Purpose
Ball State University students were charged with developing a multitude of materials to help launch the services, raise the awareness, and sustain the operations of Indiana Foodways Alliance, which is a new nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting culinary tourism in Indiana, preserving the Hoosier food culture, and contributing to the economic development and sustainability of small businesses in the state.

Action
The students reviewed a comprehensive marketing plan completed before the launching of Indiana Foodways Alliance and researched the history of food and food traditions in Indiana as they prepared to develop a plan to guide their activities. Through interviews with the executive director, goals were developed, and marketing, public relations and video teams were formed to develop strategies, execute tactics, and achieve goals.

Results
The team developed a brand identity for IFA; created and published four newsletters; constructed a food calendar for strategic communications; designed and maintained a Web site that includes culinary trails, food news, food facts, festivals, and signature recipes; used GIS technology to create three culinary trail maps; created a database linked to the Web site that features Indiana-made food products by type and county; researched, wrote and designed a booklet on how to start a community kitchen where local residents can process foods for sale at farmers markets and in specialty shops; photographed foods featured on the trails and organized photographs into a photo library; generated oral histories; developed a number of video packages for the Web site; wrote a grant proposal to support a membership campaign that is designed to be self-sustaining; and began efforts to have sugar cream pie or Hoosier pie adopted as the state pie.

Faculty Mentors
Sheryl Swingley, Department of Journalism
Becky McDonald, Department of Journalism

Partner
Susan Haller, executive director, Indiana Foodways Alliance

Students
Jan Bender; Annette Campbell; Haijian Cao; Jerry Chen; Amanda Getchel; Lauren Holditch; Kim Jackson; Wes Jeffers; Jamie Kistinger; Starla Loyd; Julie McConnell; Sarah Moreland; Matt Patty; Julia Payton; Kyle Ramsy; Meghan Reiser; Allison Reynolds; Susan Senninger; Ryan Thedwall; Hillary Tribbett; Nick Wilhoit; Jeremiah Wills