2026 KY Farm to School Challenge
Welcome to the 2026 KY Farm to School Challenge! See below for important details about participating in the challenge:
The challenge will start October 1, 2025 and end October 31, 2026.
Participation can be by school, or by classroom(s) or by homeschool or homeschool cooperative. All grade levels, from pre-K to 12th grade are welcome.
During that time frame, we hope your students will complete at least 1 activity in each of 3 categories of Farm to School - taste, learn, and grow.
When your school or classroom completes an activity in each of the categories and fills out the online completion form, your school will be entered into a drawing for Farm to School recognition and prizes!
After your school or classroom has completed an activity in each category, please fill out the Farm to School Challenge completion form by Friday, November 6, 2026.
Kentucky Farm to Summer Meals Celebration Week
Summer meal sponsors and meal sites and farms and farmers markets are invited to participate in Kentucky Farm to Summer Meals Celebration Week June 21-27. There are many ways to participate - from serving local farm foods in meals to activities at meal sites to exploring gardens to visiting a farm or farmers market. Meal sponsors and meal sites can register using this form.
June Network Meeting
Join us on zoom for our June Network meeting. We’ll get a preview of Farm to Summer Meals Celebration Week, June 15-21. Use this zoom link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89522179709
Kentucky Farm to School Summit
Save the date for a full day of sharing success stories and strategizing to overcome barriers. For all stakeholders in farm to school: educators, farmers, school food professionals, administrators and community partners.
August network meeting
Its back to school time! Join us for this virtual August meeting of the Ky Farm to School Network. We'll preview some upcoming big events for farm to school in Kentucky - October Farm to School Month & our challenge AND the Ky Farm to School Summit in December.
EKY Grower-Buyer Meet Up
This meet up will bring together producers and food buyers, including retailers, restaurants, school food professionals and more. Come prepared to pitch your products to potential buyers. Bring product/price lists. Bring photos and/or samples. This activity is part of the Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference. To register for the meet up, email Heather Graham at heather.graham@uky.edu
Eastern Ky Producer Workshop
This workshop is for producers interested in selling their farm foods to schools. It is a pre-conference session of the Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference. Registration for this session is $8 and includes a producer workbook. Register at: https://form.jotform.com/240045085109146
February Network Meeting
Join us for the first network meeting of 2024. We’ll discuss preliminary plans for a Kentucky farm to school summit, get a legislative update on farm to school in the Kentucky general session and share news and updates from all. Zoom link to join the meeting.
Producer Workshop
We’re starting off the new year with a workshop for producers interested in selling to schools. Its a pre-conference activity for the Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable growers conference in Bowling Green. Registration is free. Note - the time is in Central time zone, 4-6 local time.
School Garden Educator Workshop - W. Jessamine Middle School
Join the Kentucky Farm to School Network for a hands-on school garden workshop for educators! Topics of discussion will include:
getting started
garden plants
resources
funding streams
maintenance
and overall best practices learned from our school garden project
The first part of the workshop will be a discussion of the above topics and the second part will be in the garden as part of the community workday to prepare the gardens for the growing season.
Registration required. Free but limited space available. Open to educators of all types - teachers, informal educators, parents, extension staff, etc. A light locally-sourced lunch will be provided.
Register by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/593157408777.
Questions? Contact McKenzie at mckenzie@kyhortcouncil.org or (517) 525-5740
School Garden Educator Workshop - Second Street School (Frankfort)
Join the Kentucky Farm to School Network for a hands-on school garden workshop for educators! Topics of discussion will include:
getting started
garden plants
resources
funding streams
maintenance
and overall best practices learned from our school garden project
Half of the workshop will be spent in the classroom with the other half spent in the garden!
Registration required. Free but limited space available. Open to educators of all types - teachers, informal educators, parents, extension staff, etc. Locally-sourced snacks will be provided!
Register by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/593053688547.
Questions? Contact McKenzie at mckenzie@kyhortcouncil.org or (517) 525-5740
