Feeding Kansas Dinner & Dialogue RSVP Downloadable Flyer

What: Feeding Kansas Dinner & Dialogue and Allen County Farmers Market Fundraiser

When: June 21, 2016 Dinner beginning at 5:00 pm. Program beginning after 5:30 p.m.

Where: On the East side of the Allen County Courthouse Square located at 1 N. Washington Street, in Iola

Cost: A $12 per person donation for dinner, which benefits the Allen County Farmers Market, will be requested at the event. RSVP requested.

Come join us for a dinner made with ingredients sourced from Allen County Farmers Market Vendors and discussion about the state budget and revenue situation and how it affects local food and farm systems development.

Iola’s forum on June 21 will feature an analysis of state budget and revenue concerns and of the impacts of recent state legislation on local food systems and food access, by Kansas Rural Center Lobbyist, Paul Johnson. Ron Brown will provide an update and outlook on the state Local Food & Farm Task Force. Brown served as Chairman of the Task Force last year.

Nancy Brown, Director of Policy Development for Farm Bureau, will provide an update on the organization’s activities. The League of Women Voters will share resources for increasing voter registration and educating your community members on the importance of voting and how their participation will make a difference.

Local farm to fork efforts will be highlighted, including an updates from Allen County GROW (Growing Rural Opportunities Works) President Kathy McEwan and the Allen County Farmers’ Market President Calvin Parker. Both organizations are working to advance local food systems and development in the Southeast Kansas region and are especially interested in educating the public about what they do and ways to get involved and support their efforts.

Time will also be provided for round table dialogue focusing on civic engagement, resources, ideas, and ways to work together to reach the common vision of a healthy, local food system.

The forum will be the last in KRC’s Feeding Kansas Dinner & Dialogue series of six across the state. Previous forums were held in Hutchinson, Colby, and Concordia. Forums will be held in Garden City on June 16 and in Ottawa on June 20. Each forum is a little different but each will offer state and local overviews of food and farm related activity and the opportunity to learn more about how amplify your voice during this important election year.

The Allen County Farmers market is open Thursdays from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm, from April through October.

The Feeding Kansas Forum Series is a part of KRC’s “Community Food Solutions for a Healthier Kansas” initiative, which aims to improve economy, community, environment, and health in Kansas by advancing specific public policy solutions that better incorporate Kansas farms into the state’s healthy food supply chain.

KRC asks that participants RSVP ahead of time to ensure a meal. For more information or to RSVP, please visit http://kansasruralcenter.org/cfs/, or call 866-579-5469 and select Natalie Fullerton, KRC Program Director.

The mission of KRC, founded in 1979, is to promote the long-term health of the land and its people through community-based research, education, and advocacy that advances an economically viable, ecologically sound, and socially just food and farming system in Kansas. For more information, visit kansasruralcenter.org.