March 11, 2026
It felt like a homecoming. This February, 65 farm to school and farm to early childhood (FTSEC) enthusiasts from around the state gathered in Montpelier to share a meal, generate renewed energy, celebrate impacts of our network, and plan for our future.
Network members—those who have been part of the movement for decades, those just getting involved, and everyone in between—spent the day aligning individual efforts and building enthusiasm to strengthen our network and expand FTSEC in Vermont.
Here are the main takeaways from that time together:
Our Connections Drive the Work
Relationships are the engine of this network! The biggest momentum-building moments came from stairway conversations, action team time, impact mapping, and breaking bread together. More time together leads to stronger outcomes. We have to continue designing ongoing opportunities like the gathering to help us connect across roles and sectors and develop new relationships.
💬 Participant reflection: “We need to continue to grow the social mycelium: support the work of each other, form connections in community, and across curriculum. And always connected to place!”
🌱 Next step: Some annual in-person gathering structures already exist. Soon, registration for spring regional gatherings will be available for Bennington, Morrisville, and Burlington (check our calendar for updates). We’re in the process of organizing a spring 2027 state FTSEC conference, and considering a second network gathering later this year.
Turning Shared Beliefs into Action
We know FTSEC is important. We’re already seeing our work change systems by influencing programs, policy, and even culture. We have the passion and shared values, and expertise, and we need to keep translating that energy into action.
Internally, clearer short-term and long-term priorities for action teams will help us stay focused and coordinated. Externally, we need to expand access, awareness, and better share the tools and resources we have to support schools and communities so they can move from “this matters” to “here’s what I can do.”
💬 Participant reflection: “Farm to school helps kids learn, helps kids and families be healthier, and helps build community.”
🌱 Next step: We will continue to refine the Ripple Effect Map shared during the gathering. This map demonstrates the impacts of our work, but also helps us prioritize projects moving forward.
Strengthening How We Work Together
We need to keep innovating and integrating! Network members want more cross-team collaboration and less siloed work. People want to better understand what other actions teams are doing and find ways to integrate ECE, K–12, policy, purchasing, and education value work more intentionally.
💬 Participant reflection: “We need to keep people in the network ‘in the know’ across action teams.”
🌱 Next step: It’s been twelve years since our last strategic mapping process, and it is time to evolve our current structures to better suit our current work. The 2014 systems map helped chart the course for our subsequent successes. Now, the Common Circle is working on refreshing our structure to take us into the next 5-10 years. That team will be looking to the broader network membership for feedback and direction. More to come this summer!