Fayette County Farm to School
About Farm to School
Farm to school enriches the connections communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education settings. With farm to school, students gain access to healthy, local foods as well as education opportunities such as school gardens, cooking lessons and farm field trips.
Over the past decade, the farm to school movement has boomed across the United States, reaching millions of students in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories. Farm to school is an important tool in the fight against childhood obesity and food insecurity. In addition to improving child health, schools create new markets for local and regional farmers and contribute to vibrant communities when they buy locally: a win-win-win scenario!
What we do in Fayette County
- Procurement: Local foods are purchased, promoted, and served in the cafeteria or as a snack or taste-test in schools throughout Fayette County.
- School gardens: Students engage in hands-on learning through gardening.
- Education: Students participate in educational activities related to agriculture, food, health, or nutrition.
October is Farm to School Month!
Health is a priority, especially during these uncertain times, and making sure our bodies and immune systems are strong is crucial; this starts with the necessary nutrients we eat!
Healthy eating can reduce the risks of many cardiovascular diseases, improve our ability to recover from illnesses or injury, help us grow, increase our energy levels, decrease chances of childhood obesity, help us develop bone and teeth strength, improve our memories and moods, and even help us sleep better.
Exposing yourself or your child to nutritional education at an early age will provide them with the skills and resources needed for a healthy and successful future. But even if you are older, it is never too late to start learning! We encourage you to join us in celebrating our local farmers and getting involved in Farm to School Month this year!
Celebrate Farm to School Month at Home
Check out the resources below to find ways to celebrate Farm to School at home.
- Click here for a printable Farm to School Month Activity Checklist. Check off the activities as you complete them!
- Track your food miles at family meals! Find the origin of all ingredients to make a family meal and add up the miles the food had to travel to make it to your table. Challenge your family to make a low miles meal!
- Visit a Lexington Farmers Market! You can visit downtown on Saturday, Southland Drive on Sunday, or the corner of Maxwell and Broadway on Tuesday and Thursday. Buy directly from the farmers and tell them thank you for growing our food!
- Visit your Public Library and find books related to agriculture! Learn about how a seed becomes a plant, what careers you can pursue in the farming industry, or a recipe book that contains Recipes for fall!
- Visit one of FoodChain’s kid’s meal distribution sites for a free, locally sourced, fresh meal! Read the label to find out what’s local that day! Click here to see all of the locations and times!
- As a parent, if you pack your lunch each day, challenge yourself to include a local ingredient in order to make the freshest, local meal you can!
- ADOPT A SCHOOL GARDEN! Fayette County Public School Gardens are in need of some revitalization. If you, your family, or business would like to help, fill out this form.
- Participate in the Kentucky Crunch- more information below!
- REGISTER YOUR FARM TO SCHOOL MONTH CELEBRATIONS: Fill out this form to tell us how you celebrated Farm to School Month and be featured on our website and social media pages.
The Kentucky Crunch! 
The Kentucky Crunch Audio/Visual Contest!
A contest to celebrate the sounds of Kentucky Produce. Create a video or audio recording showcasing the sounds of different produce. You can crunch your way through the farmers market or create a symphony of sounds in your kitchen while cooking. Get creative with how we hear Kentucky produce.
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students in Fayette County (both public and private schools). Contest closes November 30, 2020. One entry per person.
To submit an entry, click here.
Farm to School Resources
Youtube Channel
National Farm to School Network
