LEONARDTOWN, Md. — St. Mary’s County Public Schools will celebrate Farm to School Month at several locations throughout October.
Events will take place Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, at Mechanicsville Elementary School; Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, at Benjamin Banneker Elementary School; and Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at Evergreen Elementary School. In addition, students across the district will see fresh, local produce served on lunch lines during October, which is designated as National Farm to School Month.
Students at the three schools will participate in outdoor Farm to School Day activities, rotating through stations to learn about different aspects of farming. They will learn about farm animals, see large farm equipment and explore how food grows. Curriculum and books for the week were provided by the University of Maryland Extension Office and offer students an opportunity to “Thank a Farmer.” Handwritten notes from students will be distributed to farmers who contributed to this year’s lunches.
The St. Mary’s County Public Schools Department of Food & Nutrition Services will purchase produce from local farms. Buying local products helps grow the local economy and provides fresh fruits and vegetables grown close to where students live. All students at Mechanicsville, Benjamin Banneker and Evergreen elementary schools will be offered a free slice of watermelon during lunch, grown by local farmers from Oakville, Maryland. Additionally, ground beef from Deere View Farm & Meats, Russell Bros. LLC and Part Green Hill Farm will be used to make hamburgers and cheeseburgers for lunch at Mechanicsville and Benjamin Banneker elementary schools.
Nutrition programs teach children about the importance of an active, healthy lifestyle to combat childhood obesity and highlight the role farms play in healthy eating and exercise. Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week aims to bring more Maryland-grown products to school lunches and to help educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced and the benefits of a healthy diet.
All schools will serve local foods during the celebration week. Families are encouraged to participate and have students eat school lunch that week. Photos and videos may be sent to foodservice@smcps.org.