Legislative bodies across the country are becoming more urban and inclusive of more minority groups--this is a drastic change from just a few decades ago, and many policy discussions continue to take shape around urban and rural interests. Through the Urban-Ag Academy, in partnership with Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, legislators have the ability reach beyond their traditional audiences to collaborate with fresh faces, conduct educational outreach, and collaborate on solutions of mutual concerns.

The Urban-Ag Academy was launched by Representative Helen Miller (Webster County) in 2011 to engage and bring leaders together to learn about agricultural and rural policy making in state legislative bodies. With regard to agriculture, Miller serves as Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee and is a member of the Iowa Advisory Council for Agricultural Education. Nationally, Miller serves as the Agriculture Policy Committee Chair and is a member of State Agricultural and Rural Leaders Inc.