Written by Ryan Morra, Program Manager, Equity, Education & Curriculum, National Farm to School Network

When farm to school programs thrive, there’s usually someone behind the scenes bringing it all together: managing relationships, coordinating logistics, and championing good food in classrooms, cafeterias, and communities. That someone is often a Farm to School Coordinator.

Over the past two years, the National Farm to School Network has been proud to convene a Community of Practice for Farm to School Coordinators across the country and to collaborate with researchers at Colorado State University’s Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRISS) on a national study to understand these roles more deeply. Now, we’re excited to share the results and offer tools that can help you bring or strengthen a coordinator role in your own community.

New Research Highlights the Power of the Role

Our newly released Key Findings brief reveals what many practitioners already know: farm to school efforts reach more students, offer more robust programming, and are more likely to be sustained when there is a dedicated coordinator in place.

Among the key findings:

  • Sites with a Farm to School Coordinator (or similarly-titled manager or specialist) were significantly more likely to offer local procurement, food education, and school gardens.
  • These sites also reported greater student participation at all grade levels, from pre-K through high school.
  • Coordinators often serve as the crucial link between food service staff, educators, and local producers, keeping communication flowing and programs moving forward.
“The kids are getting better food. The farmers are getting more money. It’s just a win-win for everyone.” — Survey respondent, FTS Coordinators Study

👉 Access the Key Findings document

A New Tool to Help You Define the Role

As a companion to this research, NFSN has developed a Farm to School Coordinator Job Description Template to help schools, districts, and partner organizations create or formalize these critical positions. Whether you’re hiring for a new role, expanding an existing one, or advocating for more support, this customizable tool can help define responsibilities, skills, and strategic goals.

The template reflects the diversity of how coordination work happens across the country. It is designed to support full-time and part-time roles, whether embedded in child nutrition, a school garden program, or a community-based nonprofit.

👉 Access the Job Description Template

Real People, Real Impact

Our Community of Practice included 8 incredible Farm to School Coordinators who generously shared their time, strategies, and stories with one another. Many reflected on the challenges of being “a team of one,” the joy of watching kids try a new food for the first time, and the deep relationships they build in their communities.

In April 2025, the Community of Practice came together in person for a powerful learning academy at the Horse Shoe Farm in North Carolina, in partnership with Shelburne Farms.

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‍“Hearing everyone else's successes and struggles helps shape my ideas and directions we choose to take in our district's program.” - F2S Coordinator CoP Member,  Minnesota
“After the first gathering, I was re-inspired and motivated in my work. This work can be isolating since there are not many F2S focused folks that we get to work closely with. It is nice to be in a room full of people to talk out strategies and ideas with.” - F2S Coordinator CoP Member, California
“Knowing that there are other people out there who can relate to the work and all of the successes and areas of opportunity feels invaluable. I'd like to be better at being able to communicate with them, but knowing they're there is a comfort in not feeling so alone in my day-to-day district operations.” - F2S Coordinator CoP Member, Ohio

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In April 2025, the Community of Practice came 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. 

👉 Watch the video here 

Keep the Momentum Going

Whether you’re a farm to school advocate, school leader, or community partner, now is the time to build on this momentum. Here’s how you can take action:

  • Explore the key findings brief and use it to advocate for coordination roles in your school or district
  • Share the findings with administrators, food service teams, and policy partners
  • Download and use the F2S Coordinator Advocacy tool and slide deck, visual guides to demonstrate the value of F2S Coordinations, to build the case for a designated champion in your schools
  • Download and customize the job description template to support hiring or strategic planning related to Farm to School coordination
  • Celebrate and support the coordinators in your own community

Farm to school programs thrive when they have a champion. Our hope is that these new tools will ensure every program has one!

2024 Community of Practice with the Shelburne Farms Leadership Academy

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Thank you to Life Time Foundation and USDA for supporting this work. 🌱