Nationally recognized leaders like Anna Pesek continue their growth at UNI
Nationally recognized leaders like Anna Pesek continue their growth at UNI
For Anna Pesek, entrepreneurship starts long before sunrise.
As the co-founder of Over the Moon Farm in Coggon, Iowa, Pesek balances raising livestock, managing a direct-to-consumer meat business, being a mother and advocating for farmers on a national stage. Now, as she prepares to complete her MBA at the Wilson College of Business, she is reflecting on how the program has transformed both her business and her vision for the future.
Originally from Massachusetts, Pesek earned her undergraduate degree in sustainable agriculture and political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. After graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the National Family Farm Coalition, advocating for family farmers on Capitol Hill.
But the experience clarified something else: She wanted to farm herself.
“I realized I didn’t just want to talk about agriculture,” Pesek said. “I wanted to experience it.”
That realization eventually brought her to Iowa, where she launched Over the Moon Farm in 2019 with her partner, Shae. A direct-to-consumer meat brand, the business ships products across the lower 48 states. Alongside running the farm, Pesek serves as marketing and communications manager for Practical Farmers of Iowa and holds leadership roles with several agricultural advocacy organizations. A respected voice in the industry, she has even appeared on CNN to discuss issues impacting modern agriculture.
As her business grew, Pesek recognized she needed stronger financial and operational skills to match her ambitions. That led her to UNI’s MBA program.
I had done so much learning by doing. But getting my MBA helped me understand the language of business in a totally different way.
Pesek said courses in accounting, finance and business strategy immediately changed how she approached decision-making on the farm. Those skills helped her secure a highly competitive USDA Value-Added Producer Grant worth $78,000 over three years — the only Iowa farm selected for the award cycle. Over the Moon Farm has also increased sales by 170% in the past year.
“I do think that some of that is because I'm a better leader,” she said. “I’m running a much better business now. I feel like I transformed from being ‘Farmer Anna’ into ‘CEO Anna.’”
That growth extends beyond financial knowledge. Through the MBA program, Pesek has connected with classmates from industries ranging from manufacturing to aviation, broadening her perspective and professional network.
I've been able to work with people who have very different livelihoods than me, and from that, I feel like I've learned a lot. I'm coming away from the program with a much broader network of people.
Her leadership and community involvement also recently earned her UNI’s Day Dugan Scholarship, which recognizes students who use their education in service to their communities. For Pesek, the award reflects both her work building a business in rural Iowa and her commitment to advocating for stronger opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs.
As she finishes the program this year, Pesek sees even bigger possibilities ahead for Over the Moon Farm and her role in shaping the future of agriculture.
“Small businesses and farms can have an enormous impact,” Pesek said. “Certainly not everyone who runs a small business needs an MBA, but with my desires and ambitions, this was life-changing. I really believe my MBA is in service to the community and will be for the rest of my life.”
