Iowa native Chad Elliott is an international award-winning songwriter, author and artist. His career in music began in 1996 when he picked up a guitar and taught himself to play. Since then he has won prestigious awards such as best solo/duo of the International Blues Challenge, the Josie Music Award for song of the year and first place of the Woody Guthrie Song Contest. He was inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. Before he was a songwriter, he was an artist. Elliott has more than 30 years experience creating, selling and teaching art. Today, he has released 25 music albums, published two books and created hundreds of artworks. He also tours nationwide with a duo, Weary Ramblers, and owns Elliott Art Studio in Jefferson, Iowa.
Thank You to Okoboji Magazine for organizing the 2026 Speaker Series.