Julia Baker, natural resources program specialist, is the recipient of the staff 2025 Early Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. Baker joined the college’s agriculture and natural resources extension team to support faculty programs and coordinate web resources on the Natural Resources Stewardship Extension website. Over the last five years, she also has collaborated to create, offer and improve three new extension programs serving hundreds of Iowans, garnering more than $400,000 in external grants to support the programs. A colleague stated, “Baker has the ability to envision, initiate, support and scale programs that have a lasting impact on Iowans and our agricultural and natural resources.”
Baker plays an integral leadership role in the Land Stewardship Leadership Academy, a training program for early to mid-career natural resource professionals who work with private landowners to build cooperative, trusting and empathetic relationships with farmers that ultimately motivate conservation adoption to implement water and wildlife conservation practices. Baker’s contributions include reviewing the research on natural resource professionals to understand their professional needs, co-designing the training focus, and the time-consuming day-to-day logistics of running a nine-month program. A colleague stated, “Julia has been a consistent compass for the program, always bringing us back to our original purpose and goals.”
A second program is one Baker launched herself in 2021. The Women’s Woodland Stewardship Network seeks to empower women to become more involved in woodland stewardship and forestry-related activities in Iowa by giving them the knowledge to be active in woodland management decision-making and expanding their connections with other women who own or make decisions on woodlands in Iowa. Baker used her knowledge of social science and behavior change to create accessible environments for women, a group that, historically, has been under-represented at traditional forestry events.
The third program is one Baker established with Catherine DeLong, ANR extension specialist, in 2024 with a $250,000 grant from Polk County. The Landowner Education Program is intended for Iowa landowners who want to learn about soil health practices, understand relevant financial and legal considerations, and build a supportive network of peers and experts. Baker said, “The program takes into account that there are many steps between interest and conservation practice implementation. This can include discussing with family members or other land decision-makers, speaking with a lawyer to adapt or create a written lease, and discussing practices with a tenant including cost-share of any expenses, equipment needs, etc.”
A colleague stated, “She works hard, with the heart of a public servant, to get research into the hands of the people who can apply it for the wellbeing of their families and communities all across our state. Julia's multifaceted contributions, her innovative approach to extension work, and her dedication to community empowerment and environmental stewardship exemplify the essence of an effective extension professional.”