The Farm to School Podcast
by Rick Sherman & Michelle Markesteyn
Stories from the frontlines of food, farming, and education—where young minds grow and agriculture takes root. Join co-hosts Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman as they explore what it means to bring local food into the school cafeteria and teach kids about where their food comes from with guests from around the world! UPDATE: Show notes, contact information and more at https://extension.oregonstate.edu/podcast/farm-school-podcast Please stop by to say hello and to suggest a show topic!
Episodes
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The Culture of Agriculture: Curiosity Grows here with Evelyn Tedrick of Oregon AG in the Classroom
What do square dancing, dairy cows, hazelnuts, school gardens, and journalism have in common? More than you'd think. Sometimes the best conversations are the ones you never plan for. At “Oregon's Bounty, a Celebration of Agriculture” event at the Oregon State Capitol, Rick set up a podcast booth...
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A School Garden Without a Water Source? What about Dry Farming?
What if the secret to growing great food isn't adding more water, but learning to use less? In this episode, we explore the surprising world of dry farming with guests Matt Davis of Oregon State University and Cassandra Waterman of the Dry Farming Institute. From intensely flavored tomatoes and...
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Door to door, state to state, coast to coast: The Don Froylan Story
What does it take to turn a family recipe into an award-winning cheese company? In this episode, we sit down with Francisco Ochoa of Don Froylan Creamery to trace a remarkable journey that began with homemade queso fresco sold door-to-door in Oregon's small towns. Today, Don Froylan's cheeses are...
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All About Geoducks.. And Social Emotional Learning in the School Garden
What do geoducks, school gardens, and social-emotional learning have in common? More than you'd think. In this episode, Farm to School veteran Erica Curry of Row by Row joins Rick and Michelle for a wide-ranging conversation that begins with the Pacific Northwest's most peculiar clam and blossoms...
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Farm to School at Any Scale, From Policy to Plate – with Andrea Alma
Farm to School isn’t just about local apples—it’s about rethinking the entire food system. In this episode, Andrea Alma shares how a public health problem-solver fell in love with school lunch—and went on to help reshape it from policy to plate. From early wins in D.C. to building one of the most...
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Hit “Record” and See What Grows.. an Unplanned School Garden Conversation
Hit “Record” and See What Grows.. an Unplanned School Garden Conversation This episode proves that sometimes the best conversations happen that are unplanned. Recorded “on the fly” at the Oregon Farm to School Conference, Rick pulls up a chair with Corrina Hargett—teacher, school garden champion,...
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The Culture of Agriculture, Grounded: A Gift of Sound and Stillness
This episode isn’t meant to be rushed. And it isn’t meant to be explained so much as experienced. In a world of packed agendas, buzzing hallways, and constant motion, today’s conversation offers a rare pause: a moment to breathe, to settle, and to remember that learning begins when we feel safe...
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Meet the Principal Farmer (yes, that's a real job!)
Today we’ll meet a principal who rides a horse to school, runs a campus with peacocks, emus, and tortoises, and believes learning should start with wonder. Joined by May Tsupros—self‑described “fire starter” and connector extraordinaire. We talk about agriculture as the great equalizer…
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SnackTime Explorers
What happens when curiosity meets crunchy, colorful produce in the classroom? In this episode, we take you from curious kids tasting kiwi berries and (sometimes too-spicy) peppers to a behind-the-scenes look at the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program—where exposure, education, and a little…
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Scratch Happens.. Training the Future of School Food
What does scratch cooking, workforce development, local ketchup, and a mysterious conference hall ice machine have in common? This episode. Recorded live(ish) from the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, we sit down with Patrick Garmong from the Institute of Child Nutrition to talk about the...
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Pickles, a Cave, EMUS and the Daily Bear: Farm to School, Vermont Teen Style
What happens when Vermont teenagers take farm to school on the road—and land in the middle of a national conference? In this joyful, unscripted hallway conversation from the Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, you’ll meet students and educators from Brattleboro Union High School who are...
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More Than Lunch: Food as a Classroom Tool
What does it really take to make food education for all more than just a great idea? In this lively, laugh‑filled episode recorded at the Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, the Farm to School Podcast crew digs into how food can be a powerful lens for learning—without becoming “one more...
