Central Iowa farmer Wade Dooley has announced his campaign for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, promising to focus on family farms, small towns, and sustainable practices.
A sixth-generation farmer who returned to his family’s Century Farm northwest of Marshalltown after graduating from Iowa State University, Dooley also runs a custom seeding and cover crop management business. Over the past 15 years, he has implemented conservation practices including no-till farming, cover crops, prairie CRP, and oxbow restoration along the Iowa River.
“We have communities that, with a little support, could flourish and grow,” Dooley said. “Agriculture is the heart of Iowa’s economy, and the families who depend on it deserve a partner who will help them succeed.”
Dooley serves on six local boards and previously on the Practical Farmers of Iowa board, traveling the state to share successful farming practices.
Dooley enters the race as Republican incumbent, Mike Naig, prepares to seek reelection in 2026, setting up a contest over the future direction of Iowa agriculture.
Photo courtesy of Wade Dooley’s campaign
Full press release here
