Kansas Rural Center

KANSAS RURAL CENTER S BUILDING THE CENTRAL KANSAS FOOD CORRIDOR PROJECT WILL CONNECT FARMERS AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS IN A TWELVE COUNTY CORRIDOR IN KANSAS DEFINED BY INTERSTATE 135, ANCHORED BY THE POPULATION CENTERS OF WICHITA IN THE SOUTH AND SALINA IN THE NORTH. THIS PROJECT WILL ACHIEVE THREE OBJECTIVES. FIRST, CREATING A FARMER LED FOOD HUB IN THE REGION AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS LOOKING TO MOVE INTO WHOLESALE MARKETS. SECOND, KANSAS RURAL CENTER S VALUE CHAIN COORDINATOR WILL WORK TO CONNECT THE FOOD HUB AND OTHER FARMERS IN THE REGION TO MID TIER MARKET CHANNELS INCLUDING RESTAURANTS, GROCERY STORES, SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS. THIRD, PROJECT PARTNERS, COMMON GROUND PRODUCERS AND GROWERS, ST. JOHN S MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH AND KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILL WORK TO DEVELOP MOBILE MARKETS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS IN COMMUNITIES WITH LOW ACCESS TO FRESH, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. THIS PROJECT PURSUES A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE FOOD SYSTEM. IT WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY HELP FARMERS IN THE REGION WHO HAVE PRODUCTION GEARED TOWARDS LOCAL MARKETS ACCESS NEW MARKET CHANNELS AND INCREASE ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCAL FOOD FOR CONSUMERS ACROSS THE REGION, WITH A SPECIAL ATTENTION TOWARDS AREAS THAT CURRENTLY HAVE LIMITED ACCESS.

INCREASING RISK MGMT EFFECTIVNESS

RME OUTREACH

2014 EDUCATION AWARD

2018RMEPP

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

PLAN TO GROW KANSAS FARMERS MARKETS

THE KANSAS RURAL CENTER WILL MANAGE THIS STATEWIDE PROJECT THROUGH AN ESTABLISHED NETWORK OF COLLABORATORS--SOUTHWEST KANSAS, DOUGLAS, AND SEDGWICK COUNTY EXTENSIONS; COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBOS)--COMMON GROUND PRODUCERS AND GROWERS, KANSAS CITY YOUNG FARMERS COALITION, CENTRAL KANSAS YOUNG FARMERS COALITION, KANSAS FARMERS UNION; KANSAS BLACK FARMERS ASSOCIATION; AND NATIONAL NETWORKS--FARM BEGINNINGS COLLABORATIVE, WOMEN FOOD, AND AG NETWORK. THE LONG-RANGE GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A ROBUST, COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER (BFR) PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES BUSINESS PLANNING, IN-DEPTH EDUCATION ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES THAT INCREASE BIODIVERSITY AND RESILIENCY AND HELP MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE, INFORMATION ON ACCESSING LAND AND CAPITAL, AND SUPPORT AND COPING STRATEGIES FOR THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND FINANCIAL STRESSES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FOUR REGIONAL BFR LISTENING SESSIONS, ONE BFR NETWORKING AND EDUCATION CONFERENCE, AND FOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO CREATE A KANSAS-INFORMED CURRICULUM TO SERVE 150 FARMERS IN 2021-22, PLUS DETAILED PROGRAM EVALUATION.PRIMARY OBJECTIVES ARE TO 1) DEVELOP A BEGINNING FARMER/RANCHER CURRICULUM THAT FOCUSES ON LAND ACCESS AND BUSINESS PREPAREDNESS; 2) GATHER INPUT FROM 150 BEGINNING FARMERS, FARM TRAINING EXPERTS, AND CBOS WORKING WITH 25% SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS TO ENHANCE CONNECTIONS AND PROVIDE NEEDED RESOURCES FOR ASPIRING AND BFRS TO IMPROVE SUCCESS; 80% WILL REPORT LEARNING TO IMPROVE FARMING PRACTICES. THE SUCCESS OF THESE OUTCOMES WILL IMPROVE THE ECONOMY AND FOOD SECURITY OF THE REGION.