Water, Wealth, and the Future of Farming with Joy Van Wyngarden Ep. 105

In this episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor Henry sits down with Joy Van Wyngarden, Iowa-based conservation advocate, content creator, and passionate voice in regenerative agriculture. Joy shares her journey from growing up on a South Central Iowa row-crop farm to working as a watershed coordinator focused on soil conservation and water quality.

Together, they dive into some of the most pressing issues facing modern agriculture, including nitrate runoff, drinking water concerns, rising cancer rates, input costs, farmland prices, and the economic pressures farmers face today. Joy offers an honest, solutions-driven perspective on why regenerative agriculture and conservation practices matter—not just for farmers, but for everyone who depends on clean water and healthy food.

The conversation also explores rural community challenges, generational farm transitions, land access for young farmers, and the future of agriculture in Iowa and beyond. This is a thoughtful discussion about the realities of farming, the need for better education and transparency, and the opportunities to build a more resilient agricultural system for the next generation.

Thank you to our Sponsors of Today’s Episode:

Azure Standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/

American Farmland Trust: https://farmland.org/

Important Links from Today’s Episode:

Members site: https://members.acresusa.com

Acres U.S.A. Homepage: https://www.acresusa.com/

Acres U.S.A. Memberships: https://eco-farming.com/

2025 Eco-Ag Recordings: https://www.conference.acresusa.com/recordings-2025

American Regeneration Event Registration: https://events.acresusa.com/american-regeneration

Joy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_joyofalltrades_/