Farm to School Contacts with State Government

Farm to School Coordinators exist in many state departments of agriculture and/or education. For information on resources in your state, please see the map and list of state agency contacts shared below. USDA strongly encourages you to connect with the resources in your state as a first option for questions regarding farm to school.

Alabama

June Barrett, Farm to School Contact
Alabama Department of Education
(334) 242-8231
Jbarrett@ALSDE.edu

Melanie Payne, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Bulger Creek Farm, L.L.C.
(334) 257-4265
bulgercreekfarm@charter.net

     Alabama Department of Education
     Alabama Department of Agriculture
     Alabama Cooperative Extension

Alaska

Johanna Herron, Farm to School Program Coordinator
Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Agriculture
(907) 374-3714
johanna.herron@alaska.gov

     Alaska Department of Education
     Alaska Department of Agriculture
     Alaska Cooperative Extension

Arizona

Ashley Schimke, Farm to School Specialist
Arizona Department of Education
(602) 364-2282
Ashley.Schimke@azed.gov

Cindy Gentry, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Community Food Connections
(602) 493-5231
cgentry@foodconnect.org

     Arizona Department of Education
     Arizona Department of Agriculture
     Arizona Cooperative Extension

Arkansas

Wanda Shockey, Director, School Nutrition Programs
Arkansas Department of Education
(501)324-9502
wanda.shockey@arkansas.gov

Alicia Casteel, FFVP Grant Manager
Arkansas Department of Education
(501)324-9502
Alicia.Casteel@arkansas.gov

Shelia Brown, Assistant Director, School Nutrition Programs
Arkansas Department of Education
(501)324-9502
Sheila.Brown@arkansas.gov

Andrew Carberry, Program Development Coordinator
Arkansas Grow Healthy Study
(501)364-6555
ANCarberry@uams.edu

Emily English, Pr4ogram Manager and Research Associate
Arkansas Grow Healthy Study
(501)364-6555
esenglish@uams.edu
  
     Arkansas Department of Education
     Arkansas Department of Agriculture
     Arkansas Cooperative Extension

California

Deborah Beall, Farm to School Coordinator
California Department of Education
(916) 324-8790
dbeall@cde.ca.gov

Diana Abellera, National Farm to School Network State Lead (Northern CA)
Community Alliance with Family Farmers
(510) 832-4625 x 14
farmtoschool@caff.org

Yelena Zeltzer, National Farm to School Network State Lead (Southern CA)
Urban & Environmental Policy Institute, Occidental College
(323) 341-5099
zeltser@oxy.edu

     California Department of Education
     California Department of Agriculture
     California Cooperative Extension

Colorado

Jim Dyer, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Southwest Marketing Network
(970) 588-2292
jadyer@frontier.net

Wendy White, Farm to School Coordinator
Colorado Department of Agriculture
(303) 239-4119
Wendy.White@ag.state.co.us

     Colorado Department of Education
     Colorado Department of Agriculture
     Colorado Cooperative Extension

Connecticut

Jane M. Slupecki, Ag Marketing and Inspector Representative
Connecticut Department of Agriculture
(860) 713-2588
jane.slupecki@ct.gov

     Connecticut Department of Education
     Connecticut Department of Agriculture
     Connecticut Cooperative Extension

Delaware

David Marvel, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Vegetable Growers Association of Delaware
(302) 381-4811
david.marvelfarms@gmail.com

     Delaware Department of Education
     Delaware Department of Agriculture
     Delaware Cooperative Extension

District of Columbia

Sam Ullery, School Garden Specialist
Department of Wellness and Nutrition District of Columbia
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
(202) 741-6485
sam.ullery@dc.gov

Erica Steinhart, RD, Farm to School Specialist
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
(202) 442-8940
Erica.steinhart@dc.gov

Lauren Shweder Biel, Executive Director
DC Greens
(917)535-4695
lauren@dcgreens.org

     District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education
     District of Columbia Department of Health
     District of Columbia Cooperative Extension
     DC Greens

