Iowa Rural Summit 2026

Registration Closes April 4!

Get ready to rock in Ames for the 2025 Rural Summit on April 10-11 at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center! This year’s theme, “Rural Rocks! Energizing Communities through Connections,” promises two dynamic days of inspiration, learning, and collaboration.

Check out the 2025 Iowa Rural Summit Packet for information on sessions and speakers.

Highlights

Pre-Conference Opportunities (April 9):

• Collaborative Housing Symposium: Foundation for a Stronger Iowa – Hosted by ISU Extension & Outreach (separate registration required)
• Resource Connections Forum
• Welcome Reception with live music

Day 1 (April 10):

• Keynote by Kiley Miller: Rolling to Where It’s Rocking: A Rural Road Trip
• Breakout sessions covering everything from outdoor recreation and regional partnerships, to the next generation of leadership and disaster preparedness
• Musical Tour Around the State over lunch
• Rand Fisher Rural Leadership Awards & live music reception by the Ramsey Family
• Evening Iowa-themed trivia for networking fun

Day 2 (April 11):

• Keynote by Dave Williams: “We Can Work it Out: Navigating Civil Discourse”
• Rapid-fire session with 45 actionable ideas in 45 minutes
• Closing discussion featuring Debi Durham on “Driving Growth: Rural Opportunities and Challenges”

Why Attend?

• Build connections with rural leaders and advocates.
• Explore topics like economic development, housing, workforce, and placemaking.
• Celebrate successes and learn from challenges.
• Take home actionable ideas and resources for your community.

Back Again is this Special Offer: Bring a team of 3 from your rural community to save with a combined rate. Collaborate, strategize, and energize together!

Join the conversation and share your Rural Summit experience by using the hashtag #2025IowaRuralSummit! Let’s amplify the energy, ideas, and inspiration for Iowa’s rural communities!