Riverside students Farm to School Crunch Off

On Oct. 5, students and staff at the Riverside Schools enjoyed Wyoming grown potatoes.  The potatoes were from the USDA Farm to School Program. 

In Wyoming the program is supported by the Wyoming Department of Education.  The Wyoming Farm to School Day is celebrated annually in Oct. 

The program is a national movement. The goal is to teach children about ag, nutrition and the food system. It connects local food producers to schools. 

BHCSD #4 Food Service Director Malia McClure discussed this year’s day. “Our potatoes are Wyoming grown. Our Farm to School Representative for the state acquired them for us. The potatoes are part of the First Lady of Wyoming’s Hunger Initiative. They have gone to schools all over the state. That is what we are using for our Crunch Off. 

She explained what “Crunch Off” means. “We count every student that eats potatoes today. There is a competition nationwide. They count it per capita, so Wyoming actually has a chance of winning.” 

The potatoes were mashed and part of the chicken fried steak meal served this day. 

Bobby Lane from the Wyoming Department of Education Child Nutrition Program Team is the program director for Farm to School for WDE.  He explained their department helped get the potatoes distributed to schools