Douglas County advances Indigenous Food System Study and hires local leaders to guide action plan

Douglas County staff told commissioners they are advancing an Indigenous Food System Study and Action Plan to fill gaps in the county’s 2017 food‑system plan. Connie Federle Fitzpatrick, the county’s food‑system specialist, said the study emerged after indigenous farmers raised needs and that staff pursued a Kansas Health Foundation grant in 2024 to support the work.

‘‘This work started with farmers coming over to the council... staff applied for a Kansas Health Foundation grant, which was granted in 2024, and the work started,’’ Fitzpatrick said. She added the project emphasizes indigenous leadership: ‘‘hiring local indigenous leaders to coordinate this effort with partners and doing all of this work, indigenously.’’

Staff described partnerships with Haskell Indian Nations University extension, K‑State partners and local leaders including Brett Ramey and other named collaborators. Quinlan Carter and other council members praised the team and said the study is intended to produce culturally grounded priority areas, strategies and an implementation framework. Commissioners said they look forward to a final report later this year and urged that outcomes be visible and tied to tangible opportunities for indigenous community members and local markets.

The county presented the study as both a corrective to earlier plan gaps on tribal foods and a potential early priority for a 10‑year plan refresh. Staff said they will share the final report and recommendations with the commission and community partners when the study concludes.