Originally published in the Winter 2025 edition of PoppySeeds, the Official Journal for the California Child Nutrition Professional
To bridge the gap between school nutrition programs and agriculture, Dairy Council of California, in collaboration with the California Beef Council and California Grown, hosted
Grateful Grazing: A Journey Through California’s Harvest. Held during the California School Nutrition Association 72nd Annual Conference, the event highlighted connections between California’s agricultural community and school meal programs
while emphasizing the role of nutritious foods in student health.
More than 120 nutrition champions attended the immersive event, engaging directly with farmers and ranchers responsible for producing the wholesome foods served in California schools. Hosted at Mulvaney’s B&L in Sacramento, the gathering featured a curated dining experience showcasing locally sourced ingredients, from fresh specialty crops to high-quality dairy and beef.
The evening kicked off with a welcome from Karen Ross, Secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture, and Kim Frinzell, Director of the Nutrition Services Division
at California Department of Education. They each spoke about the important connection between California’s agriculture and Farm-to-School initiatives in supporting student health. Through personal stories and dynamic conversations, attendees
explored the rich offerings of California’s agricultural producers, fostering stronger connections between farms and schools to nourish students.
“The Grateful Grazing event united school nutrition professionals and agriculture leaders for more than just introductions,” said Initiatives, Education and Engagement Officer Shannan Young of Dairy Council of California. “By coming together, we are building strong Farm-to-School programs centered on the diverse foods grown, raised and farmed in California—programs that nourish all students and provide schools, farms and communities the opportunity to thrive.”
All attendees completed a presurvey, and following the event, they were invited to participate in an optional post event survey. While the postsurvey sample size (n=39) was considerably smaller than the presurvey (n=113), a review of the results indicates a general trend toward respondents shifting their beliefs about the value of milk, dairy foods and dairy farmers, although the limitations of the reduced sample size should be considered when interpreting these results.
These results highlight the importance of education in building relationships between school nutrition leaders and the state’s agricultural community.
Kori Dover, Registered Dietitian with the California Beef Council a key planner of the gathering and a California School Nutrition Association member, has been instrumental in shaping healthier, more sustainable school meal programs by connecting farms and schools through her work as a registered dietitian with California Beef Council. In fact, Dover was recently named a recipient of the Dairy Council of California’s Let’s Eat Healthy Leadership Award for her contributions to nutrition education and sustainable food practices.
“Events like Grateful Grazing are critical in showcasing the value of California’s diverse agriculture and its role in nourishing students,” Dover said. “Our farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to provide fresh, nutritious options that support both sustainability and student wellness.”
By promoting awareness of locally sourced, nutritious foods and emphasizing sustainability, Grateful Grazing strengthened the relationship between California’s agriculture and school nutrition programs, highlighting a promising trend for the future. As a model for future convenings, Grateful Grazing demonstrates the power of collaboration and offers a compelling case for continuing to align the efforts of school nutrition and agriculture leaders.
Alyssa McClelland
Alyssa is the Initiatives & Engagement Director for the Dairy Council of California.