Join the Pennsylvania Farm to School Network (PFSN) and thousands of schools, early care and education (ECE) sites, farms, communities and organizations across the country as we celebrate National Farm to School (FTS) Month this October. “Farm to school” includes serving local food to kids in school settings, educational experiences about food and agriculture – including farm tours and taste tests – and school garden activities. If your community already engages in these activities, October is a perfect time to promote and celebrate!

The PFSN is providing a variety of ways to help you celebrate. Join the upcoming virtual open house on September 25th. Participating in our Virtual Open House is an excellent way to connect with fellow farm to school practitioners and find fresh inspiration for your National Farm to School Month celebrations. During this event, you’ll hear uplifting success stories from across Pennsylvania, discover valuable farm to school resources such as the PA Farm to School Grant, and learn how you can get involved with state policy through the Keystone Fresh Act. Join us to make new connections, gain practical ideas, and get more involved with Pennsylvania’s growing farm to school movement.

Another great opportunity is to participate in the multimedia storytelling contest:

To celebrate National Farm to School Month this October, the PA Farm to School Network (PFSN) will host its second Farm to School (FTS) Storytelling Contest, encouraging FTS practitioners to share their stories with their community through various media.

The contest encourages practitioners to share their stories in a variety of ways: including a collection of photos, a video, a written summary, poetry, testimonials, art or whatever you feel inspired to create. For those who submit, you will be entered in a raffle for a chance to win some farm to school swag. We encourage you and your young ones to get creative! Your story can highlight your entire program or focus on one aspect, such as a farm field trip or an event that you held. Check out last year’s submissions for some inspiration!

Below are some questions and examples to help you brainstorm:

• What farm to school programming are you doing? (e.g., educating students/kids about food and agriculture, engaging kids in gardening activities, procuring and serving local food products in school meals and snacks)
• Who is involved? Students, parents, faculty/staff, community members?
• Why is it meaningful to your community?

Here are a few more ideas, resources and promotional materials for your celebrations:

Activities for K-12 and Early Care and Education (ECE) Educators: 

• Visit a farm, orchard or pumpkin patch with your students. If you can’t get to the farm, ask the farmer to come to your classroom for a visit or share one of the PA Farm to School Network’s (PFSN) Farm Tour Videos

Farm Tour Video Farmers

• Ask children and families to share their family food traditions and favorite recipes to create a class cookbook. Check out this example from Georgia, which highlights Harvest of the Month foods!
• Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month (PA HOM) is a program developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Project PA (Penn State University) to promote a local agricultural product each month. Use the PA HOM Activity Guides to support your educational activities in the classroom and cafeteria when celebrating the local agriculture product each month.
• If you have a middle or high school FFA program, consider creating a cross-age teaching program that allows the middle and/or high school students to teach farm to school lessons to the younger grades.
• Contact your local county Extension office for gardening information and support at Penn State Extension.

Activities for Farmers and Growers:

• Host a tour of your farm for students or visit a classroom to discuss your farming operation. Check out this example of students touring the farm where their school beef comes from.
• Meet a school food service director and start to build a working relationship. A great first question to ask is “What local foods would you be interested in purchasing and serving?” Check out the Bringing the Farm to School: Agriculture Producers Toolkit for resources and tips.
• If your products are already being served in schools/ECEs, this is a great time to plan a visit to the cafeteria and share about your partnership. Check out an example in this success story.
• Share Farm to School Month materials like stickers and bookmarks at your farmers market booth. Free downloads are available at farmtoschoolmonth.org.

Activities for Child Nutrition Program Operators:

• Purchase PA Preferred® produce and celebrate a locally sourced PA Preferred Day in the cafeteria! Find resources for sourcing local food in this blog post and on the USDA’s Procuring Local Foods webpage.
• Conduct a taste test featuring a new food or recipe. Find recipes, fact sheets, posters and more at paharvestofthemonth.org.
• Host an after-school cooking club in the cafeteria! Find inspiration for your cooking club in Erie School District’s success story.
• Invite a farmer or food producer to eat with students in the lunchroom or to host a farm stand. Check out this example from Welsh Elementary School in Philadelphia, which partnered with HayDay Farms to host a farm stand during Back to School Night.