Florida

Jackie Moalli
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(850) 617-7441
Jackie.Moalli@freshfromflorida.com

Woody Lewis, Government Analyst II
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(850) 487-6694
woody.lewis@freshfromflorida.com

     Florida Department of Education
     Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
     Florida Cooperative Extension

Georgia

Laura Tanase, Nutrition Education and Wellness Specialist
Georgia Department of Education
(404) 656-2738
ltanase@doe.k12.ga.us

Melanie Hollingsworth, Nutritional Educator and Outreach Specialist
Georgia Department of Agriculture
(404) 656-3678
melanie.hollingsworth@agr.georgia.gov

Erin Croom, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Georgia Organics
(678) 702-0400
erin@georgiaorganics.org

Donna Rocker, Georgia Ag in the Classroom Coordinator
Georgia Farm Bureau
drocker@gfb.org

     Georgia Department of Education
     Georgia Department of Agriculture
     Georgia Cooperative Extension

Hawaii

Dexter Kishida, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Kokua Hawai'i Foundation
(808) 387-5347
dexter@kokuahawaiifoundation.org

     Hawaii Department of Education
     Hawaii Department of Health
     Hawaii Cooperative Extension

Idaho

Leah Clark, Farm to School Contact
Idaho Department of Agriculture
(208) 332-8684
leah.clark@agri.idaho.gov

Heidi Martin, Farm to School Contact
Idaho Department of Education
(208) 332-6827
hcmartin@sde.idaho.gov

     Idaho Department of Education
     Idaho Department of Agriculture
     Idaho Cooperative Extension

Illinois

Lindsay Blough, Farm to School Contact
Illinois State Board of Education
(217) 782-2491
lblough@isbe.net

Julia Govis, National Farm to School Network State Lead
University of Illinois Extension
(773) 288-0822
ilfarmtoschool@gmail.com

     Illinois Department of Education
     Illinois Department of Agriculture
     Illinois Cooperative Extension

Indiana

Brittany Dale, School and Community Nutrition Wellness Specialist
Indiana Department of Education
(317) 234-2375
bdale@doe.in.gov

Laura Hormuth, Public Health Nutritionist
Indiana Department of Health
(317) 234-3498
lhormuth@isdh.in.gov

     Indiana Department of Education
     Indiana Department of Agriculture
     Indiana Department of Health
     Indiana Cooperative Extension

Iowa

Tammy Stotts, Farm to School Marketing Specialist
Iowa Department of Agriculture
(515) 281-7657
Tammy.Stotts@IowaAgriculture.gov

Maury Wills, Farm to School Coordinator
Iowa Department of Education
(515) 281-5783
maury.wills@idals.state.ia.us

     Iowa Department of Education
     Iowa Department of Agriculture
     Iowa Cooperative Extension

Kansas

Mercedes Taylor-Pucket, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Kansas Rural Center
(785) 840-6202
mercedes.taylorpuckett@gmail.com

     Kansas Department of Education
     Kansas Department of Agriculture
     Kansas Cooperative Extension

Kentucky

Tina Garland, Farm to School Coordinator
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
(502) 573-0282
Tina.Garland@ky.gov

Diane Preston, Child Nutrition Program Consultant
Kentucky Department of Education
(502) 564-5625 x 4926
diane.preston@education.ky.gov

Elaine Russell, Nutrition Services Coordinator
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
(502) 564-9358 x 3843
Elaine.Russell@ky.gov

     Kentucky Department of Education
     Kentucky Department of Agriculture
     Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
     Kentucky Cooperative Extension

Louisiana

Melissa Flurry
Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
(318) 441- 3423
mlflurry@gmail.com

Melissa Parrino, Education Program Consultant
Louisiana Department of Education
(225) 342-3681
Melissa.Parrino@la.gov

     Louisiana Department of Education
     Louisiana Department of Agriculture
     Louisiana Cooperative Extension

Maine

Ken Morse, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Healthy Oxford Hills
(207) 739-6222
ken@healthyoxfordhills.org

