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Our Purpose

To build a healthful, equitable and prosperous food culture



Our purpose comes to life through each of our core values
  • Health and Well-being of Park County families and their children
  • Responsible Stewardship of our natural and environmental resources

Years Farm to School has been hard at work in the community

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K-5 Students testing and voting on new school meals

“My 7-year old knows how to plant and care for vegetables that we don’t even grow in our garden. My 10-year old knows which vitamins and minerals come from vegetables. All of this is due to Farm to School.”

-Court Harris, Parent

Pounds, and counting... of produce grown, harvested and used in school meals

“It’s a partnership that makes me smile, knowing that our beef helps kids grow strong and healthy, one meal at a time.”

– David Shockey, Muddy Creek Ranch

“we are so happy to have such a wonderful partnership, and to be able to utilize all of the locally produced products on our menus and salad bars. it is a joy to be a part of.”

– Shelby Gores, Livingston School Food Services Director

  • Respect and Dignity for each and every individual

Hands-on lessons delivered in schools across Park County

  • Food Equity for all members of our community
“This is the most excited I’ve ever been to eat a carrot in my life.”

– Sixth grade student

Hours volunteered in classrooms, kitchens and gardens

Students learning to garden and cook from scratch

  • Commitment to Excellence and delivering on our brand promise

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Boosted vegetable production with the help of students, interns and volunteers in 2025

“I wish every
morning could
start like this!”

– Sleeping Giant Middle School student

TRUE OR FALSE?

My 10-year-old will never eat beets and lentils!

FALSE! 

We’ve heard it all before, but we’re here for the long-haul. It does in fact take up to 12 times for children to start licking their lips when presented with a tray of beets, lentils and kale. It’s not just trial and error, either. We believe in giving children a hands-on education when it comes to growing, cooking and enjoying their own food. If you’d like to pick up a few of our trade secrets, download our kid-approved cookbook and sign-up for our Farm to School newsletter.

Farm to School produces 100% of all local ingredients used in school meals.

FALSE! 

Farm to School of Park County grows and harvests seasonal foods following the Montana Harvest of the Month calendar. However, the Montana growing season is short and things become more challenging in the winter when locally-grown fresh vegetables are scarce or nonexistent. When we are limited in the garden, we assist school food services in obtaining healthy ingredients to use in school meal recipes. This includes partnering with farms, ranchers and food businesses as well as drawing on canned and vacuum sealed foods from prior harvests. The food produced from Farm to School gardens are only – and uniquely – available to Park County schools at prices they can afford.

Nearly 40% of local students in Park County qualify for free or reduced‑price school meals.

TRUE!

About 38% of public school children in Park County are eligible for free or reduced‑price lunch. With roughly 23% of children living below the federal poverty line – almost twice the overall county rate – school nutrition programs are essential for supporting children’s health, learning, and well-being.

Only 10% of children in the U.S. eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

TRUE! 

Nutrition security is a real challenge, and Farm to School is part of the solution—bringing fresh, local produce and hands-on food education directly to kids. We’re helping more students eat well and learn about healthy food every day.

Farm to School sells the produce we grow

True!

Our target audience – schools – pay no more than 50% of bulk market value for the local produce we grow, which we also donate or offer at deep discounts when we can. This program revenue supports partner landowners’ agricultural tax needs, gives students hands-on experience in selling and managing produce, and goes directly back into programs – helping strengthen our local food system and a growing network of supporters, including for-profit customer who champion healthy, Montanal food.

  • Justice, Inclusion and Diversity in the workplace and in the community
  • Transparency and Integrity in all areas of business operations and growth
  • Building and Maintaining Trust in and among the communities where we operate

Annual Reports