Farmers Provide Produce, Ranchers Donate Cattle For School Lunches

(Aberdeen, SD) — South Dakota farmers and ranchers are helping feed kids at local schools. It’s all part of the state’s Crunch Off competition that’s running through October 13th — an annual event promoting ‘farm to school’ nutrition education and healthy eating while supporting local agriculture. Aberdeen is partnering with a farmer in Ipswich for carrots and cucumbers and a farmer in Huron for cantaloupe and watermelon. The locally grown fruits and vegetables are delivered to all nine Aberdeen schools every week. A few school districts like Highmore-Harrold are also working to source their beef locally by asking ranchers to donate cattle which in turn is a tax deductible.