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Building Your Farm to School Team

Updated March 22, 2023

Anna Tvedt

SDSU Extension Nutrition Field Specialist

Local farm to school team members in a school cafeteria.
A farm to school team should include a core group of individuals and agencies dedicated to the farm to school mission.

Originally written by Jennifer Folliard, former SDSU Extension Family & Community Health Field Specialist. Updated by Anna Tvedt, SDSU Extension Farm to School Nutrition Field Specialist.

One of the first steps to take when starting with farm to school is developing your farm to school team. Putting together a farm to school team should include a core group of individuals and agencies who are dedicated to the farm to school mission.

Being able to continue the work with farm to school can be challenging, and that is why it is important to have input from team members across multiple sectors. There are many parties that have interest in implementing farm to school, such as school employees, local chefs, and PTA/PTO.

Potential Farm to School Team Members

  • School food service employees
  • Teachers
  • Students
  • School administrators
  • School board members
  • Parents/grandparents
  • Food producers
  • School nurses
  • Staff at non-profits
  • Master gardeners
  • Researchers
  • School maintenance staff
  • Local chefs
  • State agency farm to school coordinators
  • National farm to school network partners
  • Health care professionals
  • Extension agents
  • PTA/PTO representatives
  • Members of the local media
  • School district communications director
  • School district curriculum director
  • Other school districts with established programs
  • Social media groups

Source: USDA FNS Building Your Farm to School Team

To learn more about farm to school and building your team, view the South Dakota Farm to School Resource Guide.

South Dakota Farm to School Resource Guide

Related Topics

School Nutrition