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Council Celebrates Local Food Champion Award Winner

Council Celebrates Local Food Champion Award Winner



2019 Food Winner

Timothy McDermott (grey shirt) provides grower education for southside residents as part of the BuckeyeISA program.

[COLUMBUS, OH] The City of Columbus, Franklin County Local Food Board and the Franklin County Local Food Council proudly name Timothy McDermott, of OSU Extension, Franklin County as the winner of the Local Food Champion Award. Columbus City Councilmember Priscilla Tyson presented McDermott with a resolution during the June 24, 2019 Council meeting.

“Tim’s work as the educational lead for the Buckeye ISA project, which assists family farmers in growing food to provide for their personal and family food security, is transforming the lives of family farmers, especially in the Linden community,” said Tyson. “He is also working to develop school gardening curriculum addressing workforce development by engaging students in STEM-based agricultural techniques at all Columbus City Elementary Schools, the Columbus City Schools Linden feeder pattern from elementary through high school as well as multiple other Franklin County school districts.”

Timothy McDermott joined Ohio State University Extension in fall of 2015 after over two decades practicing veterinary medicine and surgery in Franklin County. Tim has developed impactful programming tailored to each family, community, neighborhood and situation by meeting individually with each group to develop a personalized needs assessment addressing challenges at the micro and macro levels.

“By leveraging existing partnerships, growing friendships, developing new resources, innovating programming, patience, and the willingness to listen and learn, he is helping to grow a network of producers in disadvantaged communities,” said Tony Logan, Vice-Chairperson of the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Board. “He has laid a foundation of success that can be a repeatable curriculum for other neighborhoods and families to use on their path to sustainability.

The Local Food Champion Award recognizes and celebrates grassroots community efforts that support the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Action Plan’s vision of a fair and sustainable food system that benefits our economy, our environment and all people. 

The Local Food Champion's work embodies one or all of the goals outlined in the Local Food Action Plan:

  • Goal A: Enhance coordination and communication among existing food resources and agencies.
  • Goal B: Improve access to and education about healthy food, affordable food and local food.
  • Goal C: Increase the role of food in economic development.
  • Goal D: Prevent food-related waste.

McDermott’s achievements were also honored during a special ceremony at the Franklin County Local Food Council meeting on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at Columbus Public Health. 

The City of Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Board was established November 22, 2016, by a resolution of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. It is comprised of twelve influential community mobilizers and food system experts. The City of Columbus and Franklin County appointees oversee, prioritize and guide implementation activities of the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Action Plan. The Plan provides a framework of common goals that serve to unify residents, schools, community organizations, businesses and local government in supporting a healthy, strong and resilient local food system.  

Franklin County Local Food Council (FCLFC) is an independent advisory council that brings together people from across the food system, from growers to eaters, with a particular interest in people and neighborhoods most affected by food system policies and programs. This organization provides space for education and information sharing and supports community engagement, food system-related campaigns, and mentorship for food system ideas. It also serves as a way for residents of Columbus and Franklin County to be involved in the implementation of the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Action Plan. 

Nominations will be open July 15, 2019, for the next Local Food Champion Award. To stay up to date, join the FCLFC listserv https://www.freelists.org/list/fclfc .  

Visit: www.fclocalfoodcouncil.org  Contact: [email protected]

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