By Andi Anderson
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has welcomed Trevor Lane as the newest food systems specialist on its Food Systems team within Farm, Food and Enterprise Development.
Lane, who began his role on Jan. 20, brings extensive experience in extension, community development and higher education.
His work will focus on strengthening Iowa’s food systems, enhancing educational opportunities and expanding workforce development through innovative learning tools.
Lane has spent over a decade working in roles that support agricultural growth and rural communities. Before joining Iowa State University, he served as an associate professor and state specialist with Washington State University Extension.
In that position, he collaborated with counties and 27 federally recognized tribes on projects involving agritourism, technology adoption and small business development.
One of his major accomplishments was creating a local investment network that helped bring more than $8 million into one community over eight years.
Lane said he is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to forward‑thinking work at the university. “I always wanted to be a subject matter expert and work at a university,” he said. “To be at a university and to be able to have some very forward-thinking people who understand this work is why I’m here.”
His role at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach includes expanding food systems and value‑added agriculture education, building databases and developing emerging microcredentials.
These microcredentials recognize skills and learning gained outside traditional classrooms through workshops, farm tours, apprenticeships and hands‑on experience. Lane explained the value of this approach by asking, “If farmers and food business owners are putting food on plates and into homes, what are we doing to measure that? How can we understand the learning that’s happening, document that, measure that and then give credit where credit is due?”
He added, “It’s really about the skills that people develop, the competencies that they get … It’s about the learning and what we’re doing to document it.”
Lane will also help develop educational resources for USDA Value‑Added Producer Grant applications, supporting the work of the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. In addition, he aims to integrate a national food systems practitioner and resource database with the AgriProspects Marketplace to better connect learners with career pathways.
Another important project includes assisting the Farm to School and Early Care team in creating a Youth Local Food Leader curriculum. This program will align with current Food Systems team certifications to provide young people with meaningful agricultural learning opportunities.
Lane believes that recognizing real‑world learning can help more Iowans succeed. “College isn’t for everybody, but how can we set people up for success if they want to go on towards degrees in higher learning? We have technology to help us now.”
He also views his work as part of the broader mission of strengthening Iowa communities. “Healthy farms, healthy communities and healthy people mean healthy economies,” Lane said.
A graduate of Drake University, Lane feels connected to Iowa State, where he often studied earlier in his life. His background includes eight years of service in the U.S. Navy as a mechanic and Seabee.
In his free time, he enjoys music, museums and spending time outdoors. Lane can be contacted at tlane@iastate.edu.
Photo Credit: iastate.edu
Categories: Iowa, Education