NEWS
The 2014 Farm to Cafeteria Conference RFP released on September 13th!
The National Farm to School Network released the workshop, poster session and lightning talk RFP on the conference website on September 13th! Take a look if you’re interested in sharing about your Farm to School program at this national conference!
Kids Count Data Center
Do you know about the Kids Count national indicators? Check out this database for a wealth of demographic information that may be useful for your farm to school program. There is data available in this vast database for indicators in demographics, economic well-being, education, family and community, health, and safety and risk behaviors.
RESOURCES
Get ready for October: "Theme of the Day" calendar celebrates Farm to School Month
National Farm to School Month kicks off October 1, but schools and organizations are making plans now! To celebrate and spotlight the many aspects of farm to school, the National Farm to School Network put together a theme of the day calendar that you can use to plan your activities. During October, each theme day will be accompanied by a blog post containing information and activity ideas. To further aid your planning process, a preview of all of the blog posts will be available on farmtoschoolmonth.org starting in mid-August. The blog posts will be written by a variety of partner organizations throughout the month, providing unique perspectives and stories. Download this PDF version of the calendar, and check out our other resources as well as the items in our shop, such as these "I ate local food today!" stickers.
Slow Food USA’s School Garden Guide
A newly released guide on how to jumpstart a Slow Food school garden, with topics ranging from curriculum design to volunteer staffing. http://www.slowfoodusa.org/files/files/slow-food-usa-school-garden-manual.pdf
Farm to School Curriculum for High School Students
From DC Greens - http://dcgreens.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/High-School-Lesson-Plans.pdf
From the Kentucky Farm 2 School Curriculum (KF2S) - http://www.kyagr.com/consumer/documents/FD_FS_Curriculum.pdf
SPARK Grant-Finder Tool
The SPARK Grant-Finder Tool helps you locate funding for your Physical Education, After school, Early childhood or Coordinated School Health program. Grants can be used for curriculum, teacher training, or equipment.
OPPORTUNITIES
Become a Veggicator Educator
The Veggiecation team is thrilled to announce the launch of the new Veggiecation Educator Training Workshop (VETW)! This new concept gives individuals across the nation the skills and resources needed to teach the Healthy Kids Cooking Classes that Veggiecation has become known for in NY, NJ, and CT. If you are a healthy eating advocate or someone who loves to cook whole foods, this training program is a good way to engage your community in your interests!
Healthy Young America Video Contest
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Young Invincibles launched the Healthy Young America video contest to encourage young people to get health insurance and take advantage of the new options available to them under the health care law. Submit a video and compete to win from a prize pool of up to $30,000 – and over 100 prizes. Better yet, enter the contest and hope your video goes viral! Entries due by September 23rd.
Open Calls for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Grants
The 2014 Research and Education Grant call for preproposals is now available. Preproposals must be submitted online by 4:00 p.m. CDT, October 24, 2013. Word | PDF | Text
The 2014 Youth Educator Grant call for proposals is now available. Proposals must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. CDT, November 1, 2013. Word | PDF | Text
The 2014 Farmer Rancher Grant call for proposals is now available. Proposals must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. CST, November 14, 2013. Word | PDF | Text
Timelines for NCR-SARE's grant programs can be found here. Sample calls for proposals and lists of recently funded projects can be found here. To receive notifications when calls for proposals are open, contact the NCR-SARE office.
Kids in Need Foundation Invites Applications for 2013 Teacher Grants Program
Grants of up to $500 will be awarded to K-12 educators for projects that strengthen creativity, critical thinking skills, and/or core knowledge by engaging students in the learning process....
Deadline: September 30, 2013
Whole Kids Foundation Accepting Applications for School Garden Grant Program
Grants of $2,000 are available to public and private K-12 schools in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada to help fund school garden projects....
Deadline: October 31, 2013
Lowe's Toolbox for Education Accepting Applications for K-12 Public School Improvement Projects
Grants of up to $5,000 will support basic necessities, with a preference for funding requests that have a permanent impact, such as facility enhancement as well as landscaping/cleanup projects....
Deadline: October 15, 2013
Applications Invited for Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children's Tylenol National Child Care Teacher Awards
Fifty teachers will be selected to receive grants of up to $1,500, plus the chance to win an additional prize of $1,000, in recognition of their dedication to providing high-quality child care....
Deadline: December 6, 2013
MA Farm to School seeks Executive Director
The Massachusetts Farm to School Project, a statewide organization in its 10th year of operation, seeks a new Executive Director.The ideal candidate will be a proven leader with significant fundraising, budgeting, public speaking and organizational planning skills. Significant management experience in some aspect of institutional food services, agriculture, food systems work, economic development or non-profit advocacy is required. She/he will be a strategic thinker and a pragmatic supervisor, able to inspire staff and stakeholders to create a vision for the future while overseeing the current work of the organization. For more information and application instructions, please visit their website.
University of Wisconsin-Extension Hiring for Two Positions
Community Food Systems AmeriCorps Vista Position
Bi-Lingual Nutrition & Financial Educator Position Open
Regional Food System Coordinator at CAFF in California
CAFF is hiring a Regional Food Systems Coordinator to provide assistance to regional programs and to staff statewide networks, such as CA FoodCorps and the Buy Fresh Buy Local Network. See the attached job description for more information. Position closes on September 20, 2013.
