Agricultural Law Center Events

Each year, the Agricultural Law Center hosts various events to educate and encourage discussion on current issues related to food and agricultural law.

Upcoming Events

Symposium: The Cooperative Business Model: A Vision for the Future Built Upon Centuries of Success

October 18, 2022
UPDATE: EVENT MOVED ONLINE - Register now to participate online! CLE available

The Drake Agricultural Law Center & the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law invite you to a conference celebrating the value and diversity of cooperatives and how they can thrive in the future.

Cooperatives are vital to food, agriculture, and rural America. Even before passage of the Capper-Volstead Act in 1922, they provided goods and services to underserved areas of the country and increased the ability of small and local producers to compete in increasingly consolidated areas of business such as food and agriculture. As we look to address continued challenges in these sectors and in rural parts of our country, cooperatives are well-positioned to diversify, adapt, grow, and help rural communities and producers thrive.

This one-day event is targeted to cooperative businesses throughout the Midwest, across all industries. With support from the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA, and the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives, breakout sessions focus on interests such as food, utilities, and finance, and expert will share insights on issues such as governance, human resources, grant opportunities, tax, mergers and acquisitions, and antitrust. Attendees will have the chance to discuss workforce challenges, emerging cyber and data security concerns, identify partnerships and opportunities for growth, and help envision what cooperatives can do to help rural America thrive.

We hope you can join us on October 18 to celebrate the value of cooperatives and how cooperatives can continue to diversify and grow to meet the challenges of the future.

Register now via Eventbrite

Coop Conference Draft Agenda (as of October 14, 2022)

Live In-Person CLE 384774
Live Webcast CLE 385163

The U.S. & Global Food Security: Impacts of the Ukrainian Invasion and Rising Food Costs

October 20, 2022, 3pm
The Harkin Institute

The Drake Agricultural Law Center presents Assistant Secretary Ramin Toloui, U.S. Department of State for a discussion of the U.S. role in addressing global food security concerns.  Assistant Secretary Toloui has been a key driver on food Security issues related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and will share his thoughts and experiences. 

There is no cost to attend this lecture.

Past Events

SOIL 2021:  Our Soils:  Our Future

September 15, 2021
Information can be found here.

Immigration, Labor, and Agriculture: Facts, Fears, and Filling Jobs

October 23, 2019 - 5 pm
Kern Commons - Drake University Law School
Flyer with details

SOIL 2019: Searching for Solutions for Iowa's Land and Water

November 4, 2019
View the SOIL 2019 agenda and program descriptions.

See a list of past events and presentations.