The Agribusiness Association of Iowa is pleased to announce Ben Gleason has accepted the position of Executive Director of the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council (INREC). Gleason will be an Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) employee, reporting to the AAI CEO, and will be the dedicated lead for INREC as administrator, communicator, and project manager. Gleason replaces Shawn Richmond, who previously held the position prior to joining the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation in January.In his current position, Gleason has been serving as Senior Manager of Sustainable Programs for Iowa Corn where he has been employed since 2011. The role includes a broad array of environmental issues, including sustainability, soil and water conservation, pesticide use, and wetlands and habitat restoration. As the Senior Manager of Sustainable Programs, Gleason has built a project portfolio of over $1.0 million annually.
“I am very excited for this opportunity to build on the foundation of work accomplished by INREC and its members,” said Gleason. “INREC has a very strong membership base, and with their continued support, INREC will continue to foster environmental innovation, demonstrate environmental progress, coordinate and communicate sound scientific approaches to add value to farmers and agribusinesses.”
Gleason’s previous experience includes working as Environmental Specialist for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for nearly four years, where he served as coordinator for multiple watershed projects to reduce nutrient and sediment loss, target best management practices, and assist farmers in developing conservation plans. Gleason also has worked with Story County Conservation and Front Range Environmental where he led the establishment of native plant vegetation, erosion control, and pesticide applications. He earned his degree in Ecology from Iowa State University.
Gleason grew up in Charles City near his family farm and currently resides in Ankeny.
As an integral participant in the development of Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy, Gleason has had an active role representing Iowa Corn as part of INREC since its formalization in 2015. He comes to INREC with a deep understanding of the environmental needs of Iowa agriculture, strong communication and relationship skills, a history of managing budgets and bids, and extensive experience supervising staff and volunteers.
As a proven team player, AAI welcomes Gleason to this position and looks forward to gaining from his leadership, knowledge, and past experiences.
About INREC
INREC is the only organization in Iowa that strategically brings together major farm & commodity organizations, major fertilizer and crop production companies, agricultural retailers, and crop advisers in a formal organization to help lead the environmental efforts of agriculture in Iowa.