Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative Honored at ISUEO Annual Conference

The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative (FFI) was awarded the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Team Achievement Award at the 2012 Extension and Outreach Annual Conference in Ames on Oct. 25.

The award recognizes an outstanding educational programming effort carried out with originality and creativity.   Over 30 county, regional and state ISU Extension staff were recognized with the team honor.  The award also recognized the support of the elected county Extension Councils in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties.  

ISU Extension and Outreach--Region 4 is one of the core partner organizations supporting the work of FFI along with Luther College, Upper Exploreland Regional Planning Commission and NE Iowa Community College.

ISU Extension staff coordinate the work of the Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Coalition which creates opportunities for farmers to engage in the local food system.  ISU Extension also leads the youth engagement efforts in schools by embedding the work in the Iowa 4-H program.   The vision of FFI aligns closely with the mission of Iowa's land grant university—to create healthy people, healthy environments and healthy economies.

FFI is a grassroots collaborative whose work focuses on school wellness, youth engagement, local food system development, improving community health and creating partnerships to help endure these efforts.  They work to create systemic change in the region so every day all people can experience, celebrate and promote healthy locally grown foods and enjoy abundant opportunities for physical activity and play.

The award, a framed citation, was presented to Teresa Wiemerslage, regional extension program coordinator, by Cathann Kress, Vice President for Extension and Outreach.