The Farm to School Podcast
Stories from the frontlines of food, farming, and education—where young minds grow and agriculture takes root. Join co-hosts Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman as they explore what it means to bring local food into the school cafeteria and teach kids about where their food comes from with guests from around the world!UPDATE: Show notes, contact information and more at https://extension.oregonstate.edu/podcast/farm-school-podcast Please stop by to say hello and to suggest a show topic!
You Want to do What? The chance encounter with a little boy that launched Katie Mularz’s Farm to School journey
Sometimes all it takes is one moment to change the course of a life. For Katie Mularz, that moment came in a New Orleans garden, where she watched a young student who struggled in the classroom come alive while digging in the dirt. What started as a chance encounter grew into a career helping build Louisiana's farm to school movement, pass groundbreaking legislation, and eventually develop innovative culinary garden and teaching kitchen programs through the Emeril Lagasse Foundation.
GUESTS:
Katie Mularz — Chief Impact Officer, Emeril Lagasse Foundation
K...
The Culture of Agriculture: Curiosity Grows here with Evelyn Tedrick of Oregon AG in the Classroom
What do square dancing, dairy cows, hazelnuts, school gardens, and journalism have in common? More than you'd think. Sometimes the best conversations are the ones you never plan for. At “Oregon's Bounty, a Celebration of Agriculture” event at the Oregon State Capitol, Rick set up a podcast booth hoping to find someone willing to chat. What he found was an inspiring conversation with Evelyn Tedrick of Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom. From virtual farm field trips and Harvest of the Month programs to the culture of agriculture and the importance of helping kids understand where their food comes from, this...
A School Garden Without a Water Source? What about Dry Farming?
What if the secret to growing great food isn't adding more water, but learning to use less? In this episode, we explore the surprising world of dry farming with guests Matt Davis of Oregon State University and Cassandra Waterman of the Dry Farming Institute. From intensely flavored tomatoes and climate-resilient crops to school gardens that *might* not need a hose, we discuss how farmers, educators, and students are rethinking our relationship with water and discovering powerful lessons in resilience, stewardship, and growing food for a changing climate.
Matt Davis
Cassandra Waterman<...
Door to door, state to state, coast to coast: The Don Froylan Story
What does it take to turn a family recipe into an award-winning cheese company? In this episode, we sit down with Francisco Ochoa of Don Froylan Creamery to trace a remarkable journey that began with homemade queso fresco sold door-to-door in Oregon's small towns. Today, Don Froylan's cheeses are winning international awards, reaching schools across the West Coast, and helping students experience authentic local foods. It's a story of family, culture, perseverance, and one very unforgettable string cheese.
Don Froylan Creamery
How to visit the creamery: located at 3310 Portland Rd NE, Salem, O...
All About Geoducks.. And Social Emotional Learning in the School Garden
What do geoducks, school gardens, and social-emotional learning have in common? More than you'd think. In this episode, Farm to School veteran Erica Curry of Row by Row joins Rick and Michelle for a wide-ranging conversation that begins with the Pacific Northwest's most peculiar clam and blossoms into a thoughtful exploration of how gardens help students build confidence, empathy, resilience, and connection. From career pathways to SEL, this episode proves that some of the best learning happens with your hands in the soil.
GUESTS:
Erica Curry
Row by Ro...
Farm to School at Any Scale, From Policy to Plate – with Andrea Alma
Farm to School isn’t just about local apples—it’s about rethinking the entire food system. In this episode, Andrea Alma shares how a public health problem-solver fell in love with school lunch—and went on to help reshape it from policy to plate. From early wins in D.C. to building one of the most innovative large-scale programs in Minneapolis, Andrea unpacks what it really takes to move from small efforts to system-wide change. We dive into root causes, school gardens, farmer partnerships, and the unsung heroes behind the scenes—while exploring why creating lasting impact means thinking f...
Hit “Record” and See What Grows.. an Unplanned School Garden Conversation
Hit “Record” and See What Grows.. an Unplanned School Garden Conversation
This episode proves that sometimes the best conversations happen that are unplanned. Recorded “on the fly” at the Oregon Farm to School Conference, Rick pulls up a chair with Corrina Hargett—teacher, school garden champion, coastal wonder‑cultivator.. and avid surfer—to talk about dirt, curiosity, broccoli that actually tastes good, and why gardens belong to everyone. From surfing the Oregon coast to growing pumpkins where people said they wouldn’t grow, this joyful conversation reminds us that when kids (and adults) get their hands in the soil, they ca...
