Waukee CSD Awarded USDA Farm to School Grant
USDA Awards Farm to School Grants – $75,992 to Waukee CSD
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $12 million in Farm to School Grants this year, including a two-year, $75,992 implementation grant ($113,944 including match dollars) to the Waukee Community School District.
The Farm to School Grants will help expand the access to fresh, local foods and hands-on agricultural learning for children across 45 states and the District of Columbia. The awarded projects will serve more than 1.4 million students at more than 6,800 schools.
The objective of the Farm to School project in Waukee is to improve access to local foods in eligible schools through comprehensive Farm to School programming including local procurement and agricultural education efforts.
“This is a significant investment in wellness for all of the students and families in our district,” says Jeannie Allgood, Waukee CSD Director of Nutrition Services. “Through this grant, we will be able to continue working toward our vision of cultivating opportunities for students and the community to interact with the local food system.”
Waukee received a USDA Farm to School planning grant in 2018 and has developed a platform showcasing the Farm to School efforts in numerous ways:
- Establishing a Farm to School committee comprised of school and community stakeholders.
- Creating a school garden checklist; garden food safety procedure; and revising the district’s wellness policy to include support for farm to school activities.
- Adding 5 new edible gardens
- Providing nutrition education, in addition to locally sourced food for taste testing and special events in the lunchroom, at summer feeding sites, and in preK-12 classrooms.
“Waukee is proud to be a leader in the state of Iowa’s Farm to School efforts,” adds Allgood. “We are thrilled to enhance our district’s platform and raise awareness and education on the importance of agriculture and nutrition in our schools.”
The newest two-year grant will fund activities immediately and will continue through the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year.
