• OFBC update
The Boone County Food Policy project is currently in the analysis phase. Paper and
online surveys are being compiled, and qualitative data review is underway. Six focus
groups have been completed, and while turnout was sometimes limited, discussions
revealed consistent themes, including food waste as a major concern, strong appreciation
for the Food Bank and the farmers market, and community interest in improving
accessibility and waste reduction systems. Moving forward, the team will pursue
additional informal information-gathering through existing community meetings and
pre-formed groups. Although the formal focus group events with incentives have ended,
leftover incentives will still be used in smaller engagements.
Future plans include hosting symposiums, as defined in the grant contract, to gather
public input. These may take the form of community food events, such as a “food fest”
style gathering, with pre- and post-surveys to measure learning and impact. Symposiums
are budgeted to occur annually through the grant, with flexibility in timing, and a spring
2026 event is under consideration. Preliminary data releases, such as data walks and
community events, may also occur before the final report. Draft reports will be shared for
public feedback, then revised and presented to the commission, with the final report
expected in summer or fall 2026.
The report will summarize community input and data findings, while the five-year food plan
will outline actionable recommendations for City Council and the County Commission.
The report is also intended to serve as a tool for external organizations, such as the
health department, MU Extension, and local nonprofits, to leverage for funding
applications and program development. Data sources will combine qualitative stories from
community members with quantitative data from partners such as CARES, MU faculty,
and economic researchers.
The commission’s role will be to review drafts, identify key themes, and develop clear,
prioritized recommendations for City Council and the County Commission.
Commissioners emphasized the importance of distilling findings into concise action items
rather than lengthy reports, while also recognizing that their role is advisory-focused on
recommendations, stakeholder connections, and facilitating collaboration rather than
direct service delivery. Ideas under discussion include hosting a Food Fest-style event to
showcase community food resources, creating a Food Forum or “hackathon” gathering to
promote collaboration on food system challenges, and exploring how supporting systems
such as insurance, healthcare, and employers intersect with the food system and can be
engaged in solutions.
• County representation update
During the discussion on county representation, it was noted that there are currently no
updates. Shikles will be reaching out to the County Commission to see if they can
provide an appointee, but no information has been received yet. Members acknowledged
that this will continue to stay on the group’s radar. It was suggested that survey and
focus group results may help highlight community needs and gaps, which could shape
objectives and activities moving forward-such as hosting a Food Forum or Food Fest, if
members are interested.
