SEPTEMBER 2016
EducationReview
Farm to School Month
by Connie Cherba
with special thanks to Carolyn Scherf and Chris Happ Olson
Alternative Learning Center student at chicken coop . Photo contributed by Alternative Learning Center .
Students at the Alternative Learning Center participate in growing gardens . Photo contributed by Alternative Learning Center .
October is National Farm to School Month , and in Dubuque , the celebration is already well underway . What ’ s “ Farm to School ?” It ’ s any program that connects schools to local farms by featuring healthy , locally sourced meals in school cafeterias . Farm to School programs not only improve student nutrition , but also provide educational opportunities and support local and regional farmers .
“ Farm to School programs are important because we ’ ve lost our connection with food – not just in our community , but all over the United States . Kids don ’ t know where food comes from ,” said Christine Happ Olson , Four Mounds Foundation Executive Director . “ It ’ s a health issue , a community economic development issue , and a self-sufficiency issue to be able to have access to healthy local food , to be able to appreciate it , and to know the importance of food and where it comes from .”
Congress designated October as National Farm to School Month in 2010 . Last year , more than 200 organizations in all 50 states and Washington D . C . promoted Farm to School programs , reaching an audience of more than 2.7 million . In 2015 , the Dubuque Community School District , with support from Iowa State University ( ISU ) Extension & Outreach in Dubuque County , served locally grown fruit and vegetables to more than 8,000 elementary , middle , and high school students .
Dubuque got an early start to the 2016 Farm to School celebration in late August with the Driftless Farm and Food Fest Kick-off event at Clarke University . Fred Kirschenmann , renowned writer , philosopher , and organic farmer , offered the keynote address , which focused on Food for a Changing Planet . Kirschenmann , a longtime national and international leader in sustainable agriculture , manages his family ’ s 1,800-acre certified organic farm in south central North Dakota and shares an appointment as Distinguished Fellow for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at ISU .
Now it ’ s time to mark your calendars for some upcoming events . The 2016 Driftless Farm and Food Fest 2016 has been scheduled for Saturday and Sunday , September 10-11 . The popular Driftless Farm Crawl , a 100-mile self-guided tour through the Driftless Region , will take place on Saturday , September 10 , from 12:30-4:30 p . m . The event is organized by a coalition of community organizations including ISU – Extension & Outreach in Dubuque County , Four Mounds Foundation , and Dubuque Rescue Mission with support from Dubuque Community School District , Clarke University , Silos and Smokestacks Natural Heritage Area , Sustainable Dubuque , Farm Credit Services of America , American Trust and Savings Bank , and a host of community food advocates .
Four farms in southwest Wisconsin will be available for Farm Crawl tours , including : Tree of
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