The AmeriCorps Farm to School program selected Southern Door School District as a host site, allowing for a continuation of an innovative agriculture education plan. Last school year before the pandemic, Southern Door applied for a USDA Farm to School planning grant in the amount of $50,000. They received it and it went towards planning projects revolving around educating students about where their food comes from, the importance of agriculture, and career opportunities in it. Southern Door Superintendent, Patti Vickman, says the state’s AmeriCorps program is a way to continue these practices next school year until they are able to do the implementation grant. Vickman says the program also allows Planning Coordinator Sara Gray to continue her leadership role and even collaborate. 

Southern Door’s experience with the program is young, but Vickman points out that they’ve already done multiple school projects. 

Vickman finds Southern Door to be a great fit for the program because of strong community support from area producers and others. Vickman also credits Southern Door’s outdoor facilities that include a prairie, school forest, and a garden.