Van Buren School District to host “Farm to School” Summit this Wednesday

The National Center for Appropriate Technology and FoodCorps Arkansas, with support from the Van Buren School District, will host the “Arkansas Farm to School Summit: Growing Together” this Wednesday, March 15.

The event will welcome leaders from across the state and will focus on topics involved in creating an overall schoolwide culture of health for districts. Some of the special presentations will include “Connecting Cooking to Class,” and “Gardening with Kids.” Participants will also hear from school and FoodCorps leaders regarding their roles and steps that can be taken to promote nutrition initiatives during the Schoolwide Health Panel Discussion.

The Van Buren School District has an active FoodCorps program at King and Tate Elementary Schools. Teachers integrate health and nutrition lessons across curriculum and give students the opportunity to cook and sample local produce, as well as practice the art of gardening on school grounds. Both are served by a FoodCorps representative who works with the teachers and students to promote the program and encourage healthy living year-round.

“Our District is honored to serve as the host of this summit,” said Drew Cone, VBSD Activities Administrator. “The FoodCorps program has been incredibly successful at King and Tate this year, with students learning first-hand about the importance of good nutrition. We look forward to sharing with other districts and to learning from program experts about new ways to help connect farms to our classrooms, cafeterias, and beyond.”

The Summit will take place at King Elementary School, located at 411 North 20th Street in Van Buren. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the opening program and presentations. For more information, call Drew Cone at 479.474.7942.