Get Involved: October is Farm to School Month

October is National Farm to School Month, a time for celebrating and supporting our vision to engage every child in a local food and farm culture!

There is a lot to celebrate! Vermont took the top spot in the 2026 State of School Lunch Report; Vermont schools have increased their purchase of local foods almost 10% in the past 10 years—that’s $3M a year; 56% of early childhood providers serve local food weekly; and over 150 Vermont farms sell to Vermont schools and early childhood programs. 

We’re sharing a few ways to get involved, communicate your good work, and deepen your farm to school and early childhood learning.

High school students gather around a picnic table, engaged in a garden activity with seeds and soil.

Check Out Our Calendar of Events!

Find regional gatherings, grant opportunities, and more. If your organization or school has events to share, let us know at info@vermontfarmtoschool.org.

calendar of events

👋 Meet Your Network

Whether you're a longtime farm to school champion or brand new to the movement, everyone is welcome to plug into farm to school and early childhood projects and events from across the state. Join us Monday, November 2, in Cabot—get details and register!

 

💰 Fund Your Work

Applications are open for key state grants that support connecting students to local food and nutrition and agriculture education:

 

💌 Write a Love Letter to Farm to School

We're inviting Vermont educators, farmers, students, and neighbors to write a love letter (or drawing!) to farm to school. We'll gather the submissions into a display to carry to the State House, so lawmakers and funders can see what farm to school really means to the people living it every day. Learn more.

 

📢 Farm Fresh School Meals for All

As a Network, we’re advocating for the strengthening and expansion of Vermont farm to school and early childhood programs. To reach our goal, we need to maintain funding for the state's Farm to School & Early Childhood Grant Programs and the Local Foods Incentive Program. Show your support.

 

🌱 Invite School & State Leaders to See Your Work

Share the impact of our collective work with those who can influence its growth: invite a legislator, school board member, or school administrator to lunch in the cafeteria, a student harvest festival, or a tour of your school garden. When local leaders see farm to school firsthand, they can become our best allies for support. Use our School Leaders Campaign Toolkit and National Farm to School Network’s How to Host Site Visits for planning tips and talking points.

 

🧑‍🌾 Thank Your Local Farmers

Be on the lookout for our blue and white This Farm Feeds Vermont Kids lawn signs on the landscape! All Vermont farmers selling to school and early childhood programs are invited to post the sign on their farm or market booth this month. 100+ Vermont farms feed our youth across the state through early childhood programs and school nutrition programs, show yours a little appreciation next time you stop by. Find a farm near you.

 

🍏 Celebrate the Local Harvest

Vermont Harvest of the Month provides ready-to-use materials like recipes, posters, classroom activities, and cafeteria signage to celebrate seasonal, local ingredients each month. October's harvest is apples!

 

🗞 Find & Share Your Farm to School Stories

The Network is collecting blog posts, news articles, videos, and stories about farm to school and early childhood in Vermont all in one place. If you have a story to add, send it to info@vermontfarmtoschool.org.

 

🌎 Spread the Word

Download the National Farm to School Network's Toolkit, which includes social media graphics, suggested captions, sample messages, a press release template, and other resources that can be shared with your community.

Upcoming Events