KENTUCKY STUDENTS LEAD THE FIGHT FOR LOCAL FOOD

By Nicole Funk, KSEC, University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky students mix pumpkin muffin batter

On October 12th , 2016, the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition (KSEC) hosted its first annual Local Food Day of Action.

Universities across the state celebrated the day with events and activities to raise awareness for the importance of local food and to promote local food on campuses.

Students at Northern Kentucky University chalked their campus with messages about the Local Food Day of Action. At Murray State University, students tabled to promote the day, allowing students to learn more about local food. Students also tabled at the University of Louisville to educate others on why local food is beneficial, how the university has progressed in their embrace of local food, and introduced more of the campus to KSEC's organizing work. Visitors were able to fill out a survey about the kind of local food they would like to see on campus. Finally, at the University of Kentucky, students baked pumpkin chocolate chip muffins using local eggs and flour as well as squash and pumpkin grown on UK’s South Farm. The muffins were handed out to students to raise awareness of and appreciation for local food.

These Kentucky-wide activities helped spread KSEC’s message of support for local food. The Day of Action allowed students across the state to find out why food grown and produced in Kentucky is so valuable.

Here’s to hoping this day will inspire students, faculty & staff, and community members to bring more local food to our campuses!

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