Grow Lacrosse tells board its garden programs reach nearly 1,900 students and feed school lunches

Ki Versado Braley, executive director and co‑founder of Grow Lacrosse, told the La Crosse School District board that the nonprofit’s garden‑based curriculum now works with seven of the district’s 10 elementary schools and reaches roughly 1,900 students each season. ‘‘We now do that work … in school gardens, farm experiences at Deep Roots Community Farm, as well as greenhouse field trips,’’ Braley said.

Braley described results from the nonprofit’s programming over 13 years, including a winter greenhouse pilot that drew 1,600 students between January and April 2025 and a summer harvest that supplied about 450 pounds of produce to the district’s free lunch program. Student intern Charlie Goggger told the board the programs influenced her decision to study environmental science: ‘‘It really helped influence my chosen career path, which is environmental science,’’ she said.

Board members pressed on access and equity: how Grow Lacrosse prioritizes outreach to North Side families and economically disadvantaged students when popular farm camps fill quickly. Braley said the organization raises grants and finds business sponsors to reserve spots or subsidize transportation, but noted transportation costs remain a recurring barrier. She also summarized the group’s funding mix: parent‑group contributions historically plus grants and fundraisers, though Grow currently raises ‘‘a lot more than two‑thirds’’ of program costs through grants and sponsorships.

Grow Lacrosse said it will continue coordinating with district staff during upcoming school consolidations to preserve and reimagine garden spaces and related curriculum. The board received the presentation as an information item with no action taken.