Come 'meet the farmer'

SANDUSKY — The Erie-Huron County women, infants and children program celebrated a successful launch of its Meet the Farmer event series with 33 families attending the inaugural event on June 10. This new initiative, a collaboration with Emerson Farms of Vermilion, aims to: • Connect local families with agriculture • Promote healthy eating • Provide practical gardening education The first event, occurring at the Erie County Health Department in Sandusky, provided a vibrant, hands-on experience for attendees. "We are thrilled with the community's enthusiastic response to our first Meet the Farmer event," said Andrea Caudill, a registered nurse with the Erie County Health Department and the program's director. "Our goal is to build a stronger connection between families and the sources of their food that empower families to make healthy choices." Families had the unique opportunity to chat with Dan Harkenrider, a local farmer from Emerson Farms, ask questions about how their food is grown and gain valuable insights into local agriculture. Participants also received garden plants to take home and learned practical techniques for container and small-plot gardening, empowering them to grow their own fresh produce. "By partnering with local growers, like Emerson Farms, we can provide tangible resources and knowledge," said Pete Schade, Erie County's health commissioner. "We will continue the Meet the Farmer series all summer and hope to see more families come out to our beautiful facilities." The series will include events at the Norwalk Health Center, 34 Executive Drive, in Norwalk and the health department's main campus, 420 Superior St., in Sandusky. These events are free and open to all WIC families and community members interested in learning more about gardening and local food. Events happen twice a month: on the second and fourth Tuesdays. Details about each event will be shared on social media prior to the event. When updates become available, they'll be posted to facebook.com/eriecohealthohio.