Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Current Competitive Grant

Developing and implementing a strategic plan for farm-to-school programs in northeast Iowa

NOTE: Work on this grant project has been completed and is awaiting a final report.

Project ID: M2009-04

This 2-year grant for $30,000 was awarded in 2009.

Location: Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek counties

School districts and colleges, distributors, farmers and other local partners will work together to help increase access to and the consumption of fresh, local healthy foods for kindergarten through 12th graders and college students and faculty. Farm-to-school sites were selected, lessons featuring local food items were developed for teachers to use in future education programs, a workshop was held for the pilot school teams, meetings were held for food service directors and producers, and work was begun on school garden projects with the help of Master Gardeners.

Brenda Ranum

Brenda Ranum Brenda Ranum is directs Iowa State University Extension's Region 4, which includes Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties. She also is a member of the steering team for the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative and the Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Coalition. Her areas of expertise are youth development and communities. [Contact lead investigator]

This competitive grant project is part of the Leopold Center's Marketing Initiative.

Topics: Community-based food systems, Farm to institution