ANAMOOSE, N.D. (KMOT) – Agriculture is one of North Dakota’s largest industries, so it’s no surprise it also leads the region with Farm to School participation.
The USDA says nearly 80% of North Dakota schools are a part of the program.
Students at Anamoose-Drake Elementary are enjoying a school lunch from produce from the local school garden and beef from a local producer, thanks to a Farm to School program.
The school began participating in the program as a way to save food costs.
Now, it’s educating students like nine-year-old Jacie.
“I always thought they grew above ground, but they actually grow underground,” said Jacie.
The third-grader said she has learned about how potatoes actually grow and said that she loves trying new vegetables.
Barbie Martin, the school’s head cook, said through the offering of fresh produce and local beef, students are excited about lunch.
“One thing we’ve noticed is the excitement in the kids, especially the ones that have been out and had their hands in the dirt and worked with the school garden,” said Martin.
Martin said they listen to the students on what they want to eat and that results in less waste and happy kids.
Fifth grade student Logan said he enjoys all the school meals and definitely takes notice of where the ingredients are coming from.
“Tacos, because we get our beef locally too,” said Logan.
All lunches at the elementary school are prepared with produce from the one-acre school garden or beef from Bruner Angus in Drake.
Deb Reinowski organizes the garden and enjoys sharing her hobby with the students while implementing them with life skills and knowledge of where their food comes from.
“When you have invested time into something, it makes it more valuable to you,” said Reinowski.
And the time that students are investing into planting, weeding and picking produce from the school garden is leaving quite the impact.
Roughly 120 lunches are prepared daily with the local ingredients.
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