Farm to School Coordinators Project & Study

Farm to School Coordinators Project

National Farm to School Network is proud to announce that we have been selected as one of the recipients of the 2023 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program. We are incredibly excited to launch our Farm to School Coordinators Project with support from the USDA and Life Time Foundation. 

Our goal with this project is to scale up farm to school implementation nationwide by establishing more dedicated farm to school coordinator positions at school districts. We will be providing unique professional development opportunities, supporting school communities, and developing research-driven resources to help make the case for the farm to school coordinator position. As a result, we envision increased ownership and capacity for farm to school programs at the community level. 

We are now excited to announce the first cohorts of the Farm to School Coordinators Community of Practice (CoP) and School District Working Group (WG). The collective impact of the cohorts will be far-reaching—together, the cohort members represent 21 school districts and 433,950 students across the country.

They bring fresh, local food into cafeterias, connect students to hands-on learning, and support local economies. But the presence of a dedicated Farm to School Coordinator is what makes these programs sustainable and far-reaching. Learn more

Farm to School Coordinators: Key Findings from a National Landscape Study

To better understand the role and impact of these coordinators, National Farm to School Network partnered with Colorado State University’s Institute for Research in the Social Sciences. Researchers conducted interviews, focus groups, and a nationwide survey of over 150 individuals responsible for farm to school coordination, providing both qualitative and quantitative insight into current practices and outcomes. This summary highlights the key findings from that study: who these coordinators are, what they do, and how they drive results. Read the study

Farm to School Coordinators and Program Success: A Visual Guide to Demonstrate Impact

National Farm to School Network (NFSN) defines farm to school coordinators as individuals that devote at least 50% of their role to F2S programming at an educational site. Their work focuses on the three primary farm to school pillars—local food procurement, school gardens, and education related to agriculture, food, health, or nutrition.

This tool outlines the benefits of having a dedicated farm to school coordinator position at a school district and summarizes data from our research with the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences at Colorado State University on the impact of farm to school coordinators. This guide is designed to be used to advocate for a farm to school coordinator position in school districts. Learn more

Farm to School Coordinator Job Description Template

This position description template is designed to support schools, districts, and community-based organizations in creating a Farm to School Coordinator role that fits their unique needs. Follow through the steps in the resource and use the linked Google Document to easily copy & paste content that you need.

What’s Inside:

You’ll find a sample job description, including core responsibilities and qualifications, all informed by field experience and national best practices. Learn more