TBAISD Farm to School

In 2017, Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD) piloted the TBAISD Farm to School program to provide school specific Farm to School support and capacity-building to select elementary schools within Northwest Michigan. This successful pilot, now in its second year, provides over 3,000 elementary students in ten schools with increased access to healthy foods in the cafeteria, classroom, and wider school community. Located in the agriculturally rich area of Northwest Michigan, our mission is the connect families to local agriculture through school-based experiential learning in order to positively impact community health and wellness. We have also began to foster close relationships with our local tribes, working to bring in more education and exposure to the indigenous foods found in our region. 

Classroom: Providing educational opportunities that encompass health, nutrition, wellness, and agriculture. Farm to School education can be facilitated through classroom learning activities, farmer visits, and school garden lessons. 

Cafeteria: Presenting students with an inviting and healthful lunchroom, and allowing them to try new fresh foods. Farm to School can be promoted through local food sourcing, student taste tests, garden grown food, and marketing healthy food choices.

Community: Support and involvement from community stakeholders like administrators, family, and community members. Community involvement includes improving institutional wellness policies, family cooking classes, pop-up farmer’s markets, school garden maintenance, as well as building partnerships with local businesses and farmers and 

In 2017, Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD) piloted the TBAISD Farm to School program to provide individualized Farm to School support and capacity-building to select elementary schools within Northwest Michigan. This successful pilot, now in its second year, provides over 3,000 elementary students in ten schools with increased access to healthy foods in the cafeteria, classroom, and wider school community. Located in the agriculturally rich area of Northwest Michigan, our mission is the connect families to local agriculture through school-based experiential learning in order to positively impact community health and wellness. We have also began to foster close relationships with our local tribes, working to bring in more education and exposure to the indeginious foods found in our region. 

Classroom: Providing educational opportunities that encompass health, nutrition, wellness, and agriculture. Farm to School education can be facilitated through classroom learning activities, farmer visits, and school garden lessons. 

Cafeteria: Presenting students with an inviting and aesthetically pleasing lunchroom and allowing them to try new fresh foods. Farm to School can be promoted through local food sourcing, student taste tests, and marketing healthy food choices.

Community: Support and involvement from community stakeholders like administrators, family, and community members nurture the growth of Farm to School programs. Community involvement includes improving institutional wellness policies, family cooking classes, pop-up farmer’s markets, community volunteers, as well as building partnerships with local businesses and farmers.

In 2017, Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD) piloted the TBAISD Farm to School program to provide individualized Farm to School support and capacity-building to select elementary schools within Northwest Michigan. This successful pilot, now in its second year, provides over 3,000 elementary students in ten schools with increased access to healthy foods in the cafeteria, classroom, and wider school community. Located in the agriculturally rich area of Northwest Michigan, our mission is the connect families to local agriculture through school-based experiential learning in order to positively impact community health and wellness. We have also began to foster close relationships with our local tribes, working to bring in more education and exposure to the indeginious foods found in our region. 

Classroom: Providing educational opportunities that encompass health, nutrition, wellness, and agriculture. Farm to School education can be facilitated through classroom learning activities, farmer visits, and school garden lessons. 

Cafeteria: Presenting students with an inviting and aesthetically pleasing lunchroom and allowing them to try new fresh foods. Farm to School can be promoted through local food sourcing, student taste tests, and marketing healthy food choices.

Community: Support and involvement from local stakeholders like administrators, family, and community members. Community involvement includes improving institutional wellness policies, family cooking classes, pop-up farmer’s markets, garden maintenance, as well as building partnerships with Northern Michigan businesses, farmers, and community members.