DATCP To Host Farm To School Grantee Gathering

On September 24, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will welcome leaders in Farm to School and Farm to Early Childhood Education to celebrate successes of the Wisconsin Farm to School Grant pilot and Wisconsin Farm to School Month.

DATCP invites media to join for grant project presentations and a tour of Nourish Farms. Media have permission to take photos and video during this reception. Pre-registration is required; please email Kelly Mella at kelly.mella@wisconsin.gov.

What: Wisconsin Farm to School Grantee Gathering

When: September 24, 2024

Where: Nourish – 100 Alfred Miley Ave., Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085

DATCP Event Contact: Allison Lindsey, Farm to School Grant Specialist, allison.lindsey@wisconsin.gov, (608) 347-1882

Agenda:

11:30 Registration/Check-in

12:00 Lunch

12:30 Speakers:

  • Ryan Laswell, Nourish
  • Mike Strigel, DATCP Assistant Deputy Secretary
  • Angie Rupchock-Schafer, Farm to School Regional Specialist, Child Nutrition Division | Midwest Regional Office, U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service

1:15 Wisconsin Farm to School Grant Project Presentations (5 minutes per speaker followed by Q&A session):

  • Pasture and Plenty: Alex Booker, Black Excellence Coordinator, Instructor, Host & Field Guide
  • School District of Mauston: Beth Babcock, Director of Agricultural Education
  • Hayward Community School District: Kate Witkowski, Lead Advisor at Northern Waters Environmental School
  • Kids Forward: Daithi Wolfe, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Nourish Farms: Ryan Laswell, Executive Director
  • Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative: Hannah Krueger, Farm to School Coordinator and Tara Roberts Turner, General Manager
  • School District of Eleva-Strum: Kaela Stendahl, Data Specialist / Grant Writer
  • Wisconsin Early Childhood Association: Mary O’Connell, Food Systems Coordinator

 2:30 Tour of Nourish Education Center: Visit commercial and teaching kitchen, two hoop houses, 25 raised beds, half acre of in-ground gardens, beehives and orchard

3:55 Closing Remarks: Allison Lindsey, DATCP Farm to School Specialist

Learn more about DATCP Farm to School & Institution at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/FarmToSchool.aspx, and the Wisconsin Farm to School Grant program at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/WisconsinFarmtoSchoolGrants.aspx.