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Farm to School

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Farm to School connects Minnesota farmers directly to students by serving locally-sourced foods in school as well as by providing educational activities that connect them with local agriculture.  As part of the Land Stewardship Project’s support for community-based food systems, we have been a long-time champion of Farm to School initiatives.

Want to Get Involved?

Want to stay connected with the latest Farm to School and community-based food systems news? Sign up for specialized updates!

MDA Farm to School and Early Education Grants: Applications Re-open in August 2024!

Farm to School and Early Care Grants support Minnesota school districts and early childhood education (ECE) centers that want to buy and serve Minnesota agricultural products.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture expects to award up to $935,000 to reimburse school districts and ECE centers for buying Minnesota-grown and Minnesota-raised foods used in federal meal programs.

Learn more here.

Contact MDA Farm to Institution Coordinator

MDA’s Farm to Institution Coordinator provides schools with one-on-one support for getting started with Farm to School:

Kate Seybold, MS (she/her/hers)
Farm to Institution Coordinator
Agricultural Marketing & Development
O: 651-201-6165 | C: 507-321-8010
kate.seybold@state.mn.us

www.mda.state.mn.us

 

 

UMN Farm-to-School Resource Page

Find practical, Minnesota-specific tips on how to start and grow connections for the health of our children and communities. This page includes information for food service staff on procuring local foods, as well as information on food safety and creating school curriculum.

Learn more here.

MISA Local Food Service Fact Sheets

These resources address some questions on rules around serving local foods, including information on approved sources and safely buying and serving local produce.

Learn more here.

Minnesota Farm to School

A general resource guide for information, training webinars, and resources related to Minnesota’s Farm to School program.

Learn more here.

Minnesota Harvest of the Month

A service of University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Harvest of the Month offers free Farm to School promotional and educational materials, including posters, stickers, and clings!

Learn more here.

The Root Review Newsletter

Minnesota’s Farm to School e-newsletter is a central source to stay in the loop on various Farm to School opportunities across the state.

Sign up here.

Sprout Food Hub Recipe Collection

Sprout Food Hub is a nonprofit food hub located in Little Falls, Minn. Its published guide offers recipe ideas for locally-available produce.

Download here. 

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Contact

Scott DeMuth, e-mail, 612-767-9487

Amy Bacigalupo, e-mail, 320-269-2105

Upcoming Events

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May 2025

Thursday May 15

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
MN Women in Conservation
Thursday May 15
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
MN Women in Conservation
42652 County Rd 7, Belview, MN 56214, USA

Come out and play with MNWiC and Renville County Soil and Water Conservation District. Tour Iverson Tree Farm, learn from other women land stewards, and meet local Master Gardeners and conservation professionals who can help with your own land dreams.
 
For details and to register, click here.
 
 

Saturday May 17

11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Community Plant & Seed Swap
Saturday May 17
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Community Plant & Seed Swap
Lift Bridge Brewing, 1900 Tower Dr W, Stillwater, MN 55082, USA

Lift Bridge Brewing Co. and Sustainable Farming Association are partnering to host a free seed and plant swap and fundraiser at Lift Bridge’s taproom in Stillwater. Vendor opportunities available. 
 
Details here.

Tuesday May 20

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Webinar on Agrivoltaics: Sheep Solar Grazing Producer Panel
Tuesday May 20
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Webinar on Agrivoltaics: Sheep Solar Grazing Producer Panel
Zoom Virtual

Participants will hear from sheep producers about their experiences, along with the benefits and challenges of grazing sheep under solar panels. This webinar is part of a series about cattle and sheep solar grazing and growing forages or grain crops under solar panels.
 
For details and to register, click here.

Thursday May 29

9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Storytelling for Sales: Digital Marketing for Sustainable Farmers
Thursday May 29
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Storytelling for Sales: Digital Marketing for Sustainable Farmers
Zoom Online

Storytelling for Sales: Digital Marketing Best Practices to Get Your Farm’s Next Customer is designed to help farmers grow their customer base by sharpening their storytelling and digital marketing skills—whether they’re selling through farmers’ markets, CSAs, or direct-to-retail. This Greener Pastures and Meet the Minnesota Makers workshop will cover how websites and social media can actually convert viewers into buyers to creating content that builds community loyalty.

This workshop is also designed for ag educators, professionals, and partner organizational staff who support farmers directly and want to be well-versed on the marketing best practices to support direct-to-consumer farms. 

For details and to register, click here.

June 2025

Wednesday June 25

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
LSP-PFI Grazing Field Day at Hoosier Ridge Ranch
Wednesday June 25
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
LSP-PFI Grazing Field Day at Hoosier Ridge Ranch
Hoosier Ridge Ranch, 15998 Wabasha County Rd 26, Altura, MN 55910, USA

Over the last 50 years, livestock have left many farms. Eric Heins is doing the reverse: bringing cattle – and their poop, pee and hooves – back to his land. Come see how Eric is using his Normande-shorthorn crosses in a variety of grazing situations. During this Land Stewardship Project-Practical Farmers of Iowa field day, you can view permanent pasture, where Eric (like everyone) is battling the cool-season grass takeover. You’ll also learn how Eric is using his cattle in cover crop mixes, prairie and woodlands.

Since purchasing the farm in 2020, Eric has converted the cropland to pasture. He also custom-farms a diverse rotation of crops, covers and small grains on neighboring farms, including an established prairie on Iowa Department of Natural Resources land. A possible bonus: Eric is hoping to have virtual fence collars by the time of the field day, but no guarantees!

A meal featuring Hoosier Ridge Ranch burgers will follow the field day.

See & Discuss

  • Cash-flowing the conversion to pasture on owned versus rented cropland
  • Stockpiling pasture for winter grazing
  • Mechanical buckthorn clearing for silvopasture
  • Grazing agreements on DNR prairie and neighboring cropland
  • A sudangrass mix after a canning pea crop
  • An extended rotation with oats, barley and Kernza

For more information, contact LSP’s Alex Romano at aromano@landstewardshipproject.org.

View Full Calendar

Recent Posts

  • LSP Legislative Update: Heading into the Final Days May 7, 2025
  • Hopping into the Lunch Line May 7, 2025
  • Sign the Petition Supporting Soil Health Legislation May 2, 2025
  • Sign the Petition for Legislative Support of “Farm to Kids” May 2, 2025
  • MDA Announces 2025 Recipients of the AGRI Farm to School & Early Care Programs May 1, 2025

Montevideo

111 North First Street
Montevideo, MN 56265

(320) 269-2105

Lewiston

180 E. Main Street
Lewiston, MN 55952

(507) 523-3366

Minneapolis

821 E. 35th Street #200
Minneapolis, MN 55407

(612) 722-6377

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