The Culture of Agriculture, Grounded: A Gift of Sound and Stillness
This episode isn’t meant to be rushed. And it isn’t meant to be explained so much as experienced. In a world of packed agendas, buzzing hallways, and constant motion, today’s conversation offers a rare pause: a moment to breathe, to settle, and to remember that learning begins when we feel safe enough to arrive fully. Guided by educator and musician Kevion Devante, this episode is a gentle reset—using sound, stillness, and intention to ground our bodies, quiet our minds, and prepare the soil where curiosity, connection, and growth can take root. Press play, soften your shoulders...
Meet the Principal Farmer (yes, that's a real job!)
Today we’ll meet a principal who rides a horse to school, runs a campus with peacocks, emus, and tortoises, and believes learning should start with wonder. Joined by May Tsupros—self‑described “fire starter” and connector extraordinaire. We talk about agriculture as the great equalizer, disrupting broken systems, and what happens when the right people collide in a conference hallway. Equal parts laughter, philosophy, and farm dirt, this conversation will have you rethinking what school can look like when we let kids wander, adults listen, and food bring us together.
“Principal Farmer”; Chattahoochee Hills Charter...
SnackTime Explorers
What happens when curiosity meets crunchy, colorful produce in the classroom? In this episode, we take you from curious kids tasting kiwi berries and (sometimes too-spicy) peppers to a behind-the-scenes look at the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program—where exposure, education, and a little bit of bravery can transform lifelong eating habits. Along the way, we connect the dots between school snacks, farmer livelihoods, and big-picture health outcomes, all through the lens of SnackTime Explorers—a program turning everyday tastings into powerful moments of discovery. Get ready for stories that are equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and a remind...
Scratch Happens.. Training the Future of School Food
What does scratch cooking, workforce development, local ketchup, and a mysterious conference hall ice machine have in common? This episode. Recorded live(ish) from the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, we sit down with Patrick Garmong from the Institute of Child Nutrition to talk about the real work behind getting good food onto kids’ trays—training the people who make it happen. From ditching the “white‑hat chef” mentality to meeting school food professionals exactly where they are, this conversation is equal parts big‑picture vision, practical knife skills, and genuine laughs. Pull up a tray—no chef hat required.
<...Pickles, a Cave, EMUS and the Daily Bear: Farm to School, Vermont Teen Style
What happens when Vermont teenagers take farm to school on the road—and land in the middle of a national conference? In this joyful, unscripted hallway conversation from the Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, you’ll meet students and educators from Brattleboro Union High School who are growing food, running a café, and building community from seed to sale. From pickle factories and emu farms to the Daily Bear Café and the CAVE Kitchen, this episode celebrates youth leadership, experiential learning, and the healing power of food. Come for the Vermont charm, stay for the student voices—and leave in...
More Than Lunch: Food as a Classroom Tool
What does it really take to make food education for all more than just a great idea? In this lively, laugh‑filled episode recorded at the Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, the Farm to School Podcast crew digs into how food can be a powerful lens for learning—without becoming “one more thing” for schools. Joined by all‑star thought partners Alex DeSorbo‑Quinn of Pilot Light and Erica Curry of Row by Row, the conversation explores joy, standards, gardens, cafeterias, culture, and creativity—and why there’s no one‑size‑fits‑all recipe for teaching kids about food. Come chew on big...
The Fish that Didn’t Get Away (it Became a Taco): Jenn Lovewell’s Journey from Dock to Cafeteria
Wouldn’t that be a great title for a children’s book? In this episode, we dive deep—pun absolutely intended—into the world of bay-to-tray (or boat-to-school) with former school nutrition director–turned–seafood innovator Jenn Lovewell. From discovering a fish with no market to building an entirely new supply chain for schools, Jenn shares how solving one small puzzle piece at a time led to a movement that now stretches from Monterey Bay to the Chesapeake. Joined unexpectedly in the hallway by longtime friend and Farm to School leader Miguel Villarreal, the conversation flows through...
Showtime: the Art of School Food Excellence with Michael Rosenberger
In this episode, we sit down with longtime school nutrition leader Michael Rosenberger to pull back the curtain on what excellence in school food service really looks like—and why it matters far beyond the lunch line. From boosting attendance and graduation rates to serving true “brain food” at breakfast, Michael, Rick and Michelle reveal how school meals can be one of a district’s most powerful academic tools. Along the way, we explore the hidden pressures of audits, the art of daily readiness, the magic of telling your story before someone else does, and the surprising ways par...
