Matt Russell and Patrick Standley

When Matt and his husband Patrick bought their farm to raise grass-finished cattle in Marion County, they “bet the farm that there was an opportunity.” It was 2004, at the beginning of the local food movement. They developed Coyote Run Farms into a sustainable, relationship-based business, and set-up at the Des Moines farmer’s market every week for their first six years.

After directing Iowa Interfaith Power and Light for many years, Matt was appointed by President Biden to be the Iowa Farm Agency’s Executive Director. Both he and Patrick still raise cattle, but their interests now lie in moving towards a paradigm shift in Iowan agriculture. “I grew up on a commodity farm, did the local food thing, and the next shift is toward ecosystem services, particularly mitigating climate change—not just resilience.”

But as widely knowledgeable at Matt is (with expertise ranging from ag law to the specifics of raising beef cattle), his primary concern has always been with the everyday livelihood of farmers. He is, before anything else, a fifth-generation Iowan farmer who wants Iowan agriculture to empower and incentivize practitioners towards innovation rather than against it.

Building a Culture of Conservation: 

“The Solutions aren’t bigger horses and stronger harnesses. The future is partnering with nature. “This is a very hopeful future for farmers. We’re the point of action, we’re the decision makers. The paradigm must change so that our problem solving is what gets rewarded.”

Contact Information

Matt Russell and Patrick Standley
1841 20th Pl
Lacona, IA 50139
515-689-8219
matt.coyoterun@gmail.com