Farm to School Activities
The value of Farm to School extends beyond the food on students’ plates. Participating in a variety of farm to school activities creates a cohesive learning environment, helping children make connections between what they eat, what they learn, and what they observe in their communities. By engaging students with hands-on learning opportunities, farm to school programs foster a deeper understanding of food, health, agriculture, and the impact of their choices on the local and global community.
Food and Nutrition Education in Oklahoma
Farm to School is thriving in Oklahoma! Local food and agricultural education are making their way into cafeterias, classrooms, and gardens across the state. From hands-on learning in the classroom and garden to field trips on local farms, students are gaining valuable insights into where their food comes from and how it’s grown. School Food Authorities (SFAs) in Oklahoma are bringing Farm to School to life, promoting nutrition education and agricultural awareness. Explore the impact SFAs had during the SY 2022-23 and find new ways to get involved in enhancing agriculture education in your school.
Join the movement and help grow the future of Farm to School in Oklahoma!
Oklahoma SFAs Providing Food, Nutrition, or Agricultural Education
- Exposing students to agricultural careers 39%
- Integrating activities into classrooms 17%
- Conducting field trips to farms 10%
- Using taste tests & cooking demonstrations 8%
- Farmers visit classrooms 6%
- Collecting food waste for compost 4%
Finding A Farm
Looking for a farm to visit? Check out the map of producers participating in the Farm to School Program!
Connecting with Farms and Farmers
There are many ways to connect schools to farms and farmers. Farm-based education immerses students in nature, culture, history, and community. It teaches them valuable life skills, builds self-esteem, and deepens their sense of place. Farms create a meaningful and relevant cross-curricular context for learning that engages the whole student—mind, body, and spirit.
Farm Field Trips
There are many ways to connect schools to farms and farmers. Farm Field Trips immerse students in nature, culture, history, and community. Additionally, it teaches valuable life skills, builds self-esteem, and deepens students’ sense of place. Farms create a meaningful and relevant cross-curricular context for learning that engages the whole student—mind, body, and spirit. Oklahoma’s farms provide the perfect backdrop for such learning experiences, and with the right planning, students can enjoy a meaningful and educational field trip!
- Hands-On Learning: Farm visits allow students to engage in active, hands-on learning. Instead of just reading about where food comes from, they can see, touch, and even participate in the processes involved in farming.
- Promote Healthy Lifestyles: Farm visits allow students to see and taste fresh, local produce, which can spark a greater interest in trying new foods and develop healthier eating habits.
- Agriculture Education: In today’s world, many students are disconnected from agriculture, especially if they live in urban environments. Farm visits give students a direct connection to agriculture, the food production process, and exposure to potential career opportunities.
Plan an Unforgettable Farm Field Trip with Ease
Our Farm Field Trip Toolkit (PDF) is designed to help educators create meaningful, engaging, and educational experiences for their students. This toolkit offers everything you need to plan a successful visit to a local farm. From logistics and lesson ideas to safety tips and reflection activities, this resource will guide you every step, connecting students to agriculture, community, and the natural world in a fun and impactful way.
Download the Farm Field Trip Toolkit: A Guide for Planning Farm Field Trips
Virtual Farm Tours
Virtual farm tours are an excellent way to bring the farm experience to students who can’t visit a farm in person. These tours offer an engaging and educational experience where students can learn about agriculture, food production, and farm life without leaving the classroom.
National Ag in the Classroom has a great selection of virtual farm tours.
Successful Taste Tests
Encouraging children to enjoy nutritious foods early on is key to lifelong healthy eating. However, persuading youth to choose healthier options can be challenging. This is where taste testing comes in. By allowing students to explore where food comes from, how it’s grown, and engaging their senses, taste tests increase the likelihood that they will try and accept new foods.
Whether in the cafeteria or classroom, taste tests expose students to new flavors and foods, ensuring they are more likely to embrace them before they hit the menu. Additionally, taste tests allow students to experience new foods alongside their peers, making the process more enjoyable.
Make Healthy Eating Fun with the Taste Testing Toolkit
The Taste Test Toolkit is a practical, easy-to-use resource that helps teachers and school staff plan and lead successful taste tests. Designed to spark curiosity and encourage healthy food choices, this toolkit provides step-by-step guidance, helpful tips, and engaging activities to introduce students to new, nutritious foods in a fun and supportive environment.
Taste Test Toolkit: A Guide for Planning Successful Taste Tests
Hosting a School Ag Day
A School Ag Day is an event designed to teach students about agriculture, where their food comes from, and the important role that farmers and ranchers play in providing fresh, healthy food. It’s a fun and educational day filled with hands-on activities, demonstrations, and learning stations that help students understand the different aspects of farming, ranching, and food production.
The event often includes rotating stations where students can explore a variety of ag-related topics.
Participating students will learn:
- Where their food comes from and how it’s produced and processed.
- The important role that farmers and ranchers play in providing fresh and healthy food.
- The importance of agriculture and exposure to a variety of careers in agriculture.
Host a Memorable School Ag Day with Confidence
The School Ag Day Toolkit is your step-by-step guide to planning an engaging and educational event that brings agriculture to life for students. This toolkit provides everything you need to create a fun, well-organized day that connects students to where their food comes from. With planning tips, timelines, activity ideas, and more, you’ll be able to coordinate a School Ag Day that’s educational and fun, leaving a lasting impression on your school community and students.
School Ag Day Toolkit: A Guide for Hosting a Successful Event
What is a Taste Test?
A taste test is a small sample of food offered either in the classroom or in the cafeteria at lunchtime, introducing its flavor, texture, and smell. The item might be a dollop of fresh salsa with a handful of corn chips, a small 2-oz serving of roasted root vegetables, or a mini whole wheat carrot-maple muffin. After the sample has been offered, children (and adults) vote on whether they tried it, liked it, and would be willing to try it again.
Resources Available for Classrooms, Cafeterias, and Families
These free educational resources were created for classrooms, cafeterias, and families to promote Oklahoma-grown vegetables and fruits offered during meals. The free online resources for cafeterias include posters and recipes promoting a variety of locally-grown specialty crops such as tomatoes, berries, watermelon, squash, asparagus, carrots, cucumbers, peppers, peaches, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and radishes.