Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time. Click Franic’s photo to register.
Francis has given many conference presentations on organic and sustainable agriculture, and is the author of a recent book Your Cosmic Journey: Exploring the Spiritual Ecology of Our Multidimensional Universe. He has written several books, but for this one he said, “The purpose of this book is to demystify the mystical, to make the esoteric exoteric –that is, comprehensible for everyone….This book integrates that knowledge and experience into a comprehensive model of the structure and function of the physical and spiritual worlds, and how they are intimately integrated. The model, or paradigm, presented here is based on an understanding that we are multidimensional beings living in a multidimensional universe, and that the functioning of our physical world is intimately interconnected with, and dependent upon, the functions of higher dimensions.”
Bio: Francis Thicke is not “Just a Farmer.” is recently retired from a career as a soil scientist and organic dairy farmer. Francis, and his wife Susan, owned and operated an organic, grass-based dairy farm with an on-farm creamery and local marketing of dairy products. He has a Ph.D. in soil fertility and has in the past served as the National Program Leader for Soil Science for the USDA-Extension Service. Here is the rest of his Bio:
Work History
Owner/Operator of a 90-cow, 730-acre certified organic, grass-based, value-added dairy and crop farm; produce organic bottled milk, cream, yogurt, and cheese for sales through local grocery stores and restaurants. (1992-2024).
Fellow of the Food and Society Policy Fellows program, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (Sept. 2002-Aug. 2004). Wrote and spoke on agriculture and food policy.
National Program Leader for Soil Science at USDA-Extension Service; Provided national leadership for Cooperative Extension programs related to Soil Science; worked
extensively in water quality and sustainable agriculture programs (1988-1992).
Graduate Research Assistant. Research on soil nitrogen transformations, and on the effects of coal-fired power plant by-products on crops and soils (1982-1988).
Dairy farmer (1973-1982); converted the family farm to organic in 1976.
Public Service Activities
Executive Board of the Real Organic Project (2018 to current).
Chair of the Real Organic Project Standards Board (2018 to 2020).
Chair of the Organic Farmers Association Policy Committee (2017 to 2018).
National Organic Standards Board (2013 – 2018), Chair of Crops Subcommittee, Vice Chair of Livestock Subcommittee.
Board of Directors of Iowa Farmers Union (2011 – 2012).
Testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on a panel invited to address the Research Title of the 2007 Farm Bill (March 7, 2007).
Board of Directors of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (2006-2010).
Iowa Environmental Protection Commission (2003-2007).
USDA State Technical Committee for the state of Iowa. Drafted and got adopted an
incentive program to assist Iowa farmers in conversion to organic production—the first such program in the nation (1996-2012).
Steering Committee of Scientific Congress on Organic Agriculture Research (SCOAR) (1999-2004).
Testified before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Forestry, Conservation and Rural Revitalization on a panel invited for “Examining Conservation Programs of the 2002 Farm Bill” (May 11, 2004).
Iowa Food Policy Council; Chair of Producer Subcommittee (2000-2003).
Board of Directors of the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services
(MOSES) (2000-2004).
Iowa State University Extension Advisory Committee (2001-2004).
Iowa State University Search Committee for Dean of College of Agriculture (2002).
Governing Council of the Consortium for Sustainable Agriculture Research and
Education (CSARE) (1998-2001).
Iowa Organic Standards Board during writing of Iowa organic standards. Chair of Livestock Committee (1998-2000).
Invited speaker on organic and sustainable agriculture, food policy, controlled grazing, and on-farm processing at many conferences, workshops, and university classes.
Project leader/grant writer for several local community projects, including an organic farming mentor program, linking experienced organic farmers with novices; a “Shared Visions” project to bring local farmers and community members together to create a vision and initiate action toward a more sustainable agriculture and community; a “Rural Action” project to facilitate the development of local value-added agricultural enterprises.
Books
Your Cosmic Journey: Exploring the Spiritual Ecology of Our Multidimensional Universe, 2026.
A New Vision for Iowa Food and Agriculture, 2010.
Awards and Honors
2012 Outstanding Organic Farmer of the Year award from the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Services (MOSES).
2009 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University.
2007 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award, from the Practical Farmers of Iowa.
“Activist Award” from the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club, 2003.
“Friend of Extension” award, from Iowa State University Extension Service, 2003.
“Outstanding Pasture Management” award, from the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District, 2001.
“Steward of the Land” award, from the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club, 2001.
“Certificate of Recognition,” from the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Washington, D.C., 1992.
Lang-Aldrich “Outstanding Graduate Student” award, 1987.
Deere Fellowship, University of Illinois, 1987.
“Outstanding Graduate Student” award, North Central Extension/Industry Soil Fertility Workshop, 1987.
On list of “Teachers Rated as Excellent,” University of Illinois, 1986 and 1987.
Award for “Outstanding Contribution” to the Minnesota Student Chapter of the Soil Conservation Society of America, 1984.
Education
Ph.D., Agronomy/Soil Fertility, University of Illinois, 1988.
M.S., Soil Science, University of Minnesota, 1984.
B.A., Music and Philosophy, Winona State College, 1972.
