Kristine Tidgren has been named the director of the Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation in Ames.

Tidgren joined the ISU Extension-focused center in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as a staff attorney in 2013, and has been serving as its assistant director for the past two years. William Edwards, an emeritus professor of economics and ISU Extension farm economist, had served for the past year as the center's interim director.

The Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation (CALT), established by the Iowa Board of Regents in 2006, provides timely, objective information to agricultural producers, professionals and agribusinesses on the application of important developments in ag law and taxation, and is a primary source of professional educational training in ag law and taxation. One of the center's programs is the annual farm income tax school, which ISU has conducted for nearly 45 years.

Interpreting laws impacting ag
Tidgren's work focuses on studying and interpreting laws that impact the agricultural industry, specifically agricultural taxation. "I'm excited to carry on the work of the center, and provide education and information regarding new tax interpretations," she says.

Kristine Tidgren

Tidgren grew up on a farm near Logan in western Iowa. Before coming to ISU, she worked for a legal publishing company and as a practicing attorney. She received her law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1998 and her bachelor's degree in journalism from Iowa State in 1989.

Since she started at CALT, Tidgren has written articles and blog posts keeping tax professionals, practicing attorneys, producers and agribusiness professionals informed about legal developments impacting their business. She writes technical chapters for the National Income Tax Workbook, articles for farm publications and is frequently interviewed by media regarding tax and agricultural law issues. She is a regular contributor to Wallaces Farmer magazine, writing an article each month on a timely ag law-related topic.

Adjunct professor at ISU
In addition, Tidgren speaks to thousands of professionals and producers each year regarding tax and ag law topics. She also organizes and provides instruction at center-hosted seminars, including the annual federal income tax schools. Since 2016, Tidgren has been teaching a four-credit ag law class to upper-level undergraduate students. She is an adjunct assistant professor of agricultural law in the Agricultural Education and Studies Department.

Tidgren also regularly collaborates with other ag law and tax professionals throughout the country, including those from the Rural Tax Education Committee, the American Agricultural Law Association and the Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation.

Source: Iowa State University