Students at John W. Miles Elementary School (Erlanger-Elsmere Ind.) select from fruits and vegetables during lunch April 26, 2010. Kentucky’s elementary school students can enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.File photo by Amy Wallot
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Barren County Schools is receiving $6,000 from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for its “dedication to purchasing and using locally grown produce and proteins.”
The public school district is getting this award from the department’s new Farm to School Stars Recognition Program that was created to recognize those districts that increase purchases from local farmers, according to a department press release. Barren County Schools was one of three awarded from this new program with the others being Jackson Independent Schools in Breathitt County and Mercer County school districts.
“We’re honored to be recognized by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for our commitment to serving locally grown foods,” Nutrition and Afterschool Programs director CheyAnne Fant said. “Supporting local farmers, while providing our students with fresh, nutritious meals is a win-win for our school and our community. We look forward to using these funds to continue expanding our farm-to-school efforts.”
Winning districts had the highest percentage of locally produced proteins and produce for an entire school year in their meals, according to the release.
In September, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell praised Barren County Schools where he commented that the district was at the “forefront…of getting locally sourced food nutrition inside the cafeterias.” Fant told Glasgow News 1 in September that the district spent roughly 14 percent of purchasing local food items from such places as Siddens Farm Beef, Dennison’s Roadside Market, Moore’s Family Farm, Hogue Farms and Need More Acres.
Awards must be spent on local food purchases for the 2025-26 school year, the release stated. Funding for the awards came from the department’s portion of Ag Tag funds.
“Kentucky farmers produce some of the most nutritious and delicious food in the world,” Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell said. “Developing programs and incentives to get more of that food into our Kentucky school meals increases the nutrient level for our school children and positively impacts our farm families.”
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