Making Connections:

Three priorities guide Bill Northey’s work as Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture: safeguarding environmental quality, increasing renewable fuels production and telling agriculture’s story. Of these, communicating the story of agriculture ranks at the top of the list.

“Good public policy starts with having good information and a keen understanding of its impact,” he says. “I want Iowans to be familiar with today’s farms so that sound policy decisions are made that maintain Iowa’s farm families as the fabric of our state.”

Therein lies the essence of the Iowa Food & Family Project (Iowa FFP), a purpose-driven initiative launched last April by the Iowa Soybean Association. It involves more than 30 partners representing an array of farm groups, grocery retailers, businesses, associations and food relief organizations. The goal of the Iowa FFP is to inspire greater awareness and trust between farmers and consumers through personal engagement and advocacy to the benefit of Iowa’s families, farms and communities.

“Iowans admit to knowing little about where their food comes from but their interest is piquing,” says Aaron Putze, Director of External Relations for the ISA and Iowa FFP coordinator. “They like and respect farmers but have sincere questions about today’s farms, particularly with regards to food quality and safety, environmental stewardship and community vitality.

“Consumers want to be part of the discussion about these important topics and farmers welcome the conversation,” Putze adds. “The Iowa FFP offers those opportunities.” 

Examples include:

• Serving as Presenting Sponsor
of the Iowa Games and supporter of Live Healthy Iowa administered by the Iowa Sports Foundation (ISF). More than 55,000 Iowans participate in ISF programming, a number sure to increase with the launch of Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative. The partnership provides Iowa’s farmers with a unique opportunity to share their story with people interested in healthy food and the integrity of the farm families who provide it. 

•  Conducting interactive “Together We CAN!” exhibit at the 2011 Iowa State Fair. More than 300,000 fairgoers viewed the unique agricultural display constructed entirely out of canned food items. It showcased the continuous commitment of today’s farmers and their dedication to providing wholesome food for everyone. The Iowa FFP will return to the south atrium of the Varied Industries Building for the 2012 Iowa State Fair (Aug. 9-19).

•  Sponsoring the first-of-its-kind “Be Our Guest, Be A Farmer” contest that welcomed the John and Nancy Conturso of Wayne N.J. to Iowa. While here, the family toured several farms, REG Newton and John Deere Des Moines Works and sampled soyfoods during a reception at the Iowa Soybean Association.

•  Coordinating “Special Delivery. Homes. Help. Hope. For Haiti” and FFA “Planting A Seed” Grant program, a joint project involving the Iowa FFA Foundation and Pioneer Hi-Bred that touts farming’s importance and encourages young people to consider ag-related careers.

In addition, the Iowa FFP has helped raise nearly $20,000 in food and cash donations for Iowa’s food banks, engaged with nearly 1,000 people online via its Facebook and Twitter platforms and keynoted more than 30 presentations to civic, community and consumer groups attended by 3,300 people. 

The Iowa Food & Family Project’s efforts are timely and recognized.

 “I’ve never seen Iowans more interested in what they eat,” says Dan Winters, WHO-HD TV (Des Moines) anchor and investigative reporter. “That’s not going to change any time soon which is why the creation of the Iowa Food & Family Project is so timely. You’re nurturing and facilitating dialogue and understanding about food at a time when people want to be engaged.”

For more information, log on to www.iowafoodandfamily.com, join the conversation at www.facebook.com/foodnfamilies or contact Putze at aputze@iasoybeans.com.