Ag Arts - Iowa

04/13/2026

Who will inherit the land, and how will it impact your family? Map of My Kingdom is touring once again, thanks to Peoples Company! In 2014, Practical Farmers of Iowa commissioned Mary Swander to write a play about farmland transition. Her dramatic production brings to life real stories of families wrestling with inheritance, stewardship and the legacy of the land. Don’t miss the performance of the one-hour play, featuring actor Stacy Brothers at the Indianola Golf Club Thursday April 16 at 6:30pm. No charge, but please register! https://peoplescompany.com/map-of-my-kingdom -anchor

04/13/2026

COOP is coming to your area soon! ‘Mary Swander’s new play brings little-known Amish history to life through dusters and traffic cones…. Riveting. Inventive. Coop is a play in the best sense of the word, an artful mix of both seriousness and fun,' says Cheryl Allen, The News. Coop will be performed by Rip Russell at the German American Heritage Center in Davenport April 19 at 2pm, at Muscatine Community College April 21 at noon, and at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center April 25 at 7:30pm. Talkbacks with Mary Swander. You’re invited! https://maryswander.com/coop/

01/23/2026

Mary Swander’s ‘Map of My Kingdom’ is coming to Wabash, Winamac and Rensselaer, Indiana! Times are Saturday, Jan 31 at 11am EST in Winamac and at 4pm CST/ 5pm EST in Rensselaer, then Sunday, Feb 1 at 6:30pm EST in Wabash. Actor Erika Kuhn plays the part of a lawyer and mediator, sharing real stories of families navigating the transfer of their farms. Balancing conflict, legacy, and the future of the land, this compelling drama inspires audiences to confront conversations about ownership, fairness, and stewardship that cannot wait. Get your tickets now! https://maryswander.com/news-events/

01/23/2026

“Coop brings to light these sad, obscured atrocities with a fascinating combination of the absurd, the surreal and the tragic, with brief moments of grace thrown in.” —Kevin Richard Schafer, 'Little Village.' Mary Swander’s new play, ‘Coop,’ is coming to Coralville’s New Song Episcopal Church Saturday, Jan 24 at 2pm. It’s historical fiction, an enactment of true stories of conscientious objectors in WWI and WWII. One group of COs was told they were to fight forest fires in Colorado, but instead were interned in a chicken coop.
‘Coop’ is object theatre performed by Rip Russell. Don't miss it!

“Riveting. Inventive. Coop is a play in the best sense of the word, an artful mix of both seriousness and fun.” ... Read More →

01/14/2026

Mary Swander’s new play, ‘Coop,’ is historical fiction, an enactment of true stories of conscientious objectors in WWI and WWII. One group of C.O.s was told they were to fight forest fires in Colorado, but instead were interned in a chicken coop. Character Jake says: “This is the battleground here, inside my head, inside this chicken coop. My guards are waiting for me to put on the uniform and be free. Free. What is freedom? The military says it’s fighting for freedom. For whom? Certainly not for a lowly Amish C.O. stuck here with a bunch of chickens.”
‘Coop’ is object theatre performed by Rip Russell. Don't miss it! Saturday, Jan 17 at 2pm at the Wieting Theatre, Toledo IA and Sunday, Jan 18 at 2 pm at KHOI Studio, Ames IA. Free admission. https://maryswander.com/coop/ (Photo illustration by Kellan Dolittle, Little Village)

12/03/2025

The latest Blazing Star Literary Journal features Susan Strawn and her essay, ‘The Unfinished Sweater.’ “Thanks for this opportunity," said Susan. "Mrs Kalil's story feels even more important now.”

By Susan M. Strawn The National World War II Museum New Orleans, Louisiana, 2007 “Are there any questions?” The director of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans had concluded our exhausting tour of battles and generals, horrors and heroism, fearsome tolls on humanity. My question seem...

11/21/2025

Presenting Mary Swander’s new play! ‘Coop’ will be performed at Des Moines Mennonite Church, 4001 56th Street at 7 pm Friday, Nov 21. ‘Coop,’ performed by Rip Russell, tells true stories of conscientious objectors during WW I and II. These men were told they were to fight forest fires in Colorado, but instead they were interned in a chicken coop. History comes to life via object theatre. Don’t miss it! https://maryswander.com/coop/

09/21/2025

Hey, friends in Ireland and friends who have friends in Ireland! Mary Swander’s new play, ‘Coop,’ is being performed by Rip Russell (with Mary Swander answering questions) in Ireland September 20-28, 2025. ‘Coop,’ is historical fiction, an enactment of true stories of Amish, Mennonite, and other conscientious objectors during WWI and WWII. These C.O.s were told they were to fight forest fires in Colorado, but instead they were interned in a chicken coop. Don't miss the Ireland performances of this ‘object theatre’ Sept 20 in Letterfrack, Sept 25 in Clifden, Sept 27 in Tully Cross and Sept 28 in Kinvara.

Swander Woman Productions will present three opening performances of Mary Swander’s new play Coop, starring Rip Russell. Event Details 7 September, 2025. Sunday at 6 pm. Home of Rip and Janis Russell (1107 Rochester Ave., Iowa City, IA) Bring a chair. 13 September, 2025. Saturday at 7 pm. Celebrat...

09/20/2025

Who will inherit the land, and how will it impact your family? Map of My Kingdom is touring once again, thanks to Peoples Company! In 2014, Practical Farmers of Iowa commissioned Mary Swander to write a play about farmland transition. Her dramatic production, Map of My Kingdom, brings to life real stories of families wrestling with inheritance, stewardship and the legacy of the land. Don’t miss upcoming performances of the one-hour play, featuring actor Erika Kuhn in Mahomet IL Monday, Sept. 22, and in Owatonna MN Thursday, Sept. 25, both shows at 7pm. There's no charge, but please register in advance. More shows are coming to Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska and the Dakotas. https://maryswander.com/news-events/

09/04/2025

Mary Swander’s new play, ‘Coop,’ is historical fiction, an enactment of true stories of Amish, Mennonite, and other conscientious objectors during WWI and WWII. One group of C.O.s was told they were to fight forest fires in Colorado, but instead they were interned in a chicken coop. ‘Coop’ is a one-person play performed by Rip Russell. Don't miss the opening performances of this ‘object theatre’ in September in Iowa City, Kalona and Letterfrack, Ireland.

Swander Woman Productions will present three opening performances of Mary Swander’s new play Coop, starring Rip Russell. Event Details 7 September, 2025. Sunday at 6 pm. Home of Rip and Janis Russell (1107 Rochester Ave., Iowa City, IA) Bring a chair. 13 September, 2025. Saturday at 7 pm. Celebrat...

08/14/2025

Map of My Kingdom reprise! Eleven years ago, Practical Farmers of Iowa commissioned award-winning writer Mary Swander to write this important play about farmland transition. The play has toured from coast to coast, from the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago, to New York University, to Clackamas Community College near Portland, Oregon. It's making a comeback this fall, thanks to Peoples Co. Look for shows featuring actor Erika Kuhn in Urbana IL Sept 22 and Owatonna MN Sept 25 and more - in Nebraska, Iowa and the Dakotas.

The Land in Transition: Peoples Company launches farmland succession campaign Peoples Company, an agricultural land services firm based in Clive, Iowa, has announced a national awareness campaign to address the impending transfer of over 370 million acres, approximately 40% of U.S. farmland, expecte...