Bowling Green schools receive $10,000 for buying local food products
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Bowling Green Independent Schools is receiving $10,000 from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for its commitment to purchasing locally produced food for students.
The district is one of three in Kentucky recognized through the department’s Farm to School Stars Recognition Program for purchasing the highest percentages of locally produced proteins and produce during the school year. The awards will help the districts purchase additional local food during the 2026-27 school year.
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell said partnerships between schools and farmers can create more dependable markets for agricultural products.
“Whenever you’ve got a school district who is willing to make that relationship work for that deliverable product that’s coming into the school system, that farmer can rely on that,” Shell said. “It can guarantee that, and it adds profitability to their operation.”
Shell said consistent demand from schools can help farmers plan ahead, invest in their operations and build more stable businesses.
For Bowling Green Independent Schools, the effort is about supporting local families while providing students with fresh, locally produced food.
Dalla Emerson, director of food service operations for the district, said Bowling Green has a long history of purchasing from local farmers. She said she wants to continue building on the relationships established by her predecessor.
“As much as we can keep locally and as much as we can support the families in our region locally, that is our goal,” Emerson said.
The district purchases a variety of locally produced foods, including apples, peaches, leafy greens, melons, tomatoes, honey and beef. Emerson said some of the families who supply food to the district also have children attending its schools.
She said those partnerships help support the local economy while teaching students about agriculture and where their food comes from.
Students also get hands-on opportunities to learn about growing food. Emerson said elementary students have participated in farm visits, and science club members grow lettuce and basil in a classroom growing system. The harvest is then served at school.
The $10,000 award will allow the district to purchase additional locally produced food during the 2026-27 school year.
Emerson said the district also has a special celebration planned for students, but she is keeping the details secret.
“Oh, we have fun plans. I can’t go into details because it’ll spoil the surprise for the kids,” Emerson said.
Emerson encouraged local farmers interested in supplying the district to contact her food service office. She said the team is looking to build additional partnerships, particularly with growers who can provide onions and potatoes.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture announced $24,000 in awards for three school districts on Oct. 15. Harlan County Public Schools will receive $8,000, and Mayfield Independent Schools will receive $6,000.
The awards are funded through the department’s share of the Kentucky Ag Tag program, which receives voluntary donations from specialty farm license plate renewals. Contributions are divided among Kentucky 4-H, Kentucky FFA and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
