AMES, Iowa – Three Corteva Agriscience senior leaders will reflect on the historic role Pioneer has played in shaping the seed industry during the 2026 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture. The lecture will take place April 14 at 4:30 p.m. in 127 Curtiss Hall on Iowa State University’s campus.
The event is free and open to the public. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students attending the lecture will be eligible to receive one of five $500 Hertz Lecture scholarship awards by swiping their student ID at the lecture’s conclusion.
One hundred years ago, Henry A. Wallace and the founders of Pioneer transformed modern agriculture by creating the first company to develop, produce and commercially sell hybrid corn seed. Today, Pioneer stands as the global flagship brand of Corteva Agriscience – trusted by farmers in more than 70 countries.
The Hertz Lecture panel will be moderated by Daniel J. Robison, endowed dean’s chair in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Panelists and senior Corteva leaders Geoff Graham, vice president of seed product development, Mark Deterding, vice president of integrated seed operations, and Jeremy Dirks, president of North America business, will discuss the company’s deep and enduring partnership with Iowa State and how the brand continues to evolve to meet the needs of farmers around the world. Each panelist will introduce one dimension of Pioneer’s early leadership in hybrid corn – creating, producing and bringing hybrid seed to market – and reflect on how these foundational elements have evolved over the past century.
The Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture was created in memory of the founders of Hertz Farm Management Inc. to inspire generations of industry leaders, research scientists and young professionals to reach their full potential. The lecture is organized by Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and is co-sponsored by the Committee on Lectures funded by the Government of the Student Body.
Contacts
Whitney Baxter, Agriculture and Life Sciences Communications, 515-294-2314, wjsager@iastate.edu
Gelin Gil, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Development, 515-294-9328, ggil@foundation.iastate.edu