2025’s Inspiring Leaders in the Farm-to-School Movement
In North Iowa, the local food movement continues to thrive thanks to the dedication of passionate individuals and organizations. From schools to community leaders, these Local Food Champions are reshaping how we grow, source, and enjoy food across the region. Through innovative programs, hands-on education, and a steadfast commitment to fresh, locally-grown foods, they are building a healthier, more connected food system in North Iowa.
Here’s how they’re making it happen:
Nancy Eastman, Food Service Supervisor, Riceville Community School District
Nancy Eastman has spearheaded Riceville Community School District’s holistic Farm to School program, which focuses on hands-on learning and connecting students to fresh, local food. She’s introduced creative ideas like an Elementary School Farmers Market, where students not only taste fresh produce but also experience what it’s like to shop directly from local growers.
Under her leadership, the district has woven local food into the school day through taste tests, farmer visits, and fun activities such as The Great Apple Crunch. These interactive experiences give students a sense of ownership over their food choices and build stronger ties to their community.
Riceville’s efforts earned them the Golden Root Award from the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition in 2024 and a Gold Award in 2025 recognizing their outstanding commitment to building a vibrant local food program.
John Adams Middle School (JAMS), Mason City
John Adams Middle School is showing that even without a big procurement program, schools can still connect students to local food. Teachers and community partners have introduced hands-on activities like a Grilled Cheese Challenge, taco-making with local ingredients, and bike-powered smoothies with local yogurt and honey.
In fall 2023, students installed a school garden, and the Beyond the Bell program has been cooking simple meals while learning about the food system. This spring, they also used two Tower Gardens during Beyond the Bell, incorporating the produce into recipes, planting veggies to take home and care for over the summer, and even securing a grant—supported by HHNI—that allowed them to get their own Tower Garden.
Together, these efforts are helping students see how their food choices affect health, community, and the environment—growing the next generation of local food champions.
Michelle Dohlman & Charles City FFA
When Charles City’s FFA took on the task of hosting a community homecoming meal, Michelle Dohlman and her students made it more than just dinner—they turned it into a local food celebration.
With support from Healthy Harvest of North Iowa, FFA students sourced pork through a local food hub, gathered potatoes and vegetables from nearby farms, and partnered with Ginger’s Top Shelf Catering to bring it all together. The highlight? Comet BBQ Sauce—a sweet, tangy new creation featuring local honey, dreamed up by students in collaboration with the caterer.
From menu planning to marketing, students learned firsthand what it takes to create a meal rooted in community and local sourcing. For attendees, it was a chance to taste the difference local food makes and to see how farmers, schools, and businesses can create something greater together.
Marie Morud, Farm to School Coordinator, Healthy Harvest of North Iowa
Marie Morud is a true local food champion, serving as Healthy Harvest of North Iowa’s Farm to School Coordinator. With a deep dedication to the health and wellness of all students, Marie works tirelessly to ensure that kids in our region have access to fresh, nutritious local foods. Her work spans across multiple school districts where she coordinates taste tests in lunchrooms and classrooms, giving students the opportunity to try and learn about local ingredients.
Marie’s role goes beyond organizing events—she builds lasting relationships with area food service directors, offering them the guidance and support needed to incorporate local foods into their menus. Whether she’s working with school administrators or handing out samples to curious students, Marie’s passion for connecting kids to wholesome, local foods is evident in everything she does.
Every Farm to School Champion highlighted this month has been strengthened by Marie’s work. Her unwavering dedication to our region’s youth makes her an invaluable part of the Healthy Harvest team and a true advocate for the local food movement.
These champions remind us that when we invest in local food, we’re not just nourishing bodies—we’re strengthening communities, supporting farmers, and inspiring the next generation.
A special thank-you to Newman’s Own Foundation for supporting this work and helping us celebrate the people who are making local food a reality in our schools and communities.
Interested in bringing more local food into your school? Contact Marie Morud, Farm to School Coordinator at Healthy Harvest of North Iowa at education@healthyharvestni.com to explore resources, connections, and ideas that make local food possible.
🌱 Help us keep this work growing. Your donation supports school gardens, taste tests, farmer connections, and the champions who make Farm to School possible. Together, we can build a healthier future for all kids. Visit healthyharvestni.com/donate.