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The Fish that Didn’t Get Away (it Became a Taco): Jenn Lovewell’s Journey from Dock to Cafeteria
Wouldn’t that be a great title for a children’s book? In this episode, we dive deep—pun absolutely intended—into the world of bay-to-tray (or boat-to-school) with former school nutrition director–turned–seafood innovator Jenn Lovewell. From discovering a fish with no market to building an…
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Showtime: the Art of School Food Excellence with Michael Rosenberger
In this episode, we sit down with longtime school nutrition leader Michael Rosenberger to pull back the curtain on what excellence in school food service really looks like—and why it matters far beyond the lunch line. From boosting attendance and graduation rates to serving true “brain food” at...
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Sticky Notes & Big Ideas from the ROC & the 585: Farm to School in Rochester
In this episode, we head to Rochester, New York—aka “the ROC” and home of the legendary “garbage plate” (yes, recipe included in show notes) —to meet community food champion Mike Bulger. Mike takes us inside the city’s vibrant but complex food landscape, where apple orchards surround schools...
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A Problem We Can Eat Our Way Out Of
In this episode, we head to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where an ecological crisis has sparked one of the most creative—and delicious—farm to school innovations we’ve ever seen. Caroline County Public Schools and their partners at Real Good Fish are tackling the Chesapeake Bay’s invasive blue…
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Where Regulations Meet Roots: Local Food in a Complicated System
In this episode, we peel back the many layers of school food procurement—from the complex, regulation‑heavy world that veteran Nutrition Services Director Michael Rosenberger knows all too well, to the on‑the‑ground solutions taking root through Kevin Beltran’s work with the New Mexico Farmer’s...
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Silos, Soil, and Storytelling: Phyllicia Moore of Houston ISD on Reimagining Farm to School
Join us as live from the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, as we meet Phyllicia Moore from Houston ISD—an educator, agriculturalist, and idea-generator transforming farm to school at a massive scale. From 176 school gardens to a districtwide “farmer and chef for a day”...
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From Shreveport to SW Florida – Where culture, cooking, courage and school gardens meet.
Join us as we learn about the healing gardens of Louisiana to the vibrant school plots of Southwest Florida, where two inspiring leaders share how culture, community, and courage shape their farm to school journeys. Meet Di Plant Lady, whose roots in farm work and Caribbean heritage fuel her...
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The Old Guard, New Ideas: A Farm to School Reunion
In this special episode recorded at the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, Michelle and Guest Host Christy Sherding sat down with the “Old Guard” of the Farm to School movement — Leaders whose vision and persistence helped shape school food into what it is today. From Detroit…
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From Heat-and-Serve to “Jedi-Level” Scratch Cooking: A Kitchen Transformation Story
In this episode, we hang out with Greg Christian to explore how scratch cooking, kitchen “swarming,” and a whole lot of heart can transform cafeterias from stressed-out heat-and-serve hubs into joyful, efficient, good-food machines. Greg shares stories from the front lines of school kitchen...
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When Podcasts Collide: The School Garden Podcast Crossover Event
Today we’ve got a special treat sprouting in the studio- the brilliant, dirt-under-their-fingernails crew from the School Garden Podcast! That’s right! It’s a full-on garden geek crossover episode. More stories, more laughter, more accidental loofah explosions… and probably at least one debate...
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Tools Are Not Toys: Creating the First Student Designed School Garden Tool and Branding
What happens when youth look at the school garden and only see cheap pink plastic shovels, flimsy tools, and vegetable characters that don’t represent their world? In this episode of the Farm to School Podcast, Rick and Michelle dig into how stereotypes have shaped kids’ experiences in the school...
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Tiny Tots: Big Gardens - The Farm to ECE Episode
Welcome to a world where tiny hands plant big ideas. Today, we’re digging into the magic of Farm to Early Care and Education — a movement planting real food, real connections, and lifelong curiosity in our youngest learners. From toddlers discovering where carrots come from, to preschoolers who…
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Lunch Across America
From museum magic to school lunch makeovers, this episode dishes up a coast-to-coast journey with The Henry Ford’s Spence Medford and Christy Sherding. Discover how a historic innovation hub is shaking up school meals, spotlighting edible education, and launching a national movement—complete with...
