Celebrating the people who move Iowa forward
Once a year, the Iowa Cannabis Action Network gathers to thank the volunteers, gardeners, advocates, and supporters who carry this work, with awards, ribbons, and an evening together.
Our first gala: 2028, honoring work from 2026 and 2027. After that, the gala is every year.
Date and venue: to be announced. Tickets are open to the public; prices and sale dates to be announced.
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The evening
- Dinner together
- Awards and recognition for our volunteers, gardeners, advocates, and supporters
- A guest speaker
- A silent auction of donated items
- We end the night with music and drinks (non-alcoholic)
The awards
- The Prairie Sunrise Award: Volunteer of the Year
- The First Sprout Award: Rookie Volunteer of the Year, for someone in their first year of volunteering
- The Victory Garden Cup: Garden of the Year
- The Full Harvest Award: Most verified food donated from a Victory Garden
- The Capitol Voice Award: Advocate of the Year: a legislative volunteer or volunteer lobbyist
- The Good Neighbor Award: Community Outreach volunteer of the year
- The Storyteller Award: Communications volunteer of the year
- The Keeping Us Running Award: Membership and Fundraising volunteer of the year
- The Giving Tree Award: Families in Need / Holiday Giving Tree volunteer of the year
- The Board Service Recognition: Thanks for a director’s service (directors aren’t eligible for the volunteer awards)
Award winners receive a ribbon and a trophy. Everyone else gets ribbons too, on their name tag, for the ways they took part: Supporter Member, Founding Supporter (joined in 2026), Volunteer, Victory Gardener, Volunteer Lobbyist, Board of Directors, Award Winner.
Join the Gala Committee
The Gala Committee plans the night: venue, program, honorees, sponsors, and the silent auction. You don’t need to be on the board. Join the Gala Committee or see all our committees.
Volunteer: silent auction coordinators
We’re looking for volunteers to gather and organize the silent auction items. Coordinators:
- Ask local businesses, artists, and supporters to donate items or experiences
- Track each item: who gave it, what it is, and its estimated value
- Prepare descriptions and bid sheets, and set opening bids
- Set up the auction tables on the night and help winners check out
- Thank every donor afterward
We can’t accept cannabis or THC products, alcohol, or raffle items. Donated items are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
How your work counts
- Volunteers: log your hours (and garden harvests) in the volunteer portal. For the 2028 gala, everything you log in 2026 and 2027 counts. After that, each gala honors the year before.
- Tickets are open to everyone. Supporter Members get early-bird pricing and a guaranteed ticket, so a sold-out night never leaves them out. Become a Supporter Member
- Nominations: how to nominate someone will be announced before the gala.
Iowa Cannabis Action Network, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. Gala tickets, sponsorships, silent auction purchases, and gifts are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.