Farm to School Month Resources

Explore resources like classroom activities and how to get started with farm to school, plus grant opportunities to help students connect the dots between farming and food around them.

Kids eating apples during the Great Apple Crunch

October’s National Farm to School Month is a great opportunity for students to learn and develop an appreciation of where their food comes from. From uncovering how fruits and vegetables grow to understanding the people and processes behind their favorite foods, farm-to-school activities can bring agriculture and nutrition lessons to life.

Farm to school is about more than fresh fruits and vegetables. It can include local dairy products, beef and poultry, fisheries and food processors. It can also encompass activities like building school gardens, participating in taste tests, and incorporating classroom lessons that help connect the dots between how food makes its way from the farm to the school.

For school nutrition teams, it’s an opportunity to partner with teachers and educators to connect what’s being served in the cafeteria with what students are learning in the classroom. A seasonal ingredient on the menu can become a lesson about agriculture. A taste test can encourage curiosity about new foods. And a conversation about local farmers can help students better understand their food and the people who produce it.

Resources to Bring Farm-to-School Learning to Life

Whether your school is already celebrating farm to school or looking for ideas to get started, these resources offer student activities, classroom lessons, and inspiration to help students discover more about the food they eat.

Classroom Curriculum and Learning Activities

National Farm to School Network: Farm to School Month Resources: Explore resources and ideas for celebrating National Farm to School Month in October and engaging students in learning about food and agriculture.

National Farm to School Network: School Meals Journey: Explore the relationship between school meals, food systems, and the communities that help feed students.

Minnesota Farm to Kids Month: Find Minnesota-focused resources and ideas to help schools and early care programs celebrate local food and connect students with agriculture.
Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom: Find lessons and educational materials about Minnesota agriculture, food production, and farming. Great for connecting classroom learning with foods students see on their school menus.

Getting Started with Farm to School

National Farm to School Network: Discover ideas, examples, and resources for incorporating local food purchasing, food education, and agriculture into school programs.

USDA Farm to School Planning Toolkit: Get guidance for developing or expanding a farm-to-school program, including ways to connect schools with local food and agriculture.

USDA Farm to School Resources: Browse additional resources and guidance to support farm-to-school activities and school-community connections.
University of Minnesota Extension – Farm to School: Explore guidance for school and child care programs looking to connect local foods, nutrition, and agricultural education.

You don’t need a school garden or a big event to get students curious about their food. Start with what’s already happening in your school.

Grant Opportunities

Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Farm to Kids Programs support Minnesota schools, early care centers and family child care providers in purchasing locally grown and raised foods for federal meal programs.

First Bite Grant: $2,500–$5,000 for schools and early care centers new to purchasing local foods.
Full Tray Grant: $5,000–$25,000 for schools and early care centers with experience purchasing local foods.
Equipment Grant: First Bite Grant and Full Tray Grant applicants can also apply to receive up to $20,000 for equipment purchases
Local Tots Cost-Share: $1,000 for family child care providers

Application deadline: Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 4 p.m. CT.

Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Grants help educators bring agriculture and food systems to life through hands-on learning and classroom projects.

Ag Literacy Grant: Up to $1,000 for K-12 educators, 4-H programs, and FFA chapters to support agricultural literacy projects. Deadline: Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 4 p.m. CT.
First Year Teacher Grant: Up to $200 to help first-year K-12 teachers purchase classroom supplies and resources for hands-on agricultural learning. Applications can be submitted anytime during the 2026-2027 school year.

Celebrating the Great Apple Crunch

One, two, CRUNCH! On Thursday, October 8, CKC Good Food is joining schools and communities across the region for the Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch, an annual celebration of local food and healthy eating!

We’re bringing the crunch to our client partners with locally grown apples for students to enjoy with lunch. It’s a fun way to celebrate local agriculture and discover where our food comes from!

Want to keep the apple fun going in the classroom? The Minnesota Crunch Guide for K–12 Schools is packed with creative ways to bring apples into lessons on language arts, math, science, and more. Share this with teachers at your school!