Sticky Notes & Big Ideas from the ROC & the 585: Farm to School in Rochester
In this episode, we head to Rochester, New York—aka “the ROC” and home of the legendary “garbage plate” (yes, recipe included in show notes) —to meet community food champion Mike Bulger. Mike takes us inside the city’s vibrant but complex food landscape, where apple orchards surround schools struggling with food access, and where parents, neighbors, and advocates are teaming up to transform wellness policies, school gardens, and local procurement. From play‑based learning to sticky‑note dreams becoming citywide food policy, this conversation explores how Rochester is sowing the seeds for healthier kids, stronger communities, and a future where...
A Problem We Can Eat Our Way Out Of
In this episode, we head to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where an ecological crisis has sparked one of the most creative—and delicious—farm to school innovations we’ve ever seen. Caroline County Public Schools and their partners at Real Good Fish are tackling the Chesapeake Bay’s invasive blue catfish by literally eating the problem. From kid‑approved fish cakes to the soon‑to‑be‑iconic “surf dog,” Beth Brewster and Holly Nuss walk us through how they turned a 100‑pound predator into a nutritious school meal, a sustainability lesson, and a community movement. Along the way we learn how a mobile farme...
Where Regulations Meet Roots: Local Food in a Complicated System
In this episode, we peel back the many layers of school food procurement—from the complex, regulation‑heavy world that veteran Nutrition Services Director Michael Rosenberger knows all too well, to the on‑the‑ground solutions taking root through Kevin Beltran’s work with the New Mexico Farmer’s Market Program. Together, their stories reveal both the challenges and the possibilities of bringing truly local, culturally relevant foods into school cafeterias. From navigating federal bids to celebrating Indigenous foodways like the Three Sisters, this conversation explores how communities and school systems can bridge the gap between red tape, red chiles and r...
Silos, Soil, and Storytelling: Phyllicia Moore of Houston ISD on Reimagining Farm to School
Join us as live from the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, as we meet Phyllicia Moore from Houston ISD—an educator, agriculturalist, and idea-generator transforming farm to school at a massive scale. From 176 school gardens to a districtwide “farmer and chef for a day” experience, Phyllicia shares how Houston is growing connections between academics, agriculture, and community. It’s authentic, inspiring, and full of big ideas taking root.
Phyllicia Moore Houston ISD
https://www.smartsassyteacher.com/about-2
[email protected]; [email protected]; 281.433.3784
Cross...
From Shreveport to SW Florida – Where culture, cooking, courage and school gardens meet.
Join us as we learn about the healing gardens of Louisiana to the vibrant school plots of Southwest Florida, where two inspiring leaders share how culture, community, and courage shape their farm to school journeys. Meet Di Plant Lady, whose roots in farm work and Caribbean heritage fuel her mission to heal soil and souls, and Kathleen, a Florida Extension powerhouse helping school gardens feed both cafeterias and curiosity. Together, their stories remind us why this movement matters: when we plant seeds with intention, we grow far more than food.
Tangia Taylor “di plant lady” ; Kathleen Mora...
The Old Guard, New Ideas: A Farm to School Reunion
In this special episode recorded at the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, Michelle and Guest Host Christy Sherding sat down with the “Old Guard” of the Farm to School movement — Leaders whose vision and persistence helped shape school food into what it is today. From Detroit to Minneapolis and beyond, these leaders have spent decades planting seeds of change, building gardens in unexpected places, and transforming cafeterias into classrooms of nourishment and equity. Their stories remind us that innovation often begins with courage, collaboration, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Join us as we honor their...
From Heat-and-Serve to “Jedi-Level” Scratch Cooking: A Kitchen Transformation Story
In this episode, we hang out with Greg Christian to explore how scratch cooking, kitchen “swarming,” and a whole lot of heart can transform cafeterias from stressed-out heat-and-serve hubs into joyful, efficient, good-food machines. Greg shares stories from the front lines of school kitchen makeovers, why cutting broccoli together can fix more than just lunch, and how real leadership (the kind that listens, laughs, and lets people shine) is the secret ingredient to lasting change. Pull up a tray! This one’s equal parts wisdom, wonder, and wildly good food.
Greg Christian is a highly successful consul...
When Podcasts Collide: The School Garden Podcast Crossover Event
Today we’ve got a special treat sprouting in the studio- the brilliant, dirt-under-their-fingernails crew from the School Garden Podcast!
That’s right! It’s a full-on garden geek crossover episode. More stories, more laughter, more accidental loofah explosions… and probably at least one debate about which state grows the sassiest school gardeners. Grab your trowel, hydrate, and settle in, this episode is about to bloom in every direction.
GUESTS:
Anne Santana
Anne serves as Project Director with Made Greene Sch...
