Iowa State University
IN-26: Innovation C

The Sustainable Agriculture Student Association (SASA) works towards promoting sustainable agriculture, consumer education and outreach, and improvement of the current agricultural paradigm. Membership is open to students, faculty, alumni, and spouses/partners. One innovative way the group promotes this awareness is through partnering with Food at First, a free meal program and perishable food pantry for those who are in need in the Ames area. Food at First serves seven meals each week and is open to anyone, no questions asked. SASA began its partnership with Food at First in 2012. Since then, the group has taken the leadership of preparing and serving meals on the first Friday of each month, ensuring a sustainable difference in the lives of those they serve within the community. Through the work done by SASA, they have connected people to a network of local foods and help nurture healthy food habits and accessibility to healthy foods for the entire community. This organization has truly built a community partnership centered around a sustainable food system and increased food security. Another committed effort of SASA toward engaging and empowering the community in food security and access to healthy food, involves SASA's leadership related to ensuring the success and sustainability of Ames' first community garden. As well as ensuring all oversight with planting, maintaining and harvesting, SASA has also taken on all responsibility and management related to recruiting and providing volunteers to assist with these needs. In addition, SASA has also worked extensively to identify and apply for financial assistance for the community garden, leading to improvements including, but not limited to adding to and improving the garden's irrigation system. Through their leadership and commitment, the community garden that provides hundreds of pounds of fresh produce annually to the Ames community, both through meals at Food at First and also seasonally through the food pantry. In addition to serving community members through work with Food at First's meal program and the community garden, SASA offers education and awareness opportunities through various outreach and engagement events.These opportunities include public events and film screenings focused on food systems; local food eat-in events where ISU students can experience a variety of locally-grown foods; and urban garden tours to increase awareness of and engagement in growing food in urban areas. Other prominent partnerships and collaborations includes SASA's work with Global Greens, the MOSES Organic Farming Conference, and the ISU Student Organic Farm.