LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Commissioners proclaimed Sept. 29 through Oct. 3, 2025, as Homegrown School Lunch Week on Tuesday, recognizing the local schools and farms taking part in the statewide Farm to School program.
The proclamation marked the 17th year Maryland observed Homegrown School Lunch Week, an effort to include locally sourced foods in school meals and promote agricultural education.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture reported that Maryland schools serve 70 million lunches and 20 million breakfasts annually.
According to the USDA, 85% of Maryland schools participated in the Farm to School food program.
St. Mary’s County Public Schools celebrated with Farm to School Day events at Mechanicsville Elementary on Oct. 3 and will host similar events at Benjamin Banneker Elementary on Oct. 8 and Evergreen Elementary on Oct. 16. Students took part in outdoor learning stations featuring farm animal education, equipment and environmental science activities.
Kaitlin Fraer, food service coordinator for St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS), said local farms and organizations like Part Green Hill Farm, Deer View Farm and Meats, Russell Brothers LLC, Adrian Hill of Mechanicsville, and the Loveville Produce Auction provided produce, meat and support for the program.
The University of Maryland Extension Office, the Forest Technical Center, and 4-H volunteers helped to stage the events, where students benefit from both the meals and the opportunity to meet local farmers.
Dr. Deon Littles, a nutrition, health and wellness educator with the University of Maryland Extension, also joined the meeting to recognize the collaboration between educators and local producers.
Farm to School Is A National Initiative
October is celebrated by thousands of schools and districts as Farm to School Month. The program is designed to help students learn where food comes from and to encourage healthy eating habits while supporting local agriculture.
Cafeterias across the county will feature locally sourced items on their menus, including produce, dairy and even hamburgers made with ground beef from county farms.
The St. Mary’s County Commissioners’ proclamation called the program a way to strengthen the connection between students and the agricultural sector while honoring the county’s rural heritage.
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