Willie Sawyer Grenier, Ag in the Classroom Coordinator
Maine Department of Education
(207) 287-5522
maitca@maine.gov


     Maine Department of Education
     Maine Department of Agriculture
     Maine Cooperative Extension

Maryland

Karen Fedor, Farm to School Contract
Maryland Department of Agriculture
(410) 841-5773
karen.fedor@maryland.gov

     Maryland Department of Education
     Maryland Department of Agriculture
     Maryland Cooperative Extension

Massachusetts

Kelly Erwin, Farm to School Contact
Massachusetts Department of Agriculture
(413) 253-3844
info@massfarmtoschool.org

     Massachusetts Department of Education
     Massachusetts Department of Agriculture
     Massachusetts Cooperative Extension

Michigan

Marla Moss, Farm to School Contact
Michigan Department of Education
(517) 373-4337
mossm1@michigan.gov

Colleen Matts, National Farm to School Network State Lead
CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems
(517) 432-0310
matts@msu.edu

     Michigan Department of Education
     Michigan Department of Agriculture
     Michigan Cooperative Extension
     Michigan Farm to School (Michigan State University)

Minnesota

Lisa Gemlo, Farm to School Planner
Minnesota Department of Health
(651) 201-5494
lisa.gemlo@state.mn.us

Stephanie Heim & Susan DeBlieck, Community Food Team
University of Minnesota Extension
(507) 319-0263
heim0106@umn.edu

     Minnesota Department of Education
     Minnesota Department of Agriculture
     Minnesota Department of Health
     Minnesota Cooperative Extension
     Minnesota Farm to School (University of Minnesota)

Mississippi

Pricilla Ammerman, Commodity Agent & Director Purchasing and Food Distribution
Mississippi Department of Education
(601) 576-4982
pammerman@mde.k12.ms.us

Daniel Teague, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives
(601) 416-5847
danielteague@earthlink.net

     Mississippi Department of Education
     Mississippi Department of Agriculture
     Mississippi Cooperative Extension

Missouri

Lorin Fahrmeier, National Farm to School Network State Lead
University of Missouri Extension
(816) 655-6015
fahrmeierl@missouri.edu

     Missouri Department of Education
     Missouri Department of Agriculture
     Missouri Cooperative Extension
     Missouri Farm to School (University of Missouri)

Montana

Katie Bark, Farm to School Coordinator
Montana Office of Instruction
(406) 994-5641
kbark@mt.gov

Aubree Durfey, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Gallatin Valley Farm to School
(406) 581-8209
aubreedurfey@gmail.com

     Montana Office of Public Instruction
     Montana Department of Agriculture
     Montana Cooperative Extension

Nebraska

Bailey Mahlberg, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Center for Rural Affairs
(308) 325-3839
baileym@cfra.org

     Nebraska Department of Education
     Nebraska Department of Agriculture
     Nebraska Cooperative Extension

Nevada

Catrina Peters, Nutrition Programs Professional
Nevada Department of Education
(775) 687-9103
cpeters@doe.nv.gov

Rosalind Nichele Brooks, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Together We Can
(702) 281-7031
togetherwecan10@gmail.com

     Nevada Department of Education
     Nevada Department of Agriculture
     Nevada Cooperative Extension

New Hampshire

Stacey Purslow, Farm to School Coordinator
University of New Hampshire Sustainability Academy
(603) 862-4800
Stacey.Purslow@unh.edu

El Farrell, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Sustainability Academy, University of New Hampshire
(603) 862-5040
El.Farrell@unh.edu

     New Hampshire Department of Education
     New Hampshire Department of Agriculture
     New Hampshire Cooperative Extension
     New Hampshire Farm to School (University of New Hampshire)

New Jersey

Jacqueline Bricker, Farm to School Coordinator
New Jersey Department of Agriculture
Division of Food and Nutrition
(609) 292-4602
jacqueline.bricker@ag.state.nj.us

Beth Feehan, Director
NJ Farm to School Network
(609) 577-5113
bfeehan@comcast.net

     New Jersey Department of Education
     New Jersey Department of Agriculture
     New Jersey Cooperative Extension

New Mexico

Le Adams, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Farm to Table
(505) 473-1004 x10
Le@farmtotablenm.org

     New Mexico Department of Education
     New Mexico Department of Agriculture
     New Mexico Cooperative Extension

New York

Frances O’Donnell, Coordinator Child Nutrition Program Administration
New York Department of Education
(518) 473-8781
cn@mail.nysed.gov

Bob Lewis, Special Assistant for Market Development
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
(718) 722-2830

     New York Department of Education
     New York Department of Agriculture & Markets
     New York Cooperative Extension
     New York Farm to School (Cornell University)

North Carolina

Gary Gay, Director of Food Distribution
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
(919) 575-4490
Gary.Gay@ncagr.gov

Heather Barnes, Marketing Specialist
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
(919) 707-3127
heather.barnes@ncagr.gov

Zoe McKay-Tucker, Child Nutrition Consultant
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
(919) 807-3517
zoe.mckaytucker@dpi.nc.gov

Laurie Stradley, National Farm to School Network State Lead
North Carolina Center for Health & Wellness
(828) 258-7711
lstradle@unca.edu

     North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
     North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
     North Carolina Cooperative Extension

North Dakota

Deborah Egeland, Assistant Director of Child Nutrition Programs
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
(701) 328-3718
degeland@nd.gov

Sue Balcom, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Foundation for Agricultural and Rural Resources Management and Sustainability
(701) 486-3569
sbalcom@farrms.org

     North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
     North Dakota Department of Agriculture
     North Dakota Cooperative Extension

Ohio

Liz Solomon, Farm to School Contact
Ohio Department of Education, Office for Child Nutrition
(614) 466-9273 or (800) 808-6325
liz.solomon@education.ohio.gov


Julie Fox, Direct Marketing Specialist
The Ohio State University, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES)
(614) 292-4900
fox.264@osu.edu

     Ohio Department of Education
     Ohio Department of Agriculture
     Ohio Cooperative Extension
     Ohio Cooperative Extension Farm to School

Oklahoma

Chris Kirby, Farm to School Coordinator
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food & Forestry
(405) 522-2106
Chris.Kirby@ag.ok.gov

Debbie Hamilton, Administrative Coordinator
Oklahoma Department of Education
(405) 496-3524
debbie_hamilton@sde.state.ok.us

     Oklahoma Department of Education
     Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food & Forestry
     Oklahoma Cooperative Extension
     Oklahoma Farm to School (Oklahoma Department of Agriculture)

Oregon

Rick Sherman, Farm to School and School Garden Coordinator
Oregon Department of Education
(503) 947-5863
Rick.Sherman@state.or.us

Michelle Markesteyn-Ratcliffe, Farm to School Program Manager
Oregon Department of Agriculture
(503) 872-6600
mmarkesteyn@oda.state.or.us

Megan Kemple, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Willamette Food & Farm Coalition
(541) 344-4329
mkemple@lanefood.org

     Oregon Department of Education
     Oregon Department of Agriculture
     Oregon Cooperative Extension

Pennsylvania

Elaine McDonnell, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Pennsylvania State University
(814) 865-5869
etm101@psu.edu

     Pennsylvania Department of Education
     Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
     Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension
     Pennsylvania Farm to School (Penn State University)

Puerto Rico

We do not have information on a Farm to School contact at the State government.
Please email the USDA Farm to School Team at farmtoschool@fns.usda.gov and the
Team will put you in contact with someone who can help you.

