Welcome to the Community: Introduce Yourself!
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Hello everyone! Welcome to the Arizona Farm to School Network.
Please use this thread to introduce yourself, say hello to others, and get familiar with our community forum platform.
Feel free to share:
- Name, organization, and role
- What county and growing zone do you live in? (If you're unsure, use this map to find out (https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/)
- What brought you to the Arizona Farm to School Network?
- What connections, knowledge, and resources are you seeking?
- What expertise do you have to share?
Let's keep the conversation flowing. Don't forget to check back and respond to others!
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Hi everyone!
My name is Taylor and I run the Agricultural Literacy program at the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension. I live in Maricopa County in the 10a growing zone.
I came to the AZ F2S Network because I wanted to know who was active in the Farm to School work in Arizona! I would like to continue to learn who is active in this space, how our programs can support each other, and how we can collectively support our communities.
If you want to discuss agricultural connections in your school garden or how to bring agricultural content in your
classrooms, feel free to reach out to me! -
Hello everyone! Cara here, I am with the AZ Department of Education, and I thoroughly enjoy connecting about all things farm-to-school! I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and find the role of school meals and exposure to foods at school to be so formative for many youth behaviors/decision-making that are carried into adulthood.I have worked with school meals for the past 20 years and find Arizona's climates and cultures so interesting! I grew up in northern Indiana surrounded by many corn fields and always wanted to be more involved with farm life! (Fun Fact: I am a Purdue University graduate - and today they play in the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship! Go Boilermakers! The Boilermakers were once called the Corn Sailors, go figure!) Purdue is also a land grant university, like the University of Arizona https://lawlibrary.arizona.edu/special-projects/ua-land-grant-history. Learning about this many years ago has made deep roots for me, which continue to sprout new thoughts, ideas, and hope!
I am eager to see more progress connecting Arizona's local producers and suppliers with school buyers and for the continuation of providing healthy meals for students. I am looking for opportunities and ways the AZ Department of Education can be of service.
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Hi everyone!
I am a Community Outreach Professional with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension - Pinal County (Zone 9a,9b)
The AZ Health Zone Food Systems Committee meeting I attended introduced me to the AZ Farm to School network.
I have expertise in facilitating approved discussions and curricula in schools, school gardens, and other out-of-school areas. I also do a lot of nutrition education in the form of food demonstrations and facilitating discussions.
I would like to learn anything that would be new and or beneficial for schools in my area looking to be involved in Farm to School. -
@klucas928 Welcome Kyle! So happy you've joined our community. Looking forward to connecting with you.
