October is National Farm to School Month, a nationwide celebration of th
e connections between local food, agriculture, education, and healthy communities. Throughout the month, schools, early care and education sites, farms, and community organizations across Pennsylvania and the country will showcase farm to school through hands-on learning, school gardens, local food procurement, taste tests, farm visits, and more.
Whether you’re planning a large community event or a simple classroom activity, now is the perfect time to start preparing.
Find Inspiration
Looking for ideas? Explore the National Farm to School Month Resource Guide for activities, event ideas, promotional materials, and planning tools to help make your celebration a success. Find even more ways to celebrate in last year’s blog post.
Share Your Farm to School Story
National Farm to School Month is also an opportunity to celebrate and elevate the impact of your work. Sharing your successes helps build awareness, strengthen community support, and inspire others to get involved.
The PA Farm to School Network will host its third annual Farm to School Storytelling Contest during National Farm to School Month. Farm to school practitioners, educators, students, farmers, and community partners are encouraged to showcase their programs and experiences through photos, videos, written stories, artwork, poetry, testimonials, or other creative formats. Participants will be entered into a raffle to win farm to school swag, and selected stories may be featured by the PA Farm to School Network.
Need inspiration? Consider sharing:
- Favorite farm to school event or activity
- School garden success story
- Memorable farm field trip
- Student reflections and artwork
- Local food taste tests or cafeteria initiatives
- Partnerships with farmers, families, or community organizations
As you plan your submission, think about:
What farm to school activities are taking place in your community?
- Who is involved?
- How has the program benefited students, families, educators, farmers, or the broader community?
- What makes your farm to school story unique?
Check out the 2024 and 2025 submissions for some inspiration!
Engage Community Leaders
National Farm to School Month is a great time to invite legislators, school board
members, local officials, and other community leaders to experience your program firsthand. Whether they visit a school garden, attend a taste test, or participate in a farm visit, these experiences can help build long-term support for farm to school initiatives.
Connect with Local Media
Consider sharing your farm to school story with local newspapers, radio stations, and community publications. Media coverage can amplify your impact, celebrate participants, and increase awareness of farm to school efforts throughout your region.
Spread the Word on Social Media
Help us celebrate by sharing photos, stories, and highlights throughout October. When posting, use:
#PAFarmtoSchool #F2SMonth #PAPreferred #BuyLocal
Ideas for social media posts:
- School garden harvests
- Local foods featured in meals and snacks
- Student learning activities
- Farm visits and guest speakers
- National Farm to School Month events and celebrations
We look forward to seeing, and sharing your stories!
Additional Resources:
More resources can be found in The National Farm to School Network’s (NFSN) comprehensive farm to school database and the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services Office of Community Food Systems’ resource list, including: