Farm tour opportunity with Mahaska Health Partnership

Mahaska Health Partnership

Employees to learn about modern equipment, conservation practices from Rose Hill farmer

ANKENY, Iowa — “Tell me and I forget; teach me and I may remember; involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin

As consumers increasingly receive news and information about their food from family, friends and social media, Mahaska Health Partnership (MHP) is providing the opportunity for staff and the public to experience firsthand a variety of topics related to modern agriculture and today’s food system via a local farm tour on Monday, July 31, 5 – 6:30 p.m.

“Though we live in a rural community, many of our employees are one or two generations removed from the farm,” said Ann Smith, MHP community wellness coordinator. “This opportunity provides open dialogue with farmers to help answer food-related questions to better our jobs in healthcare and our overall confidence as consumers.”

In conjunction with the Iowa Food & Family Project, MHP employees and their family members will visit the farm of Mark and JoAnn Jackson who raise corn, soybeans and pigs near Rose Hill. Their son, Michael, is the fifth generation to farm in Mahaska County and is proud to live in the home and farm the land that his grandmother’s grandfather purchased in 1890.

“Any historian will tell you we need to know where we’ve been to know where we’re going,” said Mark Jackson. “The same holds true for agriculture. We are conservation-minded farmers and embrace modern technologies while using our families’ heritage as lessons learned to guide our path of continuous improvement and sustainability.”

The Jackson’s teamed up with the Iowa Food & Family Project to be active participants in the food-to-fork conversation and shed light on their personal efforts to care for the environment, grow safe food and give back to the local community and economy.

“Farming is a unique way of life — often misunderstood — but nevertheless a business where sustainability is critical for a healthy environment, a positive economic bottom line and as a solid partner to our friends and neighbors,” said Jackson. “Less than two percent of the U.S. population farms, so if our story can be even a small catalyst to helping people better understand what we do and why we do it, everyone will benefit.”

Following the tour, participants will receive dinner from Subway restaurants, an Iowa FFP partner. Though a global franchise, Subway has strong Iowa ties, sourcing much of their turkey, pork and beef products from Iowa farmers via West Liberty Foods meat processing company.

“From the demonstration of equipment right down to the sandwiches served, this tour will shed light on the impacts of agriculture at home and around the world,” said Smith. “I believe this information has a direct correlation to our goals in providing health and wellness information to our patients and the community.”

The event is the second of four opportunities in the partnership. Additional sessions will be held in September and November at the Cedar Bluff Learning Center on the MHP campus.

To register for the complimentary farm tour, or for more information in upcoming sessions, contact Ann Smith at 641.672.3106 or annsmith@mahaskahealth.org.