Program Description
Event Details
Liz Garst, granddaughter of Roswell Garst (founder of Garst Seeds), will be presenting "Corn & Khrushchev" as part of Altoona's CORNival 2023 celebration.
The Iowa Corn Mobile Educational Trailer will also be onsite, offering hands-on opportunities to learn more about the impact of Iowa's corn!
Liz Garst, granddaughter of the famous Iowa farmers Roswell and Elizabeth Garst, recounts the history of agricultural development in Iowa, focusing on the hybrid seeds, machinery, fertilizers, and livestock technologies promoted by her grandfather. Liz tells how it came to pass that Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and his family visited the Garst family in 1959, and recalls fun memories as an 8-year-old participant. Join us to hear her powerful message about the ability of an individual to make a difference.
Ms. Garst manages a family farm near Coon Rapids Iowa and oversees two family-owned community banks. She has worked for the World Bank, her family’s seed company, and as a bank president. Liz has a BA from Stanford, an MS in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State, and an MBA from Harvard, and she currently serves on the board of Whiterock Conservancy founded by her family. She has a long career in civic engagement on behalf of agriculture, the environment, rural development and civil liberties. In 2023 she was inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame.