There are some exciting professional development opportunities coming up for farm to school stakeholders in Pennsylvania! Strengthen your farm to school skills and knowledge by attending some of the below conferences and trainings, or share your expertise as a presenter or coach at the PA Farm to School Institute! We hope these opportunities will set you up for success in reaching your farm to school goals.
Save the Date for the Pennsylvania Farm to Child Nutrition Summit
Join us on June 18, 2024 for the Pennsylvania Farm to Child Nutrition Summit. This event is being coordinated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Food and Nutrition and Penn State University (Project PA) with the support of the Pennsylvania Farm to School Network. Funding is provided by a USDA Farm to School Formula grant. The summit will be held at Chatham University’s Eden Hall campus in Gibsonia, PA. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will open soon with a deadline of June 3, 2024 or until capacity is reached, whichever comes first.
Attend a Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month Culinary Trainings
The Pennsylvania Department of Education, through Penn State (Project PA) will be offering hands-on Culinary Workshops for CACFP and SFSP sponsors led by a Chef Bill Scepansky, Smart Partners LLC. These ½-day workshops will focus on the most fundamental culinary techniques and practices to help CACFP and SFSP sponsors prepare and present healthy food options that participants enjoy. These sessions will focus on Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month (PA HOM). Participants will receive PA HOM signage for use in their facilities. The sessions will include both demonstration and hands-on activities. A light meal will be served. Registration will open soon.
Apply to be a PA Farm to School Institute Coach or Speaker
The application period for the PA Farm to School Institute has closed, but we are looking for folks who are interested in being a year-long coach or a speaker at the 2-day retreat.
Save The Date for the Greater Pittsburgh Food System Summit
The Pittsburgh Food Policy Council (PFPC) is organizing its first regional food systems summit on May 17, 2024 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. The summit will bring together stakeholders from across the region to identify shared goals, foster cross-sector relationships and bring more attention, engagement and momentum to the equitable and sustainable development of our regional food system. The Summit will include affinity group conversations where folks can discuss topics such as farm to school and connect with other stakeholders.
Attend the PA Friends of Ag Foundation’s 2024 Educator’s Ag Institute
The PA Friends of Ag Foundation’s 2024 Educator’s Ag Institute provides a unique learning experience for PreK-12th formal educators, pre-service teachers and informal community educators to learn how to bring agriculture into their classrooms. Attendees will learn valuable information from those involved in agriculture including farmers, university professors, and agricultural leaders through educational tours to Penn State University’s main campus and local family-run farms and hands-on classroom sessions. Check out this blog post to read about one educator’s experience last year!
Learn more and get involved in the PA Farm to School Network
If you are interested in learning more about the PA Farm to School Network (PFSN) and how you can get involved, sign up for a New Member Info Session! During these sessions, we will review what resources and opportunities are available to you as a farm to school stakeholder, talk about our current priorities, describe how you can join a working group and learn more about your interests in farm to school.
Save the Date for the June PA Farm to School Network Virtual Open House
The PA Farm to School Network will host the next virtual Open House on June 6, 2024. Stay tuned for more information! Check out the recording of the March Virtual Open House, with the featured topic of: Connecting Schools and ECE Programs to Farmers.
Find additional opportunities below, and for up-to-date information, be sure to look out for each month’s PA Farm to School Network Monthly Harvest newsletter.