Who: These events are for farmers, ranchers, school administrators, food service leaders, processors, community organizations and local residents.
What: You are invited to join Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Extension and USDA Food and Nutrition Services to learn, connect and share your thoughts about farm to school activity in Nebraska. Join us on Wednesday morning, October 18th, for a discussion on how Nebraska schools are using local beef in their Child Nutrition programs. Stay for lunch and join us in the afternoon for deeper conversation about farm to school!
When: Wednesday, October 18, 2023
9:30am – 12:30pm, Beef to Schools Conversation – Join us to build connections and prepare to engage in a Statewide Farm to School Network; to engage in policy for change-making; and to learn about federal resources and innovative programs within and outside of Nebraska.
12:30 – 1:30pm, Lunch and Learn with Resource share out from invested stakeholders (Lunch is offered free of charge courtesy of Nebraska Regional Food Systems Initiative.)
2:00 – 4:30pm, Western Nebraska Farm to School Listening Session – We will introduce the Nebraska F2S Network project and gather specific information about farm to school activity in Western Nebraska. This information will help develop a vision for a successful statewide Farm to School Network.
Where: Knight Museum and Sandhills Center, 908 Yellowstone Ave, Alliance, NE 69301
Why: Our goal is to learn about Farm to School programs, activities, and local food purchasing efforts in Western Nebraska. What has worked well when schools try to purchase beef and other local foods for their Child Nutrition Programs? What strengths does Western Nebraska have that can contribute to more local food purchases by Nebraska’s schools?
How: Register here.
For more information about Nebraska’s Farm to School program, visit NDE’s website.
If you have questions, please contact Ben Jewell, Nebraska Extension in Otoe County, bmcshane-jewell2@unl.edu or 402-269-2301.
If you are not able to attend, another meeting is planned the following day, Thursday, October 19th at the Scottsbluff High School, 313 E 27th St., Scottsbluff, NE, 69361. More information about the Scottsbluff meeting can be found here.