K-State Student Applied Learning Opportunities

Throughout the year, the Council mentors many K-State students from across colleges and curriculums. We host many interns and scholars to help us with our work while skill-building for their future. The Council is known for challenging the “project in a box” thinking and encouraging students to meet course requirements while at the same time investing their time and energy in real-world experiences applied in the local food system.

Impact

Each school year our Council works with approximately 30 students individually and 200+ through classroom presentations and one-time programs/events.

Testimonials

“I’ve never had such real-world experiences as working with the Food and Farm Council programs. This will be something I’ll take with me wherever I go.”

Food Security Scholar

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work and learn from you through the Food and Farm Council community engagement work. This has been one of my favorite experiences in Manhattan, and has been one of, if not the best, learning and growth opportunities I've had to date. You've been a fantastic mentor and I am excited to keep working with you!”

K-State Student

Community Engagement & Applied Learning

Kansas State University students support the Food and Farm Council through applied learning experiences that connect community engagement with real-world problem solving. Students have helped plan and facilitate focus groups with a wide range of community members, including youth, Spanish-speaking households, and older adults. Insights gathered through this work inform program design and help ensure local food initiatives are practical, accessible, and responsive.

In addition, students have developed and implemented surveys with Blessing Box sponsors, expanded campus engagement to increase participation in the Flint Hills Food Recovery program, and served in leadership roles for the Power of Produce youth program.

Through these hands-on experiences, students build leadership and professional skills while strengthening community-informed planning and local food system initiatives.

Local Food Fellows Strengthened Our Work

The Food and Farm Council was awarded two K-State Research and Extension Local Food Fellows in Summer 2024, and their work led to meaningful, lasting improvements across multiple programs.

One Fellow focused on strengthening the Blessing Box program, helping increase community awareness and engagement around shared responsibility for stocking boxes. Through outreach, coordination, and creative engagement efforts, more individuals, families, and groups stepped up then in Summer of 2025 to participate in the Stock the Box Challenge—easing the burden on box sponsors and reinforcing the idea that Blessing Boxes are a community-supported resource.

A second Fellow helped kickstart Flint Hills Food Recovery efforts at Kansas State University, expanding awareness and participation across campus. This work led to increased involvement from colleges, student organizations, and campus groups serving as food donors at events and meetings. As a result, more excess food is now safely recovered and redirected to serve community needs through the Flint Hills Food Recovery program and the ChowMatch system.

Together, these Fellows demonstrated how student leadership and applied learning can drive systems-level improvements, strengthen community participation, and create impact that continues well beyond a single summer.

Food Security Scholars

The K-State Staley School of Leadership Food Security Scholars Program: Each Spring semester the Food and Farm Council provides community service experiences for 3-4 Food Security Scholars.These are practical application opportunities to work alongside our Council and partners in each of our nine programs. Examples of student engagement include social media plan development, creation of infographics and promotional materials, observation and assessment of program needs, and a seat at the table in creating change.