- K-State home
- Research and Extension
- Kansas Local Food Systems
- Get Involved
- Local Food Fellows
- Local Food Fellow Positions
Current Local Food Fellow Positions
We're pleased to share with you the 15 project host sites for our 2024 Local Food Fellows. These hosts were selected through a competitive application process. The individual fellows working in each of these communities across Kansas have exciting local food system projects to work on. Sign up for our newsletter so you can stay engaged and hear updates on these projects!
Spring 2024 Independent Fellows
Kelly Perry - Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, INC., Fort Scott, KS
- Project Summary: This project included updating and enhancing an online food wholesale and buyer directory for the region. In addition, Kelly hosted a workshop for farmers market vendors or others starting a food business, with partners from KS Dept. of Agriculture, to present and answer questions about labels, licenses, and food safety. Kelly also created four storytelling campaigns featuring local food businesses for the HBCAT social media.
- Success Story from HBCAT Leadership: "This project came at a time when the community had a boom in farmers market attendance and many vendors needed the resources and connections offered regarding regulations on proper labeling and samples at markets. Our fellow was a local face that residents were familiar with and trusted to ask questions. Kelly would always follow up with resources or connections to other experts to provide support."
Cassidy Perry - Juniper Hill Farms, Lawrence, KS
- Project Summary: This fellow worked to create tools to help Juniper Hill Farms pitch their products to retail grocery stores. New materials included a pricing sheet to communicate pricing efficiently as well as other marketing and promotional materials.
- Success Story from Juniper Hill Farms: "We have a stronger price list that we can more quickly generate customer reports from to send to specific customers."
Morgan Barba - Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS
- Project Summary: First, a local food directory was developed to identify local producers more efficiently and gauge interest in providing local fresh produce year-round. The second part of this project included a community survey, distributed via a local radio station related to community interest in local fresh produce. Feedback from the community and the producers allowed the fellow to provide recommendations for continued progress to meet the needs of the Hays community.
- Success Story from Morgan: "The survey received 129 responses from community members in the Hays and surrounding communities. It offered excellent insights such as community interest in bi-weekly local food shares program and community garden opportunities."
Kelli Snider-Short - K-State Research and Extension Reno County, Hutchinson, KS
- Project Summary:Creating a digital local food producer directory for the Reno County area, this project focused on in-person site visits with local producers. Kelli showcased local producers through personal interviews and story telling so that readers can feel as though they have met the producers.
- Success Story from Kelli: "Perhaps most inspiring was hearing about everyone's unique background and yet almost all had the same driving force to produce natural, nutritious food, and the educate others about how local food can support our individual, community, and economic health."
Anna Skenadore - Lawrence Farmers Market, Lawrence, KS
- Project Summary: With the fellow funding, the Lawrence Farmers Market was able to hire their existing market manager full-time which allowed them the opportunity to plan more programming for vendors and customers. Additional projects included a Vendor Market Guide, SNAP education outreach, mapping the market with GIS software, and social media highlighting more live content during market.
- Success Story from Anna: "It was amazing to attend my spring vendor meeting and to see my hard work being presented to vendors. To be able to educate them on the new token program we introduced this year and licensing/insurance procedures, it was very cool to see all my work come together at one time."
Sonya Nicholson - Children First CEO, Wichita, KS
- Project Summary: The project launched Grandma's Kitchen to empower at-risk individuals by providing an opportunity to learn how to cook nutritious meals. Participants were provided a stipend for participating in food prep and cooking homemade casseroles utilizing locally produced meat that were later provided to families in temporary housing. The time was also used to share experiences and current challenges among participants.
- Success Story from Children First CEO Director: "One of the participants mentioned that she was a nurse but needed $150 to renew her license. We jumped into gear and with other funding were able to pay the renewal fee. What a game-changer for her and her family! Without this program, she would have never felt comfortable to share that information...the magic of the kitchen.
Summer 2024 K-State Student Fellows
Look forward to learning more about their completed projects after July 26th!
Sophia Ong - Cultivate KC, Kansas City Metro
Hannah Gilpatrick - K-State Research and Extension Wabaunsee County
Adelaide Easter - Riley County Food & Farm Council, Manhattan, KS
Ellie Bellerive - Riley County Food & Farm Council, Manhattan, KS
Summer 2024 Independent Fellows
Learn more about these fellow projects as they're completed thoughout the summer.
- Jenna Morrison - Allen County Farmers Market: Iola, KS
- Becca Warta - Central Topeka Grocery Oasis & Shawnee County Farm and Food Council: Topeka, KS
- Jessie Carr - Fort Scott Farmers Market: Fort Scott, KS
- Abby Deckert - Harvey County Health Department: Newton, KS
- Laura Thomas - Liberal Area Coalition for Families: Liberal, KS
- Alex Randall - Thunder Ridge High School: Kensington, KS