March 2023

The Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program is committed to providing equitable and just programming, resources, funding, and technical assistance to schools, farmers, and partners in the local food system. 

Farm to School Opportunities

Webinar Series: The Outdoor Learning Virtual Workshop Spring Series

March 7, 2023 - June 13, 2023

The Outdoor Learning Store is partnering with Take Me Outside and others to provide the Spring Series of The Outdoor Learning Virtual Workshop. These 60-minute virtual workshops are free to attend and will be held at 4 p.m. Pacific Time, 6 p.m. Central Time. The workshops will feature a diversity of presenters and topics. In addition to ideas and inspiration, attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and the chance to win door prizes.

Webinar: Making Nutrition Goals Culturally Relevant

March 29, 2023, 1 p.m. Eastern Time

Go NAPSACC is hosting a webinar discussing the importance of making nutrition goals culturally relevant and how educators can do so. Speakers include Lola Rooney of the National Black Child Development Institute, who will discuss Good for Me, a culturally relevant nutrition curriculum for Black children and families. Additionally, Kathleen Morales Perez, Go NAPSACC Consultant from Florida, will share lessons learned from helping Spanish-speaking child care providers make meaningful nutrition improvements using Go NAPSACC.

Arkansas Breakfast Month Challenge

Amount: $500 - $1,500

March 2023

Governor Sanders has proclaimed March as School Breakfast Month in Arkansas. To celebrate, Arkansas Hunger Alliance is hosting the School Breakfast Challenge. Schools across the state are encouraged to "DIG-IN to School Breakfast" by promoting and encouraging participation in school breakfast. There are three categories, with each category having a first place ($1,500), second place ($1,000), and third place winner ($500). The categories are as follows:

• Most innovative breakfast promotion
• Most popular or creative breakfast food (with recipe)
• Largest breakfast participation increase (comparing February 2023 to March 2023)

Outdoor Classroom Challenge

Amount: $10,000

Deadline: March 26, 2023

Project Green Schools is challenging schools across the country to develop and implement a meaningful outdoor classroom and learning space. The challenge awards one grand prize of $10,000 to further enhance an existing space or build a new space. All U.S. schools, Pre-K through 12 are eligible to apply. Applications should include a formal write-up, proposed budget, and design of an outdoor learning space. Project Green Schools will invite the top five designs to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges in Spring 2023 to determine the $10,000 winner.

School Nutrition Foundation Equipment Grants

Amount: $20,000 - $100,000 in equipment

Deadline: March 31, 2023

The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) is teaming up with the industry partners to provide new kitchen equipment to deserving districts! Apply now for the 2023 SNF Equipment Grant Program, which includes applications for not one but five grants. Eligible applicants have the opportunity to win equipment grants, each worth between $20,000 to $100,000 of equipment. Applications and photos must be submitted by a school nutrition director. Recipients will be notified in late-April.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.