September 2026 Change for Community: Food at First
September’s Change for Community recipient is Food At First a local nonprofit that provides free meals and groceries to anyone who is hungry — no questions asked. Food at First serves a hot meal every day of the year at the First Christian Church in downtown Ames. In fact, they haven’t missed a meal in over 21 years! Almost all of the food comes from donations and rescued surplus from grocery stores, restaurants, and Iowa State University — helping both people and the planet by reducing food waste.
Co+op Deals, Sep 1-Sep 15
Everyone Saves!
Preorder sale cases by 12pm, SEP 10.
Member-Owner Extras, Sep 1-Sep 15
Extra deals just for member-owners!
Preorder sale cases by 12pm, Sep 10.
Fresh Deals, Aug 26-Sep 1
Everyone Saves!
Co+op Deals, Aug 18-Sep 1
Everyone Saves!
Preorder sale cases by 12pm, Aug 27.
Member-Owner Extras, Aug 18-Sep 1
Extra deals just for member-owners!
Preorder sale cases by 12pm, Aug 27.
July 2026 Board Meeting Highlights
July 15th Board Meeting Highlights
- The Board’s Strategic Discussion centered on current needs of members to better understand how needs are changing and how we can adopt strategies for meeting these needs.
- The Education and Outreach Committee will continue Grad Research Nights, allowing graduate students to share their research with the community. The next scheduled events will be September 2nd and November 4th.Â
- The CEO reported that Wheatsfield finished the fiscal year at 0.84% over the previous year’s sales.
- June 2026 saw an increase in 25 new member owners and 7 new student members, several over last June’s increase in membership numbers.
- The Board reviewed the CEO’s budget and business plan for the co-op’s 2026-2027 fiscal year.
- The year’s strategic plan was presented in the categories of community, products, services, and experiences, team, systems, and financial and infrastructure, along with metrics reflecting how annual goals will be accomplished.
Grad Research Night, at the Co-op
Date & Time
Wed, Sep 2, 2026 | 6 – 7:30 PM
Class Location
Community Room
August Wellness Savings
Everyone Saves!
Serving the Co-op: A Grad Student’s Reflection
Serving on the Wheatsfield Board
as the student member has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had during graduate school. Before joining, I knew very little about co-ops or what a board of directors actually does. Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about the governance of a member-owned business, the decision-making process, and how a board works together to guide the organization. As a graduate student in sustainable agriculture, it was especially interesting to see how Wheatsfield balances financial responsibility with its mission of supporting local food, environmental stewardship, and the community. Seeing those values put into practice gave me an appreciation for how organizations CAN stay true to their mission while still making thoughtful business/economic decisions. Supporting local producers, promoting healthy food, and investing in the Ames community are priorities that genuinely shape the board’s conversations and decisions.
Beyond what I’ve learned, the people have made this experience especially meaningful. The board has been incredibly welcoming, and I’ve enjoyed working alongside people with different professions, backgrounds, and experiences. Everyone brings unique perspectives to the table, and I’ve enjoyed seeing how respectful conversations and thoughtful discussions lead to decisions that always put the co-op first.
As the student board member, I also had the opportunity to organize graduate student presentation nights, which gave me the chance to think about new ways to connect students with the co-op and encourage greater student involvement. Serving on the board helped me become part of the Ames community beyond Iowa State, and I would encourage any student looking for leadership experience, community involvement, or a better understanding of cooperatives to consider applying.
Alex Ludolph
Graduate Assistant | M.S. Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture Student Association GPSA Coordinator
Robert A. Sloan Graduate Award in Sustainable Agriculture Recipient
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