Pawnee school district sees success in farm to school program

PAWNEE, Ill. (WAND) - Four months ago, Pawnee CUSD #11 became the first school district to take on the Sangamon County Farm to School program.

Through the program, the county connects school cooks with local farmers to bring more locally sourced products into cafeterias. At Pawnee, that means local chicken drumsticks, scrambled eggs, and radishes.

"There's local producers for vegetables, fruit and local producers for beef and pork and they're all either within Sangamon County, or in adjoining counties," said David Mendenhall, a Sangamon County Board Representative. "It's going to provide very healthy food for the students and be very beneficial to the local ag industry."

In addition to get fresh food, the culinary staff at Pawnee have learned how to handmake meals they've normally purchased. Kedra Brown has been the head cook for 20 years, and she says she feels a lot better providing homemade food to the students. So far, she's made broccoli cheddar soup, sausage patties, and chicken tenders.

"When we do it from scratch we know exactly what is in all the food like salt, pepper, maybe garlic powder, bread crumbs and eggs," said Brown. "I know exactly what's in that. In the heat and serve stuff there's so many words you can't even pronounce. So I think in that aspect, it's a lot better and there's so much healthier for them without all the additives."

Kedra says more students have been eating the school meals and students are noticing a difference in the quality of food. They are wasting less food and making healthier choices.

" The quality of food has one up tremendously and we've been given better options," said Chloe Richeson, a Sophomore. "One of my friends would never eat cafeteria before this and now he eats it almost every day."

In addition, Pawnee Junior High and High School Principal Nicole Goodall says grades have gone up since the program started. She's seen fewer failed classes and overall more positive attitudes leaving the cafeteria.

Sangamon County hopes to expand the program to other schools in the area.