Changing the food paradigm, one person at a time
Talent is the floor, but your character is the ceiling’
April 16, 2024
LUXEMBURG-CASCO – The vision statement of the Luxemburg-Casco School District (L-C) – which encompasses nine municipalities and two counties – is to prepare “our students to thrive in a global community by ensuring excellence in intellect and virtue.”
Part of that vision focuses on nurturing “well-rounded, bright young adults who will move on to make a difference in their community.”
Luxemburg-Casco School District’s participation in the Farm to School program (F2S) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Deb Pockl – food service director for the district -said is an extension of that mission.
“What a great learning opportunity it is for our students to see where their food comes from,” she said.
According to 2023 research by Cornell University, F2S programs – which focus on delivering healthy foods to children while supporting rural economic development and local farmers – also provide economic benefits.
The research states that increases in local food spending often drive the expansion of related farm and food-product industries.
Purchasing food from local providers, Pockl said, is a win for both students and local businesses.
“We strongly believe in supporting our local businesses, and the Farm to School program gives us the chance to do that,” she said.
Supported by a USDA Local Foods Grant through the F2S program, Luxemburg-Casco buys ground beef, ground pork, hot dogs, shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese, fresh apples and apple cider from local businesses – which put about $14,500 back into the local economy in 2023.
“There are many benefits to purchasing the local food,” she said. “The beef and pork come in fresh, not frozen, for example, so it tastes better. If I place an order, I know the meat was cut the day before or even that morning before it was delivered. In some cases, the food is less expensive, and we are building relationships with local producers.”
Pockl said she worked closely with Justine Selk, L-C High School agriculture teacher and FFA coordinator, to decide what food products could best be grown by students for the lunch program at the middle school and high school.
Local cheese used in the district is purchased from Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese (cheddar) and Agropur (mozzarella). Submitted Photo
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L-C joins more than 67,000 schools nationwide that participate in the Farm to School program.
Farm to School has a variety of components, Pockl said, which allows schools to be flexible. L-C is focusing on local purchasing, along with serving produce grown onsite by its students.
At its locations, the district serves hot lunch to between 1,050 and 1,100 students daily.
Food grown by students
L-C, Pockl said, takes the program one step further.
Students in the district’s Intro to Horticulture course grow leaf lettuce in the Agriscience Center greenhouse and hydroponically using aquaponics – which is then served to middle and high school students in the district.
Selk said students can also earn credit at Fox Valley Technical College with the class.
“Our mission is to provide students with tangible work skills in agriculture,” she said. “Growing produce for their fellow students in the Agriscience Center greenhouse does that in a meaningful way. They see the process from start to finish.”
Pockl said more vegetables will be added next year, including cucumbers and tomatoes.
“Everything is put out on our fresh veggies and fruit bar for students,” she said. “It has cut down on overall food waste.”
The program, Selk said, helps students recognize where their food comes from.
“Many students are new to farming, and it’s great they see food doesn’t just come from the grocery store,” she said.
Beyond growing produce for their classmates, Selk said students also hold multiple plant sales throughout the year, including a plant sale before Mother’s Day, a mum sale in the fall and a poinsettia sale before Christmas.
Through these opportunities, she said, students are learning skills they can use in their future careers or even at home if they want to grow their own garden.
“We have a lot of support for our program from our FFA alumni and school,” she said. “We hope to keep the program growing.”
Pockl said the district will also look to enhance practical work opportunities for students and look at other ways to broaden the F2S program for the 2024-25 school year.
“We hope to keep expanding what we can do,” she said.
Buying local
Pockl said when she says the district buys local, she means very local.
“Everything we buy is within 20 miles,” she said.
The district purchases ground beef locally from Otto’s Meats as part of the Farm to School program. Submitted Photo
Being so fresh, Pockl said, everything tastes better as well.
“The cheese melts better because it’s fresh,” she said. “Students may not realize our cheddar is from Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese, but they know it tastes good and because of that, we have less food waste.”
Cassie Wendt, manager of Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese, said Ron’s is happy to be part of L-C’s Farm to School program.
“Throughout 2023, L-C purchased more than 400 pounds of shredded cheese,” she said. “It is nice knowing the school district is getting real cheese with no added ingredients – like anti-caking agents – that are added to most shredded cheeses.”
In addition to Ron’s, Pockl said the district also partners with Salm Partners, Otto’s Meats and Agropur.
“We’re proud of the partnerships we’ve created,” she said. “The economic benefit we provide to local businesses is also important.”
Interest in the F2S program, Pockl said, seems to be growing.
“I think more schools are looking in their backyards to see what foods are available and are surprised by what they find,” she said. “This program helps not only students but also local businesses.”
Pockl said she includes a 1946 quote from President Harry Truman, which he said upon signing the National School Lunch Act, on all monthly menus of the district: “In the long view, no nation is any healthier than its children or more prosperous than its farmers.”
“I use this quote because it reflects the commitment of the food services department to serving fresh, local food whenever possible to the students and staff in our district,” she said.
