Local Youth Host FEEST in West Union
Posted: September 28, 2011
West Union teens recently gathered to prepare and share a healthy, delicious meal featuring local food. The event was a part of the newly formed FEEST group at North Fayette high school--Food Empowerment Education and Sustainability Team.
On a Sunday afternoon, the West Union FEEST team filled the kitchen of the United Methodist Church and created a variety of dishes from donated local foods including venison stir fry, vegetable frittata, fried green tomatoes, roasted green beans, steamed purple cabbage, caramelized apples and squash, baked butternut squash, tomato bruschetta with homemade tortilla chips and apple wedges with vanilla/clove yogurt.
The FEEST events started in 2006 as part of the Seattle, WA, King County Food and Fitness Initiative, a W. K. Kellogg Foundation grantee. Seattle organized a program that would engage youth in their Food and Fitness work as well as allow youth the opportunity to learn how food can connect a community. That team developed a replication manual to share with youth groups inspired by its success.
Iowa FEEST will also create the environment for youth to learn about foods, create a menu, and prepare food with a focus on local foods. Two communities in Iowa will pilot the program--West Union and Postville--with the additional of other FEEST sites in the future.
Kaylee Michelson, daughter of Scot and Karen Michelson, is the catalyst for the West Union FEEST program. Kaylee attended the W.K. Kellogg Place-Based Partnerships Meeting in Detroit in July. Kaylee was inspired by the King County FEEST program and is now working with community partners, local producers, youth and FoodCorps to implement the program in her community.
FEEST youth participants will gather each month to kick it in the kitchen, prepare a delicious and healthy meal, and then eat all together family-style while learning more about food in our communities.
For more information on the NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative or to learn how to join FEEST in West Union or Postville please contact the Iowa State University Extension office in Winneshiek County or go to www.iowafoodandfitness.org.
