Author Patrick Carr discussed his book Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain and What it Means for America. When they moved to Iowa in 2001, Carr and his associate Maria J. Kefalas investigated the characteristics of "stayers", those who remain in their hometowns; "seekers", those who are pushed out of their hometowns to bigger and better things; and "returners", those who briefly leave to obtain a degree and then stay in their hometowns.

Actors Mike Cornelison and John Earl Robinson performed Peace Through Corn, a one-act play by Cynthia Mercati about the friendship between Roswell Garst and Nikita Krushchev.

"Peace Through Corn brings alive the amazing, true relation that developed during the late 1950s between a brash Iowa farmer and a powerful communist dictator...Garst and Khrushchev forged a unique human bond based on their mutual fascination with agricultural innovation, as well as their shared love of a good laugh and a ferocious debate." -- Humanities Iowa Press Release

Evelyn Birkby explained her experiences at Simspon and line as an author, radio homemaker, and newspaper columnist. She has written ten books, including cookbooks, genealogies, and histories. As a newspaper columnist and radio personality for 60 years, Birkby’s voice has been heard throughout the Midwest.

Mark Grey and Michele Devlin, authors of Postville, U.S.A described the unique town of Postville, IA and the raid on its Kosher meat packing plant by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.