These short pieces can be used for newsletters or similar digital publications. State-specific information can be added to reserved spaces within these posts to make the content more relevant to SFAs within your state. You can find state-level summary data from the 2023 Census in the National and State Data Workbook (.xlsx).
Photos to accompany posts may be found in our media gallery.
Sample Blog and Social Media Posts
Intended for use October - December 2026
- Sample Blog #1
User Tip: This sample blog announces the coming of the Farm to School Census 2027 Survey.
SuggestedTitle: The 2027 USDA Farm to School Census is coming!
The USDA’s Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program is conducting its fifth Farm to School Census (Census) in Spring 2027! The Census assesses the status of farm to school activities over time at schools across the nation. The Census is the only national survey that examines local food purchasing, school gardens, and agricultural education efforts in schools. Surveys will be sent to all public, private, and charter school food authorities (SFAs) operating the National School Lunch Program in all 50 states, Washington D.C, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This includes schools in [insert state or territory]!
This year’s Census will assess farm to school participation by SFAs during school year 2026-2027. Like previous years, the 2027 Census will include questions regarding:
- How many edible school gardens or farms did you operate?
- What sources did you use to procure local foods?
- What procurement methods did you use to purchase local foods?
- How much did your program spend on food for the school year, and how much of that spending was local?
- What type of policies do your schools have that support local food and nutrition?
[Insert agency] highly encourages all SFAs in [insert state or territory] to participate in the upcoming Census. By participating, your SFA can help tell the story of farm to school in [insert state or territory] and demonstrate its benefits for students, producers, communities, and local economies. Strong participation in the Census will help illustrate the scale and impact of farm to school across [insert state or territory] and identify opportunities for continued growth.
Surveys go live May 3, 2027! Look out for your survey and help [insert state or territory] show that #ProcurementCounts! #FarmtoSchool #USDA
- Sample Social Media Post #1
- Hey! Calling all farm to school partners! In school year 2022 -2023, [X#] of schools in [State] got to experience the difference of fresh local ingredients in school meals. This takes the work of a whole community. Help us share how far we’ve come in the 2027 Farm to School Census this May! #ProcurementCounts! #LocalCounts #FarmtoSchool #USDA
- The Farm to School Census is the largest survey in the country collecting information about farm to school activities. Farm to school is more than what goes on the plate – it also includes school gardens, taste tests, field trips to working farms, and more. USDA wants to know about all of it! Talk to your school food director about how to best capture all your exciting work in the Census. #ProcurementCounts! #LocalCounts #FarmtoSchool #USDA
- Sample Blog #2
User Tip: This sample blog encourages SFAs to think about who they need to contact when compiling information for the 2027 Census.
Suggested Title: Building Your Farm to School Team
Farm to school is about so much more than serving fresh, local food in the cafeteria—it’s a vibrant, hands-on way to connect students with where their food comes from. From classroom lessons to gardening and farming activities, farm to school thrives because communities come together to make it happen. That same spirit of collaboration can help school food authorities (SFAs) prepare for the upcoming Farm to School Census (Census). Bringing together everyone involved in farm to school can make it easier to gather information and capture the full range of activities happening throughout the district or school.
The Census captures the breadth of farm to school efforts within a district or school, including local food purchasing, school gardens, and agricultural education. As you prepare to complete the Census, consider assembling a team of people who contribute to your farm to school programming throughout the year. Your team might include food service professionals, educators, garden coordinators, wellness council members, procurement specialists, and community partners. Each person can bring information and experience from their area of expertise to make the process easier.
To get your team started off right, here are a few tips:
- Start early. Reach out to your team before the Census data collection officially opens to give everyone time to prepare necessary data and documents. If you're not sure who the right partners are, look for existing groups that already support food, wellness, or garden initiatives in your district.
- Clarify roles. Make sure everyone knows which topic areas they’re covering, whether it’s procurement, gardens, education, or wellness. Clear roles help make things easier.
- Celebrate the work! Every partner plays a part in bringing farm to school to life, and acknowledging those contributions strengthens relationships and encourages continued collaboration. Keeping this team together beyond the Census also lays a strong foundation for future cycles and ongoing farm to school success.
By building a thoughtful Census team now, your SFA can tell a compelling story about how farm to school benefits students, farmers, and the broader community—and highlight opportunities for growth.
- Sample Social Media Post #2
- Building your farm to school team is the first step toward a smooth and successful Farm to School Census! Bring together the people who make your program thrive—food service staff, garden leads, educators, wellness champions, and community partners. Start early, stay connected, and celebrate every win along the way! #FarmToSchool #TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork #ProcurementCounts! #USDA
- Strong teams grow strong farm to school programs! As you prepare for the Farm to School Census, gather the partners who support gardens, local procurement, classroom education, and student wellness. Keep your team together beyond the Census to keep your farm to school momentum growing! #FarmToSchool #CommunityCollaboration #ProcurementCounts! #LocalCounts #USDA
- Sample Blog #3
User Tip: This sample blog encourages SFAs to begin tracking their local purchasing and other farm to school activities for the 2027 Census.
Suggested Title: Capturing the Impact of Farm to School, One Data Point at a Time
Farm to school programs create positive ripple effects in schools, the agricultural sector, and communities. It takes data to paint an accurate portrait of farm to school programs’ vibrant tapestry of activities, including local school meals and snacks, promotional campaigns, school gardens, classroom education, and partners. There are many important components, which is why USDA has built the Farm to School Census Workbook and Tracker to support school food authorities (SFAs) and their partners, as they track their local purchasing and other farm to school activities throughout the year.
Because the Farm to School Census (Census) is both the largest, and only, comprehensive survey of farm to school activity in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, it is important that estimates are as accurate as possible. SFAs can share the Farm to School Census Workbook and Tracker with their team of experts and, over the course of the school year, update the Excel workbook with information regarding local food purchases and farm to school activity.
Using the workbook, combined with a copy of the upcoming Census, your farm to school team can get a head start on compiling their relevant data. This can make it easier for your team when it’s time to complete the full Census.
By starting now, you’ll be ready to tell your farm to school story and help demonstrate the value of farm to school to communities, states, and the country!
- Sample Social Media Post #3
- Take a minute to download the Farm to School Census Workbook and Tracker and start tracking your farm to school spending and activity today … “future-you” will thank you for it. #ProcurementCounts! #LocalCounts #FarmtoSchool #USDA
- Farm to school brings together many different elements at once. The 2027 Farm to School Census is on its way, starting May 3, 2027, and the Farm to School Census Workbook and Tracker, is available now. Use the workbook to track your work in real-time so you have everything you need at your fingertips when it counts! #ProcurementCounts! #LocalCounts #FarmtoSchool #USDA