Edward E. Cox

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Ed has been in private practice representing clients with estate planning, probate, business development and transactions, and a variety of agricultural law matters since moving to Centerville, Iowa, in 2014.  Prior to private practice Ed worked at the Drake Agricultural Law Center on land tenure and farm leasing matters and beginning farmer and veteran farmer policies and programs. He enjoys serving on a variety of local and state boards and committees and attending local school events. 

Ed attended Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, and obtained his J.D. from Drake University Law School with a Certificate in Food and Agricultural Law.  Ed originally hails from Southwest Missouri where is still enjoys spending time floating and fishing Ozark streams with his family.  Before attending college, Ed served four years in the United States Coast Guard as a navigator, stationed primarily out of Boston. 

Bar Admissions

• Missouri, 2009
• Iowa, 2012

Education

• J.D., Drake University Law School, 2009
• B.A., Missouri State University, 2005

Professional Associations

• Iowa Bar Association, Agricultural Law Committee Member
• Missouri Bar Association
• Appanoose County Bar Association
• Iowa Judicial District 8A Bar Association, Secretary and Treasurer

Community Involvement

• Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Board of Directors
• Promoting Appanoose County Together (PACT), Board of Directors, Secretary
• Centerville Main Street, Board of Directors
• EveryStep Hospice, Board of Directors
• Appanoose County Veterans Commission, Commissioner
• Centerville High School Mock Trial, Coach

Military Service

• United States Coast Guard, Petty Officer Second Class, Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (1999-2003)

Publications

• Sustainable Agricultural Land Tenure, Drake Journal of Agricultural Law (2019).
• Corporate and Trust Ownership of Farmland: An Examination of Fiduciary Duties Applied to Soil Health and Conservation, 24 Drake Journal of Agricultural Law 31 (2019).
• Helping Landowners Help New Farmers: Incentive Programs and Other Legal Tools for      Transitioning Land to the Next Generation of Farmers, 17 Drake Journal of Agricultural Law 37 (2012).
• A Lease-based Approach to Promote Sustainable Agriculture, Part II: Drafting a Sustainable Lease, Drake Journal of Agricultural Law (2011).
• A Lease-based Approach to Promote Sustainable Agriculture, Part I: Farm Tenancy Trends,      Public Policy and the Outlook for Sustainability on Rented Farmland, 15 Drake Journal of Agricultural Law 369 (2010).
• Shall We Gather at the River: An Examination of the Potential of Iowa’s Rivers and Streams      for Recreation-based Rural Economic Development, 14 Drake Journal of      Agricultural Law 327 (2009).
• Waters for Fighting: Is Missouri Groundwater Allocation Law Adequate to Cope with      Increased Demand on Water Resources, 13 Drake Journal of Agricultural Law 601 (2008).

