The South Dakota Department of Education’s Division of Child and Adult Nutrition Services (CANS) awarded nearly $50,000 across six Farm to School programs. The Farm to School grant enhances the initiative to build and increase the capacity of participating programs to procure and use local foods and provide agricultural education opportunities.

Alan Haarstad, Director of CANS, says that, beyond the educational component of the program, local food producers are being recognized for their commitments to their communities and strengthening their local economy.

Each program was required to form a team of at least three members to carry out its grant project proposal. Eligible team member roles included food service staff, administrators, educators, Child Nutrition Program staff, childcare sponsors, board members, parents, or community partners.

Farm to School teams must maintain the scope of the narrative submitted with their grant application, which addressed the need for the project, goals, timeline, and sustainability.

The Howard School District is receiving a Farm to School grant of just over 9-thousand dollars. The McCrossan Boys Ranch was awarded nearly 15-thousand dollars.