EVENTS
MI Farm to School Trainings provided by MSU Center for Regional Food Systems
· Tuesday, September 24th, 12:30 – 4:30 pm
Gratiot Isabella RESD (Regional Education Service District), 1131 E. Center St, Ithaca, MI
· Wednesday, September 25th, 12:30 – 4:30 pm
Odawa Casino & Resort, 1760 Lears Rd., Petoskey, MI
· Friday, September 27th, 12:30 – 4:30 pm with an optional tour of Detroit Eastern Market beginning at 10:30 am with lunch to follow
Detroit Eastern Market, Shed 3, Detroit, MI
· Tuesday, October 1st, 12:30 – 4:30 pm
Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency (KRESA) West Campus Site, 4606 Croyden Ave, Kalamazoo, MI
RSVP for any one of these trainings here – http://msucarrs.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6fLZ14SgxFPdMmF. RSVPs will be accepted on a first come first serve basis as space allows for each training location. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Julia Smith (smith503@msu.edu or 517-432-4525), Farm to School Specialist with the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and manager of the MI Farm to School Grant Program.
Online Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) course offered for growers, processors
Cornell University offers two sessions of Implementing GAPs: A Key to Produce Safety, a self-directed online course on Good Agricultural Practices. The sessions are Sept. 18-Oct. 10 and Oct. 23-Nov. 12, 2013. The course typically takes 15-20 hours to complete. Course fee is $190.
Illinois Farm Bureau: 3rd Annual Local and Regional Food Summit
You are invited to attend the third annual Local and Regional Food Summit on November 12, 2013. This one-day event is hosted by the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Department of Agriculture and Heartland Community College and will take place at Heartland Community College, Astroth Community Education Center, 1500 West Raab Road, Normal, IL. between 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Doors open 8:30 AM).
This event is an opportunity for local food stakeholders to convene and learn more about local and regional initiatives in the state. Attendees will include state and federal agencies, colleges and universities, nonprofits, associations, councils, task forces, farmers, government liaisons, economic development officers, chamber of commerce managers, food safety professionals, and others.
While the event is free, seating is limited. Early confirmed registrations are encouraged. Register now by clicking here.
eXtension Community and Farm to School Webinars
The USDA Farm to School Program (http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool) is hosting two webinars in partnership with the eXtension Community of Practice in Community, Local, and Regional Food Systems on Wednesday, September 25th at 1 p.m. EST and Wednesday, October 9th at 1 p.m. EST to explore how partnering with Cooperative Extension professionals can support local and regional farm to school programs. The purpose of these webinars is to feature best practices and case examples of how Extension professionals are involved with farm to school and to describe how other farm to school related organizations are collaborating with Extension on many diverse farm to school activities. Join the webinars here - http://www.fns.usda.gov/f2s/webinars.
· Webinar #1: Partnering with Cooperative Extension to Support Farm to School Wednesday, September 25, 2013 | 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. EST
Presenters: Emily Jackson, Program Director, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project and Teresa Wiemerslage, Program Coordinator, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
Emily Jackson, with Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project and SE Regional Lead for the National Farm to School Network, will share the results of a three-state project that focused on identifying the roles Cooperative Extension can play in farm to school (http://growing-minds.org/farm-to-school-resources-for-cooperative-extension ). ASAP also partners with North Carolina Cooperative Extension to strengthen farm to school in Western North Carolina. Teresa Wiemerslage from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will share how she is supporting local food procurement, school wellness, and youth engagement in 16 school districts in Northeast Iowa.
· Webinar #2: Partnering with Cooperative Extension to Support Farm to School Wednesday, October 9, 2013 | 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. EST
Presenters: Julia Govis, Program Coordinator, University of Illinois Extension and Morgan Taggart, Program Specialist, Ohio State University Extension
Julia Govis from University of Illinois Extension will share information about how she is leading farm to school in Illinois through the development of educational resources and curriculum to support Extension work in its diverse program areas. Morgan Taggart from Ohio State University Extension will describe how OSU Extension has prioritized involvement in farm to school and how other Extension professionals in urban and suburban areas can be involved with farm to school related activities. Morgan will also share how she is currently involved with farm to school across the Cleveland area through school gardens, local food procurement, and local food and agriculture curriculum development/ instruction.
Women in Sustainable Ag Conference
Registration is now open for the 4th National Conference for Women in Sustainable Agriculture, Nov. 6 - 8. “This is the first time this conference will be held in the Midwest, and we are excited to invite colleagues from all across the country to join us as presenters and attendees,” said Leigh Adcock, WFAN executive director.
Making It in Michigan – Michigan’s Premiere Specialty Food Show
Trade Show and Conference sponsored by the MSU Product Center
November 12, 2013
Lansing Center, Lansing, MI
Make plans to attend the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference April 15-18, 2014 in Austin, Texas
The National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Powering Up will convene a diverse group of stakeholders from across the farm to cafeteria movement—more than 1,000 food service professionals, farmers, educators, youth leaders, policy makers, state/federal agency professionals, public health professionals and others—working to source local food for institutional cafeterias and foster a culture of food and agricultural literacy across America. Cafeterias in schools, universities, prisons, hospitals and childcare centers serve more than 40 million Americans every day during the school year, placing the farm to cafeteria movement at the forefront of the fight to end obesity and strengthen local food systems. Make plans to be in Austin April 15-18, 2014, for three days of inspiring field trips, workshops, speakers and networking. The conference is hosted by the National Farm to School Network. For more information: www.farmtocafeteriaconference.org
Colleen Matts
Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network
Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University
480 Wilson Rd | Rm 303 Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824
(p) 517.432.0310
www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu
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