Learning kitchens help educators cook up interest in culinary basics

Authored on

Jul 14, 2026

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The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, a federally funded program provided in North Dakota through North Dakota State University Extension, has just added a new tool to help community education.

Two mobile kitchens — one in Cass County and another in Rolette County — have been purchased by NDSU Extension to be used by program educators.

Teaching cooking skills is a big part of EFNEP programming, according to Christina Masich, NDSU Extension program coordinator.

“Building cooking skills can be challenging in certain locations where there is no access to kitchens or other food preparation facilities,” says Masich. “Providing recipe demonstrations and cooking activities can teach and empower our program participants to cook healthfully and affordably.”

The kitchens come with a sink, a fridge and an electric stovetop with two burners. They were built by Stephenson Custom Case Company.

These kitchens-on-wheels are only around a couple hundred pounds, and it isn’t too difficult to travel and maneuver around. They can be hitched as a trailer or loaded in a truck bed for a longer trek.

EFNEP’s goal is to help lower-resource families experience improvement in four core areas: diet quality and physical activity, food resource management, food safety, and food security.

Masich says using mobile kitchens in the community can help promote EFNEP and show its positive impact on North Dakota communities.

Arlan Littlewolf, an EFNEP nutrition education assistant in Cass County, led a cooking demonstration in the Cass County Annex in Fargo, North Dakota. He showed how to make a chicken and wild rice dish after presenting about the traditional significance of wild rice, specifically its place in Anishinaabe culture.

“Considering it was my first time using the station, it went very well,” says Littlewolf. “It was convenient for the audience, and it felt well-made.”

He says the kitchen allowed him to move around and utilize the space more efficiently.

“I am looking forward to doing more demos with this kitchen,” says Littlewolf. “It allowed me the flexibility to set up wherever and confidently cook just like I could in a real kitchen.”

Any EFNEP educator may use the mobile kitchens.