Across the country, farm to school and early care and education (ECE) programs are transforming how children and youth experience food. Behind many of these successful programs is a dedicated role: a Farm to School Coordinator. 

In 2023, NFSN partnered closely with Colorado State University Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRISS) to conduct a landscape research on farm to school coordination and the impact of a dedicated role on program success. This research and stories from NFSN partners have shown that when schools have a Farm to School Coordinator leading the work, farm to school initiatives are more likely to expand local procurement, integrate food education, and sustain long-term impact.

To strengthen this critical role nationwide, NFSN is excited to launch the second phase of the Farm to School Coordinators Community of Practice, with support from Builders Vision Philanthropy. Building on the strong momentum of the original Farm to School Coordinators Project, this next phase expands opportunities for connection, professional development, and peer learning among coordinators across the country. 

Expanding the Community of Practice

This year, the Farm to School Coordinator Community of Practice (CoP) will expand to include coordinators from across the country. Through free virtual meetings and a national community forum, coordinators and practitioners will be able to exchange ideas, share resources, and problem-solve together as they navigate the daily challenges and opportunities of farm to school implementation.

These virtual gatherings will also create space for coordinators to showcase innovative approaches in local procurement, food education, and farm to school programming.

Interested to learn more about this networking opportunity? Please email NFSN Programs Director at Trisha@farmtoschool.org. 

Launching the Farm to School Coordinator Learning Collaborative

Alongside the expanded CoP, NFSN is launching a Farm to School Coordinator Learning Collaborative, a cohort of 15 coordinators and supporters based in California, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. Working closely with NFSN staff and a two peer mentors, participants will deepen their knowledge and leadership in two key areas:

  • Local procurement and farm to school innovation, including strategies for strengthening connections between schools and farmers.
  • Facilitation and presentation skills, preparing coordinators to share best practices, lead asset-based conversations, and amplify the impact of their work within the wider farm to school movement.

Farm to school programs rely on collaboration between farmers, food service professionals, educators, and communities. By investing in the people who coordinate these connections every day, NFSN is helping ensure that more schools can access local food, engage students in meaningful food education, and build resilient regional food systems. 

Through the expanded Community of Practice and the new Learning Collaborative, this project will continue to grow the network of farm to school leaders, amplify practitioner knowledge, and strengthen the capacity of programs nationwide.