K-State engages with multiple Kansas counties on food security, entrepreneurship and educational access

An April 28-30 community visit series in Hamilton, Finney and Sumner counties will include community conversations, workshops and other activities.

The Kansas State University community visit series across Kansas continues with April 28-30 events in Hamilton, Finney and Sumner counties.

By Jennifer Tidball

K‑State News and Communications Services

Kansas State University will travel the state and engage with community members to understand challenges of food security, entrepreneurship opportunities in the food industry and educational access.

A K-State community visit spring series will take place April 28-30 and include activities to engage with, listen to and learn from Kansans in Hamilton, Finney and Sumner counties and the surrounding regions. View a schedule of activities and register for community visit events.

K-State's commitment to integrating engagement across all it does is central to the university's mission as a next-generation land-grant university. The community visits show the university's commitment to prioritizing engagement and driving partnerships that address real-world challenges — whether through educational outreach, innovative research or service programs that benefit the people and industries of Kansas.

"K-State's community visits are essential to building strong university-community partnerships," said Mirna Bonilla, program manager in the Office of Engagement. "By engaging directly with Kansas communities, we can better understand community needs and unlock opportunities for growth and collaboration."

The spring community visits will include several keystone events:

• A community conversation led by K-State Research and Extension will highlight food access in Syracuse in Hamilton County.
• Several events at Garden City Community College in Finney County will highlight educational opportunities and the K-State Transfer Navigator team.
• A food entrepreneurship workshop in Caldwell in Sumner County will focus on food incubators and commercial kitchens. The workshop involves K-State Research and Extension and several partners, including Network Kansas and Sumner County Economic Development.

Community visit events are free and open to all Kansans, including community members, students, leaders and industry partners.

The K-State community visit initiative focuses on the people of Kansas and their communities. K-State continues visiting multiple communities throughout the state to celebrate innovation and outreach opportunities. President Richard Linton began the community visits in fall 2022 as a way to listen and learn from Kansans in the communities they call home. Learn more about the community visit initiative.

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