What's new for the Network? |
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10 Cents a Meal is back!Michigan partially restores funding to nourish kids, support farmers, and strengthen communities
After a year of determined advocacy from educators, farmers, parents, health advocates, and communities across the state, the 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms program has been restored in Michigan’s Fiscal Year 2027 School Aid Budget! Amanda Brezzell from Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities shares, “I would say this is something that returned because of the work of the people who are impacted by this program.” Looking ahead, the 10 Cents a Meal program will receive $4 million in funding; however, administrative funding was removed from the final bill package, as was support of non-school sponsors, such as childcare centers. |
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Learn more about what it took to return funding to this important program and the work ahead to restore administrative support by reading last week’s press release and listening to Brezzell’s Brownfield Ag News interview. |
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In Season: Michigan Farm to Program Directory
With Michigan’s growing season in full swing, remember to check out the Michigan Farm to Program Directory! The Directory is a free-to-use, searchable database of both suppliers and buyers of Michigan-grown products. This tool was developed by the Michigan Department of Education and its partners to make it easier for food program operators to buy and serve Michigan grown food, and to help Michigan farmers and food suppliers connect with new customers. |
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Need help with your profile, or registering as a buyer or supplier? User guides are available on the Resources page of the 10 Cents a Meal section of the Michigan Department of Education website and you can view a Farm to Program Directory Overview Video here. You can also schedule a virtual meeting with the Farm to Program team using Microsoft Bookings.
Please contact MDE-FarmtoProgram@Michigan.gov with any 10 Cents a Meal and Michigan Farm to Program Directory questions. |
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Exploring the Roots
June new network launch brings together farm to youth supporters across the state
A wonderful energy was created together at last month’s Launch of the Michigan Farm to School and Early Care Network! Attendees heard inspirational stories of farm to youth work in action, spent time networking and sharing favorite, go-to resources and heard more on how and why this network is getting started. If you missed it, you can view the presentation slide deck here and watch the recording.
SAVE THE DATE for the next quarterly MI Farm to School and Early Care Network Meeting on September 10 at 1pm! We'll share great Farm to School Month celebration ideas and so much more! |
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Got suggestions?
We strive to provide content that is relevant and inspiring! Share your ideas, events, and opportunities to include in future newsletters here! |
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🍐 = Farm to ECE & School, 🥕= Farm to School, and 🫐= Farm to ECE |
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Local Beef in School Meals: Strategies, Safety, and Student-Led Processing Programs
August 3, 2026, 12pm ET Virtual
USDA Food and Nutrition Administration will host a webinar on local beef with guest speakers from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service and Maconaquah Community Schools in Indiana. The webinar will cover effective strategies for incorporating local beef into school meal programs, regulatory requirements for safely processing and serving local meat, and will showcase a successful student led meat program from the Maconaquah school. Guest speakers will participate in a live panel and Q&A session and will also share helpful resources, tools, and tips to support schools in implementing or enhancing local beef initiatives. |
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Detroit Annual Farm & Garden Tour August 5, 2026, 5:30-9pm ET
Detroit, MI
Starting at Keep Growing Detroit Farm, this tour takes you through several Detroit farms and gardens. Guests can choose to tour by bus, bike, or walking tours. |
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Virtual Coffee Chat: Farm to ECE and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans August 10, 2026, 2pm ET
Virtual
Join a virtual coffee chat exploring the connections between Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). This informal conversation will highlight how Farm to ECE strategies (i.e. serving local foods, gardening, and nutrition education—can support healthy eating patterns and early childhood development). Attendees will have the opportunity to learn key highlights from the DGA, share experiences, and discuss practical ways to align Farm to ECE efforts with nutrition recommendations in early care settings. |
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Growing Healthy Habits: Garden-Based Learning in Early Childhood August 12, 2026, 2pm ET
Virtual
Learn how Farm to ECE aligns and supports Head Starts. Also, learn how state organizations can help support Head Start staff or sites integrate Farm to ECE into their busy days. Hosted by Association of Public Health Nutritionists. |
