Idaho Falls City Councilor Jim Francis attended the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health’s Community Health Academy in 2022. The learning collaborative took place shortly after the city had updated its comprehensive plan that focused heavily on housing, community health, and long-term vision.

Francis was energized by what he learned over the course of the academy. One session particularly resonated — food systems. He came away surprised that Idaho Falls could have a “food desert,” and he began thinking how to address that.

A community farm on city property located near a neighborhood could provide access to fresh, healthy foods to a population that needed it. The city used its grant funding from the academy to invest in infrastructure that will make the farm more functional and accessible.

“What we’re working on is not a safety net,” Francis said. “If you have healthy food, a stable home, and access to opportunity, you’re building community health before crisis ever happens.”

The project has been slow moving, but transformational change rarely happens as fast as desired. For Francis, it’s the perseverance to keep pushing the project forward. This is long-term systems thinking in action. He’s relied on community expertise to keep the project moving.

The latest positive development was getting power to the farm, so coolers can keep the produce fresh for distribution.

Jim is a retired award-winning history teacher, having taught in the public schools for 37 years. He has been on Idaho Falls City Council since 2018. He also participates in the Idaho Fish & Game Master Naturalist program.

Thank you, Jim, for your dedication to the Idaho Falls community and for the vision and dedication to the community farm.