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Planting the Next Decade: One State's 10-Year Vision for Farm to School
Today we’re taking you behind the scenes of something that doesn’t always sound exciting, but shapes everything we do—strategic planning. Stick with us, because this isn’t your typical dry ‘vision statement’ talk. This is the story of how one state brought together farmers, schools, nonprofits…
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Sunny Side Up: A Bright Future for Farm to School From Policy to Plate; A Conversation With NFSN’s Sunny Baker
What do karaoke, universal school meals, and a stripe of gray hair have in common? Sunny Baker. In this episode, we sit down with the National Farm to School Network’s very own Senior Director of Programs and Policy to talk about the wins, woes, and what’s next for school food. From pandemic...
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Planting the Future: From Seedlings to Systems – Inside One State’s Farm to School Institute
What happens when school teams, cafeteria leaders, teachers, and students gather in a botanical garden to grow more than just vegetables? Welcome to the Oregon Farm to School Institute — part summer retreat, part action-planning bootcamp, and all heart. In this episode, we dig into how this…
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School-Supported Agriculture: Alice Waters Reimagines Farm to School
When Alice Waters speaks about food, she’s not just talking about what’s on the plate—she’s talking about culture, community, and the future of our children. Best known as the founder of the legendary Chez Panisse restaurant and one of the people that started the farm-to-table movement, Waters…
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First Foods, Lasting Legacy: Indigenous Foodways at Chemawa Indian School
At the Chemawa Indian School, food is more than nourishment—it's culture, tradition, and connection. Meet the Staff reviving First Foods through student-driven menus, community cooking, and a deep respect for Indigenous knowledge. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message.
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Cooking up Change: How Local Tamales are Transforming School Lunch
Meet Lucy DeLeon, the tamale maker turning family tradition into a statewide school lunch success. From migrant roots to feeding thousands of students in her state, Lucy shares how culture, hustle, and heart are transforming school meals—one tamale at a time. We would love to hear from you! Send…
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Curries, Culture & Cafeteria: Bringing Bold Flavors to Schools.. Happy Curry Foods & the Power of Cultural Cuisine!
Meet Krishna Bhattarai of Happy Curry Foods, a former finance exec turned food entrepreneur bringing bold global flavors like curries, dumplings, and samosas to Oregon school cafeterias—while bridging cultures, cutting prep time, and winning over kids' taste buds one meal at a time We would love…
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Ranch to School
From High Desert Beef, and 100 miles from town: the Alvord Beef Ranch story of Remote “Ranch to School” lunch. Join us as we head to the remote high desert of Southeastern Oregon to meet Paul and Toni Davis of Alvord Ranch. With a herd of 2,500 cattle, no neighbors for miles, and a kitchen that...
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Speed-Scratch, School Farmers Markets, and Farm to School Magic: a Conversation with Lynne Shore
What do farm-fresh veggies, kid-run farmers markets, and a runaway pig have in common? They're all part of the magic Lynne Shore brings to her school meals! Tune in “live” from the Oregon School Nutrition Conference for a fun, feel-good journey into farm to school awesomeness — where students…
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Farm to School Across the Pond: Lessons From England
Join Rick and Michelle as they (virtually) journey across the Atlantic to chat with Jennie Devine from England’s National Farmers Union. Discover how UK schools are connecting kids with farming through innovative STEM-based lessons, live farm broadcasts, and a nationwide ambassador…
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Cultivating Curiosity- Digging into real stories of how farm to school is changing classrooms—and communities—from the ground up. A conversation with Jade Davidson
Join us as we sit down with Jade Davidson, Executive Director of Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom. Jade leads a small but mighty nonprofit dedicated to helping students understand where their food comes from and how Oregon’s diverse natural resources shape our lives. We would love to hear from...
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The Luck of the Lunch Tray: Gaelic Greens & Garden Dreams
Born in Ireland, Jennie journeyed to the United States. Her passion for food and health set her on a career path that started as a hospital Clinical Dietitian, evolved into Nutrition Service Manager and Director at a school district, and currently as a state Child Nutrition Program staff. Join…
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NOYO Food Forest
Have you ever heard of a Food Forest? It sounds something you can find in the woods outside Willy Wonka’s factory, right? Join us as we explore the relationship with Fort Bragg, California’s school district Nutrition Services Director Pilar Gray and Director of Operations for the NOYO Food…
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Who Knew Broccoli Didn't Grow on Trees? School Garden Education in Colorado
Often as we teach kids where their food comes from, even 11th graders sometimes think broccoli grows on trees because they're not exposed to growing food. Join us as we explore School Garden Education in the Denver, Colorado area with SustainED Farms' Matt Supronowicz and Maya McDowell. We would...
