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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Casey Cox

From the #USDA:


Casey Cox, Executive Director of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, in front of trees
Casey Cox, Executive Director of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, in front of trees.
As part of our ongoing #womeninag series, we are highlighting a different leading woman in agriculture each month.  This month, we profile Casey Cox, the Executive Director of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District. In this role, she manages the Flint River Partnership, an agricultural water conservation initiative formed by the Flint River SWCD, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and The Nature Conservancy.
Casey is also learning her family’s farm operation Longleaf Ridge, and will be the sixth generation of her family to farm along the Flint River. Upon receiving a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Florida, she returned to South Georgia to support agriculture and ongoing conservation efforts in her local community.
How do you start your day?
My day begins in the Georgia room, a glass enclosure with a breathtaking view of the natural longleaf pine forest surrounding my home. These quiet moments each morning fill me with gratitude to live in such a special place. 
How did you first become interested in conservation?
Our family farm is situated amidst pine flatwoods and oak hammocks bordering the Flint River, which gave me a unique perspective of agriculture in an environmental context.  I spent the majority of my childhood in sweet corn and peanut fields, thick woods, or on the river. My parents instilled the value of stewardship in me at a very young age, with a deep appreciation of the land. Knowing that five generations of my family before me depended on the very same land for their livelihoods taught me the true value of conservation.
The realization that our livelihood is intertwined with and dependent upon the rare ecological surroundings I treasure so much led me to study Natural Resource Conservation, specializing in agricultural environmental management. While in college, I was drawn to the innovative conservation projects on the Flint River, which ultimately led me to return home. I began working for my local soil and water conservation district to help farmers conserve natural resources in the Flint River basin. 
Who are your role models in agriculture?
My father and mother both come from multi-generational farm families, in Georgia and Florida.  Their strong work ethic and love of the land motivate me to preserve the land and resources for many more generations to come. 
Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden is an incredible role model, not only for me but for all women in agriculture. I am proud to share a hometown with her!
What do you think are the biggest challenges for women in ag who are just starting their careers?
One challenge many women in agriculture face, especially in rural areas, is isolation. I am so grateful to the men and women of my local community who embraced me when I returned home, opening new doors for me and encouraging me to be involved in many different agricultural and conservation-related groups. The Women in Ag Mentoring Network USDA recently formed is also a great way to connect women all over the country and address this challenge.
What are you watching, reading or listening to?
I am re-reading one of my favorite books – A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. Leopold was quite a visionary as it relates to conservation and land management, and his words continue to inspire me. 
How do you spend the free time you have?
I love to kayak on the Flint River in my free time, and I also like to spend as much time in the woods as the South Georgia weather allows, taking walks or riding my bike. My favorite thing to do is to explore – whether it’s a new place or right in my backyard. 
In seven words or less, what is some advice you would offer your fellow women in agriculture?
Go beyond your comfort zone!
From farmers and scientists to policy makers and communicators, women are at the forefront of agriculture.  Check out previous Conversations with #womeninag with Anne Alonzo, Administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service;  cattlewoman Minnie Lou Bradley of Bradley 3 Ranch; National Young Farmers Coalition founder Lindsay Lusher Shute; Dean of the College of Agriculture at Virginia State University Dr. Jewel Hairston; founder and editor-in-chief of Civil Eats Naomi Starkman; and Oregon Rancher and county committee member Cory Carman. You can continue to follow our conversation with #womeninag on Storify.
Is there a leading women in agriculture you would like to hear from?  Send us your suggestions using #womeninag or via email at agwomenlead@usda.gov.
Casey Cox, the Executive Director of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District
Casey Cox is the Executive Director of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District. In this role, she manages the Flint River Partnership, an agricultural water conservation initiative formed by the Flint River SWCD, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, and The Nature Conservancy.
    

In Oregon, Finding the Lost River Whychus

From the #USDA:


