By Blake Jackson
Stepping Stones of Dunn County, founded in 1984, plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity in Northwest Wisconsin. In 2024, they distributed a remarkable 816,000 pounds of food to over 5,000 individuals in the Menomonie community and beyond.
Mike Racette, Coordinator for Farmers Feed Dunn County, a Stepping Stones program, spearheads efforts to connect local farmers with the community. This program focuses on sourcing fresh, local produce for food distribution.
Racette oversees food donations, purchases, and manages grants like the Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance (WI LFPA) Program. Through the WI LFPA Direct to Farmer grant, Stepping Stones received direct deliveries of locally grown food.
Additionally, Racette managed a 2024 WI LFPA Community Partner grant titled, “Farmers Feed Dunn County - Food Diversification Initiative,” which aimed to expand the program by acquiring locally sourced protein and diversifying produce distribution to underserved communities.
“We’ve heard from volunteers and guests that the food at Stepping Stones is better than what they can get in the grocery store,” Mike said. “To me, that’s how I know this is working and we're doing well. My goal is to have the best locally grown farm products available because everybody deserves good food.”
The Wisconsin LFPA program is a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Marbleseed, The Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, and Wisconsin Farmers Union.
This program strengthens the state's food supply chain, supports local farmers, and ensures that underserved communities have access to fresh, nutritious food.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fatcamera
Categories: Wisconsin, Business, General