Upcoming Events
10th Annual Louisiana Farm to School Conference
Join us Wednesday, Oct. 28, for the 10th Annual Louisiana Farm to School Conference at The Cook Hotel and Conference Center at LSU in Baton Rouge. This year’s theme, Ten Years of Growing Together, highlights the impact of fresh ideas and strong partnerships in creating healthier school food systems. Attendees will participate in engaging sessions led by farm to school champions and build lasting relationships to nurture healthier futures for Louisiana’s young learners. Conference registration is $35 and includes all conference sessions, lunch and refreshments.
Become a Conference Exhibitor
Connect with educators, farmers, school nutrition professionals, Extension agents and other farm-to-school partners from across Louisiana by exhibiting at the 10th Annual Louisiana Farm to School Conference. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase their programs, resources and services while connecting with attendees. Space is limited, so reserve your exhibit space today!
Take the Louisiana Farm to School Challenge!
October is National Farm to School Month, and this year’s Louisiana Farm to School Challenge is all about “You’ve Gourd to Try It!” Schools and early childhood centers across Louisiana are invited to celebrate Louisiana agriculture, winter squash and healthy eating through fun, hands-on farm-to-school activities. Sign the pledge and receive a FREE toolkit filled with activity ideas and ready-to-use resources to help you get started.
2026 Louisiana Farm to School Art Contest
Help us celebrate Louisiana agriculture through student artwork! Students in kindergarten through 12th grade at Louisiana public and private schools are invited to create artwork for the 2027 Louisiana Farm to School Calendar. This year’s theme is “Louisiana Agriculture,” and artwork must feature only crops, livestock or other agricultural products grown or raised in Louisiana. Twelve student artists, along with a Best of Show winner and honorable mentions, will be selected. Submissions are due Oct. 28.
Funding Opportunities
Root for Local Food: Let’s Cheer for Farm to CACFP
The National CACFP Association (NCA), the National Farm to School Network (NFSN), and the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN) are hosting a celebration for CACFP providers and sponsor organizations focused on Farm to CACFP resources. Share this invite with educators or sponsor organizations you work with to discover ways they can grow their participation and ideas in time for Farm to CACFP week October 18-24, 2026. Register here.
Deadline: September 10
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation
Grants for community improvement projects and public education. The Foundation provides funding only to 501(c) (3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and public agencies (no private schools) in communities where Lowe’s operates stores and distribution centers. Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation requires that all applicants take an eligibility test. Organizations that pass will be considered, but not guaranteed a grant. Grants generally range from $5,000 to $25,000.
Rolling application cycle
Salad Bars to Schools
Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools is a comprehensive grassroots public health effort to mobilize and engage stakeholders at the local, state and national level to support salad bars in schools. Their vision is to significantly increase salad bars in schools across the country until every child has the choice of healthy fruits and vegetables every day at school. Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools is an initiative of the Food Family Farming Foundation, National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, United Fresh Produce Association Foundation, and Whole Foods Market to support First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative.
Rolling application cycle
National Education Association Foundation Grants
Student Success Grants, offered by the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation, are for projects that help students learn how to think critically and solve problems in order to improve student learning. Learning & Leadership Grants, offered by the NEA Foundation, are for professional development opportunities for individuals or groups. Grants are available to current members of NEA who are educators in public schools or public institutions of higher education. Preference is given to proposals that incorporate STEM and/or global learning into projects, which can include farm to school activities. Two levels of funding are available: $2,000 and $5,000. Apply for a Student Success Grant here or a Learning & Leadership Grant here.
Captain Planet Project Learning Garden
Schools can apply now to win a Captain Planet Foundation Project Learning Garden through partnerships with grocery retailers around the country. Grand Prize Winners will receive a one-year supply of DOLE Fruit Bowls and a Project Learning Garden provided by Captain Planet Foundation, including: 5 garden beds or garden expansion (for schools with an existing garden), mobile garden cooking cart, standards-based Learning Garden lessons and lesson supply kits, and online teacher training. Learn more about the Project Learning Garden and apply here.
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) and Dreyer’s Fruit Bars
FTPF and Dreyer’s are planting orchards across the country in a collaborative program called “Communities Take Root,” and your town could be next! They invite your community to apply for this exciting opportunity to grow fresh fruit, beautify neighborhoods, strengthen relationships and build community food security—all through the simple act of planting fruit trees. FTPF is currently accepting the first 100 qualified applications for the next round of the program, which involves a public online vote to select the final recipients. * FTPF provides all plants, related materials and equipment, community workshops and training, and our team will work with your community volunteers to install the orchard. Recipients must have the appropriate space and commitment to the orchard to qualify. Download the application here and submit via email only. *Schools are not eligible to apply. Please visit the Fruit Tree 101 Grants page for more information about the school orchard program.