Tools Are Not Toys: Creating the First Student Designed School Garden Tool and Branding
What happens when youth look at the school garden and only see cheap pink plastic shovels, flimsy tools, and vegetable characters that don’t represent their world? In this episode of the Farm to School Podcast, Rick and Michelle dig into how stereotypes have shaped kids’ experiences in the school garden and how a new generation of youth-driven design is flipping the script. From rethinking tools on how Michelle dedicated a good ten years of her life to create the “Rootopia” characters, over 44 fruits and veggies that reflect real emotions, cultural awareness, and botanical accuracy, we explore how gardens can beco...
Tiny Tots: Big Gardens - The Farm to ECE Episode
Welcome to a world where tiny hands plant big ideas. Today, we’re digging into the magic of Farm to Early Care and Education — a movement planting real food, real connections, and lifelong curiosity in our youngest learners. From toddlers discovering where carrots come from, to preschoolers who can pronounce “photosynthesis” with sticky fingers and big wonder, we’re exploring how gardens, farmers, and early educators are growing habits — and hopes — that last far beyond snack time. Because when we plant seeds in little soil and little hearts, the harvest just might change the world.
Angela Hedsrom
Lunch Across America
From museum magic to school lunch makeovers, this episode dishes up a coast-to-coast journey with The Henry Ford’s Spence Medford and Christy Sherding. Discover how a historic innovation hub is shaking up school meals, spotlighting edible education, and launching a national movement—complete with chefs, students, and a documentary premiere. Hungry for change? Grab your lunch tray and tune in!
J. Spencer “Spence” Medford is a nationally recognized nonprofit executive with nearly three decades of experience leading high-impact initiatives across philanthropy, cultural engagement, and education. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer a...
Planting the Next Decade: One State's 10-Year Vision for Farm to School
Today we’re taking you behind the scenes of something that doesn’t always sound exciting, but shapes everything we do—strategic planning. Stick with us, because this isn’t your typical dry ‘vision statement’ talk. This is the story of how one state brought together farmers, schools, nonprofits, and agencies to chart a bold 10-year vision for Farm to School. We’ll share how hundreds of voices shaped the process, why it matters far beyond Oregon, and how a plan on paper can actually spark a movement.
HA! I knew there was a Ladder analogy!
The a...
Sunny Side Up: A Bright Future for Farm to School From Policy to Plate; A Conversation With NFSN’s Sunny Baker
What do karaoke, universal school meals, and a stripe of gray hair have in common? Sunny Baker. In this episode, we sit down with the National Farm to School Network’s very own Senior Director of Programs and Policy to talk about the wins, woes, and what’s next for school food. From pandemic lessons to policy dreams, Sunny brings the fire, fun—and the future of farm to school.
Sunny Baker works to lead school food reform and create a new culture of
regionally-based eating. She is currently serving as the Senior...
Planting the Future: From Seedlings to Systems – Inside One State’s Farm to School Institute
What happens when school teams, cafeteria leaders, teachers, and students gather in a botanical garden to grow more than just vegetables? Welcome to the Oregon Farm to School Institute — part summer retreat, part action-planning bootcamp, and all heart. In this episode, we dig into how this unique two year-long program is sprouting real change across the state. You’ll hear from the program’s director, a passionate educator, a thoughtful student leader, and more — all working to root farm to school deeper into culture, curriculum, and community. From hydroponic lettuce to high school leadership, this is farm to school like you...
School-Supported Agriculture: Alice Waters Reimagines Farm to School
When Alice Waters speaks about food, she’s not just talking about what’s on the plate—she’s talking about culture, community, and the future of our children. Best known as the founder of the legendary Chez Panisse restaurant and one of the people that started the farm-to-table movement, Waters has spent decades proving that how we grow, prepare, and share food can transform lives. Now, she’s taking that philosophy beyond the kitchen and into the classroom with a bold vision: School-Supported Agriculture. It’s more than a meal program—it’s a movement to connect students directly with lo...
First Foods, Lasting Legacy: Indigenous Foodways at Chemawa Indian School
At the Chemawa Indian School, food is more than nourishment—it's culture, tradition, and connection. Meet the Staff reviving First Foods through student-driven menus, community cooking, and a deep respect for Indigenous knowledge.
Chemawa
School website: https://cis.bie.edu/
We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.
Cooking up Change: How Local Tamales are Transforming School Lunch
Meet Lucy DeLeon, the tamale maker turning family tradition into a statewide school lunch success. From migrant roots to feeding thousands of students in her state, Lucy shares how culture, hustle, and heart are transforming school meals—one tamale at a time.
