Kathy Zorbist, Food Service Director at Hampton-Dumont Community Schools, submitted a descriptive, compelling story about the farm to school initiatives at South Side Elementary, a program that provides students with access to healthy, nutritious foods while also offering educational opportunities to help them understand the origins of their food.

From Kathy, "Over the past five years, our students have utilized the school’s indoor tower and outdoor garden spaces to grow, harvest, and prepare vegetables such as lettuce, peas, beans, and kale, which are then distributed for sampling during snack time. This school year, our elementary school received a grant to support the development of a greenhouse and expansion of the outdoor garden beds. The greenhouse was completed last fall, allowing for a quick crop of radishes. Our ag program coordinator, Jodi White, has been actively engaging students this spring in seed-starting activities for the greenhouse. Additionally, a new handicap-accessible garden bed will be added to the outdoor area in the coming months."

The Child Nutrition Program at Hampton-Dumont is dedicated to supporting Farm to School initiatives through local food procurement, too! "Throughout this year, lettuce cultivated by students from the tower garden has been served at our Fruit & Veggie Bar during lunch. We source local foods directly from producers or through our food hub for meals and events, including The Great Apple Crunch and Iowa Local Food Day. During local food day, the Hancock County Cattlemen, along with our FFA students, grilled local beef patties for hamburgers served in our student lunches."

Kathy Shared about the District's Agriculture Program Coordinator, "Jodi White is committed to connecting classroom learning with local agriculture. She coordinates with nearby farmers to engage students in discussions about their work and facilitates opportunities for students to virtually experience farm activities through videos that provide a "ride along" perspective in tractors. Additionally, in partnership with the local county extension office, students engage in supplementary activities that include plant cultivation, education on food production and nutrition, as well as taste testing."

Congrats to South Side Elementary and Hampton-Dumont Community School District!