The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Office of Nutrition used its Oct. 16 bulletin to highlight Farm to School work during National Farm to School Month. The edition focused on West Branch Local Schools and Family Adolescent and Child Community Engagement Service, or FACCES.
West Branch Local’s effort began with three hydroponic garden units bought through a USDA Farm to School Grant, according to the bulletin. Students tended the units and the lettuce went to the cafeteria to help offset costs, it said. The district later moved into cattle raising for school beef. Students helped design the barn and pasture, and the superintendent sought grants; the district built the barn, fenced pasture, and bought equipment from local companies.
Amanda Strausbaugh, the district’s food service director, said the district has about 1,700 students and advised starting with what fits a community and involving students early. The bulletin reports school-raised beef was served about 30 times on the menu.
FACCES, described as operating in Franklin County neighborhoods with concentrated poverty, developed a youth-led Farm to Table program and an urban garden after family feedback, the bulletin said. Its campus garden has 35 raised beds, three hydroponic units, and an aquaponics system, according to the source.
The program links garden produce to meals, snacks, cooking classes, taste tests, and youth kitchen activities, and connects garden-grown foods to CACFP and SFSP meal programs so reimbursement dollars can support garden operations. Breanna Rucker, FACCES executive coordinator, advised listening to families and students, building from community strengths, and making farm to school part of core operations.
The bulletin reports program-grown produce was served in reimbursable meals on 228 days and 193 taste-test and promotional events were held.