08/31/2026
Member Spotlight!
As August comes to an end we are PROUD to spotlight members Dan and Karen Adams!
While the “Adams Ranch” is currently only home to their cats Pineapple and Gilligan, Dan has a background growing up on a farm. His family raised a little bit of everything, but the most notable were their purebred Suffolk Sheep they raised and showed. Karen even got to witness Dan’s family show a grand champion ram at the Iowa State fair years ago.
Karen was a few generations removed from the farm, but growing up both of her parents were teachers who allowed her to have a pet pig, lovingly named Wilbur. Karen herself was a teacher and the combination of Wilbur’s memories, her connections with other teacher and passion for education was what sparked her passion for Ag education. If you have or have had a child in a local school district, they have likely met Karen as she has been bring Ag in the classroom to Mahaska and Marion counties since 2008!
Dan and Karen are both big supporters of agriculture in Iowa. Karen feels strongly that everyone should know where their food comes from, and Dan values the large role agriculture plays in Iowas economy and workforce. They both value the resources Farm Bureau provides as a resource to make sure the facts are always available to farmers and consumers alike.
Dan’s dad was a county Farm Bureau Board president and Karen meets with the Mahaska County board regularly so they both appreciate the work that county members put into making Farm Bureau what it is today and appreciate the networking, education and community support Farm Bureau provides. Karen said she has never been anything less than proud to wear Farm Bureau attire because she feels like the community can recognize and trust its work.
Outside of Farm Bureau they are both involved as 4H leaders and leaders in their church. They are involved in volunteer civil groups as Dan is on the board for Mahaska County Rotary while Karen is a P.E.O. Chapter IO member. Dan also drives transport for a local direct to consumer business called Pleasant Grove Homestead. In the free time they manage to find, they love to travel and are avid Iowa State sports fans. They have 2 daughters and previous student exchange daughter who lives in Germany and are expecting their 5th grandchild to arrive soon!
We are so thankful to Dan and Karen not only as members, but for all of the work they do in the community. Be sure to say hi and thank them if you see them. Thank you Dan and Karen!
