October 19, 2023 9:20 a.m.

On Wednesday, Douglas County Commissioners Tom Kress, Chris Boice and Tim Freeman issued a proclamation at their weekly business meeting calling upon residents to observe the month of October as National Farm to School Month.

A County release said the board honored the work being done to enrich the lives of children by local farm to school educators, volunteers, participating schools, community supporters, and local farms.

Commissioner Chris Boice read the proclamation and acknowledged that, “Farm to School programs enrich the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by helping to change food purchasing and education practices in schools”. Boice said, “These programs also support student access to healthy local foods, as well as educational opportunities, including school gardens, cooking lessons, and farm field trips”.

Proclamation certificates were presented to Umpqua Valley Farm to School Executive Director Erin Maidlow and a large group of people from the education, non-profit, and agricultural sectors.

A copy of the video presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment