OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Cheri Long, of Moore, was recently named the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Farm to School program coordinator.
“We knew Farm to School needed to be a priority in this state,” said Meriruth Cohenour, ODAFF Market Development division director. “Because of this, we dedicated a full time employee to the Farm to School program in order to help our farmers reach more audiences and help our cafeteria administrations provide healthy food for Oklahoma students.”
Long’s passion of agricultural education runs deep. Before joining ODAFF in 2008, she taught at Moore Public Schools for 15 years. For the past eight years, she has worked as an Ag in the Classroom coordinator by helping educate teachers about agriculture and providing them with classroom curriculum for students. In August, Long transitioned into the state Farm to School coordinator.
“I am excited to maintain my partnership with Ag in the Classroom while rebuilding the Farm to School program back to what it used to be,” said Long.
Long said one goal she has for the program is to build and grow relationships with farmers and producers, child nutrition personnel and anyone who has an interest in purchasing locally grown food for school cafeterias.
“I want to ensure we are educating our children where their food comes from,” Long said. “I want get them interested in school gardens or anything that may relate to the Farm to School program.”
The Farm to School program was designed to connect farmers with schools in an effort to provide healthy, local food for students and to serve as an educational tool indented to teach students where their food comes from. For more information about the Farm to School program or how to get involved visit http://okfarmtoschool.com/.