
School nutrition isn't just about what is being served on a plate. It's about the people who bring together the healthy, tasty meals. It's about the connections with students, their families, and communities. At its best, it also makes a connection with local food producers and providers. Each month during the school year, the Nutrition Team at the DPI recognizes at least one "School Nutrition Superhero" to draw attention to the work of those across the state who make sure that our students have healthy, fresh meals, and that they learn the value of nutrition and our agricultural traditions.
December's School Nutrition Super Hero brings much more than food to the table. Quan Banh, a science teacher at Prentice High school in northwest Wisconsin, has not only helped his students grow a garden. He's helped the school garden grow food for the school, and grow students' interest in food growing and preparation. In 2011, Banh started the Prentice school garden, and it hasn't stopped growing since. And when we say growing, we mean GROWING. The school garden is impressive in its diversity of crops and its size.
Don't believe us? Here's drone footage of it.
In the School Nutrition Super Hero award nomination, his colleagues said, "Mr. Banh has created one of the best school gardens, if not the best school garden in the state. Several teachers from outside the district have commented on this very statement. Pictures on our website do not do it justice so I invite you to visit the school district of Prentice for an in-person tour. Then you will see the size, efficiency, and organic practice implemented for the benefit of our students."

"He teaches a Farm to Table course in which the students learn food preparation techniques from produce grown in our very own school garden for serving in our school lunches. Mr. Banh's students have grown, produced, and served large quantities which exceeds hundreds of gallons and pounds of tomato sauces with herbs, tomato paste, broccoli, summer squash, raspberries, cucumbers, winter squash, watermelons, pickles, asparagus, and so much more. For an example of size, his students hired as summer help have canned 90 quarts of pickles this year alone."
In order to keep the farm running, Mr. Bahn teaches his students sustainable farming techniques. Students learn to capture precipitation in rain barrels to keep the crops watered through dry stretches, irrigation, multiple stage composting, and complimentary companion planting. This year, Banh and his students hosted a garden fundraiser in the school apple orchard. The event featured "a 4-course meal prepared by our farm-to-table and engaged citizenship classes... family-friendly activities, possibly a cozy bonfire, and a wonderful time under the autumn sky." Tickets were sold out. We can see why!
To learn more about the Prentice School Garden, check out the school garden's web page on the Prentice School District site, or follow the district on facebook to hear about occasional food sales of produce and products from the garden.
Thanks to Mr. Banh, his students, and the community of Prentice for showing us how we can all dream big and become school food superheroes!