committee wants to make the event as inclusive as possible to everyone in North Iowa who is interested in learning more about agriculture in our region.

KGLO Farmer of the Year / FFA Rising Star Nomination 

Greater Mason City Chamber of Commerce - Agribusiness - Senior Scholarship Application  
Deadline is February 28th 

Volunteer at the event!

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Meet the Speakers: Read more about our speaker HERE! 

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig 
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig grew up on a family farm in northwest Iowa near Cylinder and continues to be involved in the operation today. Mike is a graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake and has spent his entire career working in agriculture. Mike was elected as the 15th Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in November 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. As Secretary, he is committed to expanding trade opportunities and growing markets; protecting Iowa’s natural resources; advocating for Iowa’s youth; and making Iowa an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

Jenn Arndt 
Jenn Arndt is a registered dietitian and owner of Roots Nutrition Counseling & More, where they focus on a food-first, whole-food approach to nutrition. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Science in Nutrition Diagnostics. Jenn is known for her realistic, approachable style and her ability to make nutrition practical and easy to apply. 

Laura Cunningham
Laura Cunningham is a wife, mother, and third-generation cattle producer, deeply committed to her local agriculture community. For Laura, beef production is about more than just food—it’s about family, tradition, and creating a future her children and grandchildren will be proud to continue. A graduate of Iowa State University, Laura is an accomplished speaker, an award-winning advocate in the ag industry—including a 2022 Women Impacting Ag Honoree, and passionate about mentoring fellow producers and future generations.
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​Elmarie Nel
Elmarie Nel, operator of the Clarion Locker. Clarion Locker is a USDA-inspected, full-service meat processing facility owned and operated by Elmarie and Manie Nel. Established in 2009, this family-run business serves livestock producers while supporting local agriculture through dependable harvest and processing services. The facility has earned multiple awards for its meat products and is an active member of the American Association of Meat Processors and the Iowa Meat Processors Association.  

Andrea Evelsizer
Andrea Evelsizer is the Executive Director of Healthy Harvest of North Iowa, where she has led regional food system initiatives since 2022. Her work focuses on strengthening local food networks through producer readiness, farm-to-school sourcing, and consumer education. She is a founding co-chair of the Clear Lake Farmers Market and holds a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Manitoba. 
 
Steve Strasheim
Steve Strasheim is the owner of Twisted River Farm in Mitchell Iowa, a diversified vegetable farm centered on direct-to-consumer sales through a subscription box, on-farm store, farmers markets and local wholesale partnerships.  Steve is deeply committed to strengthening the North Iowa local food system and focuses on practical approaches that help small farms stay efficient, profitable, and accessible to the communities they serve.