Salsas Locas website: Salsas Locas – Previously Tortilleria Y Tienda DeLeon's
https://mexicanfoodportland.com/
https://mercatuspdx.com/latin-grocery-guide/#!directory/map
https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2022/10/tortilleria-y-tienda-de-leon-mexican-restaurant-moving-gresham-portland
https://www.mothersbistro.com/mother-of-the-month/archive/lucy-de-leon/
<...Curries, Culture & Cafeteria: Bringing Bold Flavors to Schools.. Happy Curry Foods & the Power of Cultural Cuisine!
Meet Krishna Bhattarai of Happy Curry Foods, a former finance exec turned food entrepreneur bringing bold global flavors like curries, dumplings, and samosas to Oregon school cafeterias—while bridging cultures, cutting prep time, and winning over kids' taste buds one meal at a time
We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.
Ranch to School
From High Desert Beef, and 100 miles from town: the Alvord Beef Ranch story of Remote “Ranch to School” lunch. Join us as we head to the remote high desert of Southeastern Oregon to meet Paul and Toni Davis of Alvord Ranch. With a herd of 2,500 cattle, no neighbors for miles, and a kitchen that feeds up to 25 ranch hands a day, the Davises share what life is really like on a working cattle ranch—and how their homegrown beef is making its way to school cafeterias. From breathtaking landscapes to farm-to-school innovation, this is a story of connection, commitment, and goo...
Speed-Scratch, School Farmers Markets, and Farm to School Magic: a Conversation with Lynne Shore
What do farm-fresh veggies, kid-run farmers markets, and a runaway pig have in common? They're all part of the magic Lynne Shore brings to her school meals! Tune in “live” from the Oregon School Nutrition Conference for a fun, feel-good journey into farm to school awesomeness — where students shop, farmers cheer, and pancakes steal the show!
OSNA
National school nutrition association
Serv Safe
We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.
Farm to School Across the Pond: Lessons From England
Join Rick and Michelle as they (virtually) journey across the Atlantic to chat with Jennie Devine from England’s National Farmers Union. Discover how UK schools are connecting kids with farming through innovative STEM-based lessons, live farm broadcasts, and a nationwide ambassador program—without government funding! It’s a fresh take on farm to school that’s inspiring students, empowering teachers, and putting a new face on farm to school.
Jennie Devine
National Farmers Union England: NFUonline
Jennie Linkedin page: #agrifuture | Jennie Devine...
Cultivating Curiosity- Digging into real stories of how farm to school is changing classrooms—and communities—from the ground up. A conversation with Jade Davidson
Join us as we sit down with Jade Davidson, Executive Director of Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom. Jade leads a small but mighty nonprofit dedicated to helping students understand where their food comes from and how Oregon’s diverse natural resources shape our lives.
Jade Davidson
OR Ag in the classroom https://oregonaitc.org/about/staff/
Calendar Art Contest
Journal of AG ED Utilizing framing theory to construct a typology of farm to school in Georgia<...
The Luck of the Lunch Tray: Gaelic Greens & Garden Dreams
Born in Ireland, Jennie journeyed to the United States. Her passion for food and health set her on a career path that started as a hospital Clinical Dietitian, evolved into Nutrition Service Manager and Director at a school district, and currently as a state Child Nutrition Program staff. Join Rick & Michelle as they talk with Jennie Kolpak about how she literally defined what best-practice in farm to school procurement and promotions were in the early days of the movement.
Jennie Kolpak
Articles:
https://boat2school.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/nitty-gritty-how-to-serve-fish-at-lunch/...
NOYO Food Forest
Have you ever heard of a Food Forest? It sounds something you can find in the woods outside Willy Wonka’s factory, right? Join us as we explore the relationship with Fort Bragg, California’s school district Nutrition Services Director Pilar Gray and Director of Operations for the NOYO Food Forest, Beth Horkman.
Noyo Food Forest
https://noyofoodforest.org/
Ft Bragg USD Nutrition Services
https://sites.google.com/fbusd.us/nutrition
Pilar Gray Center for Ecolit...
Who Knew Broccoli Didn't Grow on Trees? School Garden Education in Colorado
Often as we teach kids where their food comes from, even 11th graders sometimes think broccoli grows on trees because they're not exposed to growing food. Join us as we explore School Garden Education in the Denver, Colorado area with SustainED Farms' Matt Supronowicz and Maya McDowell.
Colorado Farm to School
Matt Supronowics
Maya McDowell
https://www.sustainedfarms.org/
Izzy Petersen and Matt Suprunowicz met as Teach for America corps members at a Title I school loca...
