Be sure to mark your calendar for the 2016 OSNA State Conference scheduled to take place from March 11-12 at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Oregon. Look for program and exhibition details on the website in the coming months!
Oregon State Representative Brian Clem and others have provided a letter of support for passage of House Bill 2721 to the State Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee. If passed, HB 2721 would amend and expand Oregon’s current Farm to School and School Gardens program from $1.3 million per biennium serving 19 school districts to $5.6 million ensuring that all 190 school districts in the state may participate.
Click here to download and read a PDF copy of the letter.
The Oregon State Legislature is currently considering House Bill 2721 which would expand farm to school and school garden programs by increasing funding for school districts to purchase Oregon-grown and processed products and to provide agriculture, food and garden-based education, and by making that funding available to all districts in the state.
In 2011 the legislature created a pilot program, and in 2013 expanded the successful program to $1.2 million in grants to school districts. HB 2721, which is being considered by the legislature now, makes some revisions to and expands the current farm to school and school garden grants, so they it would be available to all districts in the state.
HB 2721 is now in the Ways and Means committee, which makes budget decisions. We are asking for your active support by sending a brief email to the members of the committee in support of this bill.
Please click here to send a message to the members of the Ways and Means Committee asking for their support. Feel free to customize your letter with information about what farm to school and school garden programs mean to you, or just send the sample as written — either option is great.
With your help, we can expand this successful program and reach more kids and more producers. Thanks in advance for taking action!