Superior Central’s Agriculture and Forestry class has been awarded a $5,000 grant to support a project that will bring more local food into the lunchroom through a LIFT-UP (Locally Integrated Food Teams in the UP) project. After meeting with farmers and food service to better understand their local food system, students designed a project that will provide school-grown food for the school lunch program through innovative projects that utilize their hoop house, indoor growing space, and a partnership with a farm. Superior Central has been growing food at the school since 2012.

“I believe this is more than food in the cafeteria. Superior Central is an ever-changing school, whether it be rules or things like this grant, we want the best and this grant will heavily contribute to that,” says student Drew Begovac.

With this project, they will be able to increase the number of days in the school year that locally produce is available. Students will work together with farmers and food service to provide education and information to their school community about locally sourced food that is purchased through the 10 Cents a Meal program and the UP Food Exchange, an online food hub. Additionally, this initiative deepens relationships between the school and Full Plate Farm, which will host students for a farm tour and hands-on growing experience in the spring.

“I came into this class not knowing anything remotely related to agriculture. Through this class it has inspired me to want to take some of this on myself in the future,” student Nicholas Pasco said.

Producing and purchasing more local foods to serve in schools is the major goal of the project. As core components of farm to school, local food production and procurement supports farmers in the community and expands the variety of healthy food choices for students. The project is led by high school students, but has connections with younger students to shape healthy eating in the future.

“Looking into the future, the elementary students we teach will someday be teaching other elementary classes. I like the LIFT-UP project because it teaches students what it is like to not only work together as a class but as a community,” high schooler Derek Tyner said.

Project partners on this USDA Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program grant include Michigan State University Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center, Superior Central Schools, Marquette Alger RESA, UP Food Exchange and Full Plate Farm.