Heather Berkoben

Dairy Agricultural Education Specialist, Heather Berkoben, supports school districts by providing expertise, resources, and strategies that connect students to agriculture, nutrition, and the journey of food from farm to school. She works to strengthen farm-to-school efforts by promoting dairy agricultural literacy, improving the cafeteria as a learning environment, and supporting the inclusion of hands-on, standards-aligned nutrition and agriculture education in the classroom.

Heather’s goal is to empower educators and students with the knowledge and tools to understand where their food comes from, recognize the nutritional value of dairy foods, and develop lifelong healthy eating habits that support overall wellness.

A skilled health educator, Heather is passionate about wellness, disease prevention, and agricultural education. She partners with school administrators, educators, foodservice professionals, farmers, and community organizations to enhance school wellness initiatives and expand access to science-based nutrition and dairy agriculture resources. Through these partnerships, she helps key stakeholders create meaningful learning experiences that connect agriculture, nutrition, and student health.

Heather earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Education from California State University, Chico. 

Heather can be reached at hberkoben@dairycouncilofca.org.

The school cafeteria is an excellent opportunity to invite students to apply nutrition education strategies they learn in the classroom, and the ideal locale to encourage them to make healthier food choices and try new foods.