     Puerto Rico Department of Education
     Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture
     Puerto Rico Cooperative Extension

Rhode Island

Kimberly Clark, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Farm Fresh Rhode Island
(401) 312-4250
kimclark@farmfreshri.org

     Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
     Rhode Island Department of Environment Management, Division of Agriculture
     Rhode Island Cooperative Extension

South Carolina

Todd A. Bedenbaugh, Director
South Carolina Department of Education
(803) 734-8205
tabedenb@ed.sc.gov

Katherine Cason, Director of the Center for Healthy Living
Farm to Table Programs, Clemson University
(864) 723-4520
kcason@Clemson.edu

Beth Crocker, General Counsel
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
(803) 734-2193
bcrocker@scda.sc.gov

Holly Harring, Farm to School Coordinator
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
(203) 209-8127
harrinha@dhec.sc.gov

     South Carolina Department of Education
     South Carolina Department of Agriculture
     South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
     South Carolina Cooperative Extension

South Dakota

Holly Tilton, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Dakota Rural Action
(605) 697-5204
hollyt@dakotarural.org

     South Dakota Department of Education
     South Dakota Department of Agriculture
     South Dakota Cooperative Extension

Tennessee

Phyllis Hodges, Director of Procurement
Tennessee Department of Education
(615) 532-4742
Phyllis.Hodges@tn.gov

     Tennessee Department of Education
     Tennessee Department of Agriculture
     Tennessee Cooperative Extension

Texas

Alyssa N. Herold, Farm to School Specialist
Texas Department of Agriculture
(512) 463-1209
Alyssa.Herold@TexasAgriculture.gov

Andrew Smiley, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Sustainable Food Center
(512) 236-0074
andrew@sustainablefoodcenter.org

     Texas Education Agency
     Texas Department of Agriculture
     Texas Cooperative Extension

Utah

Julie Peck-Dabling, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Open Space and Urban Farming, Salt Lake County
(385) 468-7012
JPeck-Dabling@slco.org

     Utah State Office of Education
     Utah State Department of Agriculture and Food
     Utah Cooperative Extension

Vermont

Koi Boynton, Farm to School Coordinator
Vermont Agency of Agriculture
(802) 828-2084
koi.boynton@state.vt.us

     Vermont Department of Education
     Vermont Agency of Agriculture
     Vermont Cooperative Extension

Virginia

Leanne DuBois, Farm to School Coordinator
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(804) 225-3663
leanne.dubois@vdacs.virginia.gov

Catherine Digilio-Grimes, Director, School Nutrition Programs
Virginia Department of Education
(804) 225-2074
Catherine.digilio-grimes@doe.virginia.gov

Andrea Early, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Harrisonburg City Public Schools
(540) 437-3300
aearly@harrisonburg.k12.va.us

     Virginia Department of Education
     Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
     Virginia Cooperative Extension

Virgin Islands

We do not have information on a Farm to School contact at the State government.
Please email the USDA Farm to School Team at farmtoschool@fns.usda.gov and the
Team will put you in contact with someone who can help you.

     Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture
     Virgin Islands Department of Education
     Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension

Washington

Tricia Sexton Kovacs, Farm to School Contact
Washington State Department of Agriculture
tkovacs@agr.wa.gov 

Jennifer Mitchell, FFVP Coordinator, School Nutrition Programs
Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(360) 725-0410
Jennifer.mitchell@k12.wa.us 

     Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
     Washington Department of Agriculture
     Washington Cooperative Extension
     Washington Farm to School (Washington Department of Agriculture)

West Virginia

Bekki Leigh, Farm to School Contact
West Virginia Department of Education
(304) 558-0573
bleigh@access.k12.wv.us


     West Virginia Department of Education
     West Virginia Department of Agriculture
     West Virginia Cooperative Extension

Wisconsin

Katherine Pike, Nutrition Program Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
(608) 266-2410
katherine.pike@dpi.wi.gov

Lizzie Severson, Nutrition Program Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
(608) 267-9233
elizabeth.severson@dpi.wi.gov

Sara Tedeschi, National Farm to School Network State Lead
University of Wisconsin - Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems
(608) 513-3980
smtedeschi@wisc.edu

     Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
     Wisconsin Department of Agriculture
     Wisconsin Cooperative Extension

Wyoming

Cindy Garretson-Weibel, National Farm to School Network State Lead
Wyoming Business Council
(307) 777-6589
cindy.weibel@wybusiness.org

     Wyoming Department of Education
     Wyoming Department of Agriculture
     Wyoming Cooperative Extension

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