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Tennessee Crunch Day, farm-to-school month and local pilot programs highlighted on statewide call
Summary
Department staff celebrated Tennessee Crunch Day and farm-to-school activities, highlighted a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program example in Morgan County, the first-in-nation mobile milk dispenser in Kingsport and a successful breakfast relaunch at Signal Mountain Middle High School in Hamilton County.
Marleya Finch, assistant director at the Tennessee Department of Education, led a brief celebration of Tennessee Crunch Day during the statewide call and outlined farm-to-school activities and resources for districts, including a newly active Tennessee Farm to School State Network.
"If you're participating at the local level in your districts or personally, please share those videos and stories with us," Finch said, asking districts to send photos and stories so the department can highlight local efforts. She noted Farm to School Month activities and that the Tennessee Farm to School State Network had its second meeting on Oct. 2, with the next virtual meeting scheduled for Jan. 6.
Finch and other presenters highlighted several local examples: Morgan County used Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program funds to distribute apples on Johnny Appleseed Day, with a school manager, Chastity, dressing as Johnny Appleseed to visit classrooms and Mountain Meadow Farms supplying the apples. Kingsport City held a ribbon-cutting for what the presenters described as a first-in-the-nation "utterly cold" mobile milk dispenser; presenters suggested contacting Jennifer Walker (Kingsport City) or Cindy Cooper (Dairy Alliance) for more information.
Brooke Bebs and other regional staff highlighted a breakfast relaunch at Signal Mountain Middle High School, led by Anthony Moon, the Rock Point area supervisor. Brooke said the school reintroduced a build-your-own breakfast bar and that participation grew from an initial goal of 50 students to double that within a short period.
Finch also announced professional-development and grant opportunities: Junior Chef high school team applications are open with a March competition, USDA Farm to School grant applications are due Dec. 5, and regional farm-to-school institutes will seek presenters for February sessions. Presenters encouraged districts to contact regional staff for help with grant applications and asked teams to submit proposals for presentation opportunities.
These items were informational and promotional in nature; no formal actions or votes were taken during the presentations.
