History
From its conception in 2013, the Stark County ESC’s Farm to School program has strived to connect your classrooms, cafeteria, and community. Farm to School increases student access to locally produced, farm fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables, dairy, and grains in their school lunch. Through Farm to School students are provided with experiential learning opportunities such as farm visits, garden-based learning, and nutrition and agricultural curriculum.
As a result of Farm to School, students have access to fresh, local foods, and farmers have access to new markets through school sales. Farmers are also able to participate in programs designed to educate kids about local food and agriculture.
As a result of Farm to School, students have access to fresh, local foods, and farmers have access to new markets through school sales. Farmers are also able to participate in programs designed to educate kids about local food and agriculture.
Educational Objective
The Stark County Farm to School initiative extends agricultural and nutritional education opportunities that support and reinforce problem based learning activities for students, and offers training and support for classroom, cafeteria and community professionals around relevant and needs based Farm to School topics.
Our Vision
The vision of the "Putting Down Roots" Stark County Farm to School initiative is to establish a program that incorporates local foods procurement in our cafeterias, agricultural and nutritional education into our classrooms, engagement with local farmers and our local food system, and participation in related activities from local communities in all school districts across Stark County.
The Putting Down Roots theme embodies the connection of food, farming, and education and underscores the power of understanding that begins in the classroom.
The Putting Down Roots theme embodies the connection of food, farming, and education and underscores the power of understanding that begins in the classroom.
Sustainability
The Stark County ESC, in conjunction with 20 participating schools districts, was awarded a Farm to School planning grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the fiscal year 2015-2016 and a Farm to School implementation grant for the fiscal year 2018-2019. The Farm to School committee seeks to develop a sustainable funding and strategic plan for the ongoing support of a Farm to School coordinator position and programming through a combination of district investment and ongoing local grant opportunities.
The multi-disciplinary Farm to School Leadership team is charged with the mission of ensuring the “Putting Down Roots” Stark County Farm to School initiative is able to meet its objectives and serve as an asset in the classroom, cafeteria, and broader community.
The multi-disciplinary Farm to School Leadership team is charged with the mission of ensuring the “Putting Down Roots” Stark County Farm to School initiative is able to meet its objectives and serve as an asset in the classroom, cafeteria, and broader community.
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Stark County Schools "Putting Down Roots" Farm to School
