October is School Food Month
October is School Food Month, and we’re celebrating the inspiring efforts happening across our local schools to promote local products, nutrition, and community engagement. From composting initiatives and garden expansions to innovative food education projects, students, staff, and community members are working together to build healthier, more resilient food systems. This month’s updates showcase how area schools are contributing to a shared vision of environmental stewardship and food citizenship—one lunch tray, garden bed, and farmstand at a time.
Let’s dig in!
Hailey Elementary School
During School Food Month, Hailey Elementary continues to shine as a leader in lunch room composting. Since launching their program in Spring 2023 with Future Roots, students have helped divert over 13,000 pounds of food waste from the Milner Butte landfill to Winn’s Compost. Their efforts are turning waste into nutrient-rich compost used throughout the valley.
Wood River Middle School
Wood River Middle School is starting up compost again this fall with some new best-practices and student engagement opportunities! It’s great to hear new 6th graders say, “I remember how to do this from before!”
Hemingway STEAM School
Joining the movement in Spring 2025, Hemingway STEAM School is celebrating School Food Month by actively composting. Students are diverting an average of 42 pounds of food waste per day, totaling over 7,000 pounds per school year.
Syringa Mountain School
Syringa Mountain School launched a pay-what-you-can farmstand this month. Stocked with produce donated by local farmers, the stand at 4021 Glenbrook Dr. in Hailey supports the school’s garden program and fosters community access to fresh food.
Sun Valley Community School
Sun Valley Community School is celebrating School Food Month with two exciting initiatives. Their campus garden, led by Sarah White, is thriving and may soon expand to include agroforestry and permaculture. Read more about the Community School garden in this Locally Grown Guide article.
Meanwhile, Chef Christine Reid is transforming the residential dining experience with local ingredients, creative recipes, and a strong commitment to minimizing food waste through composting.
The Sage School
The Sage School will be engaging students in their annual Food Citizen Project this fall, during which participants come up with solutions to real food systems challenges in southern Idaho. Students will be presenting their projects and leading activities at our Root Sellers event coming up on November 15th! Plus, look for their Feast Fundraising dinner next spring, that is the culmination of their year of studying the American food system.
School Food Valley Wide Updates
Future Roots is leading the Blaine County School District Farm-to-School Action Planning project, which will include bilingual community workshops, taste testing with students, and value chain coordination. Our goal is to build a comprehensive strategy that will increase the range and volume of locally grown, nutrient dense food available to BCSD students. We are looking forward to sharing more and involving you and our entire community in the process of putting local food on school lunch trays!
As School Food Month continues, our local schools are making meaningful strides toward a more nutritious, sustainable and locally based food system. From compost bins to garden beds, and from student-led projects to community-wide planning, these efforts are empowering students and helping them see that even the smallest actions can lead to big change.
Thanks for being part of the journey during School Food Month and every month!