Get Involved / Guides

Tips for Hosting a Legislator at Your School or Organization

#1 Find Your Legislator

#2 Develop Your Objectives

  • Brainstorm your purpose and objectives for having a legislator come to your location. One of the objectives of the visit is to educate the legislator about the importance of farm to school at your school or organization.

#3 Identify the Legislator’s Positions

  • More specifically, identify their positions on child nutrition, farm to school programs, agriculture, and other related issues.

#4 Contact Your Legislator’s Office

  • Ask to speak with an aide who handles child nutrition and/or education issues.
    Identify yourself as a constituent and discuss the possibility of the legislator visiting your location and the purpose of the visit. If the legislator is not available, ask if a staff member who is responsible for child nutrition and education can come instead!
  • Try to schedule a time during lunch or breakfast so the legislator has a sense of what the food program looks like.
  • Consider hosting the visit on a day when local foods are highlighted on the menu.

#5 Plan out an Agenda for the Visit

  • Make sure the agenda highlights your goals & objectives for the visit.
  • Ensure the agenda respects the agreed timeframe of the visit.
  • Invite key stakeholders, such as the principal or superintendent to meet with the legislator during the visit.
  • Prepare all protocols for the legislator, such as visitor sign-in and parking passes (if necessary).
  • Have pertinent information on hand, such as, dining & nutrition staff’s contact information, background on the breakfast & lunch programs (including size of school district, how many meals are served, etc), and programs that promote healthy eating and nutrition education.
  • Consider preparing a 1 page handout with highlights about your program to give the legislator to take back to his office.
  • Gather and provide any other relevant materials to your program and the visit’s objective.

#6 Consider Sending out a Press Release

  • Allowing press to cover the event will help inform the local community about farm to school programs in your district.
  • Don’t forget to take photos!
  • If you have a school newspaper, this would be a good opportunity for students to cover the event.

#7 Send Your Legislator a Thank You Note After the Visit



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