Lectures and Other Speaking Engagements

• Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference, Farm Succession Panel, "Charting the Steps of Farm Succession" (January 10, 2025).
• Practical Farmers of Iowa, Beginning Farmer Retreat, "Organizing Your Business: Legal Entities and Operating Agreements" (February 10, 2024).
• University of Maine School of Law, Guest Lecture to Regulation of Agriculture Class (November 7, 2023). 
• Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference, Getting Started with Farm Transitions, Ames, Iowa (January 20, 2023).
• Vermont Law School, Guest Lecture to Environmental Law Class (September 22, 2021).
• Vermont Law School, Guest Lecture to Environmental Law Class (September 20, 2020).
• Women, Food,  and Agriculture Network, Landowner and Farmer Legal Issues Webinar (August 19, 2020).
• Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service Annual Conference, Incorporating Organic and Sustainable Farming in Lease Contracts, LaCrosse, WI (February 28, 2020).
• Vermont Law School, Guest Lecture to Environmental Law Class (September 8, 2019).
• Drake University Law School, Neil Hamilton Retirement Festschrift Symposium, Land Tenure and Conservation Issues, Des Moines, IA (March 29, 2019).
• American Agricultural Law Association Annual Symposium, Conservation in Private Farm Arrangements, Portland, OR (October 27, 2018).
• ISU Center for  Agricultural Law and Taxation, Building Conservation into Private Farm      Arrangements, Ames, Iowa (September 20, 2018).
• Indian Hills Community College Sustainable Agriculture Seminar, Ag Law and Taxation      Lecture, Centerville, IA (January 19, 2016).
• Drake  Agricultural Law Center, Sustaining Our Iowa Land (SOIL): Past, Present and Future of Iowa’s Soil and Water Conservation Policy, Improving Farm Tenancy Agreements to Promote Conservation, Des Moines, IA (November 20, 2015).
• Women, Land  & Legacy, Conservation Programs and Farm Leases, Laurens, IA (August 12, 2015).
• Harvesting Our  Potential Farm Mentor Training, Farm Employment and Liability Issues:      Employees, Volunteers, Interns and More, Coon Rapids, IA (March 14, 2015).
• National Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference, What’s Different About a Farmer Veteran’s Business Plan, Des Moines, IA (November 14, 2014).
• American Farmland Trust Annual Conference, The Role of Financial and Legal Professionals in Helping Farmers, Lexington, KY (October 21, 2014).
• American Farmland Trust Annual Conference, Sustainable Farm Leases and Social Investors, Lexington, KY (October 20, 2014).
• Midwest Farmer  Veteran Conference, Liability for On-Farm Visitors: Volunteers, Marketing,      Agri-tourism, & More, Des Moines, IA (July 26, 2014).
• Iowa Bar Association Annual Meeting – Agricultural Law Section Track, Beginning and      “Veteran Farmer” State and Federal Policy Update, Des Moines, IA (June 16,      2014).
• Iowa Bankers  Association’s Agricultural Credit School, Financing Farm Transitions, Ames, IA (June 6, 2014).
• Polk County Bar  Association Spring General Practice CLE, 2014 Farm Bill Summary, Des      Moines, IA (April 25, 2014).
• ISU Beginning.  Farmer Center’s “Returning to the Farm Seminar,” Estate Planning: Legal      Tools, Ames, IA (March 7, 2014).
• Iowa House of Representatives Veterans Affairs Committee, Hearing On Farmer Veteran      Coalition Efforts, Des Moines, IA (Feb. 2014).
• American Agricultural Law Association Annual Conference, Land Use Issues and      Opportunities for Direct Market Farmers, Madison, WI (Oct. 30, 2013).
• Iowa Bar Association  Annual Meeting – Agricultural Law Section Track, Sallee, Landowner      Liability, and Iowa’s Recreational Use Statute, Des Moines, IA (June      2013).
• Iowa Bar  Association Annual Meeting – Estate Planning Section Track, Farmland in Trusts: Trends, Concerns, & Opportunities, Des Moines, IA (June 2013).
• Women, Food and Agriculture Network’s Landowner Conference, Neighbor Law: Fences,      Boundaries, Drainage & More, Clear Lake, IA (March 1, 2013).
• American Agricultural Law Association Annual Conference, Non-Operator Landowners and New Farmers: Win-Win Scenarios for Land Access, Nashville, TN (2012).
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Personnel Educational Series, USDA      Programmatic Considerations Regarding Leased Farm Land: Opportunities for Conservation and Options for Reform, Washington D.C. (2012).
• American  Agricultural Law Association Annual Conference, Land Access Issues and      Solutions for Beginning Farmers, Austin, TX (Oct. 2011).
• Iowa State      University – Sustainable Agriculture Graduate Guest Lecture, Diverse Owners, Farmers, and Contracts: Developing Sustainable Land Tenure Arrangements, Ames, IA (Sept. 2011).
• Missouri Bar Association Real Estate Forum, Introduction to Farm, Timber, & Mineral      Leases, Kansas City, MO (June 20, 2011).
• American Agricultural Law Association Annual Meeting, Sustainability On Rented Land: Landowner Trends and Legal Tools, Omaha, NE (Oct. 8 – 9, 2010).

Other Professional Experience

• Staff Attorney,  Drake University Agricultural Law Center, 2010-2014