Middletown Public Schools proudly hosted the state kickoff celebration for Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids (CTG4CTK) Week at Beman Middle School. The event showcased our district's commitment to farm-to-school initiatives, highlighted our partnership with local farms, and marked the announcement of nearly $80,000 in new microgrants by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
The celebration, which launched CTG4CTK Week running from October 7 through October 11, featured the announcement of 19 CTG4CTK microgrant projects. These grants are set to further develop farm-to-school programs across Connecticut, with the potential to positively impact more than 3,300 students statewide.
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, who attended the event, emphasized the program's significance: "I'm proud of the progress in Connecticut and the increasing momentum in Farm-to-School efforts across the 3 pillars of classroom, cafeteria, and the community. The Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant program increases the availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, and provides so many new opportunities for producers, our state's youth and educators, and our greater Connecticut community. I'm especially proud of the efforts made by Middletown Public Schools and the students at Beman Middle School. The impact of this programming really cannot be understated."
The celebration featured a press conference with distinguished guests, including Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt, Middletown Mayor Benjamin Florsheim, and State Representative Bobby Gibson. Beman Middle School student leader Esther Kario represented our students, sharing the success and growing efforts of the "Beman Food Critics" group – a student-led initiative that liaises with the district's food and nutritional services department to provide feedback on menu items. Jess Stone, owner of Cold Spring Farm, spoke about the importance of connecting with our food, community, and planet.
Event highlights included:
A locally-sourced lunch featuring herb-roasted chicken and corn on the cob from Cold Spring Farm;
A tasting market offering samples of roasted butternut squash, tomato choka, and honey yogurt dips; and
Educational activities connecting our students with local agriculture
Commissioner Hurlburt praised the initiative: "The Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant program has made historic investments over the past few years. This wouldn't be possible without the partnership and enthusiastic support of school administrations to rethink not only how students are eating but how they are learning about that food. I applaud Middletown Public School and the Beman Middle School students for their engagement in this program to foster a connection with Cold Spring Farm and other producers to create CT Grown inspired meals from field to plate."
Beman Middle School, which received a CTG4CTK Grant award in fiscal year 2023, has successfully implemented a multi-faceted experiential learning opportunity for more than 900 students. This program served as an exemplary model during the kickoff event.
Dawn Crayco, Northeast Policy Director of FoodCorps and Co-Chair of the CT Farm to School Collaborative, emphasized the impact of farm-to-school partnerships: "When schools and farms partner, the impact is palpable. Students have opportunities to learn where their food comes from, enjoy local foods in their cafeteria, and meet the people who grew it. Students develop increased agency in their food choices and create new relationships with the food system. We applaud the state of Connecticut for investing in these efforts that help students, farms, and communities thrive."
Middletown Public Schools is committed to continuing and expanding our farm-to-school initiatives. We believe these programs not only improve the quality of our school meals but also provide our students with important life skills and knowledge about nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
For more information about our farm-to-school programs or Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Week activities, please visit: https://www.ctfarmtoschool.org/ctgrownforctkidsgetinvolved
Additional information and news coverage of this event can be found through the links below: