CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As National Farm to School Month concludes, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) jointly announced a new logo for farm to school efforts in the Mountain State. The student-selected logo represents a greater commitment from the WVDA, WVDE and the Farm to School Alliance to expand branding, educational and other outreach efforts in the state. Students from 199 schools participated in the voting process for the new logo.

“In West Virginia, overall health continues to be a hinderance to entering the workforce. Instilling healthy eating habits into our school age children is one of the best investments we can make for our state’s future,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “Expanding farm to schools reach not only helps our economy now but better equips our workforce for decades to come.”

Forms were sent to all West Virginia public schools (K-12) for their students to vote for one of three logos. Of the schools that participated, 57 percent selected the eventual winner. The voting process started on October 14 and ended on October 25, wrapping up Farm to School month.

“The new logo represents our combined efforts to dedicate greater focus to the important mission of farm-to-school education and resources,” said State Superintendent of Schools W. Clayton Burch. “Child nutrition is one of the foundational supports for healthy learning. It is difficult for hungry children to learn, and the mission of this important program is to provide sustainable nutritional options to our schools while also supporting the important agricultural contributions to our economy. We look forward to the next phase of farm-to-school in West Virginia which allows us to use broad strokes to increase outreach so more people know of the work and are involved in its success.”

Farm to school education and outreach is a joint effort through the WVDA, WVDE and the Farm to School Alliance. The West Virginia Farm to School Alliance is a collaborative effort focused on expanding farm to school’s reach in the Mountain State through partnerships, developing shared resources and building producer and community capacity. Members of the West Virginia Farm to School Alliance include the WVDA, WVDE, WVU Small Farms Center, WVU Extension Service, West Virginia Farmers Market Association and the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Adams, WV Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School and Programs Coordinator at eadams@wvda.us or 304-558-2210.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials who sits on the Board of Public Works.