Now Accepting Host Site Applications for the 2025-2026 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.
Why do AmeriCorps Farm to School members serve?
Candace: There’s no better way to contribute to my local neighborhoods than by helping children learn about food, nutrition, and gardening.
Maddie: I’ve been amazed by the ways in which students are able to build confidence and connect with others from something as simple as making a meal together.
Emily: I serve because it is important for children to learn about good nutrition and where our food comes from. I also believe everyone should know how to grow their own food.
Kati: I serve to share the joy of connecting with plants and to show healthy food can be delicious, nourishing, and fun! We are here to care for each other and care for Earth.
Maire Cait: Serving through gardening and culinary education feels like the most important investment I can make in the collective future our of city.
David: I serve because I want to help ensure people have nutritious, delicious, and safe food to eat and that they are aware how it was made and where it was produced.
Maya: A huge amount of personal autonomy is gained from learning outdoors in garden settings. Everyone should have access to healthy, sustainably grown food.
Danna: I serve to empower young people to understand the power of health. I teach young people that they can make a difference in their own lives, however big or small.
Mari: I see power in growing food: in the ways it forces us to think creatively, work as a team, and learn in new and exciting spaces.
Renesha: I get my hands dirty and work with schools to create green spaces and educational programming that reestablishes our connection with the land.
Deena: I serve because I think we need to focus on local economies. It is important for young people to know how to grow local food and eat more healthy diets.
Kate: I serve because our children are our future and good nutrition is everything.
Enrollment is still open for a few more positions in the 2024-2025 service year (see the application for a list of open positions)! Enrollment for the 2025-2026 service year will open in May. Stay tuned for more information!
To apply for an AmeriCorps Farm to School service position for the 2024-2025 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:
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, 2024 - Service year begins
August 15 and 19, 2024 - New member pre-orientation (virtual, exact times TBD)
August 20-22, 2024 - New member orientation (in-person at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station in Amherst, WI)
August 14, 2025 - Service year ends
2024-2025 Member Benefits
Full-Time Members:
Total living allowance – $30,600
Education award (upon successful completion) - $7,395
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) - $3,697.50
Attendance to a professional conference
Ongoing professional development opportunities and training
Now Accepting Host Site Applications for the 2025-2026 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 2025-2026 grant year in anticipation of receiving AmeriCorps Farm to School Program funding in the 2025-2026 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.
Utilizing the talent, passion, and tenacity of AmeriCorps members to provide capacity building services that help build realistic and sustainable F2S programs.
Meeting communities where they are at and addressing their specific F2S needs.
Developing strong communities by creating future community leaders and connecting schools with local farmers and food businesses.
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:
Support Wisconsin schools with capacity building services that help them level up in the Wisconsin Farm to School Recognition Program and/or add new sustainable F2S activities to their existing program;
Develop community and interdepartmental partnerships to support F2S programming;
Provide training and technical assistance to schools on implementing activities in all three of the F2S core elements (education, local procurement, and school gardens)
Assist schools in creating and implementing F2S sustainability plans;
Partner with thriving F2S programs to create resources and/or trainings that share their best practices to smaller, up and coming F2S programs;
Celebrate schools’ F2S accomplishments and share their stories to gain more community support;
Conduct host site evaluations to ensure that they are satisfied with the capacity building services they receive;
Promote the Wisconsin Local Foods Database to local producers and school nutrition directors;
Participate in professional development trainings and required program reporting and data collection; and
Participate in AmeriCorps Week.
Each partner host site will be eligible to apply for one or two 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. If you have questions about the program, you may contact Kara Ignasiak at kara.ignasiak@dpi.wi.gov.
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
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