Success Stories
Success Stories
Arkansas has more than 300 schools gardens! Additionally, at least 36 school districts buy local from a farmer or local business and 28 farms and businesses sell to schools. Each farm to school program is unique and brings it own successes and challenges. Key features to a successful farm to school program is a strong team, adequate funding, dedicated staff time, and administrative support.
We encourage you to learn more from others about how their farm to school programs are successful.
The Arkansas Farm to School Groundbreaker Profiles, developed by the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, feature six successful farm to school programs: Yellville-Summit School District, Pike View Early Childhood Center, Fayetteville School District, Danville School District, Newport and Damascus Farmers, and Northeast Buying Cooperative. Read about their school garden and local procurement successes!
Video and Webinar Spotlights
Another way to learn more about creating a successful farm to school program is by reviewing webinars and videos that showcase successful initiatives. For example, watch the Kitchen Equipment Grant success story video to see how the right processing equipment can significantly enhance the introduction of fresh fruits and vegetables to students, positively impacting your farm to school efforts.
Watch the webinars below on Successful School Garden Programs and Summer Garden Successes to learn more.
Successful School Garden Programs
Arkansas has so many amazing school garden leaders across the state! In this webinar, Shannon Newerth-Henson with Kiddie Kollege Alma, and Amanda Krell and Brooke Long with Carolyn Lewis Elementary School, share what makes their school garden programs successful. Both schools have innovative programming and sustainable practices in place to ensure their gardens last for years to come.
Summer Garden Successes
A challenge for many schools is how to maintain the garden in the summer. However, there are some great ways to ensure that your school garden doesn’t fall to the wayside in the summer months. In this webinar, Kristin Taylor with Forest Park Elementary, Amanda Krell with Carolyn Lewis Elementary, Shannon Smith with Marshall Elementary, and Destiny Schlinker with FoodCorps Arkansas share their summer garden successes that highlight partnerships with the community.