[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16555-16556]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                OCTOBER IS NATIONAL FARM TO SCHOOL MONTH

  (Mr. WESTERMAN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very 
innovative program in my home State of Arkansas. Governor Asa 
Hutchinson proclaimed October to be Farm to School Month. The Farm to 
School program provides healthy, locally grown food to our State's 
schools while creating new revenue streams for our Arkansas farmers.
  According to the USDA, 169 schools, serving over 86,000 young 
Arkansans, participate in the program. This directed over $600,000 into 
local economies by purchasing products from local farmers.
  The Farm to School program helps to combat childhood obesity by 
encouraging healthy eating habits among our

[[Page 16556]]

youngest, most impressionable citizens. Also, at a time when families 
are moving away from the rural, agricultural parts of our Nation, I 
believe it is vital that our children know how and where their food is 
produced. The Farm to School program helps to educate them.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe the Farm to School program is important to the 
economy, health, and education of Arkansas' Fourth District. I look 
forward to working with the many stakeholders in Arkansas to see the 
continued success of the Farm to School program.

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