A secret waterfall on the lost river Whychus
A secret waterfall on the lost river Whychus. Photo credit: USFS (Maret Pajutee)
Sisters is a dreamy mountain town in Central Oregon with almost everything you might want in a scenic hideaway. With snowy peaks and expansive forests, it is an ideal location for biking, hiking, or simply contemplating wide expanses of blue sky. But for many years Sisters was missing one crucial thing – we had lost our river.
For thousands of years, Native Americans followed a winding course of icy snowmelt into the high country of the Three Sisters Mountains that gave the town its name. The river was full of waterfalls and wild steelhead salmon. It provided more than half of the steelhead spawning habitat in the Upper Deschutes River Basin. The river had several names, but in 1855, when Pacific Railroad Survey Engineers came through looking for a railroad route to the ocean, they recorded in their journals that the river was called “Whychus”.
As homesteaders came and built our town, the river first lost its historic name.  Then it lost its water to irrigation withdrawals. Finally, it lost its fish, which were blocked from returning to spawn by hydroelectric dams downstream. The river became a trickle of a creek, dry in the summer, and its wild upper reaches were forgotten.
Jess Edgington, the son of local homesteaders, said it this way, “The town people never used to care much about what went on with extra things around here.  Their interest was in logging and their jobs.  They liked to fish and hunt, I know that.  But as far as taking any care of Whychus Creek or anything like that, that was just somebody else’s concern.”
But some people did care, and in 1988 the upper reaches of Whychus were protected as a Wild and Scenic River. Spurred by the re-establishment of fish passage at the Pelton-Round Butte Dam, there has been a concerted effort from dozens of agencies and non-profits to restore stream flows and habitat, purchase private land for conservation and remove obstacles for returning steelhead. The creek had its historic name restored in 2005.  In 2009, theNational Forest Foundation designated the area as a “Treasured Landscape,” and together with the Forest Service began a 1.7 million dollar campaign to promote accelerated restoration and stewardship, helping people convert their passion for forests into meaningful and sustainable conservation actions.  In 2010, the Deschutes National Forest finished a Wild and Scenic River Management Plan and went to work with our partners on removing weeds, closing unneeded roads and reviving dried floodplains.
Before he died, Jess observed, “I think there’s a vast amount of caring now.  People here see the potential of a stream going through town – a steady stream, not an off and on one.”
Watershed restoration takes a village.  Today, the Whychus watershed is coming back to life and we are rediscovering a river we had lost.  Remarkably, in less than 20 years, it has turned around. 
Steelhead are returning from the sea, irrigation water is being conserved, and 25 cubic feet per second of protected water now flows on the driest days, meeting the State’s minimum instream flow target.  Over 90 percent of the Wild and Scenic River plan priorities are in progress or have been accomplished after 5 years. 
In this great restoration experiment, we are working across boundaries to give our creek a second change to be a river; a river full of water in the summer, with a floodplain, willow thickets and wildflowers, where we can watch the steelhead jumping in the waterfalls. After many decades, recovery of the lost river Whychus is becoming a reality.  
This post is part of a series featuring the Forest Service’s work on restoration across the country.
USFS International Landscape Restoration Seminar participants visiting the Whychus
USFS International Landscape Restoration Seminar participants visit the Whychus. Photo credit: USFS (Maret Pajutee)
    

This milkshake is made with 96 crickets - Jun. 30, 2015

Bugs are the new kale.



On Wednesday, the Wayback burger chain is launching a milkshake made with dried cricket powder at all its 100 U.S. locations. Known as the "Oreo Mud Pie Cricket Protein Milkshake," it's made with "Peruvian Chocolate Cricket Protein powder" -- an actual blend of crickets and chocolate you can buy online.



This milkshake is made with 96 crickets - Jun. 30, 2015

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim dumps Donald Trump - Jun. 30, 2015

Carlos Slim, the richest man in Mexico and one of the wealthiest in the world, dumped The Donald following his anti-Mexico rant.



"We can confirm that we were working on a television project with Trump that has been dropped," a spokesman for Ora TV, Slim's television production studio in Mexico, told CNNMoney.



Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim dumps Donald Trump - Jun. 30, 2015

Dell report: The U.S. is the best country for women entrepreneurs - Jun. 30, 2015

For women entrepreneurs, there are just a handful of countries that offer them the right circumstances to thrive.



The top five countries are the United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden and the United Kingdom, according to a new global report commissioned by Dell.



Dell report: The U.S. is the best country for women entrepreneurs - Jun. 30, 2015

Will the Leap Second break the Internet at 8 p.m.? - Jun. 30, 2015

This evening, a "leap second" threatens to wreak havoc across the Internet.



The extra second will take place at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday so that we can sync up our watches with the Earth's slowing rotation. But the 61-second minute threatens to make computer systems go haywire, potentially crashing websites and screwing up the software that powers the world's financial markets.



Will the Leap Second break the Internet at 8 p.m.? - Jun. 30, 2015

Jetblue adds checked bag fees - Jun. 30, 2015

Attention JetBlue passengers: that checked bag is now going to cost you.



