The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Office of Nutrition bulletin for Oct. 12–16 marks October as National Farm to School Month and outlines state and federal farm-to-school opportunities. According to the bulletin, the national theme emphasizes local food in schools and community benefits, and Ohio is offering weekly features and a toolkit.
The 2027 Ohio Grown: Student Chef Showcase is accepting applications. The office says student-led culinary teams in grades 6–12 at schools in the National School Lunch Program can develop recipes using Ohio Proud on the Menu ingredients. The top five scoring teams would be invited to a live competition. Invited teams would receive a private lesson with the department’s Farm to School chef and reimbursement of up to $500. Winning recipes are to be standardized and shared for school meals statewide. The bulletin lists Community STE(A)M Academy in Xenia as the 2026 champion and Hamilton City School District as the 2025 champion.
For 2027, the Ohio Department of Agriculture plans an additional Ohio Proud Best of the Buckeye Bounty award. Showcase champions are invited to demonstrate their recipes at the 2027 Ohio State Fair, with a stipend of up to $200, two admission tickets, and a parking pass. Application webinars are set for Oct. 20, Nov. 4, Dec. 10, and Jan. 12; the application period closes Feb. 26.
Other items include the Ohio Proud Fall Food Show on Oct. 22 in Reynoldsburg, with registration requested by Oct. 19; a federal memorandum on simplified geographic preference procurement effective Nov. 9; revised Team Nutrition professional standards resources; INFOhio classroom materials; a free school garden starter set; and the Great Apple Crunch, which the bulletin says drew more than 96,000 Ohio students in school year 2025-2026. The bulletin also notes HHS’s $32.5 million DEPEND initiative, HSA Samull Grants of $500 due Dec. 1, and an Action for Healthy Kids convening in Memphis on Nov. 4–6.