All are invited to enjoy local food and wine, music, and early fall scenery at Investigate Midwest’s annual fundraiser to support its IowaWatch newsroom. 

Sunset on the Farm will take place Sunday, Sept. 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Walker Homestead just outside of Iowa City. Tickets are $25 for kids over 5 and $50 for adults, which includes unlimited wood-fired pizza, salad and a make-your-own s’mores kit. Buy tickets here.

There will also be a cash bar, silent auction and live music from the Mission Bluegrass Band. 

“Sunset on the Farm is always a lovely event – rain or shine – and we’re happy to host it again at the Walker Homestead, which is a beautiful setting,” said Erin Orr, Investigate Midwest’s executive director.

Investigate Midwest is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that provides news outlets with investigative reporting on agribusiness and industrial agricultural corporations. IowaWatch operates under the auspices of Investigate Midwest.

In attendance will be the IowaWatch newsroom staff, including data journalist Mónica Cordero, a Report for America corps member in Des Moines, and Mary Ungs-Sogaard, donor relations manager of Dyersville. Orr, who lives in Northwest Indiana, also will be on hand.

Tickets and other donations for Sunset on the Farm support investigative, data-driven journalism and help train college students. This year the student assistant is Payton Spindler of Hubbard, Iowa, a University of Iowa senior pursuing a certificate of event management and minors in international studies and global health studies. Other students will help on the day of the event through UI’s event management program. Heather Spangler is associate professor and coordinator of the program.

The first fall IowaWatch fundraiser was in 2015 with a year break in 2020 due to the pandemic. The event began when Lyle Muller served as IowaWatch’s executive director. He now sits on the Investigate Midwest board of directors, along with Erin Jordan, associate professor of practice, in the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The evening also will feature live music from Muller’s band.

Presenting sponsors are Iowa Freedom of Information Council, the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Alan Swanson with Blank & McCune Real Estate of Iowa City and Hills Bank.

Investigate Midwest, also known as the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting, has won national and regional awards for its data-driven, investigative reporting.

Please contact Ungs-Sogaard at mary.ungs-sogaard@investigatemidwest.org with questions. 

Walker Homestead Farm and Winery is located 3867 James Ave. SW, outside Iowa City.

The post Eat, drink and enjoy Sunset on the Farm on Sept. 22 appeared first on Investigate Midwest.