The Stockbridge Central School has been awarded an $11,500 im­plementation grant through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, in partnership with the Vermont Farm to School Network.

Stockbridge Central School Prin­cipal Michelle Ricci was happy to be on hand at the Farm to School Awareness Day Wed­nes­day, Jan. 25, during the Vermont Farm Show at the Cham­plain Valley Expo in Es­sex Jct., when Gov. Peter Shumlin presented grant recipients with their certificates.

“This has been about a three-year process building on our school gar­Stockbridge and wellness efforts,” Ricci told The Herald. “It began when we received a 2009-10 Farm-to- School Planning Grant from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture in the amount of $1500.

“During that year, we conducted a community survey, visited nearby farm-to-school programs, attended professional development oppor­tunities host­ed by VT FEED and the Upper Valley Farm to School Network, held a community meet­ing and dinner to discuss Farm- to-School goals and ideas, and put together the 2011-12 Implementa­tion Grant proposal.”

The school did not receive fund­ing for the 2011-12 school year, but continued to move forward with some of the activities outlined in the grant application, including taste testing, the purchase of a food cart and food processor, and changes to the school meal pro­gram.

Ricci said the implementation grant just received will provide necessary funding for food pro­cessing equipment and supplies, a Farm-to-School coordinator, local food purchases, and professional development for classroom teach­ers and food service staff.

“Abbey Williard of the White Riv­er Natural Resources Conservation District had served as our Farm-to- School coordinator for the past two years,” she added. “She has moved on to a different position and we’re looking to either replace her or find a community member to coordi­nate the Farm-to-School efforts.”

Ricci said the goal of the Stock­bridge Central School‘s Farm-to- School program is “to enhance and expand the current food education program by helping students and community members understand the complex connection between the environment, our food, and the local economy.”