The USDA announced nearly $20 million in fiscal year 2026 grants supporting 68 projects nationwide that will expand locally sourced foods in school meals while giving students hands-on experiences through school gardens, agricultural education, local food procurement and classroom activities.
Sources: NMSU Cooperative Extension Service (via Facebook), USDA
Photo: Courtesy NMSU Cooperative Extension Service
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – As the U.S. Department of Agriculture announces the largest single-year investment in the history of its Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, New Mexico educators are continuing to demonstrate how farm-to-school partnerships can connect students with agriculture from the garden to the kitchen.
The USDA announced nearly $20 million in fiscal year 2026 grants supporting 68 projects nationwide that will expand locally sourced foods in school meals while giving students hands-on experiences through school gardens, agricultural education, local food procurement and classroom activities.
“Without a doubt, farm to school is one of the most powerful ways to Make America Healthy Again by bringing real food back to the heart of America’s food culture and onto kids’ lunch trays,” said USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. “Our historic investment in farm to school projects is a win-win-win for kids, farmers, and communities – students are nourished with farm-fresh, nutrient-rich foods; producers access dependable markets through schools; and local economies are strengthened.”
While the federal initiative expands opportunities nationwide, similar efforts have been taking place in New Mexico for years through partnerships led by the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service.
For the past 19 years, the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service has partnered with Las Vegas City Schools through the Youth Agricultural Science Center (YASC), helping students learn about agriculture through hands-on classroom and garden experiences. Last year, Sierra Vista Elementary School expanded those efforts by partnering with Cooking with Kids, creating an opportunity for students to follow the entire journey from planting vegetables to preparing meals.
Working together, the programs introduced students to plant development, plant identification, edible plant parts, harvesting techniques and food safety before transitioning into cooking lessons using recipes shared in advance by Cooking with Kids. Students were able to harvest some of the produce they had grown themselves before preparing recipes they can recreate at home with their families.
According to the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, collaborations like these help students build practical life skills while strengthening their understanding of agriculture, nutrition and healthy eating. The Extension Service said it is pleased to support similar educational partnerships throughout New Mexico.
The USDA said its Farm to School Grant Program supports projects that increase the availability of locally produced foods in school meals while connecting students with agriculture through gardens, taste tests, field trips and classroom education. Since the program began in 2013, USDA has awarded more than $119 million to support more than 1,265 projects across all 50 states and U.S. territories.
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