Food Insecurity Survey Outreach
Author: Madison Price | Major: Agricultural Business
This past summer as I was finalizing my class schedule for the Fall 2021 semester, I was presented with an opportunity too good to pass up. Dr. Jennie Popp and Dr. Louise Hancox chose six students, including myself, to participate in a food insecurity research course with Honors Arkansas—a coalition of college and university honors programs across the state. I jumped in headfirst, knowing that I would be working with remarkable classmates and leaders in the course.
Being a lifelong resident of Arkansas, I knew the impact this research course could have on the state. Growing up in a poverty-stricken, rural area, I wanted to help in any research I could regarding food insecurity. For years I knew the likelihood of my classmates, friends, and members of the community facing such a horrible reality—not having food on the table. Using my abilities, I wanted to be among the change in Arkansas through research and advocating for the citizens of the state.
Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, I looked forward to collaborating with my fellow classmates in Fayetteville, along with zoom calls with honors students across the state. We had the opportunity to hear from corporate leaders, state legislators and non-profit stakeholders of Arkansas. It was always so eye-opening to hear the different perspectives and knowledge about food insecurity in the state. One of the most remarkable sessions was listening to the state legislators and their experience and plans on combating food insecurity.
The University of Arkansas Honors Arkansas team worked on a couple of projects that will greatly help the university, community, and state. On the first project, we teamed up with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and conducted research collecting data from all supermarkets, grocery stores, and farmers markets in a handful of counties in Northwest Arkansas. This data will help the food bank identify food deserts and means needed to get families access to food, whether that be in the urban or rural areas. My part of the project was to collect data and identify farmers markets in the entire state, their hours, whether that be seasonal or annual, along with the products they offer. It was rewarding to find out which counties across Arkansas offer a fresh and organic option for their citizens, as well as to see the benefit for local farmers.
The second project the team worked on was conducting a food insecurity survey for the entire University of Arkansas campus. We worked together to decide questions, collect prizes for participants, and analyzed the data after the survey closed. We each helped get in contact with groups across campus to encourage participation. After the results were in, we analyzed the data by questions and demographics. It was so eye opening to see through the data which demographics struggled to have food to eat. Overall, I think the project will greatly benefit in helping those that struggle with food insecurity.
As a first-generation college student coming from rural Arkansas, I am anxious to see the hard work put in by the food insecurity research course team be put into action—to make sure that no one on our campus goes hungry, and to advocate for those that are hungry in the community and across Arkansas. The knowledge I received through this research course will greatly help me as I will continue to advocate for positive change regarding food insecurity.