A two-hour program titled "Employee Wellness … Understanding the Real Cost to Your Organization" will be offered free at the Hotel Winneshiek June 27. The 3-5 p.m. event is sponsored by Rockwell Collins in collaboration with Winneshiek County Development, Inc. and the Northeast Iowa Business Network.

A new report, "Creating Change in the Food System: The Role of Regional Food Networks in Iowa," was recently released by the Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University (MSU). The report documents the policy, funding, and capacity gains fostered by a grassroots network of collaborating regional food groups, and shares critical insights on using the power of networks to build resilient local and regional food systems.

In a reflection of Luther College's commitment to sustainable food and local producers, Luther is pleased to announce that 100 percent of burgers served on campus are made with beef from Grass Run Farms, a locally owned business that works with farmers in the region to raise antibiotic-free, pasture-based beef.

North Fayette Senior High served "banana burritos" for its second Fuel Up to Play 60 breakfast taste test. Stanbrough thought the burritos would be a big hit with the students and would be a nice substitute for the "breakfast burrito" that they currently serve.

In celebration of Earth Day and Global Youth Service Day, 41 Postville elementary students and their parents gathered together to participate in a workshop that emphasized the importance of physical activity and healthy eating habits.

Fifth grade students at MFL MarMac's McGregor center earned the title of school champions for recording their data in the Live Healthy Iowa 100 Day Wellness Challenge. An interest in gardening and vegetables contributed to their success.

Specialized farm equipment will be showcased at a field day and open house hosted by Kymar Acres and Windridge Implements on June 9. The equipment includes various seeders, tiller and transplanters designed for small to medium-sized vegetable farms.

Decorah High School Environmental Science teacher Tim Hayes says the high school's garden project has been working well. Hayes and fellow teacher Brad Johansen started the program in 2007 with the first garden planted in the area between the dike and the Upper Iowa River behind the high school. Three years ago the garden was expanded to an area in front of the high school. This location has given the project greater visibility, more fertile soil and fewer weed and wildlife issues.

The Northeast Iowa RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) is seeking volunteers to serve in four local community gardening projects. The Spectrum Network, the Decorah Park and Recreation Department and two nursing homes, Aase Haugen and Barthell Eastern Star, are doing summer garden projects and are seeking volunteer assistance.

Twenty-one new projects are beginning work this year, thanks to the Leopold Center's long-running competitive grants program. Three projects will directly impact the food system work in northeast Iowa.