Farm to school gets fresh, local food on the lunch tray. It also teaches students about food and agriculture in the classroom and engages them in gardening and farming, too. The Farm to School Census (Census) will ask for information regarding the total amount spent on local food and total food purchases, the number of edible gardens currently in operation, the types of local products purchased, and more. Farm to school takes a team, and we hope that same team is engaged in the Census.
Use this worksheet (.docx) to identify the key partners in your district who contribute to bringing your farm to school activities to life. Having a well-defined team upfront ensures smoother collaboration, accurate reporting, and allows your community to celebrate the entirety of everyone’s contributions. As you complete the Census, stay in touch with your team when you encounter questions outside of your immediate expertise.
Team Collaboration Tips
To help your team through a successful Census process, keep these key principles in mind:
- Start early: Reach out to team members before the Census data collection officially opens to give everyone time to prepare necessary data and documents. If you don’t know who should be on this team, try to find existing groups that might already be meeting in your district or school, such as farm to school committees, wellness policy councils, school garden committees, etc.
- Clarify roles: Make sure everyone knows which topic areas and questions they are responsible for.
- Use shared tools: Maintain a shared folder or document for information related to procurement, gardens, education, wellness, and other areas.
- Set a communication plan: Agree on how you’ll communicate (e.g., email, quick calls, brief check-ins).
- Keep things simple: Only send team members the questions relevant to their expertise.
- Encourage quick touchpoints: Short check-ins can often resolve questions faster than routine meetings.
- Track responses as you go: Throughout the year, try to record information immediately to avoid losing details.
- Celebrate the work: Acknowledging partners strengthens relationships and future collaboration.
- Retain this team: Use this worksheet as a foundation for the next Census cycle.