The Food Connects Farm to School team hosted their annual Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Gathering on May 30th at Bellows Falls Union High School, the first to happen since Covid. The event was enriched by a varied group of participants - educators, school administrators, and school nutrition professionals, farmers, families,  community members and FTS-affiliated organizations - all passionate about strengthening the Farm to School movement in southern Vermont.

The afternoon began with an inspiring presentation by Jessa Harger, Program Director of Journey Away, who shared details of this year's ‘expeditionary learning’ Journey Away semester program. Through this program, students delved into the intricacies of food systems through visits to local farms and businesses and explored the food culture of Vermont, New York City, the U.S. South, Vietnam, and France to gain a global perspective on agriculture and cuisine.

Harley Sterling, School Nutrition Director of Windham Northeast Supervisory Union, followed with a captivating tour of the BFUHS kitchen and overview of the WNESU food program and the evolution of food service in Vermont schools. Harley is a leader in the independent Food Service model in Vermont and serves on the board of directors of the School Nutrition Association of Vermont. Harley has brought scratch cooking, local purchasing and Farm to School education to the forefront of WNESU’s food service program. WNESU leads the state in local purchasing, consistently buying 30% of their food from Vermont farms and producers, making the district an inspiration to other schools looking to make their values visible through an independent school nutrition program. During his tour Harley emphasized the importance of engaging students in the food process, from garden to kitchen, and highlighted Vermont's leadership in Farm to School initiatives.

Participants then broke out into interactive workshops led by Farm to School educators. Cedar Schiewetz of the Vermont Garden Network demonstrated food preservation techniques, while Dana Hudson, Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network Coordinator, showcased the educational benefits of incorporating animals into Farm to School programs. Alex Lacy of Windham Solid Waste Management District led a workshop on large-scale composting, providing valuable insights for school communities on adopting and improving composting in schools.

The event culminated in a delicious Journey Away-themed dinner prepared by Harley and his staff, featuring Vietnamese, French and Southern dishes inspired by the diverse cultures visited during the course of the program. Participants enjoyed the opportunity to network and connect, sharing their passion for Farm to School initiatives. The evening ended with a raffle of gift baskets with Vermont products purchased through the Food Connects Food Hub, and flower arrangements from Vernon’s Farm Wife Flowers and Westminster’s Hope Roots Farm as well as parting gifts of Vermont maple syrup and Vermont-produced ice cream treats for all attendees.

Our 2024 Farm to School and Early Childhood Gathering was a great success, fostering collaboration and inspiring new ideas to further integrate local food systems into schools and early childhood education settings. The event serves as a reminder of the vital role that Farm to School programs play in educating children about food, nutrition, and the importance of supporting local agriculture.