About last night — three things we heard at our statewide dinner conversation 

Thank you to everyone who joined us Wednesday night for Chew on This. 

The event gathered Hoosiers from Michigan City all the way down to Columbus in eight simultaneous dinner discussions guided by the question: “What’s on your plate?” Though the conversations were intimate, the ideas we explored were universal questions about how we produce and consume as humans.  

Three central themes stood out to us as we reflected upon the evening’s conversations: 

1. Everyone has a personal connection to food, from memories of cooking with family to comfort meals to connecting with loved ones over the dinner table.  

2. Whether we’re shopping at a grocery store, dining at a restaurant or pulling up to a drive-thru, Hoosiers are sometimes unsure about the origins of our food. Several participants expressed a wish for increased access to information about where our food comes from and how it is grown.  

3. The field of agriculture is constantly changing. We continue to innovate when it comes to growing and harvesting food, but new technologies also bring changes to agricultural land in Indiana, as with the increase in fields converted to solar farms. 

If these ideas sparked your interest, here are a few articles to consider:  

• Curious about the state of things in Indiana? Check out some statistics about food insecurity in Indiana or look at information about your community on this map. 
• Want to learn more about food processing and health? Check out this segment from 1A about the impact of processed foods on our bodies, minds and culture.   
• Interested in agriculture? Learn more about how some small farms are making connections with public health and nutrition in this article from NPR.   

Chew on This is part of our Unearthed initiative, which invites Hoosiers to discover and discuss their relationship with the natural world. The series is also part of Food for Thought 2024, presented by Indiana’s Family of Farmers. The organization was formed in 2009 to raise awareness that Indiana’s farmers are among the top producers of grains, produce and meats we eat every day. 

We appreciate the thoughtfulness of the guests who joined us in an open dialogue — we know that it’s a leap of faith to show up and talk about big ideas with strangers. We are also grateful to the facilitators who lead these meaningful conversations, the social media partners who captured key moments, and the restaurants that hosted us. Special thanks to Indiana’s Family of Farmers for their generous support of this program.