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Nourishing Narratives 2026 Winner Screening
August 15, 2026, 4pm ET Detroit, MI
Join Mosaic Film Experience and Newman’s Own Foundation at The Henry Ford’s iconic Giant Screen Experience screening room for an inspiring evening showcasing the creativity and impact of youth storytellers from across the country. Ten youth winners, including Michigan’s own “Avery & Abi Creating Better Food Futures” will be featured! Following the free screening, a panel discussion will explore the intersection of digital storytelling, youth empowerment, and equitable food systems. |
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Michigan Back-to-School Town Hall August 26, 2026, 2pm ET Virtual
The Office of Nutrition Services at Michigan Department of Education has scheduled a Back-to-School Town Hall to share on the continued funding for Michigan School Meals program and the 10 Cents a Meal program. |
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Real Food Needs Real Kitchens: The Infrastructure Fight August 26, 2026 1pm ET Virtual
School food teams want to serve scratch-made meals, but they’re stuck in kitchens built for reheating, not cooking. This live panel with Chef Ann Foundation explores how districts are transforming their spaces and securing the funding to make it happen. |
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Undoing Borders Through Food and Alternative History September 9, 2026, 2pm ET Virtual
In this session, in partnership with KidsGardening, attendees will participate in a combination history lesson and cooking class to learn how food can bring history to life for students. |
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Michigan Farm to School and Early Care All-Network Meeting
September 10, 2026, 1pm ET Virtual
Join our fall meeting to get updates on Michigan farm to school and early care initiatives, hear inspirational stories from the field, and take part in meaningful networking with other practitioners! We’ll share planning ideas to celebrate Farm to School Month and info on how to participate in Michigan Apple Crunch! |
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Root for Local Food: Let's Cheer for Farm to CACFP
September 10, 2026, 2pm ET Virtual
Farm to CACFP Week is October 18-24, 2026! This webinar will help educators or sponsor organizations discover ways to grow their participation, access fresh ideas and resources for inspiration, and be ready to celebrate Farm to CACFP Week. |
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Sharing the Bounty: Telling Your Data-Driven Story September 30, 2026, 2pm ET Virtual
Participants will be guided through the processes of collecting, evaluating, and showcasing program data, and will leave with a plan for drafting an impact report that is meaningful and appropriate for unique stakeholders. |
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Farm to School & ECE Month Webinar: Harvest of the Month
October 21, 2026, 2pm ET Virtual
This webinar is a Harvest of the Month deep dive! This webinar will review where to find your state’s materials, how to use these tools, and how some states are adapting and using their Harvest of the Month materials. |
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Digging In: Farm to School Activities, Case Studies, and Resources
- Center for Ecoliteracy has just released a supportive resource for advancing farm to school programs. This comes at an important moment in the farm to school movement, as SNAP-Ed program end nationwide. Sections include: Community-Centered Farm to School + Local Procurement + Food Systems and Nutrition Education + Tracking Farm to School Success.
USDA Releases “Child Nutrition Programs Food Industry” Toolkit
- This centralized toolkit/webpage organizes Team Nutrition resources for food industry partners who provide food products to organizations operating CACFP. This is ideal for orienting new food industry staff and for refreshing existing industry partners—this toolkit aims to provide all relevant resources together in one place and reduce the time needed to access information that support USDA’s child nutrition programs.
Starting a Garden Course
- Have you been thinking about starting a garden at your school or ECE site? Are you a beginning gardener looking for direction so the garden can be as successful as it can be? If so, consider "Starting a School or Community Garden: Essential Steps for Success" from MSUE. This free course offers a flexible, self-paced online learning experience.
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See Where School Gardens are Growing: National School Garden Map
- The School Garden Support Organization Network synthesized school garden data, created an interactive map for public use, and analyzed the state of school gardens across the country. The map shows where school gardens are located and entities that support school gardens. Explore the map tutorial here and then use this map to: develop partnerships, educate your community, secure funding, and develop an outreach plan.
To join the map, follow the steps outlined below:
- Check if your school garden or organization is already on the map.
- If you aren’t, complete this form to add yourself on the map.
- If you are, check the data to make sure it’s up to date. You can provide updates through the same form.
More FY26 Patrick Leahy F2S Grantees!
