What do locally grown apples, visiting pumpkin patches and starting a school garden have in common? They’re all ways to participate in Indiana Grown for Schools, a statewide initiative that supports local farmers and school communities.
Purdue Extension partnered with Indiana Grown for Schools in 2018, when the program first began to take shape from a USDA Farm to School grant. Now, Extension educators across the state are coordinating Farm to School programming for their communities.
What is Indiana Grown for Schools and how does it relate to Farm to School?
Indiana Grown for Schools is part of the national Farm to School movement, whose mission is to “increase access to local food and nutritional education to improve children’s health, strengthen family farms and cultivate vibrant communities.”
Indiana Grown for Schools is built on three pillars: procurement, school gardens and education.
Procurement supports local farmers through encouraging schools to purchase local foods. School gardens use hands-on learning to teach students about agriculture. Education helps students experience agriculture through events and activities, like ag days or visiting a pumpkin patch.
Extension 4-H and agriculture and natural resources educators provide hands-on learning to Seymour High School youth through classroom hydroponics towers. (Photo credit: Tom Campbell) Indiana Grown for Schools receives support from Purdue Extension, Indiana Grown, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Indiana Department of Health. Extension’s agriculture and natural resources (ANR) program has the most active role in Purdue’s efforts, but all program areas offer support.
“Farm to School programs create valuable connections between local agriculture and schools, providing students with fresh, nutritious food while teaching them about farms that locally produce the food,” Sarah Hanson, Extension food systems coordinator, said. “Purdue Extension programs offer hands-on learning which can strengthen community partnerships and help build resiliency in our food system.”
What Farm to School programs does Purdue Extension offer?
One way that Extension delivers statewide programming for National Farm to School Month is through the Indiana Great Apple Crunch. Every October, the program encourages communities to learn about local agriculture through apples. In 2024, the program had 189,397 participants in 87 counties.
Extension educators also offer county-level programming throughout the year. For example, ag days, like one recently hosted in Knox County, allow children to learn about the many types of agriculture where they live.
In Orange County, ANR educator Abby Heidenreich created a Harvest of the Month curriculum to educate third graders on local produce. Each lesson gave students the opportunity to try the food, rate it and compare it to classmates’ experiences, and afterwards, students would do a related scientific experiment. The activities aligned with state curriculum standards.
“The kids really engaged with learning about how something grows, and getting to taste that thing was cool for them” Heidenreich said.
Many children expanded their palates and became more interested in local produce.
Students in Orange County learn about pumpkins through watching a video, tasting the produce and participating in an activity. (Photo courtesy of Abby Heidenreich) Heidenreich recalled, “I had one parent reach out to me and say, ‘I don't know what you did, but my kid is eating spinach now and asking for spinach to be a part of her salad. I don't know what happened, but thank you for introducing her to a new food that's so healthy for her.’”
“Farm to School programs help students learn where their food comes from, why local agriculture matters, and the importance of eating nutritious foods. By connecting growers, 4-H youth, and schools, we’re building healthier communities and a stronger future for all Hoosiers.”
- Laura Dodds, Purdue Farm to School liaison
How can I get involved?
Anyone can participate in Farm to School.
“Joining the Farm to School movement is easy!” Hanson said. “Start with learning which foods are in season or available near you. School staff or volunteers can teach students via simple, hands-on activities.”
Indiana Grown for Schools offers many free resources, including the Harvest of the Month curriculum Heidenreich created and a map of local producers. To learn more about how to get involved in your county, reach out to your county Extension office or Sarah Hanson at sspeedy@purdue.edu.