Farm to School Coordinators Project

Strengthening capacity for farm to school programs at the community level

National Farm to School Network was a proud recipient of the 2023 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program. With support from the USDA and Life Time Foundation, we launched the Farm to School Coordinators Project.

Our goal with this project was to scale up farm to school implementation nationwide by establishing more dedicated farm to school coordinator positions at school districts. We provided unique professional development opportunities, supported school communities, and developed research-driven resources to help make the case for the farm to school coordinator position.

Meet the first cohorts of the Farm to School Coordinators Community of Practice (CoP) and School District Working Group (WG) below. The collective impact of the cohorts was far-reaching—together, the cohort members represented 21 school districts and 433,950 students across the country.

In April 2025, National Farm to School Network brought our coordinators cohort together in-person for a powerful learning academy at the Horse Shoe Farm in North Carolina, in partnership with Shelburne Farms. It was a joyful space filled with connection, mentorship, and growth.

To foster research-driven resources and understanding of farm to school coordination, NFSN partnered with the Colorado State University Institute of Research in the Social Sciences to look at the facilitators, barriers, and overall landscape of farm to school coordination across the country. If you are looking to create or strengthen a coordinator role in your community, we encourage you to use these tools to help you:

The Farm to School Community of Practice is a two-year collaborative space for eight farm to school coordinators where members will engage in peer-learning and co-develop strategies to navigate farm to school implementation and bring learnings back to their work. NFSN is excited to welcome the farm to school coordinators in the 2024 cohort!

Allison Pfaff Harris
Reap Food Group, WI

Brianna Jackson
‍Chicopee Public Schools, MA

Rebekka Henriksen
Schenectady City School District, NY

Janelle Manzano
San Diego Unified School District, CA

Jennifer Lynn Lewis
East Jordan Public Schools, MI

Madison Taylor
Minneapolis Public Schools, MN

Maryssa Wilson
Sidney Central School District, NY

Rebecca Rodriguez
Cleveland Metropolitan School District, OH

The School District Working Group is a two-year cohort of 10 individuals from school districts across the country. The Working Group will meet with the goal of creating a farm to school coordinator position at their school district, and will help in the creation of resources that will be shared with other school districts also trying to create a farm to school coordinator position. Please join us in welcoming the 2024 Working Group members!