By: Ananya Kumar, Communications Intern
Farm to School Coordinators play a crucial role in bridging the gap between local agriculture and schools. They are the driving force behind programs that bring fresh, locally sourced food into school cafeterias, integrate agricultural education into the curriculum, and foster a deeper connection between students and their food.
Earlier this year, the National Farm to School Network launched the Farm to School Coordinators Project, with support from USDA and Life Time Foundation. As part of this project, we are hosting a Community of Practice for eight current farm to school coordinators to engage in peer-learning and co-develop strategies to enhance farm to school implementation. This initiative aims to scale up farm to school efforts nationwide by establishing dedicated coordinator positions in school districts. The 2024 cohort of farm to school coordinators is set to bring fresh insights and strategies to their respective districts, ultimately enriching the educational and nutritional experiences of students.
Over the next few months, NFSN will be sharing highlights and insights from the Farm to School Coordinators Project. To kick us off, we are excited to introduce current Farm to School Coordinator and current Farm to School Community of Practice member, Maryssa Wilson from Sidney Central School District in New York.
Role & Background
Maryssa’s journey into the Farm to School movement began in Wisconsin, where she worked with inner-city community gardens - Victory Garden Initiative, focusing on engaging youth with the process of growing food. This early experience led her to join the AmeriCorps program in Colorado. For two years, she was part of the Montezuma School to Farm Project, coordinating school gardens for three different schools. This role was pivotal, as it provided Maryssa with hands-on experience in teaching children about agriculture and sustainability. In August 2020, Maryssa took on the role of Farm to School Coordinator at Sidney Central School District (SCSD).
Farm to School Program
Since joining SCSD, Maryssa has implemented several key initiatives as part of the district’s Farm to School efforts. One of the most notable projects is the local beef initiative. For the past two years, the district has sourced ground beef from a farm just 15 miles south of the school. This locally-sourced beef is used in various dishes like meatballs, pasta with meat sauce, tacos, and nachos.
With the help of Rural Health Network of South Central New York (RHN), a non-profit in Binghamton, NY, SCSD is further integrating local food into the school’s meals, with the New York Thursday program. The coordinated efforts of RHN and SCSD benefit 15 other school districts by planning menus to highlight New York State farms’ food products twice a month. A popular dish, according to Maryssa, is buffalo chicken dip with tortilla chips, highlighting chicken and cheese from a local farm.
Maryssa has also expanded the monthly taste tests to include all K-12 students, previously only offered to K-6. These taste tests feature different themes, where students can try new recipes and learn how to create snacks by themselves. Some delicious examples include Green Monster Pops from the Vermont Farm to School Cookbook, Sweet & Spicy Chex Mix (for Elementary and High School students, respectively), and Protein Power Bites.
Another Farm to School incentive that SCSD opts into is the 30% New York State Initiative, which states that if at least 30% of school lunches are made up of New York produced and processed products, then the school receives a reimbursement of 25 cents per meal. SCSD has successfully participated in this initiative for the last two years and is pursuing it again this year.
SCSD has two lush school gardens, a hoop house, and a heated greenhouse, which are used primarily for educational purposes rather than for producing food for the cafeteria. Agriculture is a subject offered greatly, with younger students learning about aquaponics and goldfish, while older students have the option to choose agriculture classes.
Community and Future Plans
Growing the Farm to School program role has come with its challenges! One of the main hurdles, as described by Maryssa, was the time that it took to build trust with both the teachers and the students. Even though each school community is unique, the Coordinator’s Project has been a valuable resource, offering collaboration and support from other coordinators facing similar challenges.
“I faced challenges securing funding for local ground beef, but a contact from the Coordinator's Project suggested reaching out to a Louisiana funder who offers beef grants. I'm incredibly grateful for the valuable connections I'm building through this group,” said Maryssa.
Engaging the wider community is an aspect of Maryssa’s role as well, and she has created systems and projects tailored to different classes. For example, third graders learn about different world cultures in their class, and Maryssa creates recipes for the students to follow for them to experience the different cultures through cooking lessons! Maryssa and the students compiled a cookbook full of these recipes! Additionally, teachers are able to sign students up for garden activities, using them as rewards or incentives for students. The community is also involved through back-to-school days, where the program is promoted.
Collaborating with local farmers and suppliers is essential, and SCSD uses a geographic preference bid, specific to local farms and minimally processed products. SCSD promotes education about farm to school among their students by promoting their local farm partners on flyers, banners, and social media.
Looking forward, Maryssa’s goals are ambitious for the garden. She wants to landscape and gather more perennial fruit-bearing shrubs and bushes, creating a more organized space for the students. One of the most rewarding aspects of her work has been seeing the confidence and comfort students have gained in the garden, from first graders up to high school students.
Final Insights
For other school districts looking to expand their Farm to School programs, Maryssa advises knowing the goals of the program and being patient with its growth. “Focus on the teachers or grade level who want to be involved in the garden or other farm to school projects. Others will be inspired to reach out to either supplement their curriculum or participate in the garden. Be flexible with where you focus your energy and growth, because farm to school can look so different for each school community.”
Stay tuned for updates and more stories from our Farm to School Coordinators as we continue to explore and expand this impactful program. Meet the full cohort and learn more about the project here!