Joining the Iowa Organic Association Board

Back to My Roots

I'm proud to share that I joined the board of the Iowa Organic Association as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee.

This isn't a pivot. It's a full-circle moment I didn't see coming this soon.

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Missionary or Mercenary

A couple years ago, a local AgTech founder who'd been mentoring me through phone calls and in-person discussions gave me the perfect language for my path. He said to think about whether your business is a missionary or mercenary organization.

Banking taught me mercenary-style discipline (as did the Army). Ruthless efficiency, clear outcomes, no wasted motion. Ultimum was formed with a "mercenary for the mission" mindset, born directly out of throwing a ton of time and money at my missionary AgTech ventures. I learned to love the mission, but I needed the discipline to sustain it.

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The AgTech Chapter

In 2020, I officially entered the entrepreneurial arena with a sustainable supplement brand called WildHeart. In late 2021, I built a semi-autonomous containerized culinary mushroom farm with the help of a local engineer (a 0.007 acre farm, for those keeping score). That venture also included a co-founder who had a different vision for the business. He wanted to keep things small, a local mushroom operation. I was more interested in scaling an AgTech company that could bring healthy, sustainable food to everyone. We had different plans for the business, so I sold my share to him so he could pursue his path while I pursued mine.

After the mushroom farm, I went deep on algae research with a PhD researcher, which included visits to the ISU BioCentury Research Farm. Spending time at that facility cemented something for me: I wanted to work at the intersection of technology and sustainable food systems, but I needed a vehicle that could actually sustain itself first.

I started Ultimum in 2023. My forever-bootstrappable tech startup. It's been massively rewarding, transforming businesses (and lives) in our local community. I plan to circle back to circular food systems when I have more resources to leverage and money to set on fire.

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The Full-Circle Part

Here's where it gets personal.

I first met Loni Kufner through WildHeart. I hired her as a consultant, and she brought her deep knowledge of organic CPG marketing and sales at a time when I needed it most. Loni runs Clean Label Consulting, where she's built an extensive track record in sustainable business development across clean label, non-GMO, plant-based, organic CPG, and eco-tech products. Her client list speaks for itself: she's consulted for and worked as a fractional executive with brands like Whole Foods, Sprouts, General Mills, Walmart, Costco, Target, and PepsiCo, among others. Her work spans brand and product development in food CPG, textile, and apparel, as well as SaaS and eco-tech.

When I was building WildHeart, Loni helped us think about how to position a sustainable brand for real market traction, not just good intentions. She understood the gap between having a great product and getting it onto shelves where people could actually buy it. That kind of knowledge doesn't come from reading about CPG strategy. It comes from years in the trenches with the biggest names in the industry.

This year, Loni pulled me right back into the sustainable ag mission sooner than I expected. I've always held IOA, and the people supporting its mission, in the highest regard. When the opportunity came to serve on the board, I didn't hesitate.

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20 Years of Growing Organic in the Ag Capital of the US

As the Iowa Organic Association enters its 20th year, a shifting operating environment has added to the pre-existing challenges posed by powerful and entrenched interests. The organic movement in Iowa doesn't have the luxury of slowing down.

By plugging in some of the systems and strategies developed at Ultimum, I've been able to give a boost to the amazing board, staff, and volunteers who've been leading this effort for years. We need to move fast between board meetings. We're working to shore up our revenue through short-term grant-seeking efforts, while also working to break our dependency on grants by building new revenue channels.

We now leverage Slack to keep information and consensus-building happening between meetings and track tasks in ClickUp. We're centralizing our data and surfacing opportunities faster than ever. Just recently, the newest member of our new development committee, Opus 4.6, managed by the unofficial CTO (our fearless Treasurer), completed about a month's worth of grant research in a few hours. We're living the motto I've come to live by: "move fast and fix things."

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Why This Matters

This organization is on the front lines, not just here but nationally. Iowans want cleaner water, healthier soil, and a food system that works for families and farmers. The Iowa Organic Association has been championing that cause for two decades, often against significant headwinds. They've earned their place at the table, and I'm honored to sit alongside them.

For me, it's a reminder that the work we do at Ultimum isn't disconnected from the bigger picture. The systems thinking, the operational discipline, the AI-augmented workflows... they're tools. What matters is what you point them at.

I'm pointing them at something worth fighting for.

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Get Involved

If you care about the future of food, water, and soil in Iowa (and beyond), the Iowa Organic Association could use your support. Follow the organization, attend events, volunteer, or reach out to see how you can contribute. Two of our own Ultimum team members have already joined the effort alongside me. This is a team commitment, not just a personal one.

Visit iowaorganic.org to learn more, get connected, and see how you can help move the mission forward. Whether it's your time, your expertise, or simply spreading the word, every bit of support helps grow organic in Iowa and beyond.

-- Jerrod Appenzeller Founder, Ultimum Group Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee, Iowa Organic Association