K-State travels the state to engage with Kansans on food security, entrepreneurship and educational access
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Quinlan Carttar, left, and Jenny Doty, food systems entrepreneurial resource navigators with K-State Research and Extension, lead a session focused on supporting food businesses in accessing licensed kitchens as part of the food entrepreneurship workshop.
Community members across Kansas engaged with Kansas State University during the recent spring community visit series, which focused on topics such as food security challenges, entrepreneurship opportunities in the food industry and educational access.
The recent spring community visits to Hamilton, Finney and Sumner counties were a continuation of the presidential regional community visits, which show the university's commitment to fostering community health and well-being. K-State is prioritizing engagement and building partnerships to tackle the most pressing and imperative challenges facing Kansas communities, because if we do good in Kansas, we can do good for the world.
As part of the spring community visit series, the K-State team of faculty, staff, students and extension professionals hosted events in the southwestern and south central regions of Kansas from April 28-30.
The community visit series kicked off in Hamilton County with K-State Research and Extension. Lora Horton, director of K-State Research and Extension in Hamilton County, led a facilitated community conversation in Syracuse about working together to address food security gaps and discussing new ways to help people get the food they need.
Students from the Global Food Systems Leadership program returned to Finney County as a follow-up to an Alternative Break visit that occurred during spring break. K-State students hosted a dynamic conversation with middle school youth from the Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center in Garden City. They explored local food accessibility and identified opportunities to engage with the local food system through education and career pathways in higher education.
Jahida Resendiz, sophomore in agronomy and global food systems leadership, said visiting the Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center left a lasting impression and reinforced her motivation to pursue long-term work in Garden City.
"I felt a deep sense of connection and the beginning of meaningful relationships with Principal Andrew Le and his beautiful family, the teachers, and most importantly, the students," Resendiz said. "We had the opportunity to design and lead an activity with the students, which turned out to be a truly positive and rewarding experience to witness."
Resendiz also said that, as a young leader, participating in experiences such as the community visit and Alternative Breaks strengthened her ability to collaborate and begin paving the way for others like herself, those who need early, accessible opportunities to build long-term community partnerships.
At a community visit event in Hamilton County, the K-State team led a conversation with community members to identify and address food security gaps in the county.
Another community visit event in Garden City involved the Office of Recruitment and Admissions Transfer Navigator Team. The team hosted a tabling event at Garden City Community College, where students explored transfer opportunities, entered scholarship drawings and got their transfer questions answered. Following the tabling event, a luncheon brought together academic advisors and colleagues to learn more about the transfer process and strengthen collaboration between the two institutions to support a smooth transition for students.
The community visit wrapped up with a food entrepreneurship workshop in Caldwell. More than 44 community members attended the workshop held in partnership with Network Kansas, K-State Research and Extension, Sumner County Economic Development and the Heartland Regional Food Business Center. The workshop included sessions focused on food entrepreneurship, food incubators and commercial kitchens, and financing options. The workshop also included an optional walking tour to learn about economic development happening in downtown Caldwell.
"The event with K-State underscored how vital strong partnerships are in bringing resources like our commercial kitchen to life," said Stacy Davis, executive director of the Sumner County Economic Development Commission. "Through grant funding and shared vision, this space has become more than just a facility — it's a launchpad for small business growth, a hub for community outreach and a model of what's possible when local innovation meets statewide collaboration.
"Collaborations like these don't just expand access — they empower entrepreneurs, strengthen rural economies and spark lasting impact in our communities."
K-State will continue to visit communities across Kansas to celebrate innovation and outreach opportunities. If you or your department are interested in participating in future visits, contact the Office of Engagement at ooengage@k-state.edu.
The K-State community visit initiative fosters community health and well-being across Kansas. K-State has visited multiple communities throughout the state to listen to and learn from the Kansans who live there. See all the locations where K-State has visited.
Watch a video that showcases K-State's engagement in Kansas communities.