Farm to School
School Garden & Education Instruction
The S.C. Department of Education's Office of Health and Nutrition recognizes the importance of educating students about agriculture, nutrition and making healthier food choices. There is a strong interest among school districts and communities to incorporate locally produced farm foods into school nutrition programs as well as incorporate agriculture and nutrition education through school gardens. Our office supports Farm to School efforts through a number of initiatives and continues to look for ways to help facilitate this important connection.
In 2018, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announced a new assistance program, School Garden and Education Instruction, administered by Clemson Extension’s School Gardening for SC Educators. The goal of the program is to introduce children to hands on agriculture and nutrition education as well as encourage public schools to use locally grown South Carolina produce in their school menus. The effort will support better health outcomes for children and economic opportunities for our local farmers.
Each year, 20 schools are selected to participate in the program through a competitive application process. The 20-awarded schools receive an all-inclusive school garden kit for the purpose of growing fruits, vegetables and flowers. The kit includes garden soil, fertilizer, seeds, plants and all the tools needed for success. The awardees also receive online and in-person training, The Garden Stem: Curriculum for your Garden Classroom (K-8 agriculture and nutrition based lesson plans customized to South Carolina state teaching standards) and a customized seasonal planting calendar.
By sponsoring the School Gardening for SC Educators program, the South Carolina Department of Education intends to support the capacity of schools and school districts in South Carolina to implement and expand agriculture and nutrition education through school gardening.
2022 School Garden and Education Assistance Program Awardees
| School | County |
|---|---|
| Liberty Middle School | Pickens |
| Diamond Hill Elementary School | Abbeville |
| A.L. Corbett Middle School | Aiken |
| Powdersville Middle School | Anderson One |
| Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology | Horry |
| Bluffton Elementary School | Beaufort |
| Brockman Elementary School | Richland One |
| Liberty STEAM Charter School | SC Public Charter |
| Luther Vaughn Elementary School | Cherokee |
| William J. Clarke Middle School | Orangeburg |
| Corinth Elementary School | Cherokee |
| Rudolph Gordon Elementary School | Greenville |
| Cainhoy Middle School | Laurens 56 |
| Bay Road Elementary School | Darlington |
| Beck International Academy | Greenville |
| Bennettsville Elementary School | Marlboro |
| Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science | Fairfield |
| Hyatt Park Elementary School | Richland One |
| Edisto Primary School | Orangeburg |
Jr. Chef Competition
The South Carolina Department of Education: Office of Health and Nutrition (OHN) in conjunction with the USDA Farm to School initiative, sponsors an annual Junior Chef culinary competition. The competition is designed to encourage student engagement with National School Lunch Program (NSLP) nutrition staff, chef instructors, and other culinary professionals to learn the process of planning, sourcing, and preparing school meals. Students have the opportunity to demonstrate their culinary skills in a competitive environment while gaining valuable knowledge in recipe development, food preparation, teamwork, and local food systems.
The Jr. Chef committee would like to congratulate each student and instructor that participated in this year’s Jr. Chef Competition. The teams distinguished themselves through their efforts and dedication. Each team submitted an original recipe highlighting locally sourced South Carolina products combined with USDA Foods items to create nutritious, delicious menu items that may be utilized in the NSLP. Each nutritious recipe will be made available to district Food Service Directors around the state for use in their school nutrition programs.
Teams were judged based on their recipe application packet and the team’s overall performance at the State Finals Cook Off held November 4, 2022, in the Marriott Exhibition Kitchen on the campus of the University of South Carolina. The competition was very tight but the judges determined a winner. The top three teams will receive scholarships to Sullivan University in Louisville, Kentucky. The first place team will represent South Carolina in the regional competition in Kentucky on May 11-12, 2023.
Official Results for 2022-2023 Jr. Chef Competition
| Team | Recipe Name | Student Chefs | Chef Instructor | Place | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Strip Career Center | Pork Souvlaki Gyro with Sweet Potato Fries |
Joel Maldonado Jeffery Pearson |
Chef Elijah Edwards | 1st | Each team member receives a $10,000 scholarship to Sullivan University |
| School District of Lexington/Richland 5 Center for Advanced Technical Studies |
Chicken and Black Bean Burrito with Corn Salsa | Paige Rhue Grant Tiernay Noah Naughton Kelsey McKnight Ethan Paulk |
Chef Patrick Duggan | 2nd | Each team member receives a $6,000 scholarship to Sullivan University |
| Richland One - Heywood Career and Technology Center | Teriyaki Chicken and Steamed Broccoli on Rice | Dajah Scott Carl Nesbitt Mia Watson Nora Watson Kemonie Jackson |
Chef Charles DeSouza and Madison Pierce | 3rd | Each team member receives a $3,000 scholarship to Sullivan University |
| Lexington Two Innovation Center | Glazed Chicken with Rice Pilaf and Spinach | Caitlyn Miller Keith Oswald Xavier Mathis Emma Workman Za'Moiya Cave-Sims Micala McElroy |
Chef Harriet Parker | 4th |
The Jr. Chef committee hopes this year's competition was rewarding for all the competitors and we look forward to seeing each team next year for another exciting competition.