Humanities Kansas recently awarded $4,000 to the Kansas Rural Center (KRC) in support of the “Kansas Future of Farming & Food Town Halls.” KRC will host a series of five town hall meetings across the state in July and August focused on engaging the public in conversations about the future of food and farming, climate and energy issues, and rural revitalization, using stories from our past and present to address future solutions with a holistic and inclusive approach. Whether it’s changing farming production practices, or how to get to work, or considering energy efficiency in cars or homes, climate change, and energy issues are integrally tied to our food system.

“Humanities Kansas supports projects that create dialogue about important issues,” said Julie Mulvihill, Humanities Kansas Executive Director. “This series of public events asks scholars, policy experts, producers, and community members think critically about where we’ve been and where we are going with food and farming in Kansas.”

Support for this project is provided through the Kansas Town Hall program, a partnership between Humanities Kansas and the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum that encourages citizens to discuss public policy issues facing Kansas today.

The KRC town halls are part of KRC’s “Community Food Solutions for a Healthier Kansas” initiative and Integrated Voter Engagement project, which aims to improve economy, community, environment, and health in Kansas by strengthening civic engagement and public policy support that better incorporate Kansas farms and communities into the state’s healthy food supply chain.

About Humanities Kansas. Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.

About the Kansas Rural Center. The Kansas Rural Center is a non-profit research, education and advocacy organization focusing on sustainable agriculture and a sustainable food system. 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