Racheal LeClear, opens Monday nights Local Food Network discussion and movie. The movie took place at the Flint Hills Technical College on Monday March 1. Kenny Thompson/The Bulletin
Throughout the latter two weeks of February and the first two weeks of March, The Emporia Area Local Food Network is hosting a film festival featuring films which advocate and educate viewers about the benefits of growing and buying local produce.
The film showings, sponsored by The Emporia Area Local Food Network (EALFN), Flint Hills Technical College and Emporia Public Library, will be at 6:30 p.m. every Monday until March 15. The first two showings were held at the Emporia Public Library, while the final three segments of the festival will be shown in the auditorium of Flint Hills Technical School.
Admission to the event is free, though the EALFN will be accepting donations at a table set up at the event. The table will also have information regarding the EALFN and the projects the organization is involved in, and how one can get involved with this group.
Racheal LeClear, who sits on the board of EALFN, expressed that all interested in attending the event should not hesitate.
“It is a good opportunity to learn about local food practices, and the advantages of buying locally grown food. The five films we have decided on give a good overview of the topic, and also give diverse perspectives on the situation,” she said.
The five films are “Fresh,” which was shown Feb. 15, “Asparagus,” which was shown Feb. 22, “Food Inc.,” which was shown March 1, “The Future of Food,” which will be shown March 8 and “Locavore,” which will be shown March 15.
LeClear said that the EALFN chose these specific films because each one gives a slightly different view of the issues involved, and each gives good background on the issues in an entertaining fashion. “Food Inc.” is directed by Emmy Award Winning Director Robert Kenner, and was nominated for the 2010 Academy Award for best documentary.
John Crisp, board member for EALFN and owner of Shepard’s Valley, the only Community Supported Agriculture Farm in the area, said that the reason this film festival is important is because it “opens the eyes of the consumer to the importance of understanding the organization of food companies in America today.”
“When you see a film like ‘Food Inc.,’ viewers go through many different emotional responses – anger frustration, and ultimately, the thought of “what do I do now? Films like these are motivation films, which are meant to convey to the viewer that there are options available, and that they should find out about these options,” he said.
The EALFN, according to LeClear, was started about a year ago, in an effort to spread awareness about the options available to Emporia residents and others from the area in terms of buying locally grown food. The organization helped to develop the farmer’s market occurring in Emporia during the spring, and the community garden, which went through its first season of production last spring.
Bill Ihling, board member for EALFN, expressed why he believes this film festival is important to raise awareness about food production in the U.S.
“There is very little we do that is more important that what we put into our bodies three times a day,” Ihling said.
LeClear stressed the importance of this event in helping to education the issues of everyday eating habits of Emporians and others in the area.
“If you don’t know about what it is your eating and if you don’t know the background behind the food you eat, it is really easy to ignore these things,” she said. “If you eat an apple off a produce shelf, and you don’t know what is actually on that apple it’s possible and probably likely, that there are a lot of things on that apple that are hurting your body rather than helping it. These films can really help people to find out what is on that apple,” she said.
LeClear also added that anyone interested in more information about the organization, or those interested in joining the EALFN can contact her at rleclear@fhtc.edu.
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