Nebraska Farm to School Month

Crunch Registration Now Open!

Click here to register for the 2023 Nebraska Crunch Off or scan the QR code! Upon registering, you’ll receive the Mountain Plains Crunch Toolkit.
Visit the Nebraska Department of Education’s Crunch Off webpage to download Crunch Resources!

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2023 Proclamation

On October 6, 2023, Governor Jim Pillen signed a proclamation declaring October as Farm to School Month in Nebraska. This observed and recognized the nutritional, academic, and economic opportunities local food and school partnerships provide for Nebraskans.

Celebrate Farm to School all throughout the month of October!

National Farm to School Network provides resources for schools, early care and education sites, farms, communities and organizations across the country as we celebrate food education, school gardens and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients. There are several easy ways to get involved, see their website for the Farm to School Month Celebration Toolkit, along with fact sheets, poster and logo designs, and so much more.

Spread the Word: Shout out about Farm to School and share what you’re doing for National Farm to School Month with the hashtag #F2SMonth and #farmtoschool on social media.

Use these ideas for celebrating National Farm to School Month as a small step to establish a new farm to school project, or engage in and strengthen an existing program.

  • Plan nutrition education activities, such as Harvest of the Month, and feature a local food product that is in season.
  • Participate in Nebraska Crunch Off, a statewide event to celebrate National Farm to School Month in Nebraska by crunching into locally grown or raised foods in October.
  • Connect with community gardens or organizers to integrate garden-based learning activities into afterschool programs.
  • Organize a farm tour or trip to the local farmers’ market.
  • Hold a coloring contest using Nebraska Crunch Off coloring pages, connect with local farmers, dieticians, or community members to be guest judges.
  • Get artsy with local food: Provide local produce for kids to make food art and connect nutrition education with local food.

The Nebraska Dry Bean Commission is partnering with NDE to celebrate Nebraska Thursdays during October, Nebraska Farm to School Month!

Nebraska Crunch Off 2022

It’s official, Nebraska has won the Crunch Off Competition for the 4th year in a row!

Thank you to all who participated in the 2022 Nebraska Crunch Off! Almost 70,000 students, community members, and teachers crunched into Nebraska products including, apples, carrots, and celery root throughout the Month of October. Let’s keep the momentum going, Nebraska! Continue highlighting local produce from all sources and in all forms throughout programs and within your communities!

For more information, visit Nebraska Buy Fresh Buy Local or Nebraska Department Of Education Crunch Off Webpage!

Updated October 13, 2023 1:52pm