The North Dakota Farm to Early Care and Education Coalition, spearheaded by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the Department of Public Instruction, has announced its Farm to School garden grant recipients. These grants have been allocated to 35 state-licensed early childhood education centers to facilitate the purchase of supplies and equipment needed for cultivating fruits and vegetables.
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring remarked, “The program will help connect children with local food systems and agriculture. Students will learn where their food comes from, and the initiative will help them develop skills that they can use throughout their lives.”
Kirsten Baesler, the state school superintendent, added, “Hungry students have more difficulties learning and paying attention. Frankly, this is true for everyone. These Farm to School Garden Grants help to ensure our students are well-fed with healthy, nourishing food, and there’s an added bonus – their fruits and vegetables are coming from North Dakota producers.”
Among the grant recipients are centers such as Mindy’s Clubhouse in New Rockford, New Song Kids Care in Bismarck, Giggles N Grins Child Care Center in Wahpeton, and Kiddie Korral 2.0 Child Care Center in Minot. Other centers include Community Church Child Care in Bismarck, Jasmin Child Care & Preschool in Fargo, and Frolicking Friends Childcare in Wishek. The initiative also extends technical assistance via webinars and master gardener volunteers from the NDSU Extension.
The coalition, which also involves members from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, North Dakota State University Extension, and Fargo-Cass Public Health, received 241 applications from early childhood education centers throughout the state. The grants were financed by the United States Department of Agriculture Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Award and the NDDHHS Maternal and Child Health Program.
For more information, inquiries can be directed to Jenna Nieters, North Dakota Department of Agriculture Local Foods Marketing Specialist, at 701-328-2659 or jnieters@nd.gov, and Amanda Olson, North Dakota Department of Public Instruction Farm to School Specialist, at 701-328-0817 or amolson@nd.gov.
