Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Fall 2026)

Group of people sitting and kneeling on a table inside a classroom.

It’s Saturday morning, and students are filing into a Heady Hall classroom for the weekly Saturday Morning Breakfast Club gathering. Unlike the similarly named movie, these Iowa State economics students are not there for detention, but to get help organizing research ideas and identifying feasible steps to get started on their research projects.

Maddle Henrickson holding an open book.

What was once a draft tucked in a “Secret Project” folder on Maddle Henrickson's computer is now a colorful and fun board book that introduces preschool- and elementary-aged children to the fascinating world of plant health.

Two people seated at a lab bench examining a petri dish.

Farmers may soon plant soybean seeds coated with essential oils to prevent crop disease. The biobased pesticides could be cheaper, more effective and friendlier to the environment than most of today’s plant protection chemicals.

Dan Andersen kneeling in a grassy field.

Many know Dan Andersen (’08 MS ag engineering, ’12 PhD) as Dr. Manure, a “brand” he created for himself. He wanted the nickname to suggest his goal of bringing a “science-based perspective with some humor in it” to the serious topic of getting the most value from livestock poop.

Three people kneeling next to a drone on a launch pad.

From predicting crop losses due to defoliation of corn plants after a hailstorm to estimating soybean grain yield, the Remote Sensing and Imaging Lab at Iowa State University is strengthening researchers’ ability to use the latest innovations in precision agriculture.

Two people standing next to a sprayer.

The Digital Ag Innovation Lab’s “north star” is to be the premier thought leader and partner in agricultural innovation. Led by Matt Darr, professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering, Digital Ag has emerged as a global leader both in its approach to cultivating unique industry partnerships and through impactful farmer outreach efforts in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Group of people standing outside an open livestock semi trailer.

When livestock trailers are involved in an accident, emergency responders must know what to do. At the request of several rural emergency management teams, the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University developed trainings to give emergency responders experience with livestock handling and rollovers. 

Three people standing in front of a grassy hill under a blue sky.

"What in the Weather?" is a podcast for Iowa growers who want to understand how to use the weather to their advantage. The podcast is cohosted by Dan Fillius, an extension horticulture field specialist; Justin Glisan, Iowa's state climatologist; and Madelynn Wuestenberg (’22 meteorology, ’23 MS agricultural meteorology), a weather and climate extension specialist.

Ella Peterson holding a white and gray rabbit.

Ella Peterson says there has never been a time when rabbits were not in her life. Now a junior in agricultural communication, Peterson started raising and breeding rabbits when she was 15. She has built her entrepreneurial and career-readiness skills through the Start Something CALS and Pathways to Innovation and Leadership programs at Iowa State.

Three people standing in front of rows of zebrafish tanks.

Wes Wierson is working to cure cancer in dogs. The founder and CEO of LEAH Labs, Wierson (‘13 microbiology, ‘18 PhD molecular cellular and developmental biology) and his team are the first to successfully put pet dogs with lymphoma into remission with a pioneering cell therapy.

Michelle Myers standing inside a shop with candles on display.

Michelle (Euken) Myers (‘09 ag business, economics) describes herself as a “scent storyteller,” using fragrance to evoke feelings and memories. What began as a hobby in Myers’ spare time has grown into Dirt Road Candle Co., a brand rooted in rural Lewis, Iowa, built on storytelling and named for the dirt road she and her husband, Steven (’10 ag business), call home.

Four Cox Farms employees wearing red aprons.

A child screams in delight as they rocket down the volcano slide, just one of many thrilling activities at the sprawling Cox Farms agri-tainment venue outside Centreville, Virginia. Creating those moments of joy (or terror) is what Lucas Cox-Galhotra (’05 horticulture) enjoys most about his role as co-farmer-in-chief.

Four people with one holding a toddler standing in a field with dairy cattle.

Natalie (Eick) Paino (‘20 agricultural business) knew she’d have to get creative if she wanted to return to her family’s dairy farm after college. Her dream was to take the farm’s milk and make it into bottled milk, cheese and ice cream. With help from Start Something CALS, that dream became a reality.

ISU forestry travel mug and koozie.

See what keepsakes CALS alums have been holding onto since their time at Iowa State University. Do any of these items elicit memories of your time on campus?

Old car being pulled by horses as a group of people stand by and watch.

Faculty and staff in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have developed many patents and contributed to impactful innovations and discoveries over the years. Did you know about these notable ones?

Dan Robison