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Help Us Grow a Healthier Future for Our Children

The Farm to School program connects schools with local farms to serve healthy meals in cafeterias, improve student nutrition, provide agriculture and food education, and help farmers attain the necessary equipment and infrastructure they need to sell to schools. With your support, we can expand this vital program to reach more schools and communities.

The Oregon legislature has been supporting farm to school funding since 2011 with over $40M to date- let’s thank them for this support and make sure this critical funding for schools, food producers and educational programs continues to help build healthy, resilient communities!

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Speak at the ways & Means Roadshow

The Ways and Means Committee of the Oregon Legislature is making decisions on our state budget, including funding for important programs like Farm to School. They are holding regional public hearings across the state, and we need your voice!

Are you willing to speak up for Farm to School funding? The Oregon Farm to School Network is here to help you prepare your comments if needed. Below is some sample testimony language to get you started.

SAMPLE TESTIMONY LANGUAGE

Oregon’s Farm to School Programs help schools and early childhood education programs purchase Oregon-grown foods, support hands-on farm and garden education, and provide essential equipment for food producers. These programs play a vital role in building strong local food systems and improving student health.

These programs work in tandem with Oregon's push to expand free breakfast and lunch to every public school, HB 3435. The virtuous cycle of increased meal service through free meal programs allows districts to source even more fresh, local ingredients in bulk.

We are asking the legislature to support:

  • $12M for Farm to School in the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) budget
  • $1M for Farm to School in the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) budget
  • Fully funding HB 3435, School Meals for All

With the elimination of federal funding sources and the rising costs of food, supplies, and staffing, a modest increase in funding is crucial for the sustainability of this important program.

How to Participate:

You’ll generally have 1-2 minutes to speak, depending on the number of registrants. The earlier you register, the better your chances of being heard!

STEP ONE: Register to Speak

  1. Go to the Oregon State Legislature website.
  2. Click "Register to Testify"
  3. Use the drop-down menu to select the date of the hearing you'd like to attend.
  4. Fill out your name and contact information.
  5. That's it – you're registered!

STEP TWO: Submit Written Testimony

We also need you to submit written testimony to the full Ways and Means Committee. This step is crucial even if you plan to speak in person!

  1. Go to the Oregon State Legislature website.
  2. Select the date/location of the hearing near you
  3. If there isn't a hearing in your area, select the 4/16/2025 Salem date
  4. Enter your information
    • On Behalf Of: Farm to School
  5. Your testimony should address BOTH funding requests for ODA and ODE budgets since this is for the full state budget. Feel free to use the sample template above!
SUBMIT YOUR TESTIMONY

Important Notes:

  • You must attend the entire hearing, but you may or may not be called to speak.
  • Even if you don’t get the chance to speak, we will send you Farm to School stickers to wear, so the committee knows you’re showing up to support this important cause!
  • After speaking, make sure to also submit written testimony to the Ways & Means Committee.
ways and means roadshow (1)

ROADSHOW DATES

  • April 11, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    Eastern Oregon University, Hoke Union Building #339
    1 University Blvd., La Grande

  • April 16, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    Oregon State Capitol, Salem

  • April 25, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    Klamath Community College, Building 4 Commons
    7390 South 6th St., Klamath Falls

Let Us Know You’re Coming
If you're planning to attend and speak, please fill out the form below, so we can connect you with others and track who’s willing to speak on behalf of Farm to School funding. We greatly appreciate your support!
Connect With Us
ODE Budget Expansion Sheet
ODA Grant Expansion Sheet
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Speaking Up For Farm To School

Teacher and Farm to School Liaison, Nina Berliant, spent time on March 22 to speak up for Farm to School at the Ways & Means Roadshow hosted at MHCC. Nina says "It was also a great way to learn about issues impacting our community from other people in our local and state communities." Thank you for representing Nina! 

Supporting Endorsers

  • 1000 Friends of Oregon
  • Adelante Mujeres
  • Bend Urban Gardens LLC
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Treasure Valley
  • Burnt River Charter School
  • Capaces Leadership Institute
  • Central Oregon Health Council
  • Clackamas Service Center
  • Clatskanie Farmer Collective
  • Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA)
  • Corvallis Environmental Center
  • Cove School District #15
  • Ecotrust
  • Farm and Food Justice Network
  • Farmers Market Fund
  • Fishpatricks Specialty Canned Tuna
  • FoodCorps
  • Friends of Family Farmers
  • Good Groceries LLC
  • Grow Portland
  • High Desert Food and Farm Alliance
  • Hummingbird Wholesale
  • Josephine County Farm Collective
  • Juvenile Detention Education Skills Lab
  • Keep Growing Seeds
  • Kitchen Sync Strategies
  • Knappa School District
  • Lane County Farmers Market
  • Little Wings Farm
  • Luckiamute Valley Charter School
  • Marché Restaurant Group
  • Neighborhood House
  • Oregon Coast Visitors Association
  • Oregon Hunger Task Force
  • Oregon PTA
  • Oregon Organic Coalition
  • Oregon School Nutrition Association
  • Oregon School-Based Health Alliance
  • OtterBee's Market
  • Our Children Oregon
  • Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon
  • Prevent Child Abuse Oregon
  • Redmond School District
  • RedTwig Education, LLC
  • Rogue Farm Corps
  • Rogue Food Unites
  • Rogue Valley Farm to School
  • Seaside School District #10
  • Seed to Table Oregon
  • Slow Food Portland
  • Sodexo/Lincoln County School District
  • South Wasco School District
  • Springfield Public Schools
  • The Environmental Center
  • The Manav Foundation
  • The Wild Locals
  • Umi Organic
  • Vale SD#84
  • Valley Flora Farm
  • Willamina School District
  • Whole Earth Nature School
  • Womens Foundation of Oregon