Join us to bring the Farm to School Institute model to your state.
Applications for the 2024–25 Farm to School Institute Adaptation Program are now closed. Sign up to be notified when 2025–26 program applications open in late 2024.
We encourage applicants to read through our FAQ page for more information about the program, Institute model, and in-person retreat details.
Additional questions? Reach out to Betsy Rosenbluth at [email protected].
A RESEARCH-BASED MODEL
"Having [the program] already laid out with research-based curricular components and stories of success behind it made it easy to build a case and get buy-in from my state. That isn't to say I don't have a million questions right now, but I know I have a million less thanks to Vermont FEED! Everything we did was based on the Vermont model, including coaching, and it really just made everything feasible for us."
—Sarah Smith, Nebraska Department of Education Farm to School Coordinator, 2021–22 Adaptation Program
PEER LEARNING
"Seeing and experiencing the model in action while we were in Vermont was amazing. That peer-to-peer learning was really wonderful; connecting with the other adaptation teams from Nebraska, Arkansas, and Connecticut has been invaluable."
—Angela McGregor Hedstrom, Ecotrust Community Food Systems Manager (OR), 2021–22 Adaptation Program
A Proven Model for Making Lasting Change
Applications for the 2024–25 Farm to School Institute Adaptation Program are now closed. Sign up to be notified when 2025–26 program applications open in late 2024.
Our model’s success lies in engaging whole-school teams in building shared leadership and capacity. Through action planning, coaching, peer networking, and skill building, we create sustainable farm to school programs that connect the dots between classrooms, cafeterias, and communities.
Our Farm to School Institute Adaptation Program is an opportunity for farm to school leaders across the country to adapt the model to their region and grow farm to school in your state.
Join us to bring the Institute model to your state.
Program Overview
Our Adaptation Program supports teams in their efforts to adapt, develop, and launch their own Farm to School Institute programs. We focus on centering the core components that make our Institute model impactful, while modifying aspects to fit your local context and goals.
The Institute's core components represent a set of effective, researched-based practices that form the foundation for an immersive, relationship-based Institute experience focused on transformational outcomes for schools, educators, and communities.
In partnership with USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools has supported 19 states in launching or preparing to launch their own Farm to School Institutes. You can be next.
The Model in Practice
Watch how Connecticut has adapted our model to meet their state's diverse needs and goals, leading to their first statewide Farm to School Institute in 2023. Read more about their experience.
Benefits of Participation
Attend an in-depth,five-day training at Shelburne Farms June 24–28, 2024 in conjunction with the Northeast Farm to School Institute summer retreat to experience the Institute in action. A pre-Institute deep dive into program components will be included, as well as a post-Institute debrief and planning session.
Receive direct technical assistance tailored to individual adapters will be provided, covering topics such as recruiting schools and coaches, supporting a coaching program, budgeting and logistical concerns, centering equity in program and recruitment efforts, professional learning framework and evaluation.
Join a cohort of four other state adaptation teams in a year-long community of practice. With Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools as host, you’ll learn from our resources, technical assistance, tools, and one another.
Selected state teams will receive a $7,500 stipend to cover travel and other expenses.
Application Details
Applications are now closed for the 2024–25 program.
Review our FAQ page for more information about the program, Institute model, and in-person retreat details. If you have additional questions, reach out to Betsy Rosenbluth at [email protected].
This opportunity has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Learn More About the Program: Additional Resources
+ Get to know the Northeast Farm to School Institute
Launched by Vermont FEED in 2010, the Northeast Farm to School Institute is a whole-school professional learning experience that builds capacity in school communities to create a culture of wellness, improve food access, engage youth, and strengthen local food systems. Learn more about the program that inspired and embodies our Farm to School Institute model.
+ Learn about our impactful Institute model
Meet Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools facilitators and state adaptation teams as they share the evidence-based design of our model, the key components of farm to school sustainability, and how the Institute is being adapted across the country:
+ Explore the Institute’s impact through a retrospective evaluation
In 2021, PEER Associates completed a retrospective evaluation of our Farm to School Institute to determine what factors support robust and sustainable farm to school programs and how these were strengthened by their team’s participation in the Institute. Watch a webinar diving into the report and outcomes and read the summary report:
