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AmeriCorps Farm to School Program

AmeriCorps F2S logo

Now Accepting Host Site Applications for the 2024-2025 Service Year! See below for more information.

 

Overview

What is AmeriCorps?

 
AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages over 80,000 members in service each year to solve pressing national problems through direct service and by mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. 
 
 

What is the AmeriCorps Farm to School Program?

 

The AmeriCorps Farm to School Program provides an innovative approach to building healthy communities by

  • improving child nutrition through the implementation of educational F2S activities for students and families. These activities encourage healthy eating choices within an educational setting;
  • developing strong communities by creating future community leaders and connecting schools with local farmers and food businesses; and
  • increasing the capacity of communities all over Wisconsin to support sustainable F2S programs that encourage healthy behaviors and improve the school food environment.

Program Impact

Check out our program impact reports from the past three service years to see how applying to become a host site could positively impact your community. If you are interested in joining our program yet this year or would like an accessible version of either report, please contact Kara Ignasiak . Applications for the next service year will be released in March.

Apply to Serve

Enrollment is still open for a few more positions in the 2023-24 service year (see the application for a list of open positions)! Enrollment for the 2024-2025 service year will open in May. Stay tuned for more information. 

member recruitment

To apply for an AmeriCorps Farm to School service position for the 2023-2024 service year, please fill out this online application. The online application includes a complete list of available positions and host site locations. We recommend getting your application in as soon as you can! For more questions about the program, how serving with our program might fit into your career path, or the online application, please contact Kara Ignasiak .
 
To learn more about what it’s like to be an AmeriCorps Farm to School member, check out these interviews:

 

Timeline for New Member Enrollment:

  • Now accepting new member applications - recruitment will be open until all positions are filled. It is recommended to get your application in as soon as possible.
  • August 15, 2023 - Service year begins
  • August 21-22, 2023 - New member pre-orientation (virtual, exact times TBD)
  • August 28-30, 2023 - New member orientation (in-person at Treehaven UWSP in Tomahawk, WI)
  • August 14, 2024 - Service year ends

2023-2024 Member Benefits

Full-Time Members:

 
  • Total living allowance – $30,600
  • Education award (upon successful completion) - $6,895
  • Health insurance
  • Child care benefits
  • Attendance to a professional conference
  • Ongoing professional development opportunities and training
  • Student loan deferment

Half-Time Members:

 
  • Total living allowance – $16,200
  • Education award (upon successful completion) - $3,447.50
  • Attendance to a professional conference
  • Ongoing professional development opportunities and training
  • Student loan deferment
Apply to Become a Host Site

Now Accepting Host Site Applications for the 2024-2025 AmeriCorps Farm to School Program Service Year!

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is accepting applications for new and continuation partner sites across Wisconsin for the 2024-2025 grant year in anticipation of receiving AmeriCorps Farm to School Program funding in the 2024-2025 grant cycle. Through an AmeriCorps (AC) grant, we are able to offer the AC Farm to School (F2S) Program to communities around Wisconsin.

What is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages over 80,000 members in service each year to solve pressing national problems through direct service and by mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. Members gain valuable professional, educational, and life benefits while having a lasting impact on their community.

What is the AmeriCorps Farm to School Program?

The AC F2S Program provides an innovative approach to building healthy communities through:

  • Improving child nutrition through the implementation of educational F2S activities for students and families. These activities encourage healthy eating choices within an educational setting.
  • Developing strong communities by creating future community leaders and connecting schools with local farmers and food businesses.
  • Increasing the capacity of communities all over Wisconsin to support sustainable F2S programs that encourage healthy behaviors and improve the school food environment.

Program Outline

Through an AmeriCorps grant, DPI is able to offer the AC F2S Program to communities around Wisconsin. With the support of their host site, AC members will serve to meet the following program performance measures:

  • Teach 4K-12th grade students a series of nutrition lessons that cover the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Nutrition;
  • Educate students’ parents through take-home activities including a monthly educational newsletter;
  • Administer surveys to determine the program impact on student nutrition knowledge and willingness to try fruits and vegetables;
  • Implement a minimum of three components of F2S (as defined below) to at least two different schools:
    1. Local Procurement Educational Documents – Create and share at least five different educational documents on local food procurement with a school’s food service director;
    2. Local Food Taste Tests – Introduce local foods through taste testing activities;
    3. Menu Local Food Items – Incorporate local foods as menu items in a federal school meal program;
    4. Farmer Engagements – Engage local farmers in educational F2S activities (e.g., classroom presentation, farm field trip, school garden work, etc.);
    5. School Gardens – Help build or maintain a new garden or spend at least 180 minutes with students doing school garden activities and use the produce grown for taste tests, school meals, or donation to community members;
  • Promote the Wisconsin Local Foods Database to local producers and school nutrition directors through help with a statewide webinar and by handing out brochures/flyers to local farmers in their community;
  • Encourage local farmers/producers in the community to join the Wisconsin Local Foods Database;
  • Participate in or establish a F2S Task Force including at least five community members to promote program involvement and sustainability;
  • Participate in or plan at least five community events to promote the host site’s F2S program and build community support;
  • Train and support a sustainable base of volunteers to support program activities;
  • Participate in trainings and required program reporting and data collection;
  • Participate in AmeriCorps Week.

Each partner host site will be eligible to apply for one to four part-time or full-time AmeriCorps members who will serve as Farm to School Specialists. Host sites requesting a single half-time member are not exempt from completing all of the program components. We strongly encourage host sites to apply for at least two half-time or one full-time member(s) to ensure a well-rounded program with multiple components.

For more information on the application process, what our program is, what would be expected of you as a host site, what our goals are, and more, please refer to the Notice of Intent to Apply Form. If you have questions about the program, you may contact Kara Ignasiak at 715-214-6080 or kara.ignasiak@dpi.wi.gov.

Timeline:

  • March 25, 2024Notice of Intent to Apply Due to DPI
  • April 12, 2024 – Host Site Application Due to DPI (this will be sent to you once the Notification of Intent to Apply is received)
  • April 13 to May 2, 2024 – DPI Application Review Process
  • May 3, 2024 – Target Date for Grant Award Notification
  • May through August, 2024 – Host Site Member Recruitment and Onboarding
  • August 15, 2024 – Program Implementation

Thank you for your interest in becoming an AmeriCorps Farm to School Host Site in the 2024-2025 service year!

AmeriCorp F2S Promotional Videos

americorp farm to school logoThe AmeriCorps F2S Program: A year of service, a lifetime of success

school garden day logoWisconsin School Garden Day 2021, 2022, 2023

chili lunch logoWisconsin Chili Lunch 2021, 2022, 2024

great apple crunch logoGreat Apple Crunch 2020, 2021

 

 

Thank you to all of our past and current AmeriCorps Farm to School members.

This work would not be possible without you!

 

2017-18 service members

2017-18 Service Members
 

Americorps service members for 2019-2020 2019-2020 Service Members

2022-23 Service Year Americorp Members2022-2023 Service Members

2018-19 service members

2018-19 Service Members
 
Americorps service members for the 2021-2022 school year
2021-2022 Service Members 
 
 
 
2023-24 Service Year Americorp Members
2023-2024 Service Members
 

Contact

Kara Ignasiak, MS, RDN, CD
AmeriCorps Farm to School Program Director/Nutrition Education Consultant
 

Non-Discrimination in Employment

It is against the law for organizations that receive federal financial assistance from AmeriCorps to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, age, political affiliation, or religion. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, age, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital status or parental status, sexual orientation, or disability. It is also unlawful to retaliate against any person who, or organization that files, a complaint about such discrimination. In addition to filing a complaint with local and state agencies that are responsible for resolving discrimination complaints, you may bring a complaint to the attention of AmeriCorps. If you believe that you or others have been discriminated against, or if you want more information, contact:
 
Equal Employment Opportunity Office
AmeriCorps
250 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20525
(202) 606-7503
eo@cns.gov

americorps farm to school logo and americorp logo