Our Local Food Fest is set for Oct. 1 at Liberty Hall in downtown Lawrence. It's about growing healthy kids through local foods.

“I think we are at a time where we have to make the right decisions for our kids,” said Dana Hangauer, an organizer. “I think that we’ve sort of created this whole system of food that’s not healthy for us, and I would like to see that turned around.”

To start, she believes it’s important to get youth actively involved in eating healthy.

One example is the “Growing Food, Growing West” garden project at West Junior High School. Students planted a garden this spring, and have maintained it. They have raised more than $3,000 by selling produce and other items at weekly farmers’ markets. Since school started, the students have harvested about 40 pounds of produce each week for use in the cafeteria. They recently began planting fall crops.

Barbara Thomas, a former West Junior High School teacher, gives a congratulatory high-five to ninth-grade student T.J. Everett, during a visit by Thomas to the school's farmers' market Monday, Aug. 2, 2010. So far, T.J. and five other students have worked on the garden this summer and made $1,700 through sales of produce and products. The money goes back into the garden. by Mike Yoder

“I think it’s awesome. It kind of blows me away actually,” Hangauer said. “That’s where you see the rewards and you see the payoff is when the kids are excited about seeing food come out of the ground. It’s kind of getting back to the basics.”

The six West Junior High School students who were hired to work in the garden will be among guest speakers at Our Local Food Fest.

The event also will feature samplings of local foods prepared by local chefs, informational booths, children’s activities, and the documentary “What’s On Your Plate?” The film is about two 11-year-old girls who explore food politics.

“What I love about it is that it never loses touch with that kids’ perspective,” Hangauer said.

The festival also will promote and kick off that weekend’s Kaw Valley Farm Tour, which gives families a chance to visit 22 area farms and producers, including the WJHS garden project.

“I think it’s another great opportunity to showcase and to build on the momentum that this community has right now to support local foods in general and specifically for our kids,” said Nancy O’Connor, project coordinator for the WJHS garden project.

Our Local Food Fest is being organized by about a dozen residents with Rick Martin, Free State Brewing Company executive chef, leading the effort.

“I want kids to eat healthier through education and school gardens, and to help raise money for school garden projects,” he said.

JOIN THE FUN

Our Local Food Fest promotes begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 1 at Liberty Hall, 644 Mass.

The schedule:

• 6 p.m.-7:15 p.m. — Informational exhibits and local food sampling.

• 7:15 p.m.-7:45 p.m. — Guest speakers, including students with the West Junior High School garden project.

• 7:45 p.m.-9 p.m. — Showing of the documentary “What’s On Your Plate?”

Adult tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Starting Sept. 10, advance tickets can be purchased at Liberty Hall, The Community Mercantile, Free State Brewing Company, Pachamamas, Cottin’s Hardware or through ticketmaster.com. Tickets for children, ages 12 and younger, cost $5.

Proceeds will support the Community Mercantile Education Foundation school garden projects.