Six northwest Iowa schools and school districts are among 125 statewide receiving Choose Iowa funding to help put more Iowa-grown and raised food on student menus.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced the awards Wednesday, September 16. Each recipient will receive approximately $1,600 and must provide at least an equal financial match, supporting approximately $3,200 or more in local food purchases per participant.
Area recipients include:
- Rock Valley Community School District
- West Sioux Community School District
- West Lyon Community School District
- Sheldon Community School District
- Spencer Community School District
- Sacred Heart Catholic School in Spencer
The program’s $200,000 state allocation was divided evenly among all eligible applicants. Required school matching funds will bring total purchasing power to at least $400,000 statewide.
What Schools Can Purchase
The program is open to Iowa public and private K–12 schools, with food used in meals and activities during the school day.
Eligible purchases include meat and poultry, dairy products other than milk, flour and small grains, eggs, honey, and produce. Food must be purchased from Choose Iowa members.
Each participating school is assigned a food hub sponsor that preauthorizes purchases, handles payments to producers, and tracks grant and matching funds. Schools may purchase from any eligible Choose Iowa member and are not required to buy their food directly from the assigned food hub.
The required school match must be financial; donated goods or services do not qualify.
Permanent Funding Builds on Pilot Program
This is the program’s first year with permanent funding, authorized through the bipartisan 2026 Iowa Farm Act. It follows a 2025 pilot in which 61 schools or school districts requested more than twice the $70,000 available. That pilot ultimately funded 33 recipients.
“I’m going to continue asking the Iowa Legislature for additional funding to grow the program so even more students can benefit from it,” Naig said.
The program aims to connect schools with Iowa farmers and food businesses, creating markets for agricultural products while giving students access to locally produced food.
Iowa Local Food Day Is September 23
The announcement comes one week before Iowa Local Food Day on Wednesday, September 23.
Naig is encouraging schools, families, and other Iowans to participate by choosing locally produced foods and supporting Iowa farmers and food businesses.
“As we look ahead to Iowa Local Food Day, I encourage all Iowans to celebrate by choosing local whenever they can,” Naig said.
Consumers can find participating farms, food businesses, farmers’ markets, and retailers through the Find Local directory at ChooseIowa.com.
