Southeast Ohio Farm to School Conference

This one-day event brings together school nutrition professionals, educators, farmers, and community partners to share strategies and grow meaningful connections.

This conference is funded through a Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant through the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Partners on this grant include Rural Action, Coalfield Development, Community Food Initiatives (CFI), and the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet).

Registration includes complementary breakfast and lunch.

Discounted registration may be available for students with full-time enrollment, current AmeriCorps service members, and those in financial need. Please see the FAQ section for more information.

Please email alisha@ruralaction with any questions or comments.

Full Conference Schedule:

(Agenda with full session descriptions coming soon!)

8:30-9am

Check-in/Registration

9-10am

Breakfast & Opening with Rural Action

10:10-11:10am

Breakout Session 1: Choose from the below sessions.

• Leverage Your Garden-Based Learning Role in School Wellness with Cynthia Walters, M.Ed., Director of Green & Healthy Schools
• From Field to Tray: Producer Investments that Fuel Farm to School Success with Alison Patrick, MPH, RD, LD, Project Director, Feed Our Future: Local Foods for Growing Minds
• Local Procurement: Connecting to School Meals with Elizabeth Douglass and Hannah Hart of Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

11:20am-12:30pm

Lunch

12:30-1:30pm

Large Group Session

Panel of School Nutrition Directors featuring

• Lauren Marlow MS, RD, SNS - Manager of Nutrition at Cincinnati Public Schools
• Timarie Francis - Director of Food Services at Athens City Schools

Moderated by Alisha Bicknell, Farm to Institution Manager at Rural Action

1:40-2:40pm

Breakout Session 2: Choose from the below sessions.

• Let's go on a Food Adventure! with Leah Fitzgerald, RDN, LD. Community Engagement and Nutrition Specialist at Project Healthy Kids
• Farm to School Procurement in West Virginia with Melinda Francis, Coordinator, West Virginia Department of Education, Office of Child Nutrition and Rob Trombley, Sales and Logistics Representative at Refresh Appalachia

2:50-4pm

Networking World Cafe - 5 tables, three 15-min sessions

Table Topics:

• School Gardens
• Southeast Ohio Procurement Challenges
• Working with Farmers/Producers
• Working with Cafeteria Staff/School Admins
• Building a Farm to School Value Chain

4-5pm

Final Large Group Session

Ohio’s Farm to School Network: Changing How Schools Buy, Serve, and Grow Local Foods with Carol Smathers, MS, MPH, Ohio State University Extension Associate Professor and Ohio Farm to School Director