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.