Bringing the Farm to Kansas Licensed Early Child Care Facilities

The "Our Earliest Eaters: Bringing the Farm to Kansas Licensed Early Child Care Facilities" program is an initiative led by the Kansas Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. This program is designed to enhance child nutrition knowledge and increase the consumption of locally grown specialty crops among children in Kansas licensed early child care facilities. It provides selected facilities with age-appropriate agriculture education curriculum and reimbursement for purchasing locally sourced fruits and vegetables. The program is made possible through funding from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. The primary goal of the program is to establish healthy eating habits in children between six months and five years of age who spend a significant portion of their day in early child care facilities. These settings play a crucial role in shaping children's dietary behaviors. By integrating locally grown foods with interactive, hands-on learning activities, the program seeks to encourage young children to try new fruits and vegetables and adopt healthier eating patterns. The initiative also aims to strengthen the connection between local farmers and child care providers, fostering a sustainable food supply relationship. Participating early child care facilities will receive educational resources developed by the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. These resource kits include seasonal lesson plans, posters, books, and child-safe kitchen tools to facilitate hands-on food preparation activities. Each lesson will focus on a specialty crop grown in Kansas, allowing children to explore the origins of their food through sensory engagement and basic culinary skills. These activities are expected to increase children's willingness to consume fresh produce while teaching them about local agriculture. The program offers reimbursement of up to $250 per growing season for the purchase of Kansas-grown fruits and vegetables. The Kansas Department of Agriculture will assist child care facilities in identifying and connecting with local farmers and producers to source fresh produce. Facilities must follow specific procurement guidelines and reporting requirements to receive reimbursement. The goal is to create long-term purchasing relationships between early child care centers and local farmers beyond the duration of the program. Eligible applicants include Kansas licensed early child care centers that provide care and educational activities for 13 or more children aged two weeks to 16 years. Facilities must hold an active license in good standing and be willing to commit to the full year-long program starting in March. Participants must demonstrate the implementation of the provided curriculum, report participation data, and submit receipts for reimbursement every three months. Compliance with all reporting and purchasing guidelines is required to maintain eligibility for funding. The program follows a competitive application process, with 50 Kansas licensed early child care facilities selected for participation. Applications must be submitted to the Kansas Department of Agriculture by 5:00 p.m. CT on Friday, February 28, 2025. Interested applicants can access the application on the department’s website. The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s office, located at 1320 Research Park Drive, Manhattan, KS, serves as the primary point of contact for inquiries related to the grant.