Klamath Falls, Oregon – For students in Klamath County, school lunch this October comes with a story that begins far beyond the cafeteria. Some of the food on their plates is coming from Oregon producers, while one special meal will feature pork raised through a local high school agriculture program.
It is all part of Klamath County School District’s celebration of National Farm to School Month, an effort that connects everyday school meals with the farmers, businesses, and agricultural programs behind the food.
The district says its Farm to School program, led by Kekoa Ledgerwood, is bringing locally raised food to students throughout October. Along with featuring Oregon-produced ingredients, the celebration includes special meals and educational activities designed to help children understand where their food comes from.
One of the highlights is scheduled for October 21, when students will enjoy tamale pies prepared with ground pork raised through the Lost River Jr./Sr. High School FFA program.
The meal has added significance because October is also National Pork Month. By featuring pork from its own agricultural education program, the district is creating a direct connection between school-based farming activities and the meals served to students.
The following day, October 22, will bring another districtwide tradition to elementary schools.
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KCSD’s annual Crunch at Once event will return to all district elementary schools, with students taking a bite of locally grown carrots while learning about agriculture and food production.
The activity gives younger students an opportunity to explore the connection between what grows on farms and what eventually appears on their plates. It also places locally grown produce at the center of a shared school experience.
Beyond these two special events, several Oregon food producers are contributing to the district’s October menu.
Beef from Revel Meat Co. in Canby and Pat n Tam’s Beef in Stanfield is among the featured products. Students will also have access to yakisoba noodles produced by UMI Organics in Portland.
These ingredients represent different parts of Oregon’s food industry, bringing products from livestock producers and food manufacturers into Klamath County schools.
For the district, National Farm to School Month is about more than changing cafeteria menus for a few days.
KCSD says it is proud to connect students with local agriculture while recognizing the farmers, producers, and educational programs that make fresh, locally sourced school food possible.
The October celebration brings those connections into focus, showing students that the food they eat at school can have roots in their own communities and across Oregon.
