2026 Spring Fever Symposium
April 11 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
$65.00
SEED STORIES
Join us for our biggest education event of the year! We have an incredible lineup of speakers to pack this day with gardening goodness, all about seeds. Pre-registration is required. Open to the public… all are welcome!
April 11th, 2026; 9am-3pm
Lunch and refreshments provided with registration.
About the speakers:
Vivian Bernau
Vivian Bernau brings a lifelong passion for agricultural biodiversity and a wealth of experience in plant genetics to her new role as director of preservation at Seed Savers Exchange (SSE). She has devoted her career to safeguarding crop diversity and ensuring that seeds—and the stories they carry—are preserved for future generations. Before joining SSE, Vivian served as lead scientist and maize curator for the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Plant Introduction Research Unit. There, she managed one of the nation’s largest maize germplasm collections, developing innovative, data-driven strategies to maintain and distribute thousands of unique varieties to researchers and growers worldwide.
Vivian earned her doctorate in horticulture and crop science from The Ohio State University, where her research explored drought tolerance and local adaptation in chile peppers of southern Mexico. Her commitment to global food security has taken her beyond U.S. borders, including research collaborations with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Colombia, where she studied crop wild relatives and strategies for conserving genetic diversity.
Marcus Jansen
Marcus Jansen, MS (He/Him) was raised in Quincy, Illinois and is an alum of the Iowa State University Department of Horticulture. He now lives and gardens in Batavia, Illinois and is a Product Manager for PanAmerican Seed of Ball Horticultural Company. In this role, Marcus oversees the Pro Landscape Performer Program and manages a portfolio of annuals and perennials in the PanAmerican Seed assortment, working to bring new plant varieties to growers and gardeners all over the world.
Maddy Stevenson
Maddy Stevenson is the Horticulture Technician at the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens. She plays a key role in designing and maintaining beautiful garden spaces for members and guests to enjoy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Iowa State University and brings a diverse range of experiences to her role. Maddy started working in garden centers near her hometown of Story City, Iowa. During her time at ISU, she studied and shared horticultural practices as far away as Uganda and India. Maddy is excited to share her love of plants and create gardens that inspire people.
Fatima Najar
Fatima Najar has been with the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens Trial Program for three years, and was
invaluable in helping start the program. Fatima grew up in Sioux City, Iowa later going to Iowa State
to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Forestry. Before joining the arboretum, she worked as a field technician
collecting data on native prairie plants and their importance to pollinators, and on a special project with Botrychium (moonwort).
invaluable in helping start the program. Fatima grew up in Sioux City, Iowa later going to Iowa State
to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Forestry. Before joining the arboretum, she worked as a field technician
collecting data on native prairie plants and their importance to pollinators, and on a special project with Botrychium (moonwort).
As Curatorial Assistant, Fatima serves as a liaison between the public and horticulture industry while also collecting evaluation data on every perennial and shrub variety every two weeks. She does incredible work balancing those responsibilities with care of the garden and managing outreach. Fatima is passionate about conservation and sustainability, and loves to communicate those interests to diverse audiences.