Connection came alive at last week’s Hootie’s Harvest Celebration, a campus event designed to bring students face-to-face with the region’s network of farms, food systems and sustainability organizations.
The idea for the event, which took place on Friday, Sept. 26, originated from an observation: Students rarely have the opportunity to interact with local agricultural groups or even know about them, unless they actively seek them out. Sustainability Coordinator Kate Witte, one of the event’s organizers, said she saw a chance to change that.
“Myself and [Coordinator of Student Organizations & Leadership] Keri Lewis in the Student Involvement Office thought it’d be a great idea to bring some of that work to campus,” Witte said. “There are so many different environmental and food-related organizations in the region, and we wanted to introduce students to them in a way that’s fun and accessible.”
Hootie’s Harvest marked the symbolic end of the fresh produce season while celebrating the interconnectedness of community, nature and sustainability. Tables lined the front lawn of the L.P. Young Student Center, featuring local vendors, student groups and even a live owl, offering students a chance to explore topics ranging from food justice to wildlife conservation.
“Sustainability on campus is about the interconnectedness of human environments and the natural environment,” Witte explained. “People often think environmental movements are about removing humans from nature, but that’s not the point. We’re an integral part of it. It’s about meeting everyone’s needs, human and non-human, in a way that benefits all.”
The event’s activities were themed around the idea of sustainability. Students could learn about composting or simply enjoy fresh produce from The Hungry Owl, a campus resource staffed by student volunteers.
Senior Grace Baldwin, a volunteer with both The Hungry Owl and the Keene State chapter of the Food Recovery Network, was one of the students helping bring that mission to life. “Right now we’re doing a produce pop-up,” she said. “Yesterday I went shopping at Pete’s Farm Stand and Greenwagon Farm and got a bunch of fresh produce we’re giving out today. We even have eggs.”
Baldwin said her work with the Food Recovery Network adds another layer to the event’s sustainability message. “We go to the DC [Zorn Dining Commons] and collect food that’s still good but would normally be thrown away,” she explained. “We package it in individual portions and give it away at The Hungry Owl. That’ll be starting later this year.”
Baldwin said Hootie’s Harvest was a chance to raise awareness. “Food Recovery Network is super new; we just started it last year,” she said. “We still want to grow our volunteer base and let people know who we are. This was a great opportunity to do that and to share fresh produce with students.”
A key aspect of the event was its presentation of animals. Students lined up throughout the afternoon to see a live snake, touch animal skins and meet a one-eyed owl rescued after being hit by a car.
Witte said she hoped students would walk away with at least one new piece of knowledge or experience. “Maybe it’s learning what The Hungry Owl is, or getting close to a real owl and wondering why it has gigantic eyeballs,” she said. “Whether it’s building connections or discovering new resources, I just want students to learn something and have fun.”
When asked to sum up the event in one word, Witte said, “This sounds so silly, but I’m going to say – it’s got the school, the nature and the community – ‘Owls.’”
Dakota Sweet can be reached at
