Thanks for sharing your voice on Wednesday, January 21 for Extension & 4-H Voices at the Capitol!
Our day begins at the State Historical Building, where we’ll hear from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Vice President for Extension and Outreach Jason Henderson, and Mitch Hoyer from Iowa 4-H. Lunch will be served there before we walk to the Capitol for the legislative reception. The event concludes by 4:30 p.m., though you may finish earlier after meeting your senator(s) and representative(s).
Read below for more details.
Legislative Briefing - Thursday, Jan. 15 at 7:00
A legislative briefing for council members will be held on Thursday, January 15th at 7pm via Zoom. The Zoom link was emailed to all registered participants on Tuesday, January 13. If you need the Zoom link, please contact Jennifer Vit or Julie Baumler.
We’ll share logistics, talk about the current legislative climate, IECA’s legislative request, and review talking points about the extension levy and property taxes.
Please note Iowa 4-H staff are hosting briefing orientations for youth participants at a different date and time. Youth received the briefing information and link via email.
Agenda for the January 21
Due to the dynamic nature of the legislature, we cannot predict what business will be conducted that day, but this is our planned day. Timeframes may need to be adjusted slightly to accommodate schedules of our guests, pages, and others.
10:00 AM | Arrive at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, check in
10:15 | Move to auditorium
10:30 | Welcome – Roger Helmrichs, IECA Board Member
- Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig
- Iowa 4-H Program Leader Mitch Hoyer
- Vice President for Extension and Outreach Jason Henderson
11:00 | Legislative Briefing
- Extension Council members (in Goldfinch Room): Developing Your Message; Property Tax Update
- 4-H youth (in Auditorium): Developing Your Message; Panel of Legislative Pages
12:00 Noon | Pasta Buffet Lunch
1:15 PM | Walk to Iowa Capitol in county groups
1:30 | Participants meet with legislators (timing will depend on individual legislator's availability)
2:00 | Reception in Rotunda: Extension & 4-H Impacts (until 4:00pm)
4:30 | Safe travel home
Parking and Check-in
Registration is available 10-10:30 AM at the State Historical Building just west of the Capitol Building. Our first guest, Secretary Naig, will speak promptly at 10:30 so please be sure to arrive early. A nametag will be provided for you.
Free parking is available in the parking garage at 650 Grand Ave, north of the Historical Building. Once parked, walk across the street to the Historical Building entrance on Grand Ave. There's a large blue sign above the doors that says "Welcome to Your State Historical Society of Iowa". Then follow posted signage to the auditorium. Metered street parking is also available (with payment through an app).
Drop off is available on the south side of the Historical Building.
A map of the Capitol Complex shows public parking (note the Historical Building on the left side of the map). Note that parking for visitors with disabilities is marked on the map.
Weather Information
The 10-day forecast looks good, but inclement weather impacts will be decided by 8pm on Tuesday, January 20. An email will be sent to all registrants and the IECA and Iowa 4-H websites will indicate the cancellation. Make your own decision based on your comfort and safety.
What to bring and what to wear
Overall, it is best to pack light and plan not to bring unnecessary items.
Bring any notes you may need. The printed materials for legislators are provided. You do not need to bring additional copies of your county impact reports unless it would be helpful for you to refer during your conversations.
Dress professionally and comfortably. We request you wear professional clothing and comfortable shoes. If you have green in your wardrobe, that’s a great option. Please refrain from wearing red apparel this year. Extension council and 4-H members who registered before December 17 and ordered a green 4-H polo shirt can pick it up at the registration. Thanks to the Iowa Pork Producers Association for sponsoring the shirts!
What not to bring. Leave valuables at home or in your vehicle. There’s no need to bring water bottles; refreshments are provided. You will need to carry everything you bring.
At the Capitol…
- Pack lightly - There are very few coat racks or places to stow personal belongings.
- Security – You will enter on the west or south side of the building and will go through a security screening (metal detector). You may bring bags, purses, laptops, etc. with you to the Capitol, but it will be screened. Leave pocket knives and anything that may be considered a weapon at home.
- Voter Registration will be available at the Secretary of State’s Office. Any person 17 years or older can register to vote (next to the case that holds the official State of Iowa Constitution) anytime between 1:30 and 3:00pm in Room 105 of the Capitol Building. Please be sure to go in groups no larger than 10. All you need to have is your Iowa driver’s license or nonoperator’s ID, or know the last 4 digits of your social security number. What a great opportunity for our attendees 17 and older!
Tips for Talking with Your Legislators
We will work on specific talking points the morning of our event. However, here are some general tips:
- Be brief, concise, and polite. Treat the office and officials with respect.
- Thank them for listening.
- Follow up with additional information, if appropriate.
Use your own words to explain why 4-H and county extension is important to you, your family, the community, particular industries, etc.
Prepare Beforehand
Extension council members should think about impactful programs or initiatives your county brought to your communities this year. Council members should also know your county’s levy rate, dollar amount collected, and whether you’re at cap (either by valuation or rate). Ask your regional director if you don’t know the answer to those questions.
Extension council members attend the Extension & 4-H Voices at the Capitol event as citizens and do not officially represent or speak on behalf of their county extension council. Council members educate their legislators about how county agricultural extension districts are funded and what those tax dollars support.
4-H members should think ahead about some of the life skills they have gained through 4-H (example: public speaking, planning, money management, leadership, etc.) to share with your legislators.
Review your county’s 2025 impact report. Your legislator will receive a printed report on January 21 so you need not bring a copy for them.
Contact your senator and representative to let them know you’ll be at the Capitol on January 21. An extension council member from each county has likely already sent an invitation to the reception, but it’s helpful to let them know you’ll be at the Capitol. You can meet with them as early as 1:30.
Use the Find Your Legislator tool for legislator contact information. Oftentimes your legislator will only have a few minutes to meet with you. If you let them know you’re coming, they may provide you a cell number to text them when you’re available, or they may ask you to submit a door slip at the entrance of their chamber to alert them you’ve arrived.
Review the extension council member talking points.
Lastly, get ready to have a great day! It’s an exciting opportunity to see government in action. We’re glad you can join us to share the impact of extension. See you soon!