Associate farm reporter Carli Davenport spoke with Alex Cox, Farm to School Coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Food and Forestry, who shared exciting news about new state support for schools. “We are really excited to have this state funding that has come down for our local schools,” Cox said, noting that $3.2 million has been allocated for the Food for Schools Program. She explained that the funding must be spent on local food products—ranging from fresh produce to proteins like chicken or beef—and incorporated into school cafeterias for “snacks, breakfast, lunch, any type of meal that they serve to their students.”
In addition to funding for meals, Cox highlighted efforts to encourage hands-on food learning through the annual school garden contest. She explained that the program is a partnership between Farm to School and the Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. “Schools are encouraged to participate in this, and we have several different categories,” Cox said. Winners this year included Middleburg Elementary for Best Startup School Garden ($1,000), Little Sprouts Learning Garden in Muskogee for Best Harvest Garden ($500), Tuttle High School for Best Pollinator Garden ($500), and Kingston Public Schools for Best Education Garden ($500).
Cox emphasized how rewarding it is to see resources returned to schools that are making an impact. “We’re super excited to partner and to get this funding out to the schools that have won and see that money go back into their school garden,” she said. The program’s goal is not just to reward success, but also to sustain growth, as Cox added, “We can’t wait to see what their school garden looks like next year.”
Another highlight of the year is the celebration of National Farm-to-School Month each October. Cox explained, “Farm to School Month is just a big celebration of local foods and our producers, and getting the students to learn where their food comes from.” A key part of that celebration in Oklahoma is the Lunch Crunch, which she described as “a time to celebrate in your cafeteria with purchasing and serving whatever kind of local food you want your students to crunch into.”
This year, the second annual Great Oklahoma Lunch Crunch will take place on October 24; however, Cox stressed that schools can join in at any time during the month. “That could be local beef, that could be any local produce, so salads or any type of fruit,” she explained. By getting students directly involved with local food—whether through meals or gardens—the Farm to School Program is strengthening connections between classrooms, cafeterias, and Oklahoma’s agricultural community.
