One of the perks of sitting in the editor’s chair here at Kansas Farmer is getting to interview each class of Kansas Master Farmer families.

The wisdom in these honorees — it’s just so humbling.

This year, we’ve chosen to share the wisdom from the Class of 2022 in three articles throughout the year. You might read the first of the series, bit.ly/kmasterfarmerteamwork, and these families have stepped up to the need in their hometowns in unique ways.

Food deserts

Donna Pearson McClish and her brother David Pearson saw the food insecurity of their Wichita, Kan., neighbors living in food deserts in one of the most populated cities in our state. And it didn’t sit right with them. So, they decided to do something about it.

That something turned out to be the Common Ground Mobile Market and Mobile Food Hub, which brings the farm-fresh produce they raise on their 40-acre family farm into the communities that have little to no access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

In our chat, I was struck by how much I take for granted in the simple process of buying, transporting, storing, and cooking food for my household. I can buy in bulk and capture those savings because I have a reliable vehicle that can drive to the store and haul large quantities. I have a freezer at home that can help me store perishables. I have a work schedule that allows me time to prepare meals from scratch.

Donna and David, though, explained to me that even in Wichita, with its large number of big-box stores and savings warehouses, there are people who struggle. Due to lack of reliable transportation, household income, health issues, or work schedules, it’s a challenge to put healthy fresh fruits and vegetables on their tables.

By taking their produce to the food deserts, they are making a real difference for their neighbors. Even more, they’re shining a light on the issue to help others understand the situation, representing their community’s needs at the local and state levels.

Community spirit

Have you ever noticed that there’s a lot of people who are “from” small towns, but don’t live there anymore? And yet, they make time in their calendars to return for the yearly celebrations that every small town seems to have to reconnect with the place and people who are the foundation for their lives.

Did you ever stop to ask what happens to that extended community when people stop volunteering for those small-town celebrations? What draws people home then?

Rick and Connie Thompson are doing their part to keep the social fabric of their nearby community of Kincaid, Kan., intact. They and their family volunteer in many different roles for the annual Kincaid Fair. An event that brings several thousand back home to this community of 200 to reconnect year after year.

Talking with Rick and Connie, I couldn’t help but be thankful for people like them. The ones who donate time, money and energy to the communities that we call home. It’s these events that strengthen our community ties across the miles and years.

I come from a town about as big as Kincaid, with an annual event that draws people home from afar. It’s our time to see grandparents, aunts and uncles. It’s the time to introduce city cousins to country cousins. We reconnect with our roots and refill our spirits.

Think back to the pandemic, when we didn’t gather together in person. That break in our community ties — it hurt in a way, right?

When those events don’t happen, we lose a little of ourselves. And the people like the Thompsons who are keeping those community events alive and thriving are serving their community for sure. It’s a tradition of service I hope our generation can appreciate and pass on.

Two families, two different communities, but the overarching lesson I took away from both is that service to others is vital. We need to roll up our sleeves and dig in if we want our communities to thrive — today and in the future.