Missouri EATs Expands to Four New Counties in 2025

By Blake Jackson

Missouri EATs has announced that Dade, Barry, Lawrence, and Harrison counties will be part of its 2025-2026 cohort.

The program, coordinated by University of Missouri Extension, is an initiative of the Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership, which works statewide to strengthen food systems and expand food access. These counties will join Nodaway and Mississippi, which were included in the 2024-2025 group.

Missouri EATs (Engage, Act, Transform) helps communities design locally driven food system plans. Each participating county begins with a leadership team that explores opportunities such as supporting farm and food businesses, expanding local markets, improving nutrition and cooking education, or addressing food waste, explained Bill McKelvey, MU Extension senior project coordinator in community development.

“Hunger is a cause for concern in every community, affecting one in seven Missourians,” McKelvey said. “With Missouri EATs, people can explore best practices for addressing hunger and put a plan in place to take action.”

The program focuses on community engagement, assessing assets and challenges, and developing strategies that improve access to healthy food, support local agriculture, and foster economic growth.

Communities involved in Missouri EATs receive assistance to conduct surveys and focus groups, identify barriers to food access, build partnerships among farmers and businesses, and create long-term improvement plans.

Jasmin Le Blanc, founder of Roots and Harvest Community Market in Ash Grove, welcomed Dade County’s selection alongside Lawrence and Barry counties, noting, “By engaging with all sectors of our community, we aim to create a sustainable model that can inspire other regions in southwest Missouri and across the state.”

Lainey Harvick of Harvick Farms added, “We’re honored for Barry and Lawrence counties to be selected as a MO EATs community. Through this process, we hope to develop a clear, community-driven action plan to improve food access, support local farmers and create the infrastructure and partnerships needed to build a stronger, more resilient local food system.”

Sarah Massengale, MU Extension state specialist, said the program helps communities “dive into what it means to be a food secure community” and identify opportunities to strengthen local food and farming businesses.

Funding for the program comes from the Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Free virtual roundtables are available to the public, with the next session on September 9.

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