October is National Farm to School Month – a time to celebrate connections between children, families, and local food!
What is Farm to School?
Farm to School enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy foods and local food producers by transforming food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care education sites.
Children gain access to nutritious, locally sourced foods while engaging in hands-on learning experiences such as school gardens, cooking lessons, and farm field trips. These activities empower children and their families to make informed food choices, strengthen the local economy, and contribute to vibrant, thriving communities.
While Farm to School programs look different across communities, they typically include one or more of the following components:
- Procurement: Local foods are purchased, promoted, and served in cafeterias, snacks, or taste tests.
- School Gardens: Students learn through hands-on gardening and food-growing experiences.
- Education: Students participate in lessons focused on agriculture, nutrition, food systems, and health.
You don’t have to be a school to celebrate! Childcare centers, homeschool groups, babysitters, and families can all incorporate Farm to School initiatives into everyday learning with little ones.
Why is Farm to School Important?
- Kids WIN: Farm to School provides all children with access to nutritious, high-quality local foods that help them learn and grow. It enhances classroom learning with engaging, hands-on lessons about food, health, and agriculture.
- Farmers WIN: Farm to School creates significant financial opportunities for farmers, growers, food processors, and producers by connecting them to institutional markets worth billions of dollars nationwide.
- Communities WIN: Farm to School benefits everyone—from students and educators to families and farmers—by fostering engagement, creating local jobs, and strengthening community connections through local purchasing and shared learning.
How to Get Started
You can begin small! Try starting a classroom container garden, organizing a field trip to a nearby farm, or celebrating with local produce—such as hosting a Great Apple Crunch event where everyone bites into a local apple at the same time.
Connect with Resources:
- Sign up for Ohio’s Farm to School Monthly Newsletter
- Connect with your region’s Farm to School Lead
- Check out free educational resources from National Farm to School Network
Written by: Zoie Clay, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Lawrence County
Reviewed by: Alisha Barton, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Miami County