Kentucky’s Farm to School Network (KF2SN) hosted two virtual training sessions for Kentucky Extension Agents interested in teaching farm to school lessons in the classroom. During the program, titled Highlighting Farm to School in the Classroom, members of the KF2SN showcased farm to school lessons for all levels of primary and secondary education. 30 agents attended on our August 30^th training and 22 agents attended on our September 1^st training. Post training, agents were prompted to take these lesson ideas and implement them into classrooms across Kentucky.

In addition to this train-the-trainer approach to Farm to School Month, I collaborated with the University’s Agricultural Education program to have each first-year Agricultural Education student (24) teach a Farm-to-School lesson in a K-12 classroom of their choice. The students appreciated the lesson planning and teaching experience, while I appreciated the collaboration and connection made between agriculture and children in K-12 classrooms. The KF2SN and I are planning a similar course of action for this year’s Farm-to-School month. We have already received interested from our partner in Agricultural Education about collaborating again this fall.

For additional background information, the Kentucky Farm to School Network is a coalition of agencies, organizations, and advocates enthusiastic about farm to school programming in Kentucky. Members of the KY Farm to School Network include Bluegrass Farm to Table, Community Farm Alliance, Feeding KY, FoodChain, Foundation for Healthy KY, Grow Appalachia, KY Ag in the Classroom, KY Center for Ag and Rural Development, KY Department of Agriculture, KY Department of Education, KY Horticulture Council, and partner schools and farmers across the state including Bowling Green Independent School District, Cedar Ring Greens, Frankfort Independent School District, and Need More Acres.