October is a time to celebrate the connections between students, schools, farms and the food students enjoy every day. This month, explore farm-to-school resources, learn how schools celebrated World School Milk Day while recognizing their unsung heroes, discover engaging nutrition education opportunities and see how schools and community partners are helping students connect with where their food comes from.
October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate the connections between classrooms, cafeterias and local agriculture. California dairy farms are an important part of this story, providing nutritious foods for students while supporting local communities and a resilient food system. Virtual dairy farm tours bring this connection to life, giving students an engaging way to explore where milk comes from and learn more about California dairy farming.
In a recent School Nutrition Association podcast episode, “From Local Farms to Lunch Trays,” California dairy farmer Arlene Vander Eyk and dedicated school nutrition professionals explore the journey of milk from the dairy farm to the school cafeteria.
Vander Eyk brings the perspective of a dairy farmer and shares the care, commitment and connection to agriculture behind every carton of milk served in schools. Joining her are two California school nutrition champions, Jason Beach and Jonathan Morris, who bring their own expertise and passion for serving students and strengthening the connection between school meals, nutrition and agriculture.
While milk is well-known for providing 13 essential nutrients that support students’ growth and learning, this conversation highlights another important part of the story: where milk comes from and the people behind it.
The episode also explores how partnerships between dairy farmers, school nutrition professionals and educators can help students better understand the role agriculture plays in nourishing communities.
Watch the episode and hear the story behind milk here.
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The latest Poppy Seeds features “Farm-to-School Wellness: How One School Built a Year-Round Community Partnership for Student Wellness,” highlighting how Hidden Valley Elementary developed a farm-to-school partnership that brings together nutrition education, school meals, families and local agriculture to support student well-being. Read the article here.
Schools across California celebrated World School Milk Day with activities highlighting milk, school nutrition and incredible people who support students every day. A special highlight was recognizing school nutrition professionals as unsung heroes with their own GOT MILK posters during school celebrations and assemblies.
These celebrations also reinforced the important role of school meals: Students who eat school meals tend to consume more nutrient-dense foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy, with milk contributing nutrients that support bone health, growth and overall well-being.
“The Dairy Council of California gave us the tools to turn a nutrition message into an experience that students wanted to participate in. This was a fantastic example of what a strong community partnership can accomplish.” - John Chiu, Administrator at Huntington Beach Union High School District.
In partnership with KVCR Public Media, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and Dairy Council of California, The Great Food Quest is launching as a four-episode educational adventure that connects young explorers to food, culture and language. Available in English and Spanish, the series brings the farm-to-school journey to life, illustrating how foods, including dairy, move from farms and ranches to school cafeterias and how healthy eating helps students grow, learn and thrive.
Register to attend the launch party event to get a special preview of the episodes and explore the resources.
Dairy Council of California recently published “Reimagining School Meals From a Systems Thinking Perspective: A Case Study of School Meal Supply Chain Collaboration in California” in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. The research highlights how systems thinking and collaboration across schools, agriculture, industry and communities can support healthier, more relevant and sustainable school meal programs. and sustainable school meal programs.
Key findings underscore the importance of strengthening farm-to-cafeteria connections, expanding culturally relevant dairy options, engaging youth voice in meal decisions and building strong local partnerships that support student success. The study reinforces a simple but powerful message: Everyone has a role to play in shaping the future of school meals.
Help students make the connection between the dairy farm and their food with the Mobile Dairy Classroom and Dairy Council of California's dairy literacy resources. Through engaging assemblies, classroom materials and hands-on learning, students can explore where their food comes from and discover the journey of California milk from the farm to their cup. Assemblies are also available virtually and include Spanish and American Sign Language options.
Learn more about dairy literacy and educational resources available to use in the classroom today!
California Ag in the Classroom Conference, Oct. 10, 2026. Dairy Council of California staff will host an interactive make & take workshop designed to bring together agriculture, nutrition and hands-on learning.
California Grains Conference, Oct. 13, 2026. Dairy Council of California staff will highlight the broader farm-to-school movement, cross-commodity partnerships and how collaborations such as the upcoming PBS series, The Great Food Quest launching in Oct. 2026, are elevating California agriculture, nutrition education and school meals.
California Farm to School Summit, Oct. 15, 2026. Dairy Council of California staff will join partners in celebrating California’s thriving farm-to-school movement. Stop by our exhibit to see resources connecting agriculture, nutrition education and school meals.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo, Oct. 26 & 27, 2026. Be sure to visit the poster sessions and engage with Dairy Council of California’s authors presenting their research:
- Ashley Rosales, MS, RDN, will be presenting “Evaluating Caregiver Reported Dairy Intake Frequency and Variety Before and After Participation in a Digital Dairy Voucher Program” on Oct. 26
- Shannan Young, MS, RDN, CAE, SNS, FAND, will be presenting “Exploring 4th Grade Teachers’ Perceptions of Let’s Eat Healthy Nutrition Unit: A Secondary Analysis of Post-Implementation Survey Data From California Classrooms” on Oct. 27
Have questions, ideas or want to collaborate?
Contact Rajwinder Kaur, MPH, Community & School Engagement Project Manager, at rkaur@dairycouncilofca.org.
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