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Student Ecoliteracy: The Publisher
Our last episode was coined "Student Ecoliteracy, The Author" which explored Katherine Pryor's journey of writing children's books about nature and garden subjects. In this companion episode, we talk to Katherine's first publisher, Philip Lee of Readers to Eaters. They specialize in publishing…
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Student Ecoliteracy: The Author
Katherine Pryor first wrote a story when she was seven years old. She's been chasing the feeling of how the story made her feel every day since then.. Fast forward to today, when she's published ten children's books, most of which are award winners. Join Rick and Michelle as they talk to…
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Remarkable Academic Foods
What if you ran the Nutrition Service Department and you needed help.. someone to help to provide training, kitchen design, or "strategic solutions leadership?" Join Rick and Michelle as they chat with Joshua Miller, the Founder and Principal Consultant with Remarkable Academic Foods, who tells…
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Educating Kids Through Music: The Banana Slug String Band - PART 2
In our journey to explore the different methods of educating kids about their food and the environment, we bring you a new way we haven't explored yet on this program: Educating kids through music! Join us as we talk to members of the Banana Slug String Band, a band that's celebrating their 40th...
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Educating Kids Through Music: The Banana Slug String Band - PART 1
In our journey to explore the different methods of educating kids about their food and the environment, we bring you a new way we haven't explored yet on this program: Educating kids through music! Join us as we talk to members of the Banana Slug String Band, a band that's celebrating their 40th...
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Farm Lab-DREAMS Campus; Julie Burton
Join us as we talk to Julie Burton of the award-winning Farm Lab DREAMS Campus (Design, Research, Engineering, Art, Math & Science). It's an amazing story of how they were able to establish a certified organic farm that feeds into their nationally recognized farm to school program in Encinitas…
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Growing Food Changes Lives: A Discussion With Big Green's Sam Koentopp
Many organizations provide educational programming for school gardens across the USA. But what about the infrastructure of building the garden, how do you start? Join us as we talk with Sam Koentopp from Big Green. They work with partner organizations to install their raised beds in schools, and...
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The History of School Gardens: A Conversation With Author Rose Hayden-Smith
Most people Haven't heard of the term "Farm to School." Once the concept is explained to them, usually the next thing to explain is.. what is a school garden? Typically, folks assume that school gardens are a relatively new thing. Join us as we talk with Rose Hayden-Smith about the very long and...
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Food Lab: A small school where the kids scratch-cook their own meals
Often times we highlight very large school districts that has a meal program that offers food that is made from scratch whenever possible. Because those places are large districts with many resources, there might be more opportunities to get local, fresh food into the cafeteria. But what about a...
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So You Have a School Garden.. Now What To Do With That Food? The Master Food Preserver Episode.
Many School Gardens are able to produce an abundance of food. Usually they are able to bring the produce right in to the cafeteria.. But what if you have an overabundance of something? How can you save it? Can you can it SAFELY? What are the rules and regulations? Join us as we have a discussion...
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It's not "School Lunch".. It's "Lunch at School!"
Chef. Innovator. Leader... Cranky Parent? There are many words to describe Bertrand Weber. Join us as he shares his journey from an "angry parent" who was concerned about his kid's school meal to stepping up and doing something about it.. transforming the meal experience at Minneapolis Public...
About this show
Stories from the frontlines of food, farming, and education—where young minds grow and agriculture takes root. Join co-hosts Michelle Markesteyn and Rick Sherman as they explore what it means to bring local food into the school cafeteria and teach kids about where their food comes from with guests from around the world!
UPDATE: Show notes, contact information and more at https://extension.oregonstate.edu/podcast/farm-school-podcast
Please stop by to say hello and to suggest a show topic!
Hosted by
Rick Sherman & Michelle Markesteyn