Students in the Allen County School District will soon be getting a taste of farm-fresh food as part of a pilot program organized through the efforts of the Allen County Health Department, the Allen County Cooperative Extension Service, Need More Acres Farm, and the Allen County School District.
“The health department, schools, Need More Acres Farm and County Extension Office have partnered together to offer farm fresh snacks to students,” explained Carolyn Richey with the Allen County Health Department. “The healthy snacks will provide the students an opportunity to sample vegetables that they may not have tried before. Education, educational materials, composting, and recycling will all be part of this project.”
Need More Acres Farm---owned and operated by Nathan and Michelle Howell---will provide the vegetables to prepare vegetables snacks for students. In addition, students will receive educational materials to teach students about how fresh vegetables can make a difference in ones health.
“Our farm will harvest kale, Swiss chard, turnips, and radish that will be processed in our on-farm certified and inspected kitchen,” Michelle Howell explained. “We will make personal-sized snack cups with samples of each vegetable and a serving of homemade ranch dressing with fresh herbs. In addition, we will provide educational materials to help encourage the kids to participate in the taste testing. This will include a video of harvesting, processing, and peer sampling here on farm. It will also include an educational handout that lists the health benefits of each vegetable. Teachers will be provided with examples of what each vegetable looks like right from the field so that they can pass those around for each student to observe.”
Howell points out that the object is to cultivate students’ interest in Kentucky agriculture while explaining the health benefits of a well-round diet including fresh vegetables.
“We believe that this will be a great opportunity to spotlight the vegetables that can be grown on Kentucky farms during the winter and spring months,” Howell said. “We hope that it will encourage students to try something new and to learn about the unique health benefits that fresh vegetables have to offer.”
Tentative plans call for students at each school to receive the snack during the week of May 2. On Monday, May 2 Bazzell Middle School will receive 470 servings. On Tuesday, May 3, 1,048 servings will be handed out mid-morning at Allen County Primary Center. Approximately 250 freshmen at Allen County-Scottsville High School will receive snacks late in the school day on Wednesday, May 4. On Friday, May 6, 675 servings for students and staff will be handed out at Allen County Intermediate Center.
Organizers hope the project will open the eyes of many students while fulfilling a need in the community---a healthy diet that could help in the fight against several health issues. .
“Our initial project will offer vegetables to approximately 2,500 students,” Richey noted. “It is a major undertaking that we hope will have a wonderful impact. Our community needs assessment identified three health concerns, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. These are our leading health concerns.”
Richey hopes the project will lead to future opportunities for partnerships between the school and community.