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IFAA continues mission to provide funds for ag youth

The president of the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement says their organization is committed raising funds for ag youth.

Matt Heiller tells Brownfield IFAA rewards the hard work of grand champion and reserve grand champion livestock projects at the Iowa State Fair.

“Every day they are spending in the barn – as a family, down to the breeders – they are putting a lot of time and effort into being able to get an animal to this point,” he said. “It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of money that’s raised and goes to a good cause and also back to the kids that put in that effort. Very high emotion, a lot of work, and it’s just an exciting event.”

During the recent 2025 Sale of Champions at the state fair, which is managed by IFAA, $643,000 was raised for ag youth. Heiller says a portion of the funds goes to IFAA scholarships, which is another way to expand opportunities for young people.

“Those scholarships are broken down about 50/50 towards incoming freshmen into college or upperclassmen as well. Basically that is a lot of different categories of scholarships that are targeted to different areas of agriculture that helps people that are pursuing a career in agriculture.”

IFAA was founded in 1988 after a group of livestock industry members decided grand champions were being rewarded with less than market price for their animals.

Heiller spoke to Brownfield at the 2025 Iowa State Fair. That interview can be found below.