Starting Tuesday, consumers will have to pay to check their bags on the airline, either by purchasing a ticket that covers the fees, or paying them separately at the airport or online.



Jetblue adds checked bag fees - Jun. 30, 2015

Apple Music suffers snafu during debut - Jun. 30, 2015

It's launch day for Apple Music, and the company's new streaming music service has already hit its first snag.



The problem seems to stem from an iCloud syncing issue.



Apple Music suffers snafu during debut - Jun. 30, 2015

University of Phoenix lays off 900 staff as enrollment plunges - Jun. 30, 2015



The University of Phoenix is shrinking in every way possible. It has lost students, employees and campuses at a breathtaking pace, and it's making much less money than it once did.



The for-profit institution has shed about half of its students over the past five years, and the university has fired 900 employees since September. That works out to over 3 workers laid off every day.



University of Phoenix lays off 900 staff as enrollment plunges - Jun. 30, 2015

The Greek crisis...in 2 minutes - Jun. 30, 2015

If you're just catching up to it, here are all the latest developments - and what you need to know. Last updated: June 30, 4 pm ET.



The Greek crisis...in 2 minutes - Jun. 30, 2015

The man who wants to save the bees - Jun. 30, 2015

America's honey bees are dying. What's at stake? Quite possibly the food on your plate.



"Most people don't realize that without bees, many plants and food crops would die off," said entrepreneur Guillaume Gauthereau, who plans a first-of-its-kind "sanctuary" for millions of bees in upstate New York.



The man who wants to save the bees - Jun. 30, 2015

Chris Christie's problem: New Jersey's economy isn't doing well - Jun. 30, 2015

Chris Christie is officially in the 2016 presidential race and he's "telling it like it is." But his track record as New Jersey governor is no economic slam dunk.



New Jersey has yet to recover all the jobs the state lost in the recession. Most states -- including neighboring Pennsylvania and New York -- are now back on track and even adding more jobs, but not New Jersey.



Chris Christie's problem: New Jersey's economy isn't doing well - Jun. 30, 2015

The new Microsoft Edge browser logo looks like... - Jun. 30, 2015

Does the Microsoft Edge logo look familiar to you?



Microsoft's (MSFT, Tech30) new Edge browser was supposed to mark a break from Internet Explorer. Yet the Edge logo, added to a preview version of Windows 10 on Monday, looks unmistakably like the beleaguered browser it is supposed to replace.



The new Microsoft Edge browser logo looks like... - Jun. 30, 2015

Urban Garden Tackles Hunger, Boosts Nutrition

From the #USDA:


Lee and Linda Marshall harvesting herbs in the church’s seasonal high tunnel
Lee and Linda Marshall harvest herbs in the church’s seasonal high tunnel (NRCS photo by Barbara Bowen).
One high tunnel can’t feed the world, but it can make a world of difference in providing fresh fruits and vegetables to those with limited access to healthy foods. These plastic covered structures use natural sunlight to create more favorable conditions for vegetables and specialty crops. And for the 31st Street Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., one high tunnel has given them a new identity as an urban farm and model for community agriculture.
The church’s senior pastor, Dr. Morris Henderson, began this new chapter in 2009 when he expanded their small garden to meet a growing need.  The local soup kitchen had closed and members of the congregation were bringing their own food to help the local poor and homeless. During this time, Vernon Heath, a small farm agent with Virginia State University, suggested the pastor contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to submit an application for a seasonal high tunnel.
Initially offered as a pilot project under the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, high tunnels can also help increase the availability of locally-grown produce in food deserts, like the one in Richmond’s Church Hill community.
The church worked with NRCS conservationists and state and federal partners to expand their Darrel Rollins Memorial Community Garden into a year-round operation. They also brought in Tricycle Gardens, a non-profit that has been growing food in the city for a decade.  They helped manage the farm and offered fresh, locally grown produce through a church-hosted farmers market.
The group is maximizing production in minimal spaces with an additional high tunnel, as well as adding a flower and herb garden to bring beauty and revenue to area churches and restaurants. Executive Director Sally Schwitters also plans to create a healing garden to serve as a place of rest and refuge for workers and visitors.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), a key partner in this alliance, has been working to increase access to more than 130 farmers markets across the state by encouraging more market managers to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. With funding from Bon Secours Richmond Health System, residents are able to double the value of their SNAP benefits at the market every Thursday.
“Access to healthy and affordable food is a big challenge in communities like Church Hill,” says Audrey Rowe, Administrator for FNS. “By supporting grassroots efforts like the 31st Street Baptist urban farm, we are all champions for food justice.”
To learn more about how USDA is working to increase access to fresh foods at local farmers markets, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/ebt/learn-about-snap-benefits-farmers-markets.  Information about the NRCS Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative is also available on the agency website.
Volunteers shoveling wood chips to be spread in the high tunnel
Volunteers shovel wood chips to be spread in the high tunnel to prepare the site for planting new crops. (Photo by Sally Schwitters, Executive Director of Tricycle Gardens)
    

Petition demands Macy's dump Donald Trump - Jun. 30, 2015

First it was Univision, then it was NBC. Could Macy's be next to cut ties with Donald Trump?



