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MSU Agriculture Dean Tony Brannon on State Hunger Task Force

Murray State University

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has assembled the state’s first Hunger Task Force to allow farmers, businesses, charitable organizations and government agencies to coordinate efforts against food insecurity.

Dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture at Murray State University Dr. Tony Brannon is on the task force and attended the inaugural meeting Thursday in Shelbyville.  

He says one goal is to dispel the perception that hunger only exists in certain economic areas of the state.

“The perception might be that this is only in our largest cities or in eastern Kentucky, but it’s really no respecter of geographic area," said Brannon. "The facts on child insecurity show that the Purchase Region does have within that 20 to 24 percent of children being food insecure, so it exists all across the state."

Food insecurity refers to a household’s lack of easy access to enough food and a limited availability of nutritionally adequate foods with barriers including quality, cost and transportation.

“One out of every six Kentuckians is faced with food insecurity and even worse children: one in every four.  So obviously federal programs do a good job of taking care of them at school but yet maybe on weekends, they're not as available with food," said Brannon. "But this is just an effort to bring together people of various backgrounds to try to make it an all-encompassing program.”

The task force will hold a series of regional meetings throughout the state in the coming months to focus on issues at the local level.

Credit fns.usda.gov

Members of the task force also include: 

·        Laura Melillo Barnum, executive director of YUM! Foundation and Global Community Investment, YUM! Brands

·        David Beck, executive vice president, Kentucky Farm Bureau

·        Warren Beeler, executive director, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy

·        Rodney Booe, pastor, Campbellsville Christian Church

·        Danielle Bozarth, programs director, God’s Pantry Food Bank

·        Tony Brannon, dean, Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University

·        Gina Carrington, assistant director of Community Based Services, Cabinet for Health and Family Services

·        Spencer Coates, president, Houchens Industries

·        Mary Courtney, Shelby County farmer

·        Nancy Cox, dean, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

·        Valerie Crouch, program manager for school and community nutrition, Kentucky Department of Education

·        David Dodd, executive director, National Center for Hospitality Studies, Sullivan University

·        Thomas Fern, Kentucky state director, USDA Rural Development

·        Jamie Guffey, executive director, Kentucky Poultry Federation

·        Bonnie Jolly, executive director, Kentucky Pork Producers

·        David Maples, executive vice president, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association

·        Ted Mason, executive director, Kentucky Grocers Association

·        Tim McGurk, director of public affairs, Kroger Louisville Division

·        Ryan Quarles, Kentucky commissioner of agriculture

·        Martin Richards, executive director, Community Farm Alliance

·        Brian Riendeau, executive director, Dare to Care

·        Tamara Sandberg, executive director, Kentucky Association of Food Banks

·        Suzanne Cecil White, Daviess County farmer

·        Stephanie Wooten, executive director, GLEAN KY

Specific times and locations of the meetings will be announced at a later date.

Rob Canning is a native of Murray, KY, a 2015 TV Production grad of Murray State. At MSU, he served as team captain of the Murray State Rowing Club. Rob's goal is to become a screenwriter, film director or producer and looks to the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for inspiration. He appreciates good music, mainly favoring British rock n' roll, and approves of anything with Jack White's name on it. When not studying, rowing or writing, Rob enjoys spending his free time with a book or guitar.
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