WASHINGTON, D.C., August 24, 2026 — Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC) CEO Nancy Hutchinson attended today’s announcement at the U.S. Department of Agriculture alongside KEDC Deputy Director Dr. Jim Evans and Grants Director Wendy King.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the Harvest to Hallways initiative, a series of efforts designed to strengthen school meals by connecting more American farmers with local schools, improving school kitchen infrastructure, and providing states and school districts with additional tools to serve healthier, more nutrient-dense meals.
The announcement brought together farmers, students, school nutrition leaders, athletes, chefs, parents, and education representatives from across the country.
“If we want to Make America Healthy Again, we have to start with our children, and that means improving what we put on their lunch trays every single day,” said Secretary Rollins. “Harvest to Hallways is about bringing more American agriculture into the school cafeteria.”
“Every school meal should make a child healthier,” said Secretary Kennedy. “We are putting the updated Dietary Guidelines into action by bringing real, nutrient-dense food back to school cafeterias and giving schools the tools to serve it affordably.”
Harvest to Hallways includes several major investments and initiatives:
Up to $70 million for school cafeteria equipment and infrastructure
Up to $25 million in additional Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants for fiscal year 2026
Expanded education and outreach for local food procurement options
Increased support for healthier school meals aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030
A $30 million HHS investment in research focused on practical, cost-effective ways to improve school meal nutrition
The initiative also highlights Kentucky’s leadership in connecting schools with local agriculture. Union County school districts have used the Local Option School Procurement Program to purchase locally produced beef, demonstrating how schools can provide nutritious meals while supporting farmers and strengthening local communities.
KEDC is proud to have been represented at this important national conversation and looks forward to exploring how these investments and opportunities can benefit Kentucky’s schools, students, and communities.