Celebrate Farm To School Month with Dairy West

Every October, National Farm to School Month connects students to the farmers who nourish their communities. At Dairy West, we support schools in bringing this connection to life—helping students discover where their food comes from, how it’s produced and why local agriculture matters.

Through hands-on experiences, classroom resources and community partnerships, we make it easier for schools to celebrate Farm to School Month in meaningful, memorable ways.

What We Offer:

Dairy West partners with schools, farmers and community organizations to create engaging Farm to School Month experiences. Support may include:

• On-site farm or classroom learning experiences
• Connections with local dairy farmers and food producers
• Cafeteria activations that highlight local foods
• Educational tools that bring farm-to-table concepts to life
• Community partnerships that extend learning beyond the classroom

These experiences are designed to spark curiosity, build healthy habits and strengthen connections between students and their local food system.

Featured Resource: Farm-to-Fridge Puzzle

• Farm-to-Fridge Puzzle Activity — A fun, farm-to-fridge themed puzzle designed to provide an interactive way for families to engage at summer meals kick-off events and again at home!
  • This activity includes a large floor-size puzzle perfect for setting up as an educational station or booth at your summer meals site — making learning where milk comes from hands-on and fun for all ages. Plus, there's a smaller take-home version for kids, so the experience doesn’t end when the event does. We also have additional educational materials available to deepen learning and spark conversations about nutrition. Quantities are limited and will be available through our materials request form.

Become a Featured Farm to School Partner

Each year, Dairy West partners with select schools to bring Farm to School Month to life in a bigger way.

Featured schools may receive:

• Additional program support and coordination
• Access to exclusive resources and activations
• Opportunities to connect with local farmers and partners
• Recognition through Dairy West storytelling and communications

Interested in being a featured school?

Applications will be live late this summer – check back here to apply!

In Action: Farm to School Month Highlight

During a recent Farm to School Month activation, students experienced the full farm-to-table journey—from visiting a local dairy farm to enjoying a farm-to-school lunch and exploring how local foods appear in their community grocery store.

They:

• Met a local dairy farmer and learned how cows are raised and cared for
• Discovered how milk is produced and turned into dairy products
• Enjoyed a meal featuring local ingredients
• Participated in interactive learning through the Farm-to-Fridge Puzzle
• Extended their learning into the community by identifying local foods in retail settings

These types of experiences help students better understand the care, effort and community behind the foods they eat every day.

Watch the recap:

Why Farm to School Matters

Farm to School programs go beyond a single event—they help build lifelong awareness and appreciation for local food systems.

When students understand where their food comes from, they are more likely to:

• Make informed, healthy choices
• Appreciate fresh, wholesome foods
• Feel connected to their local community and agriculture

Stay Connected with Fellow School Foodservice Professionals

Looking for ideas, inspiration or answers from peers? Join our Dairy West School Foodservice Facebook Group — a space to ask questions, share success stories and celebrate the important work you do!