LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) is accepting applications for the Arkansas Farm to School Institute (Institute) until March 1, 2024. The Department’s Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program will select up to 15 schools to participate in the program for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Institute is a year-long professional development program that offers training, resources, and technical assistance to school educators, administrators, school nutrition directors, cafeteria staff, local farmers, and community partners. The program is open to schools looking to expand on existing farm to school efforts throughout the state.
Selected schools are invited to a summer retreat to create a collaborative farm to school action plan. Teams will meet throughout the year to discuss action plan progress and provide feedback to Department staff and coaches. In collaboration with the Arkansas Department of Education, selected schools will receive a $1,000 implementation grant to execute their action plans.