Pat Swanson

Pat Swanson farms near Ottumwa in southeast Iowa and serves as district 9 director for the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). She farms with her husband, Don and his brother and their families. 

Swanson grew up on a farm in northern Iowa and began farming with her husband when they married. Now 32 years later, she says it was a packaged deal. 

The Swanson farms utilize conservation practices such as no-till, cover crops, terraces, buffer strips and waterways to promote the quality of their soil and water. 

Passionate about telling their story, Swanson believes farm-to-consumer communication is vital. She works to tell both consumers and legislators what farmers are doing to produce safe and affordable food while also caring for the land. The 6th generation to farm their ground, the Swansons feel strongly in protecting it for the next six. 

Active in her community, Swanson serves as an officer for the Wapello County 4-H Foundation and is involved in CommonGround Iowa. She also serves as a member of the state Farm Service Agency Committee and serves on the American Soybean Association (ASA) Board of Directors. She and her husband also own Son Risk Management, a crop insurance agency they started in Ottumwa in 2002.