Pickles, a Cave, EMUS and the Daily Bear: Farm to School, Vermont Teen Style

Meet the Principal Farmer (yes, that's a real job!)

Today we’ll meet a principal who rides a horse to school, runs a campus with peacocks, emus, and tortoises, and believes learning should start with wonder. Joined by May Tsupros—self‑described “fire starter” and connector extraordinaire. We talk about agriculture as the great equalizer, disrupting broken systems, and what happens when the right people collide in a conference hallway. Equal parts laughter, philosophy, and farm dirt, this conversation will have you rethinking what school can look like when we let kids wander, adults listen, and food bring us together. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2201490/fan_mail/new]

SnackTime Explorers

What happens when curiosity meets crunchy, colorful produce in the classroom? In this episode, we take you from curious kids tasting kiwi berries and (sometimes too-spicy) peppers to a behind-the-scenes look at the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program—where exposure, education, and a little bit of bravery can transform lifelong eating habits. Along the way, we connect the dots between school snacks, farmer livelihoods, and big-picture health outcomes, all through the lens of SnackTime Explorers—a program turning everyday tastings into powerful moments of discovery. Get ready for stories that are equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and a reminder that sometimes the smallest bites can spark the biggest change. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2201490/fan_mail/new]

Scratch Happens.. Training the Future of School Food

What does scratch cooking, workforce development, local ketchup, and a mysterious conference hall ice machine have in common? This episode. Recorded live(ish) from the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, we sit down with Patrick Garmong from the Institute of Child Nutrition to talk about the real work behind getting good food onto kids’ trays—training the people who make it happen. From ditching the “white‑hat chef” mentality to meeting school food professionals exactly where they are, this conversation is equal parts big‑picture vision, practical knife skills, and genuine laughs. Pull up a tray—no chef hat required.   We would love to hear from you! Send us a message. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2201490/fan_mail/new]

Pickles, a Cave, EMUS and the Daily Bear: Farm to School, Vermont Teen Style

What happens when Vermont teenagers take farm to school on the road—and land in the middle of a national conference? In this joyful, unscripted hallway conversation from the Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, you’ll meet students and educators from Brattleboro Union High School who are growing food, running a café, and building community from seed to sale. From pickle factories and emu farms to the Daily Bear Café and the CAVE Kitchen, this episode celebrates youth leadership, experiential learning, and the healing power of food. Come for the Vermont charm, stay for the student voices—and leave inspired by what’s possible when we trust young people to lead. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2201490/fan_mail/new]

More Than Lunch: Food as a Classroom Tool

What does it really take to make food education for all more than just a great idea? In this lively, laugh‑filled episode recorded at the Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, the Farm to School Podcast crew digs into how food can be a powerful lens for learning—without becoming “one more thing” for schools. Joined by all‑star thought partners Alex DeSorbo‑Quinn of Pilot Light and Erica Curry of Row by Row, the conversation explores joy, standards, gardens, cafeterias, culture, and creativity—and why there’s no one‑size‑fits‑all recipe for teaching kids about food. Come chew on big ideas, practical examples, and a shared belief that learning through food can help students (and teachers) thrive. We would love to hear from you! Send us a message. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2201490/fan_mail/new]