WSESU & WRED Go to the 14th Annual Northeast Farm to School Institute

Brattleboro, VT – July 17, 2024 – The 14th annual Northeast Farm to School Institute (NEFTSI) convened at picturesque Shelburne Farms on the shores of Lake Champlain from June 25-27, marking a milestone with the participation of two district-wide Farm to School (FTS) teams from Southeastern Vermont. This year’s Institute brought together a total of 11 teams from across the Northeastern region, including Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, for a transformative three-day event.

The Institute, which launches a comprehensive year-long program, offered participating teams from Windham Southeast Supervisory Union (WSESU)  and West River Modified Union Education District (WRED) invaluable coaching, technical expertise, and professional development. Led by Food Connects FTS Coach Sheila Humphreys and FTS Program Manager Kris Nelson, the district teams encompassed a diverse array of stakeholders, including teachers, school board members, administrators, garden coordinators, school nurses, food service managers, and behavioral social workers.

During the Institute, each team collaboratively formulated a values statement and set goals for their Farm to School action plan. Emphasizing community empowerment through education and wellness via local, nourishing foods, the teams committed to increasing local food purchasing in meal programs, implementing innovative initiatives like Harvest of the Month Taste Tests, and developing a continuum of Farm to School learning objectives from pre-K through 12th grade.

“This Institute provided us with invaluable time and resources to strategically plan our Farm to School initiatives,” remarked Sheila Humphreys. “It’s inspiring to witness the dedication of educators and community leaders to transform school food environments.”

Beyond structured planning sessions, participants selected from a range of workshops and learning journeys tailored to their needs, from basic garden planning to advanced resilience recipes. Notable sessions included workshops by Food Activist Chef Liesha McKinley-Barnett and veteran Vermont Independent Food Service Directors Laura LaVacca and Kathy Alexander, who engaged attendees with interactive activities and inspirational keynote speeches.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of the Institute is the opportunity for organic networking and relationship-building,” noted Kris Nelson. “These connections strengthen our collective resilience and capacity to tackle challenges throughout the school year.”

Culinary highlights included meals featuring recipes from the New School Cuisine Cookbook, showcasing kid-tested recipes aligned with USDA dietary guidelines and featuring seasonal Vermont produce. Participants savored dishes like Sweet Potato and Black Bean Salad and Turmeric Cauliflower Salad, complemented by treats from the Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream Truck.

As the Institute drew to a close, attendees received exciting news from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets—a $4,000 grant for each Vermont team to support the implementation of their action plans in the upcoming academic year.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the State of Vermont for their steadfast support of Farm to School initiatives,” expressed Kris Nelson. “We’re excited to see the full impact of these teams from Southeastern Vermont as they bring their action plans to life.”

For more information about the Northeast Farm to School Institute and future events, visit vtfeed.org/northeast-farm-school-institute.

Food Connects is an entrepreneurial non-profit that delivers locally produced food as well as educational and consulting services aimed at transforming local food systems. The Food Hub aggregates and delivers from over 125 regional farms and food producers to over 280 buyers in southeast Vermont, southwest New Hampshire, and western Massachusetts. Their educational services focus on Farm to School programming. Acknowledged as a statewide leader, the program supports over 30 schools to increase local food purchasing, school meal participation, and food, farm, and nutrition education. Together these core programs contribute to a vibrant local economy by increasing local food purchases by schools and improving students’ nutrition and academic performance. Food Connects is frequently hired to provide leadership and consulting services for efforts to support food systems initiatives throughout New England and act as a catalyst for change.