Get Ready for the 2025 Cream of the Crop Awards!
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Minnesota Grown are excited to announce the 2025 Cream of the Crop Contest for Farm to School and Early Care. Formerly the Farm to School District of the Year Awards, this year’s contest is expanding to recognize K-12 schools, early care centers, and family day cares that are going above and beyond to serve and promote local foods!
The highest-scoring entry in each of three categories will receive the Cream of the Crop Award—the ultimate recognition for your dedication to Minnesota grown and raised food! Awards will be given for:
• School District of the Year
• Early Care Center of the Year
• Family Day Care of the Year
Additionally, we will recognize a broad range of achievements with three tiers of Outstanding in the Field Honors:
Start gathering your photos, stories, and examples of how your school, early care center, or day care is highlighting local food and farmers – through the food you serve as well as your lessons, gardens, events, and more. Visit the MDA's Farm to School and Early Care Overview to find additional resources and ideas on how your facility can explore local food!
Applications are due April 25, 2025. We can’t wait to see your efforts in action!
Contest Information
Do your kids and students love local?
The 2025 Minnesota Grown Cream of the Crop Contest for Farm to School and Early Care recognizes school districts, early care centers, and family day cares that go above and beyond to promote foods grown and raised by Minnesota farmers and producers. Whether it’s through locally sourced meals served in your cafeteria, community events to connect families and farmers, or food focused classroom lessons, we want to celebrate all the creative ways you connect your students and kids to Minnesota Grown food!
Contest Period
Applications for the 2025 Cream of the Crop Contest open on February 24, 2025.
UPDATE! Application deadline extended to April 25, 2025. To enter the contest, applicants submit photos and answer application questions to showcase their commitment to Farm to School and highlight how they’ve promoted local foods during the 2024 - 2025 school year.
Scoring is based 45% on local food procurement, 25% on student education, 20% on community involvement, and 10% on submitted photos.
Entries are due at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025 through the online entry portal. Winners will be announced in May 2025.
Contest Details
Download and review the Contest Overview Document to learn about contest procedures, judging criteria, and privacy notice.
Questions? Email Kate Seybold, MDA Farm to Institution Coordinator, at kate.seybold@state.mn.us.
How to Apply
Contest applicants will submit their entry for the Minnesota Grown Cream of the Crop Contest through an online form. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Create account with Minnesota Department of Agriculture online platform
-Click Apply to see the list of open applications.
-Select the appropriate “2025 Minnesota Grown Farm to School Cream of the Crop Contest” application. There are separate forms for K-12, Early Care Centers, and Family Day Cares, so be sure to select the one that applies to you.
2. Review entry form as you get started with your promotional efforts
- Click Preview to review the form in advance.
- Click Question List to view a PDF version of the of the application questions.
- Click Apply to begin your application.
3. Upload required information and photos anytime during the contest period – you can return at any time to add more information, edit your responses, etc.
- Information: Enter written responses about your Farm to School and Early Care activities.
- Photos: Please only submit photos in the provided upload slots on the application. Any outside links with photos or marketing materials will not be considered as part of the submission.
- Make sure to review contest overview as you finalize your entry.
4. Submit your entry by 4 p.m. on April 25, 2025. Incomplete entries will not be considered.
Entries should be uploaded into the online application portal. If you cannot utilize the online portal or have questions, contact Kate Seybold, at kate.seybold@state.mn.us.
Resources
To learn more about Farm to School month in Minnesota and how to celebrate, visit farmtoschoolmn.org/f2smonth.
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