UMACS 2025 Conference
Advancing a More Sustainable and Just Upper Midwest
September 26 & 27, 2025
Luther College, Decorah, IA
Luther College, Decorah, IA
2025 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Download this Conference App to see the full schedule including all break-out sessions. While you finalize your schedule, please take time to learn about the many exhibitors in our Exhibit Hall, we are confident that each of them can help you advance sustainability on your campus. (Please note the Conference App works better when used as a mobile device than on a desktop computer.)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025
9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Conference Registration
10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Optional Activities (details below!)
12:00-1:00 pm: Exhibit Hall
1:00-1:30 pm: Welcome to Luther
1:45-3:00 pm: Interactive Networking Sessions
4:00-5:00 pm: Breakout Session #1
5:30-8:00 pm: Dinner at Luna Valley Pizza Farm (highlighted in a New York Times article!)
8:30 pm: Contra Dancing at Luther College
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
7:00-8:00 am: Optional Birdwatching and Hike
8:30-9:30 am: Breakout Session #2
9:45-10:45 am: Breakout Session #3
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Exhibit Hall & Poster Presentations
12:00-1:15 pm: Lunch and Awards
1:30-2:30 pm: Breakout Session #4
2:30-3:30 pm: Closing Celebration
7:30-9:30 pm: Optional SAC Concert: Men I Trust
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025
9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Conference Registration
10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Optional Activities (details below!)
12:00-1:00 pm: Exhibit Hall
1:00-1:30 pm: Welcome to Luther
1:45-3:00 pm: Interactive Networking Sessions
- Visioning with Legos
- Tools for Effectively Engaging Others on Your Campus
- Sustainability Across the Curriculum
4:00-5:00 pm: Breakout Session #1
5:30-8:00 pm: Dinner at Luna Valley Pizza Farm (highlighted in a New York Times article!)
8:30 pm: Contra Dancing at Luther College
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
7:00-8:00 am: Optional Birdwatching and Hike
8:30-9:30 am: Breakout Session #2
9:45-10:45 am: Breakout Session #3
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Exhibit Hall & Poster Presentations
12:00-1:15 pm: Lunch and Awards
1:30-2:30 pm: Breakout Session #4
2:30-3:30 pm: Closing Celebration
7:30-9:30 pm: Optional SAC Concert: Men I Trust
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
All activities are wheelchair accessible unless otherwise noted.
Friday, September 26
Tour of Sustainable Dairy Farm - Sponsored by Midwest Dairy, 10:00am-12:30 pm
Cost: $15 (includes lunch, generously sponsored by Midwest Dairy)
Join us for a pre-conference dairy tour at Hilltop Acres near Decorah, IA. Established in 1854, Hilltop Acres Farm is an eighth-generation family farm, owned and operated by Dennis and Barb Mashek and their two sons, Josh and Tanner. During the tour, the Mashek family will share their farm's sustainability journey, highlighting how they are improving soil health, enhancing cow comfort, and recycling materials used across the farm. Transportation will be provided from Luther College to the dairy farm, closed-toe shoes are required.
Seed Savers Tour, 9:45 am-12:00pm
Cost: $15 (does not include lunch)
For 50 years, the Seed Savers Exchange's mission has been to steward the garden and food crop legacy of America by educating and connecting people through collecting, preserving, and cultivating cultural seeds and their stories from across a diverse landscape. Join us at Heritage Farm for a brief history of Seed Savers, the work done through the Exchange, and a tour of our display gardens. These gardens contain a variety of plants from their very own seed collections and catalog. Please note that while the Lillian Goldman Visitor's Center is completely accessible and air conditioned, the garden paths are not paved and uneven due to being covered with wood chips. Transportation will be provided from Luther College.
On-Campus Sustainability Tour, 10:45am-12:00pm
Cost: $15 (does not include lunch)
Luther Sustainability and Environmental Studies students will take you on a walking tour of campus sustainability sites. See firsthand how our students manage the campus recycling and compost, and learn about our Caf to Community food recovery program. We'll also visit our student-led edible landscape gardens and natural areas on campus, and take a quick peak at how the Luther Closet provides free and private access to clothing for students.
