October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate the connections that are happening all over the country between schools and local food. Over the past decade, the Farm to School movement has exploded across the United States. According to the National Farm to School Network (NFSN), an estimated 5.7 million students in 12,429 schools benefited from Farm to School during the 2011-2012 school year, and close to $13 million was spent on local products in schools.

This year NFSN is asking schools across the country to participate in "Farm to School Counts" by pledging to serve local food and participate in Farm to School activities during October. Participants will be entered into a drawing for one of three, $500 cash prizes. Visit farmtoschoolmonth.org to sign up and find more information.

Also new this year are the Theme of the Day calendar and our blog. Each theme will feature information about the daily topic, links to our Theme of the Day partners, reflections or activity ideas, and suggested social media messages. Our blog will expand on the Theme of the Day messages and share stories of Farm to School success from all over the country! 

Help us kick off Farm to School Month by sharing these social media messages:

Twitter:

Kids + real food from local farms = a healthy nation on the right track! Celebrate at www.farmtoschoolmonth.org #F2SMonth

Last year @FarmtoSchool programs spent an estimated $13 million on local food. Be counted: http://bit.ly/LWX5Dj #F2SMonth

Facebook:

Last year Farm to School programs spent an estimated $13 million on local food. How much will your school spend during Farm to School Month this October? http://www.farmtoschoolmonth.org/farm-to-school-counts-pledge/

Kids + real food from local farms = a healthy nation on the right track! Happy Farm to School Month! www.farmtoschoolmonth.org

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 We re-designed the National Farm to School Month website for 2012 so we could fit in more features and tell more Farm to School stories. Here are just a few of the things you can do on the website: 

• Be part of "Farm to School Counts" by pledging to serve local food and participate in Farm to School activities. Participating schools and programs will be entered in a drawing for a $500 cash prize! 
• Put your Farm to School Month event on the map! Enter your event information to be listed on the website. 
• Anticipating press or photo opportunities at your Farm to School Month celebrations? Order t-shirts for your staff, aprons for students or stickers to hand out in the lunch line. Farm to School Month swag also makes a nice gift for visiting dignitaries.  
• Looking for ideas for your classroom or cafeteria? Browse the theme on our interactive Theme of the Day calendar. More theme activities will be filled in every week, so check back often!
• Find free resources including a communications toolkit, downloadable poster templates and logos.  

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