- The USDA announced a second cohort of FY26 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grantees and among the twelve projects awarded were two from Michigan! The complete list of FY26 grantees is listed here. If you were a lead or partner applicant for this FY26 F2S Grant round (whether or not you were funded), National Farm to School Network encourages you to fill out their survey here to help them better understand project trends and needs, and provide support for future rounds. Applicants are also encouraged to seek written feedback from USDA if they will provide it.
Kindred Fellowship for School Nutrition Leaders
- Are you a school nutrition professional ready to spark systemic change? Applications are open through August 31 for FoodCorps’ Kindred Fellowship for School Nutrition Leaders, a free, nine-month program designed for 30 school food leaders ready to transform the field of school nutrition. Grounded in FoodCorps’ School Food Leadership Framework, fellows will receive virtual leadership training, personalized coaching, monthly digital advocacy engagement, small peer-learning pods, and fully paid, in-person convenings in Philadelphia and Washington, DC. If you are ready to connect, cultivate, and nourish your community, apply by August 31!
Great Plates of the Great Lakes (GPGL)
- New to summer 2026, is the GPGL challenge! As part of Michigan Department of Education’s Farm to Summer celebration, you are invited to participate in this challenge during the months of July to showcase all the fresh local food you serve. Winners will receive certificates, and photos of their meals will be posted on the MDE Facebook page and used in future SFSP trainings.
Meet the Principal Farmer (yes, that’s a real job!): Farm to School Podcast episode
- Check out the Farm to School podcast, which features stories from the frontlines of food, farming, and education—where young minds grow and agriculture takes root. (Available on approximately 30 platforms. Simply search for “Farm to School Podcast.”) In this episode you will meet a principal who rides a horse to school, runs a campus with peacocks, emus, and tortoises, and believes learning should start with wonder. Joined by our very own May Tsupros—self‑described “fire starter” and connector extraordinaire! You’ll hear about agriculture as the great equalizer and will have you rethinking what school can look like when we let kids wander, adults listen, and food bring us together.
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Growing Farm to ECE in Head Start: What Successful Implementation and Support Look Like
- Listen to a recording on how Farm to ECE aligns and supports Head Start health goals and learning objectives. Hear how state organizations can help support Head Start staff and how sites integrate Farm to ECE into their busy days. (Start at the 6:13 minute mark to jump right in and hear from the director of the MS Band of Choctaw Indians' Department of Early Childhood Education; it’s a great listen!)
MI Growing Healthy Eaters Facebook Group
- Michigan’s ECE Facebook group for childcare providers to connect with others in the Farm to ECE community, including local farmers, market managers, vendors and other providers. This is a special group – consider joining now!
ABC Flash Cards from National CACFP Association
- Teach kids about healthy foods while they learn their ABCs! These ABC Flash Cards teach children about a fruit or vegetable for each letter of the alphabet. You can also find recipes and activities that highlight these fruits and veggies.
How's It Growing? Farm to ECE curriculum!
- Check out Minnesota’s eight Farm to ECE chapters, perfect for integrating into your preschool learning environment! (BONUS: Chapter Nine includes 50 PreK books that center gardens!)
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Get connected!
Get in touch with fellow Michigan Farm to School and Early Care and Education leaders and practitioners! Subscribe to the listservs to connect directly with your peers:
MIFARMTOECE Sign up for the Michigan Farm to Early Care and Education listserv to receive updates and learn about farm to ECE work happening across the state.
MIFARMTOSCHOOL Sign up to receive updates and get linked in with Michigan farm to school stakeholders, from school and ECE food service directors and administrators, to growers and distributors. |
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About Michigan Farm to School and Early Care Network
The Michigan Farm to School and Early Care Network collaborates so children ages birth to 18 can grow, choose, and eat nutritious local food in their educational settings.
Farm to School and Early Care in Michigan includes local food sourcing, ag and nutrition education, and gardening. Children, families, schools, providers, and farmers all benefit from farm to school and early care.
The Michigan Farm to School and Early Care Network exists to:
- improve access to local food,
- increase nutritional awareness and health outcomes, and
- support schools and providers as they work to improve children’s learning environments.
Contact Julie Lehman, Network Co-lead, at lehmanju@msu.edu with any questions, comments, ideas or for more information on the Michigan Farm to School and Early Care Network. |
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