2026 Oregon Farm to School & School Garden Conference Recap
While it is winter time here and the growing season is quiet, our Program Director For Youth Education & School Gardens Denise Rowcroft and our Bilingual Youth Program Coordinator Jessica Muñoz attended the 2026 Oregon Farm to School & School Garden Conference in Corvallis, OR.
The Farm To School Conference gathered 307 attendees for two powerful days of learning, connection, and inspiration. With 83 sessions and 97 presenters, the conference centered youth voices, culturally rooted food education, and community-driven solutions. The conference provided an opportunity for Denise and Jessica to create some new connections and also strengthen connections that had already been established.
As we continue to prepare for our Bilingual Community Learning Garden on 19th Street in Redmond, the maíz (corn) sessions were especially impactful.
These sessions went beyond teaching gardening techniques — they taught educators about ways to honor maíz as a living ancestor, a cultural teacher, and a symbol of resilience across Indigenous and Latinx communities.
Jessica had an opportunity to explore:
- Hands-on lessons connecting science, culture, and traditionally storytelling
- Strategies for culturally responsive garden programming
Bringing this work back to our communities means more than planting seeds. It means:
- Creating spaces where students see their cultures reflected in the garden
- Strengthening relationships between schools, families, and local growers
When we plant maíz with intention, we cultivate not only food — but connection, heritage, and community resilience. These values are at the heart of the Youth Education & School Gardens that we build.
Learn more about the Oregon Farm to School Network here