Polk United: Creating a Local Food Hub in Rural Wisconsin

Film overview: This 5-minute film tells the story of a local food hub that partnered with Polk United - a local Wisconsin community health improvement coalition - to share resources and maximize communication in an effort to reach out to the residents of Polk County about land stewardship and access to healthy foods. Polk United serves as a "coalition of coalitions" where networking is the key to ultimately improving community health.  By working together on community efforts like the food hub initiative, Polk United-Healthier Together, through diverse community involvement, fosters centralized, sustainable and strong relationships that improve population health. 

Target audience: Communities that may be working to improve local food environments and land stewardship.

Supporting evidence or research for the film’s message: This film was developed using storytelling best practices, strong partnership principles for the film development and production, including local control of the message, and incorporating strategic framing principles.

Background: Polk United works to engage stakeholders who will take collaborative action to create a healthier Polk County. The vision is to reach a vital, healthy Polk County in 2018, in which resources and collaboration are maximized. Healthy Polk County leadership efforts are be centralized, sustainable and strong because of diverse community involvement. The vision is of a community that has readily accessible care and resources, and individual and family efforts to seek good health that are fully supported and an accepted part of life.  In this film, the Polk United partnership works with the Hungry Turtle Farm and Learning Center on the development of a local food hub.  Hungry Turtle is committed to supporting sustainable agriculture and land stewardship through education, innovative partnerships, and programming. Hungry Turtle believes promoting nutrient rich foods and sustainable living strengthens communities, encourages economic growth and development, and builds healthy societies.  Along the way, Hungry Turtle aims to have fun and build a community that believes in itself and finds ways to positively contribute to a better planet for creatures great and small — animal, vegetable and mineral.

Evaluation: This film has helped to increase engagement through showings to community members, local elected officials, community health improvement workgroups and their social and professional networks.  It has also been shared on the Polk United website and on those of partner organizations.