By Eryn Davis, KSDE child nutrition and wellness team  

Marysville USD 364 is growing the district’s Farm to Plate program, offering students and staff locally-produced foods and supporting local producers.  

The district participated in the 2023-24 Local Food for Schools (LFS) program which provided funding to purchase meat from their agricultural education students. The LFS program struck inspiration to expand local food efforts.   

Since the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, the district has incorporated local sweet corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, bell peppers, lettuce, beef and pork into their menus. All  the district’s K-12 students have access to a garden bar with fresh, local produce which has been a huge hit, according to Danielle Bargman, USD 364's food service director. Fresh fruits and vegetables have also been added to the district's preschool snack options.  

The changes to the menu don't stop with fruits, vegetables and meats. Scratch-made bakery products have also been added this year including rolls and cinnamon puffs. Homemade seasonings have been provided to students to add personalized flavor to meals.  

The district is investing in new equipment to continue progress with their Farm to Plate initiatives. A hamburger patty press and a new mixer will be purchased to speed up preparation time. To increase agricultural education opportunities for students, USD 364 will increase the amount of hydroponic growing towers on site. Produce grown through the towers will then be sold to the school nutrition program.  

The Farm to Plate program is promoted on the district's Facebook page and website. The opportunity to sell or donate to the district has been well received in the community. Word of mouth sharing has grown the program to receiving products from five local food producers since this past August.  

Darren Schroeder, USD 364 superintendent, has made the Farm to Plate program a priority for the district.   

"As a community, we believe in local," he said. "Community based learning is a priority and is what has inspired the Farm to Plate program." 

Marysville USD 364 school board members Pam Dankenbring and Travis Pralle are also in support of the program.   

"By bringing locally grown foods directly into our cafeterias, we are giving students access to fresher, better-tasting options,” Dankenbring said. “The quality and variety of products we’ve been able to offer through this program have exceeded expectations, from local produce to locally raised proteins. Farm to Plate is helping us give back to the community by supporting local farmers and building meaningful connections between our schools and community stakeholders. It’s a win for our kids, a win for agriculture, and a win for our community as a whole.”  

"It has always been a goal for Pam and myself to see healthier food options for our students in the lunch line,” Pralle added. “Pam and I brainstormed different options on how we could make this program happen for our district. With support from the other board members, our head cook Dani, and Mr. Schroeder, we were able to implement the program this past fall. We have had a lot of community support for the program.” “We have had fresh fruits and vegetables donated or purchased along with farm fresh beef and pork,” Pralle continued. “A ‘new’ popular food item is the Bulldog Burger. The students love it. We recently served a holiday ham meal. At USD 364, we are dedicated to growing a healthier tomorrow for our students and look forward to ‘Beefing Up Student Success - One Local Bite at a Time’."  

Producers can sign up to provide products to USD 364 by filling out an online form on the district's website.  

Great job Marysville USD 364!  

Contact Eryn Davis, eryn.davis@ksde.gov, with questions about the Farm to Plate program.