Off-Campus Sustainability Tour, 9:45am-12:00pm
Cost: $15 (does not include lunch)
Join Luther College Sustainability staff on a tour of off-campus sustainability sites. We'll begin with a visit to the sheep grazing our solar fields, and then hike up to the bird migration banding station that is run in conjunction with the Raptor Resource Project. This will be followed by a tour through Roslien Woods, one of Luther's many natural lands areas. Next will be a stop at the Luther Farm - home to our hoop house, community garden, and internally managed compost system. We will finish with a short drive to Luther's wind turbine, where you'll get an opportunity to see it up close and take a look inside. Please note that van transportation will be provided to all locations.
Saturday, September 27
Birdwatching and Morning Hike (Free, limited to 15 people), 6:45-8:00 am
Join Winneshiek County Naturalist Larry Reis on a birdwatching walk along Ice Cave Road from 7 - 8 a.m. Transportation will be provided at 6:45 from campus. If you prefer to walk, the starting point at River Trail Trail Head (next to Dunning Springs Park) is a short, 15-minute walk from campus.
SAC Concert: Men I trust $25 per ticket, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
SAC’s yearly Concert Returns! This year we are ecstatic to bring Men I Trust to the Luther Campus. This Canadian indie band, renowned for their hypnotic melodies and captivating vocals, has earned acclaim for their distinct approach to music. Known for songs like “Show Me How” and “I Hope To Be Around”, Men I Trust brings yet another great concert to Luther College.
All activities are wheelchair accessible unless otherwise noted.
Friday, September 26
Tour of Sustainable Dairy Farm - Sponsored by Midwest Dairy, 10:00am-12:30 pm
Cost: $15 (includes lunch, generously sponsored by Midwest Dairy)
Join us for a pre-conference dairy tour at Hilltop Acres near Decorah, IA. Established in 1854, Hilltop Acres Farm is an eighth-generation family farm, owned and operated by Dennis and Barb Mashek and their two sons, Josh and Tanner. During the tour, the Mashek family will share their farm's sustainability journey, highlighting how they are improving soil health, enhancing cow comfort, and recycling materials used across the farm. Transportation will be provided from Luther College to the dairy farm, closed-toe shoes are required.
Seed Savers Tour, 9:45 am-12:00pm
Cost: $15 (does not include lunch)
For 50 years, the Seed Savers Exchange's mission has been to steward the garden and food crop legacy of America by educating and connecting people through collecting, preserving, and cultivating cultural seeds and their stories from across a diverse landscape. Join us at Heritage Farm for a brief history of Seed Savers, the work done through the Exchange, and a tour of our display gardens. These gardens contain a variety of plants from their very own seed collections and catalog. Please note that while the Lillian Goldman Visitor's Center is completely accessible and air conditioned, the garden paths are not paved and uneven due to being covered with wood chips. Transportation will be provided from Luther College.
On-Campus Sustainability Tour, 10:45am-12:00pm
Cost: $15 (does not include lunch)
Luther Sustainability and Environmental Studies students will take you on a walking tour of campus sustainability sites. See firsthand how our students manage the campus recycling and compost, and learn about our Caf to Community food recovery program. We'll also visit our student-led edible landscape gardens and natural areas on campus, and take a quick peak at how the Luther Closet provides free and private access to clothing for students.
Off-Campus Sustainability Tour, 9:45am-12:00pm
Cost: $15 (does not include lunch)
Join Luther College Sustainability staff on a tour of off-campus sustainability sites. We'll begin with a visit to the sheep grazing our solar fields, and then hike up to the bird migration banding station that is run in conjunction with the Raptor Resource Project. This will be followed by a tour through Roslien Woods, one of Luther's many natural lands areas. Next will be a stop at the Luther Farm - home to our hoop house, community garden, and internally managed compost system. We will finish with a short drive to Luther's wind turbine, where you'll get an opportunity to see it up close and take a look inside. Please note that van transportation will be provided to all locations.
Saturday, September 27
Birdwatching and Morning Hike (Free, limited to 15 people), 6:45-8:00 am
Join Winneshiek County Naturalist Larry Reis on a birdwatching walk along Ice Cave Road from 7 - 8 a.m. Transportation will be provided at 6:45 from campus. If you prefer to walk, the starting point at River Trail Trail Head (next to Dunning Springs Park) is a short, 15-minute walk from campus.
SAC Concert: Men I trust $25 per ticket, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
SAC’s yearly Concert Returns! This year we are ecstatic to bring Men I Trust to the Luther Campus. This Canadian indie band, renowned for their hypnotic melodies and captivating vocals, has earned acclaim for their distinct approach to music. Known for songs like “Show Me How” and “I Hope To Be Around”, Men I Trust brings yet another great concert to Luther College.