This article was originally published in the Fall 2026 edition of Poppy Seeds, The Official Journal for the California Child Nutrition Professional
Author: Sonia Fernandez Arana, Dairy Council of California & Dr. Kathryn Ridout, MD, PhD, Parent / Psychiatrist, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research
National Farm to School Month is celebrated in October, but Hidden Valley Elementary at Santa Rosa City Schools District shows how farm-to-school can become a year-round Strategy for student wellness. Through a Dairy Council of California Let's Eat Healthy Community Grant, the school fostered a yearlong partnership among school nutrition professionals, educators, parents and local agriculture leaders to Connect students with healthy eating, local food systems and the people who produce their food.
Using Dairy Council Of California's evidence-based nutrition education resources, teachers, parents and school nutrition staff delivered lessons in multiple settings reaching all 530 transitional kindergarten through sixth-grade students.
The district's nutrition services team linked classroom learning to the cafeteria through taste tests, recipe development and menu planning. Students evaluated recipes using their five senses and voted on favorites, leading to three menu additions: yogurt parfaits, zucchini muffins and kale chips.
The school's nutrition team reported increased milk consumption and greater student willingness to try new foods, while parents shared that recipes introduced through the project were being prepared at home.
Bringing the Farm to the School and Students to the Farm Agricultural literacy experiences further connected nutrition lessons to how food is produced. Students participated in Sonoma County Ag Days, celebrated World School Milk Day with local dairy farmer Jennifer Beretta and a California dairy princess, and visited Beretta Family Dairy during National Dairy Month.
For many students and families, the dairy tour was their first visit to a working dairy farm. Participants toured the dairy, visited the milking parlor and learned about animal care and sustainability practices, including methane reduction and recycled water for irrigation.
For Beretta, a fourth-generation dairy farmer, welcoming students to the family dairy is an extension of a tradition that began generations ago. "My grandfather always had an open-door policy here at the dairy, and I'm proud to continue that tradition."
Beretta believes students left with more than memories. hope students understand that milk doesn't just come from a carton on the shelf, that it takes hard work and cows they met today." Scan the QR code to learn more about the dairy farm tour partnership.
The project's strength was a collaboration beyond the school campus. Co-author Dr. Kathryn Ridout, leadership brought a unique perspective as a psychiatrist, parent and member Of Hidden Valley Elementary's Parent Faculty Organization. I worked alongside school nutrition staff, teachers and administrators to expand nutrition education and family engagement.
Hidden Valley Elementary demonstrates how school nutrition professionals can serve as collaborators and conveners. Teachers, nutrition professionals and parents can work together to lead nutrition education lessons; families can extend learning at home; and community partners can connect students with local agriculture.
"As a registered dietitian, I know nutrition education is essential to every K- 12 foodservice program," said Ed Burke, Child Nutrition Services Director for the district. "Strong partnerships between health professionals, school communities and foodservice teams turn abstract ideas about wellness into something real: students choosing nutrient-dense
foods that fuel learning, and healthy habits that last a lifetime."
The partnership created lasting change: stronger local school wellness practices, leadership Support to sustain the program, expanded family engagement, permanent menu additions, increased milk consumption and broader district interest in nutrition education and school wellness programming.
Hidden Valley Elementary's experience shows that farm-to-school is more than a monthlong celebration. With Strong partnerships, students can explore where their food comes from while building lifelong healthy eating patterns.
Schools interested in adopting a similar approach can access Dairy Council Of California's free, evidence-based nutrition education and dairy agricultural literacy resources to celebrate National Farm to School Month and beyond. Check out the Farm-to-You: Milk activity sheet to highlight milk's journey from the farm to school here.
To learn how Dairy Council of California can support your district's farm-to-school initiatives, contact Sonia Fernandez Arana, School Nutrition Program Manager, at sfernandez@dairycouncilofca.org
