Purdue Extension reports expansion of 4-H and food-access programs in Howard County

Allison Hillis, Health and Human Sciences educator and Howard County extension director, updated commissioners on local Extension programs that reached schools and residents this spring.

Hillis said the chicken-embryology program reached 26 classrooms countywide and that the Food Is Medicine partnership — a collaboration with the health department, the Minority Health Alliance and the Food Access Alliance — provided diabetes-specific education for about 40 people with support from Health First Indiana funds and an Indiana Department of Health grant for Dining with Diabetes.

Jod Schmidt, the county 4-H educator, reported higher 4-H participation this year (about 550 youth involved) and invited the public to pre-fair judging in late June and the Howard County Fair in Greentown from July 13–18.

Christa Poland, the county food access coordinator, said the Letter Carriers food drive collected 12,000 pounds distributed among 10 pantries. She described new work teams to coordinate community gardens and food resources, the Cooking Matters program in partnership with Center Township, and Food Finders mobile pantry dates on June 5 and June 18. Poland also described the county summer lunch program: one-day-per-week hot meals at locations throughout the county plus meal bags to take home.

Commissioners thanked Extension staff and noted Christa Poland's position is grant-funded, encouraging continued local support to maintain programming. Staff said details such as market token programs for low-income families are subject to sponsorships and partner capacity.