Kristie Rauter presented on Wood County's experience implementing farm to school language in school wellness policies. She worked with superintendents, food service directors, school boards, and wellness committees across 6 school districts. This included developing procurement plans with food service directors, implementing projects utilizing funds, revising policies, and providing model language and evaluation tools. Some challenges included strong language being a tough sell and varying comfort levels with policy development. Overall it helped build relationships toward the goal of updating policies with stronger nutrition language.

1. PRESENTED BY:
Kristie Rauter
Wisocnsin Farm to School Summit | La Crosse
June 27th, 2013

2. Local Perspective on Implementing F2S Language in
School Wellness Polices

3. Wood County’s Experience
Superintendents
Food Service Directors
School Boards
School Wellness
Committees
Chronic Disease
Coalition —Health
Department

4. Leadership--Superintendents
• Met with Superintendents
• Formal contract in place
• Funds dispersed
• Explained evaluation plan

5. Operations—Food Service Directors
• Convened Food Service Directors—Quarterly
• Developed a plan together
• Began procuring local food

6. Farm to School carrots are served in the lunch line

8. Lincoln High School students grow lettuce to be
used in the lunch line

9. The school garden at Vesper allows students to
grow vegetables, sunflowers and pumpkins

10. Students enjoy Harvest of the Month apples

11. School Wellness Committees
• Convened Wellness Committees- 6 school districts
• Year 1—
• Implemented projects and utilized funds
• Year 2—
• Utilized WellSAT tool-(online function)
• Used assessment score to strengthen/add language
• Provided draft model language
Using assessment results
New requirement: Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act
• Developed a simple evaluation tool for policy
• Continue to hold meetings as committee

13. Infrastructure—School Boards
•Met with school boards
•Provided education
•Policy revision on school board agendas
•Brought forward by Superintendents
•Few changes were made by board
•Provided evaluation data
•Showed community support for F2S
•Importance of nutrition with education

14. 14
Childhood Obesity
• Childhood obesity is a problem in my community.
Baseline Post
Average score change from baseline (2.11) to post (2.04): Not statistically significant (p=.05)

15. 15
Perception of
Obesity Problem
• Which of the following best describes how you think the problem of
obesity should be solved in your community?
Baseline Post

16. 16
Importance of
Community Support
• Serving more fruits and vegetables in school lunches
Baseline Post
Average score change from baseline (1.73) to post (1.67): Not statistically significant (p=.05)

17. Lessons Learned
• Policy work is not for everyone
• Strong language is a tough sell
• Various levels of comfort with committee’s
developing/updating policies for districts

18. More Work To Do
• Few schools policies still need updating
• Goal to update policies with stronger language in the
future
• Wellness Policy was a great low hanging fruit to build
relationships
• Procurement policy a possible next step

19. Success
• Superintendent and Principal - Nekoosa School District

20. Healthy People Wood County
Chronic Disease Prevention
Team

21. Thank you for your time!
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Questions
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Kristie Rauter
krauter@co.wood.wi.us
715-421-8915
getactivewoodcounty.org
Facebook.com/getactivewoodcounty