The Portage County Farm to School program, led by Sarah Zdroik and Christine Kuhn, connects local farmers and community partners to bring fresh foods and nutrition education to schools. Sponsorship comes from various organizations, including the YMCA and local foundations, while AmeriCorps members assist in expanding the program and combating obesity. The program features new initiatives like a healthy snack program, educational events, community participation, and support for school gardening efforts.

1. Portage County
Farm to School
Sarah Zdroik serves as
the Community Outreach
Specialist, working
directly with farmers,
food service directors,
and community partners
to bring fresh, local
foods into schools.
Christine Kuhn serves as
the Nutrition Educator to
deliver nutrition and
garden-based education
to area youth through in
-class programming,
community events, and
with garden programs.
In 2015, the Stevens Point Area YMCA became the
new host site for Portage County Farm to School.
We are excited for the new opportunities this
partnership will bring!
The Farm To School program is sponsored in part by
grants from the Community Foundation of Central
Wisconsin and the Women’s Fund of Portage County
and the Stevens Point Area YMCA Foundation.
A special thanks
to our many
community partners
and supporters!
 Central Rivers Farmshed
 Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum
 Giving Gardens of Central Wisconsin
 United Way
 UW-Extension
 Auburndale Food Cooperative
 Copps
 Trig’s County Market
 Chef Christian
 UWSP Dietetics Department
 Stevens Point Farmers Market
 Stevens Point Area School District
 Tomorrow River School District
 Area farmers, of which there are just
too many to name here!
 And of course our lovely volunteers
and interns!
The DATCP-AmeriCorps Farm to School
program has been in operation since
2008, with AmeriCorps members
working to expand farm to school
programming in high need, rural and
urban areas around Wisconsin.
AmeriCorps serve as farm to school
advocates and work to combat obesity
by bringing fresh local foods into
schools and delivering nutrition
education to Wisconsin students in
grades K through 12.
Meet the Farm to School
AmeriCorps Members!

2. NEW! Healthy Snack Program
This month we implemented a Healthy Snack
program for elementary students using locally
sourced produce. In addition to healthy food, the
snack program includes an educational
component. Some of the fun ideas we have lined
up include: making their own smoothies on a
bike blender, learning to make granola during a
Chef Demo, eating Apple Chips prepared by the
FCCLA, and cutting and preparing their own
microgreen salads!
Children’s Museum Programming
We provide educational lessons at the Children's
Museum during their Healthy Family Night.
Topics range from how to start seeds, to making
smoothies and homemade bread. Another event
we assist with through the Children's Museum
is their Healthy Halloween Hoedown.
Great Apple Crunch
In October we celebrated the Great
Apple Crunch at the Stevens Point Area
YMCA with special guest farmer Tony
Whitefeather, who employed a “Crunch-O-
Meter” to record the level of awesome apple
crunching! Additionally, the 150 participating
children got to do some apple stamping, make
apple cider, participate in a chef demo, and play
other apple-themed games!
Chef Demos in the Classroom
More than a dozen elementary classrooms and
multiple daycares throughout Portage county
participate in Chef Demos from Chef Christian
(of Christians Bistro, Father Fats and El Jefe) and
other Chefs associated with his restaurants.
Special Events
Farm to School participates in many community
events such as the Local Food Fair, Community
Family Fair, Farmers Tribute Dinner, and many
more! We host healthy, food themed games,
crafts and other activities to keep kids and
families learning about local foods
and having fun!
We’ve had an exciting year at Farm to School!
School Gardening
As spring approaches, we are gearing up for
garden season! We help out area school garden
programs by providing gardening lessons,
helping with garden maintenance, and doing
some seed starting for them. We are also
working to create a curriculum for the YMCA
Garden as well as helping out with the Earth Day
garden project at YMCA Camp Glacier Hallow.
Farmer’s Markets
We can also be found at the Stevens Point
Farmers Market offering fun games and
educational activities for kids of all ages!
Classroom Lessons
Each month we visit multiple classrooms, expanding
their knowledge of local agriculture, nutrition, and
gardening. Additionally, we provide a Harvest of the
Month snack for them to learn about and to encourage
trying out new, local foods!!