Outreach Program is annually a part of the Iowa Hunger Summit and World Food Prize. The Iowa Hunger Summit celebrates Iowa’s great successes in fighting hunger and poverty and unites groups in further action. It gathers leaders from community organizations, business and industry, state and local government, social agencies, churches and religious communities, schools and universities, and other individuals and groups that participate in projects to confront hunger.

The World Food Prize attracts leaders from more than 65 countries to Des Moines, Iowa, to discuss global efforts to alleviate hunger. Over 1,200 people—scientists, economists, policy makers and agricultural leaders attended. The annual three-day international symposium took place Oct. 14-16..

Livestock Intensification Workshop

The first day was the Iowa Hunger Summit. Outreach Program presented a livestock intensification workshop which focused on the 8,000 acre Shallom Farm in Tanzania. The Speakers were Richard Hatfield, Dr. Ellen Dierenfeld, and Dr. Deborah Ann Turner.

Savory Method  

Richard Hatfield provided an overview of the Savory intensified rotational grazing concept and system currently used on over 40 million acres around the globe, including Iowa. We are currently implementing that method at Shallom Farm. 

 

Sisal Project

Dr. Ellen Dierenfeld presented research data developed at the Shallom Farm in 2014 on the Sisal Project overview which was presented at the Hunger Summit in 2014. Dierenfeld also introduced the 2015 Empowering Women in Rural Tanzania Through Dairy Goats Project which focuses on milk, yogurt, and cheese production.

Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index Survey

Dr. Turner is collaborating with anthropologist, Dr. Betsy Richey, to implement USAID’s Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index survey in the Mainga village just outside the border of Shallom Farm. This project has been funded by The Rotary Club of Des Moines and The International Foundation. “We need to focus on how we are going to empower the people who will be feeding the world” said Dr. Turner.

Here is a video of Dr. Turner’s full presentation

The workshop led to intense discussion on each of the three topics and is a step forward in engaging everyone on the topic of hunger.

Advocacy Tool Kit Breakout Session

Later in the day, there was a breakout session on the Advocacy Tool Kit from the Alliance to End Hunger with Outreach Program’s VP of Public and Private Partnerships, Rick McNary as Co-Leader. Advocacy was discussed on a personal, organizational, and community-wide level. Other topics discussed were how to do your own small or large part to advocate for a nation free from hunger, and a newly-released “Advocacy Playbook” was explored. The Advocacy Playbook can help guide anti-hunger workers into anti-hunger advocates.

Lunch Is Served

This wasn’t all that Outreach Program did at the Iowa Hunger Summit. They also were a part of the first day luncheon where Outreach meals were served to over 800 people.

The meals were  enjoyed by the attendees, validating to the statement that Outreach Program meals are both nutritious and tasty!

The Hunger-Free Iowa Initiative

There was also a booth showing off Outreach Program’s Hunger Free Iowa Initiative and how Outreach Program meals are packaged.

World Food Prize

The Iowa Hunger Summit segues into WFP since it’s at the same location. The WFP has a more international focus than the Iowa Hunger Summit. Outreach Program’s booth changed from a domestic theme to spotlighting the Shallom Farm Project, as well as having crafts made by the Tanzanian people for sale.

A Meal Packaging Event to Close Out The Week

On the final day of WFP, over 200 students from around the nation met to package 24,000 Rice and Bean Outreach Program meals for our Outreach Children’s Centers in Tanzania. They met on October 15 at the Des Moines Catholic Diocese Building in Des Moines, Iowa. This capped off an amazing three days for Outreach Program.

Outreach Program looks forward to being at the Iowa Hunger Summit and WFP for many years to come!

For more information on how your company or organization, anywhere in the U.S. can have a meal packaging event, please call:

641-486-2550

Email: office@outreachprogram.org