Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School and Tucker County High School both recently promoted National Farm to School month by hosting lunch for area media and a representative from the West Virginia Office of Child Nutrition, Bekki Leigh.
Leigh, who is the Farm to School Coordinator for the W.V. Office of Child Nutrition said that the event was being promoted across the state with 48 out of 55 county schools doing something this past week.
“I work across the state with schools and farmers to get more local products into our schools. We also see it as a community revitalization issue. While developing the local economy we bring kids closer to food they eat”, Leigh said.
“Tucker County is a leader in the state. I have talked about them (Tucker County High School) nationally as a leader. The great spirit of co-operation which is key to making this work everyone from the farmers, students, cooks, and administrators. They have taken it to the next level”, said Leigh.
Whether you remember your school lunches fondly or maybe not so fondly, the students seemed happy with the quality of the locally grown produce. Not only are the products the children eat more nutritious, they are also more visually appealing than their canned or frozen counterparts.
“The food’s a lot better than the school I was at before. It actually has flavor”, said Adam Snyder.
Camren Kemphfer joined in with: “Tastes good”!
Micah Thompson was especially proud of the day’s meal as he grew the carrots we ate. He went on to name off different items on the menu and who locally had produced them.
“The potatoes were an activity we did in school, we went to Carr farm and dug them ourselves. The peppers were grown by Mr. Helmick and his son. Most of it is locally grown. You know it’s safe and where it came from,” said Thompson.
Long-time T.C.H.S. coach Dave Kyle said: “This is the best it’s ever been (the food). There’s nothing like having fresh food that’s grown local and here at the school. You have to commend the cooks who do a great job in preparing the food in a way the kids will like it and eat it.”
Jonathan Hicks, who amongst many of his jobs for the Tucker County School Board, is Tucker County’s Child Nutrition Officer, said it is awesome the way the different groups collaborate. The kids who grow the food work with the ProStart kids and Chef Covell who prep some of the food, who work with Cindy and the girls in the kitchen.
Chef Brian Covell, who heads up T.C.H.S.’s ProStart program said it was the first time he’s ever worked with a school where the local product has been pushed so heavily. He said it was great because his students have the opportunity to learn to can or kryovac the excess product. He mentioned that a lot of the student’s products are available at the Highlands Market in Davis.
All this again just proof positive that the folks of Tucker County and surrounding areas know how to work together to make something wonderful “grow”.
For more information on the Farm to School program go to: www.groweducatesell.com .