Celebrate food, community and sustainability at local food festival

AMES — The Farm, Food and Enterprise Development team with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the ISU Live Green! Initiative, Horticulture Research Station, and ISU Dining, along with support from other departments and organizations at Iowa State University, are hosting the annual Local Food Festival on Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Iowa State’s central campus, between Curtiss Hall and Beardshear Hall.

The festival was first organized in 2015 and features local farm and food businesses, community organizations, Iowa State departments and student organizations. The Local Food Festival offers the Iowa State community an opportunity to source local products and meet the producers; engage around topics such as local food systems, health and wellness and sustainability; and learn about the initiatives of various organizations and departments.

“One of my favorite parts of the festival is making space for students to sample and purchase nutritious, locally grown and produced food as well as learn about how different organizations support food and agriculture and sustainability in our community,” remarked Megan Kemp, extension education specialist for Farm, Food and Enterprise Development.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees will have four hours to visit various booths lining the sidewalk between Beardshear Hall and Curtiss Hall. Booths will offer a variety of samples, products for purchase, informational flyers and giveaways. For a list of vendors and sponsors of the festival, visit the Local Food Festival website: https://bit.ly/localfoodfestival.

“At the heart of this festival is the value of providing a low-barrier opportunity for vendors and the Iowa State community to connect and share about local foods, healthy lifestyles and sustainability,” shared Kemp.

Vendor and sponsor opportunities are also available. Vending allows for promotion of organizations or businesses during the festival. Sponsorships help keep the Local Food Festival an accessible platform for vendors to gain visibility with students, faculty and staff. To reserve a free booth and/or sponsor the festival, fill out the vendor and sponsor form by Aug. 20, at https://bit.ly/2023localfoodfestival.

Sponsors include:

•Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Farm, Food and Enterprise Development

•Iowa State University Office of Sustainability/Live Green! Initiative

•Iowa State University Student Health and Wellness

•Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Agriculture and Natural Resources

•Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Community and Economic Development

•Iowa Farmers Union

•Story County Supervisors

•Clayton Farms

For more information regarding the festival, visit https://bit.ly/localfoodfestival. For questions, contact Megan Kemp at mkemp@iastate.edu.