For more information
Please contact Michelle Ratcliffe or
visit www.ecotrust.org/farmtoschool

Further reading
The Washington Post
Why Children are Key Players in Michelle Obama’s Food Policy Moves
July 15, 2009

OREGON FARMERS FEEDING OREGON KIDS
UPDATE July 2009

School is out for the summer and the 2009 Oregon legislative session is adjourned, so we wanted to give you an update on House Bill 2800, the Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Bill. We’re reminded of those “pass/fail” tests we took in high school; HB2800 didn’t pass this session, but it didn’t quite fail either!

This year, in response to a deep recession, the Legislature was tasked with decreasing government spending while still protecting essential services. While HB2800 was very much in play until the last week of the session, ultimately, the bill hit a budget wall when legislators had to make the tough decision not to fund any new bills. The fact that HB2800 was a contender (and a powerful one at that!) in such tough times is truly a testament to the value of the bill and the breadth of support it garnered.

Over 80 organizations representing tens of thousands of Oregonians formally endorsed HB2800. Please know, your voice was heard. Although HB2800 did not pass, we did succeed in building tremendous momentum and statewide support for the bill. We also managed to save the Oregon Department of Education’s Farm to School Coordinator position from the chopping block — no small task with the Department facing severe budget cuts this year.

Thank you to everyone who helped to promote the farm to school and school garden bill — either with your letters, emails, phone calls, or formal endorsements. Even if all you did was think positive thoughts and say to yourself, “I sure do hope that bill passes,” thank you.

You can count on us to continue advocating for food literate children and school cafeterias full of Oregon’s bounty. We’ll keep you posted, and hope you’ll continue to join us!