Indiana Grown for Schools Recognition Program
The Indiana Grown for Schools Network is thrilled to announce the Indiana Grown for Schools Recognition Program. This marketing-based program offers a way for qualifying entities (individual schools, school corporations, Residential Childcare Institutions, early care and education (ECE) providers, afterschool programs, or other qualifying entities) to highlight the work they do within farm to school; supporting local economies through local food procurement, teaching students about agriculture and nutrition, and offering experiential learning through the use of school gardens.
Education in farm to school engages children and young adults in important topics such as nutrition, agriculture, the environment and more that can lay the foundation for life-long wellness. Farm to school projects will provide students, educators, professionals, and parents with the knowledge to strengthen their local economies, consume foods high in nutritional content, and develop skills in growing, harvesting, and preparing food.
We hope this program inspires you to initiate and grow farm to school activities within your learning environment!
Program Overview
The Indiana Grown for Schools Recognition Program is a farm to school marketing program for Indiana qualifying entities. Entities may qualify by showcasing their existing projects or practices within each pillar of farm to school (Procurement, Agriculture and Nutrition Education, and School Gardens). K-12 schools will receive certification by individual school building, not school corporation. The application for this program is ongoing and approved entities receive all benefits and materials as soon as the application is approved by the Indiana Grown for Schools Network.
There are three levels to the Indiana Grown for Schools Recognition Program that consider qualifying entity engagement in the three focus areas of farm to school: Agriculture and Nutrition Education, School Gardens, and Local Procurement. On pages 7 and 8 of this packet you will find a check list to track your progress towards each badge.
A qualifying entity can apply for one or more badges at a time. Full recognition will be achieved when all 3 badge requirements are met. For ECE providers, they will receive the Farm to ECE badge as the highest level of recognition after meeting the requirements of each badge across the three pillars.
Program Benefits
Engaging students in an environment influenced by farm to school is something to be proud of, and we want to help you market your success! Using our marketing products, you will be able to showcase to the community, families, and future residents the great things that are happening in your school as you receive different badges. Once you have received all of the badges, the Indiana Grown for Schools Network will host a media day at your school! We will help to showcase your great work to your community and the state through social media postings, press releases by the network and the State Department of Health, and more.
Guidelines
Qualifying entities include, but are not limited to, individual schools, school corporations, Residential Childcare Institutions, early care and education (ECE) providers, and afterschool programs. The program/project(s) included in the application need to be on-going for at least 6 months to qualify for the recognition program. The reason for the 6-month timeline is to ensure entities commitment to farm to school and encourage the continuation of successful program/projects.
After the award of each badge, participants will need to provide annual documentation that they are continuing their project to maintain recognition.
Please review the FAQs below before reaching out to Brianna Goode at bgoode@health.in.gov with any additional questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Your qualifying entity should be engaged in the farm to school project that you are submitting on the application for at least 6 months before applying.
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No. While having a Farm to School Leadership Team is helpful to the success and sustainability of programs and projects, it is not a requirement for the Indiana Grown for Schools Recognition Program.
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The application asks for the primary applicant information, qualifying entity leadership information, and contact information for anyone else you want listed on communications about the application. For example, the extra contact information could be for a few head teachers, individuals on the Farm to School Leadership Team, the Vice Principal, etc.
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Yes. Please contact Brianna Goode at BGoode@health.in.gov with any questions you have about your programs and the application process.
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There is no application deadline. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis and materials will be accessible after the team at Indiana Grown for Schools determines the qualifying entity has met the criteria for the program.
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Please submit your application using the form on this page.
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Local means something different to each entity depending on their location. For some local food procurement might cross state lines, others might stay within the state or their county. It is up to you to determine what local means to you. When applying for local procurement badge, please explain what your definition of local is and how the origin of food reflects that.
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Recognition lasts as long as your qualifying entity is actively participating in the project that you submitted with your application. We will reach out to all entities with recognition levels every 12 months to check in on progress, ensure the project is still functional, and offer any support we can in continuing to grow your project/program.
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The materials will be sent to the individuals listed on the application when it is approved. From there, you can download the materials and use them on entity, classroom, etc. products as desired.
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No. This program is a marketing-based recognition program and does not include funding.
Program Progress Checklist
Kids Win. Farmers Win. Communities Win.
The Indiana Grown for Schools Recognition Program is a marketing-based program designed to recognize schools that are engaged in farm to school programming. Recognized schools will demonstrate a commitment to provide a comprehensive learning environment while supporting local economies. The four badges represent the four nationally recognized pillars of farm to school: Local Procurement, Agriculture and Nutrition Education, School Gardens, and Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE).
A qualifying entity must earn the main three badges to achieve full recognition. Schools that include ECE classrooms can achieve additional recognition by adding the fourth badge: Farm to ECE. Standalone ECE providers and/or centers must meet the standards of the three main pillars in order to achieve the Farm to ECE badge. Your qualifying entity’s leaders can use the Recognition Program Checklist to determine what badges the school can receive and how to continue working towards recognition. The Checklist is a tool available for your farm to school leaders to use internally and will not be part of the application for recognition.
Questions? Please contact Brianna Goode, Farm to School Coordinator, at bgoode@health.in.gov
Apply to the Recognition Program
To demonstrate what existing projects your qualifying entity participates in, please provide as much detail as you can – uploading photos, menus, etc. is encouraged! If you have questions about the application process, please reach out to Brianna Goode at bgoode@health.in.gov. All fields with asterisks(*) are required.
Please note: Applications do not auto-save. If you navigate away from the page before completing the application you will lose what you have entered and must start over. Applications must be submitted through the form on this page and not sent via email.