photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Opening day of the Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market, April 12, 2025.

Douglas County residents will be able to learn about how to engage in local, state and national policy efforts to strengthen food systems and reduce food insecurity in a workshop next week.

The free event will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, in the Dreher 4-H building at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper Street. Ginny Barnard, executive director of LiveWell Douglas County, told the Journal-World via email that the workshop will open with an engaging activity led by Emily Lysen, director of development at the Lawrence Farmer’s Market, to get participants thinking about our food system.

Then, around 1:30 p.m., Haley Kottler from Kansas Appleseed will give a presentation on understanding advocacy. The second half of the meeting will be a panel discussion with people representing local and state issues, Barnard said via email.

The event is organized by LiveWell Douglas County, Douglas County Food Policy Council and Douglas County Extension.

People can register for the event on LiveWell Douglas County’s website.