In June, some of our dedicated team members at Healthy Harvest of North Iowa had the opportunity to attend the 2024 Community Food Systems + Farm to School and Early Care Conference in Iowa City. This event, held on June 13-14, was a remarkable chance for us to connect, network, and learn new strategies from other leaders around the state of Iowa.

Day 1 Highlights

The conference kicked off with a powerful performance of “Squatters on Red Earth,” a play written by Mary Swander, which set the tone for the thought-provoking discussions that followed. We enjoyed a delicious local lunch provided by Da Flava Unit before embarking on farm tours. We visited Camp Creek Organic Produce and Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, where we gained insights into sustainable farming practices and community food systems. The day concluded with a locally grown dinner catered by Plated Table at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, where we celebrated the Riceville Community School District’s achievement in receiving the 2024 Golden Root Award.

Day 2 Highlights

The second day was packed with a variety of speakers and breakout sessions. Our very own Marie Morud and Julie Udelhofen, the Clear Lake Community Schools Food Service Director, led a breakout session on “Successful Taste Testing in Schools,” sharing their expertise and practical tips. The lunch keynote speaker was JayJay Goodvin from the Iowa Gallivant, who inspired us with his insights into Iowa’s local food scene.

Conference Overview

The theme of this year’s conference was “Rooted in Community: Growing Partnerships for Sustainable Food Systems,” celebrating food systems, farm to school and early care, and local food. The event included farm tours, a facilitated discussion around the play “Squatters on Red Earth,” and a farm dinner catered by local businesses. Sessions were held at Graduate Iowa City and covered topics such as community food systems, farm to school and early care, with plenaries, keynotes, breakout sessions, and bite-sized sessions showcasing diverse and impactful work from around the state and nation.

The Community Food Systems Program began hosting the Community Food Systems (CFS) Annual Event in 2015. In 2023, it merged with the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Annual Conference to create a unique event that promotes collaboration and cross-sector partnerships.

Our team loves attending events like these to stay updated and bring innovative ideas back to North Iowa, helping to advance our local food system. A huge thank you to the Iowa State Farm, Food and Enterprise Development team for organizing such an enriching and inspiring conference. We are excited to implement the new strategies and connections we gained to continue supporting and growing North Iowa’s local food community.

Stay tuned for more updates and join us in celebrating our commitment to sustainable food systems and farm-to-school initiatives!