For the second year in a row, the nutrition staff for the Henry County School System has been recognized for its farm-to-school efforts by the Georgia Department of Education as a Golden Radish Award winner.
According to officials, the award honors school districts for such things as “local food procurement, exposing students to new foods through taste tests, and incorporating gardening and cooking activities in curriculum.”
This time the staff, under school nutrition director Kantrell Brown, received Platinum Level status for the work during the 2017-2018 school year. Only 22 districts in the state had that distinction. Henry County received Gold Level status the previous year. In all, 84 districts in the state earned either an Honorary, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum Level status.
Several accomplishments were cited among the reasons for the Platinum Level honor.
Out of 50 schools in the district, 40 have edible school gardens and there are 65 such gardens in all. All 11 high schools have greenhouses and tower gardens, while some have aquaponics for use in agriculture science classes.
A total of 132 taste tests took place in Henry County classrooms and cafeterias. Hampton Elementary Charter School brought in chefs and master gardeners for culinary activities where students made their own quiche with school garden-grown spinach and kale.
Students from various schools visited Southern Belle Farm for fall and springtime tours. This school year 57 visits were made to this local farm, which provides educational activities that include tours of the 330 acres, lessons in the outdoor classroom and demonstrations with farm equipment, crops, animals and more. “At the Georgia Department of Education we’re focused on expanding opportunities for Georgia’s kids, and farm to school is a perfect example of that,” Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “When students have access to fresh, local foods they’re better prepared to learn – and they can connect with Georgia agriculture, one of our state’s largest industries.”
