October is Oregon Farm to School Month
Celebrate the power of local food in Oregon schools! Each October, schools across Oregon join in a month-long celebration of farm to school activities that nourish our students, support our farmers, and strengthen our communities.
This year, Governor Kotek has officially proclaimed October 2025 as Farm to School Month in Oregon, read the proclamation here!
Farm to School Month is the perfect time to showcase the incredible relationships between Oregon farms and schools while creating meaningful food and agriculture experiences for students of all ages.
WAys to Celebrate
There are countless creative ways your school can participate in Farm to School Month. Here are some ideas to get you started:
In the Cafeteria
- Serve a special 100% Oregon-sourced meal
- Feature a different local food item each week
- Create "Meet Your Farmer" profiles to display in the lunch line
- Host a local food taste test with student voting
- Invite local farmers or food producers to join students for lunch
In the Classroom
- Incorporate food system lessons into various subjects
- Create writing projects about local foods or farms
- Develop math activities using food quantities or recipes
- Explore the science of growing food through hands-on activities
- Research Oregon agricultural history and cultural food traditions
In the Garden
- Organize garden harvest celebrations
- Plant fall crops or prepare garden beds for winter
- Create garden-to-cafeteria connections with harvested produce
- Host outdoor learning days in the school garden
- Involve families in weekend garden workdays
In the Community
- Arrange field trips to local farms
- Visit a farmers market as a class and create a scavenger hunt
- Invite local chefs to demonstrate cooking techniques
- Organize a community harvest dinner featuring local foods
- Create public displays showcasing Farm to School activities
- Host a site visit to showcase your program to legislators, administrators, and community leaders
HOSTING A SITE VISIT
Farm to School Month is your opportunity to demonstrate the transformative power of farm to school programs in action. Open your doors and invite legislators, administrators, and community leaders to experience your cafeteria, garden, or partner farm firsthand.
Site visits create lasting impressions that statistics and reports simply can't match. When decision makers see students excitedly trying fresh, local vegetables or learning in a thriving school garden, they understand why farm to school deserves their support and investment.
Ready to host a visit? We're here to help you plan an impactful experience that tells your story effectively. Contact Melina@OregonFarmtoSchool.org to get started.
In the meantime, explore these helpful resources from the National Farm to School Network and watch the video below (available in English and Spanish):