TOPEKA — A Reno County school district has recently been recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service for its outstanding summer meal program.
The Turnip the Beet award recognizes sponsors within the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option that go above and beyond program requirements to serve high-quality meals to children during the summer months.
For the 2021 summer, 84 sponsors from across the United States qualified for either a gold, silver or bronze Turnip the Beet award. Haven Unified School District 312 received gold.
Sponsors can self-nominate or can be nominated by another party. USDA’s Food and Nutrition then evaluates and scores the nominations. Nominations must clearly illustrate how the meals are appetizing, appealing and nutritious.
Haven USD 312
To kick off the SFSP and to celebrate the Farm to Table program at Haven USD 312, the district in May hosts a community-wide event that focuses on all the local farm fresh items served within the district, said Sheree Jones, food service director for Haven. The event draws about 600 people.
“Our high school FFA and ag groups provided hands-on educational booths that included live animals, farm equipment to teach farm safety, and a planting station where the kids learned about how food grows from seed to harvest. There were hay wagon rides, and the physical education teacher had over 10 activity booths that included a maze, four-square volleyball and an obstacle course. The highlight of the day was a barbecue featuring local beef burgers cooked by our local police, fire and paramedics.”
Even during the kick-off event, the district featured locally produced items, including whole grain hamburger buns made by a local baker and fresh lettuce and tomatoes grown in the district’s greenhouse. Ice cold 1 percent milk from the local Hiland dairy was served, and Rolling Moo – a local ice cream store – rolled up real local milk treats to round out the meal.
For the SFSP, Haven serves in four different locations – Partridge and Yoder in Reno County; Mount Hope in Sedgwick County; and Haven Grade School in Reno. Six nutrition staff members serve during the summer – seven during the school year.
Last summer, the district served 300 grab-and-go breakfasts and 300 grab-and-go lunches each day, Jones said.
The district’s nutrition services department relies a lot on local produce.
“In this day and time, it’s getting harder and harder to get even the basics,” Jones said. “We can ease the burden of supply chains if people realize they can go local. These are our families. It comes full circle. The school supports the farmers, and the farmers support the school.
A few years ago, the district received a sizeable grant to add a greenhouse, according to Jones. About three years ago, staff members and students began growing leaf lettuce for the high school kitchen.
“Since then, the cooks have gotten more involved,” Jones said. “We’re learning right along with the kids. The outcome is incredible.”
This year, staff members planted broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, leaf lettuce and spinach.
Receiving a gold award for the work she and her staff puts in is incredible,” Jones said.
“We couldn’t believe it,” she said. “The staff is so dedicated. To be chosen as a gold medal school is beyond belief. It’s what we do – we take care of our kids. They are our most important asset.”
Only 14 sponsors qualified for a gold award, according to the USDA.