For many people, agriculture is not something that is commonly associated with poetry.

After this week, however, it might well be.

Thursday marks the culmination of a four-part series titled “A Dialogue About the Value of Poetry in Sustainable Agriculture.” It will take place at 7 p.m. in the Brunnier Gallery in the Scheman Building.

The event was planned as a part of a graduate colloquium by Nancy Grudens-Schuck, assistant professor of agricultural education and studies, and Joni Palmer, associate professor in landscape architecture.

The series featured agriculture-related poems from many different sources, and will culminate today, with a reading by four poets: Debra Marquart, associate professor, Mary Swander, professor, Sheryl St. Germain, associate professor, all of whom are part of the ISU English department, and Twyla Hansen, a Nebraska horticulturist and poet.

“The idea [of sustainable agriculture] is an important one – how do you live on the land, and stay on the land,” Marquart said.

The poetry reading is intended to teach people about the importance of sustainable agriculture through means other than facts and charts. By utilizing poetry, the series has done what many other faculty at Iowa State have tried to do – to find a connection between science and the humanities.

Palmer has had quite a bit of experience finding ties between the two. She worked with many of the readers for today’s event through the creative writing department. She is also the public director for “Imagine This Land,” a series of community-sponsored poetry readings, which has involved groups like Word of Mouth Productions.

Even though the series is centered around sustainable agriculture, it isn’t limited only to that idea. Some readers have chosen topics like community, family or time.

“The Horizontal Life,” the reading that Marquart is doing, deals with keeping families on a farm for generations and the struggle that exists to keep a piece of land.

“I hope that this brings an awareness to the people about sustaining land and community,” Palmer said.