Thanking the Senator for his Decades-Long Support in Connecting Classrooms, Cafeterias, and the Farming Community

On Tuesday, October 4, students, school staff, and the Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network gathered at Crossett Brook Middle School in Duxbury to thank United States Senator Patrick Leahy for his leadership and commitment to the farm to school movement that has expanded nationwide. The day included a presentation of student projects, a school garden tour, a visit to the school’s chicken coop, and a delicious school lunch featuring foods from Vermont producers! Some of the producers selling to the school—Green Mountain Harvest, Red Hen Bakery, Vermont Bean Crafters, and Roscioli Foods—joined the students in thanking Senator Leahy.

Farm to school is about engaging students with the food system and the impacts of their food choices. As one student shared during the event, “By eating at school every day, I was trying more new foods and eating a vegetable or fruit every day with lunch. I think that it is great that little kids and kids my age have access to different options and a whole salad bar where they can eat veggies that they might not have access to at home. They might not know it, but eating school lunches can change the way you eat in a positive way for the rest of your life.”

Senator Patrick Leahy and Marcelle Pomerleau Leahy celebrating Farm to School Month with students at Crossett Brook Elementary School, Duxbury, VT.

October is National Farm to School Month, and communities all over the country are celebrating. According to the USDA Farm to School Census, $1.26 billion was spent on local food purchases by schools during SY 2018-2019. USDA Farm to School Grants have reached over 25 million students.

“Farm to school is now nationwide, and where did it start? Here in Vermont,” said Senator Patrick Leahy. “We may be the second-smallest state, but we’re number one in good ideas.” Leahy, a longtime champion of farm to school, was the original author of the federal Farm To School program in the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and is a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

“Senator Leahy’s leadership was critical to establishing and expanding the Farm to School program, which has reached millions of students across the U.S.,” said Stacy Dean, USDA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. “Providing nutritious, local foods to children across the country while also expanding economic opportunities for local farmers will be one of his many lasting legacies. USDA appreciates the work the Senator has done to grow this valuable program.”

Senator Patrick Leahy and Marcelle Pomerleau Leahy talk with Crossett Brook Middle School students during the Farm to School Project Share. Here they speak with students from the sustainability club and meet Molly the hen, part of the school's flock of chickens. 

Thanks to Senator Leahy’s support and the work of hundreds of farm to school champions around the state—including educators, farmers, school administrators, students, and school nutrition professionals—Vermont has a Local Foods Incentive to help more schools purchase from Vermont farmers and feed students more local, nutritious foods. And this year, for the first time, the state legislature fully funded the Farm to School & Early Childhood Grant Program, bringing schools, early childhood programs, and farmers together so students can learn where their food comes from. 

In Vermont, 89% of schools purchase some local products, and 56% of early childhood providers are serving local food one or more times per week. “Vermonters should be proud of our work growing the farm to school movement,” says Betsy Rosenbluth, Project Director of Vermont FEED at Shelburne Farms . “By connecting classrooms, cafeterias, and communities we strengthen our food system and provide equitable access to hands-on food education. With Senator Leahy’s support we are creating a foundation for the health and success of Vermont’s children.”

Over 100 Vermont farms provide food to our schools and early childhood programs. This October, the Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network is celebrating the connections between farmers and learning communities with our #ThisFarmFeedsVTKids campaign. Learn more at vermontfarmtoschool.org/farm-feeds-vt-kids.

Producer John Farr of Green Mountain Harvest Hydroponics and Harwood Union Unified School District (HUUSD) Schools Food & Nutrition Co-Director Erika Dolan celebrate with a Crossett Brook Middle School student. HUUSD purchases produce from Green Mountain Harvest Hydroponics for their school meal programs, offering students nutritious, local foods. Learn more about the farmers feeding Vermont kids at vermontfarmtoschool.org/farm-feeds-vt-kids.

Photos by Sarah Webb and Isaac Cruz. Video by Andrea Estey.