What is Farm to School?

Cambridge Farm to School promotes healthy nutrition and fosters connection to real food through education and practice, with a focus on community and the environment.

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Cambridge Farm to School is a volunteer-run organization that assists with programming and facilitates hands-on education and learning opportunities in the Cambridge School District and the community. 

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Our core programs currently include:

• Cambridge Elementary Chef in the Classroom 

• Cambridge High School Chef in the Classroom

• Cambridge Elementary School Compost and Recycling Program (Green Team)

• Perennial Edible Garden at the Severson Learning Center (School Farm)

• Collaborative Hydroponic-to-Lunch Program (pilot)

• Partnership with Elementary School’s Blue Jay Garden Committee

• Local Food-to-Cafeteria Lunch Network

• Education Outreach 

• Cambridge Eco-Jays (Recycling-Reducing-Reusing Education) 

Cambridge Farm to School works collaboratively with the following entities in our community:

• Cambridge School District & Administration

• Cambridge Wellness Collaborative

• Cambridge Schools Food Administrator

• Cambridge Middle and High School Technical Education

• Cambridge High School Agriculture Classes

• Local Future Farmers of America and FFA Alumni

• Severson Learning Center

• Rural Schools Collaborative

• Koshkonong Trails School

• Cambridge Community Library

• Badgerland Waste Management

• Advanced Disposal

• Waste Management

The Growth of Cambridge Farm to School 

The Cambridge Farm to School program was unofficially started by a food service worker, Kristin Evenson.  In 2009 Karen Laing, a local farmer, became the first chair of the Cambridge Farm to School program. The aim was to concentrate on local producers and their connection to the Food Service in Cambridge. Karen founded the School Lunch Garden at Severson Learning Center in 2011 to grow produce on the School District property for the use of Food Service in school lunches.

In 2012, local parents Robin Kantzler and Grace Leonard became the co-chairs and began to focus on Farm to School programs at the elementary school level. Both Robin and Grace began Farm to School education and enrichment programs, including the successful Chef in the Classroom series with local chef Gene Gowan, modeled after Fort Atkinson's program. Grace attended "Eat Here, Eat Well" meetings to get guidance about how to start the program in Cambridge. They also started the Ready-Set-Go-Watermelon Shark. After a few years Robin Kantzler took over as the chair of the committee. There have been many dedicated community members that have volunteered through the years to make the program what it is today - too many names to mention!

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In 2017, new co-chairs Jacy Eckerman and Ben Timp formed a new Farm to School Advisory Committee and partnered with the Cambridge-based Rural Schools Collaborative with the goal of becoming a 501c 3 non-profit organization. The new Farm to School Advisory Board is focusing on expanding school-driven, self-sustaining programming that will benefit students years into the future!

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In Jan 2019 the Cambridge Farm to School Program officially received their 501c3  non-profit status and are excited to be independent!

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