Wayne Community Schools celebrates Nebraska Thursdays in school cafeteria

Wayne, Nebraska - Wayne Community Schools has joined Nebraska Department of Education Nutrition Services and Center for Rural Affairs as a 2017 pilot school to roll out Nebraska Thursdays. This statewide campaign celebrates farm to school by serving a Nebraska-sourced meal in the cafeteria on the first Thursday of each month.

The school kicked off Nebraska Thursdays this school year serving watermelon and cantaloupe from Norfolk Melons in lunches during August.

“Participating in Nebraska Thursdays provides students and school staff with an opportunity to celebrate our local farmers and seasonal Nebraska foods,” said Judy Poehlman, food service director at Wayne Community Schools. “We’ll continue to connect with local sources for milk and proteins throughout the school year.”

Nebraska Thursdays expands farm to school activities in Nebraska’s schools to better connect school cafeterias and students with local foods, gardens, farmers, ranchers, agriculture, and nutrition. The school district is one of five Nebraska school districts selected to participate in the pilot program.

“We are working to educate students about food grown in Nebraska by promoting Nebraska products,” said Poehlman. “This program helps us highlight Nebraska foods on our lunch menu and support our community by purchasing local food from Nebraska farms and food businesses.”

Other pilot schools are Litchfield Public Schools, Omaha Public Schools, Overton Public Schools, and Thayer Central Community Schools.

Nebraska Thursdays is sponsored by Nebraska Department of Education with partner organization Center for Rural Affairs, and supported by Omaha Public Schools Nutrition Services. Additional support is provided by Nebraska Dry Bean Commission, Midwest Dairy Council, and Nebraska Beef Council.

For more information about Nebraska Thursdays at Wayne Community Schools, contact the school at 402.375.3150, or visit cfra.org/f2s.