Over 700,000 people have signed a MoveOn.org petition that asks Macy's CEO Terry J. Lundren to end the department store's business relationship with the outspoken developer. The petition is longstanding but has been updated in light of Trump's derogatory comments about Mexico and other business partners fleeing him.



Petition demands Macy's dump Donald Trump - Jun. 30, 2015

Your Surface 3 Can Now Have Windows 10

Microsoft has released updates for its Surface Pro 3 devices, allowing the tablet/laptops to run the new Windows 10 operating system.
That’s one of the changes the company announced this week with its new firmware for the Surface Pro 3 and its sister product, the Surface 3.


Your Surface 3 Can Now Have Windows 10

Rural Community Development Spurs Growth

From the #USDA:


This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio.
Though many of us don’t see farmers every day, we certainly see and benefit from the products of their farms every day. Rural America makes many cameos in urban and suburban life, from the array of foods we eat to the sweaters our Olympic and sports champions wear and the batteries that power our cars. A recent White House blog states that although Rural America provides the vast majority of food and energy benefits for the rest of the country, too many Americans in rural areas are not sharing in the nation’s economic growth. Infrastructure development, technological advancement and school improvement can contribute significantly to rural and community development strategies that could spur economic growth. USDA is committed to spreading the Nation’s prosperity to rural areas, and has a long history of funding programs aimed at promoting rural America.
Adequate infrastructure development enhances productivity and economic growth. Facilities for marketing, credit, and telecommunications, equipment for transportation, water, and energy all improve rural quality of life and connects rural America with the urban and global economies.  USDA continues to fund infrastructure investments designed to help grow rural businesses and spur economic growth through its Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program. Many studies have shown that areas with inadequate infrastructure lag in per capita income. Improved transportation infrastructure can significantly contribute to rural economic growth.
We have seen how influential technological developments in agriculture have been in driving growth and change in the farm sector. Since World War II, technological developments in agriculture have grown in leaps and bounds with advances in mechanization, increased availability of chemical inputs and animal and plant breeding technologies. This has spurred growth through productivity and increasing economies of scale. Rural communities can benefit from technological development. For example access to broadband internet technology has direct implications for the well-being of communities. Research suggests that broadband use fosters community involvement, enhances the provision of services such as health and education, and expands household income prospects through such activities as telework.  USDA continues to fund rural telecommunications infrastructure projects that have improved broadband service throughout rural America through programs such as the Community Connect Grant.
There continues to be considerable discussion regarding the vital roles that good schools and a well-educated population play in promoting sound, local economic and community development activities. Healthy and well fed kids are a precursor to improving a student’s education potential. USDA promotes local school wellness policy requirements programs through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act helps to foster nutrition and other school based activities that are designed to promote wellness in schools.
USDA’s continued commitment to spur growth in rural communities appears to be reaping rewards.  The rural community resurgence continues in earnest as rural communities capitalize on programs to improve their infrastructure, advance their technology and improve their schools.
    

Morning sun on abandoned Alberta -- at Rosedale.

Photo courtesy of Glen Boulier:



Hoover Dam / Lake Mead

From the Bureau of Reclamation:




This stunning aerial photo of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead was taken just last week!

Tags:  #hooverdam lakemead 

Have a Happy Fourth of July!

From National Mall and Memorial Parks:




Stay tuned this week as we prepare for the grand celebration of our nation's independence on Saturday. We'll be posting updates on special events on the National Mall, and information on the best place to view the incredibly fireworks display. As always, you can find more details on our park website: 
http://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalmall4th/index.htm

And be sure to use these hashtags when you're celebrating with us on Saturday! #july4th#nationalmall4th #findyourpark

Happy Birthday, Mesa Verde!

From Mesa Verde National Park:




Happy 109th birthday from the current and former staff to Mesa Verde National Park.

Could archeologist (and future superintendent) Jesse Nusbaum have imagined the park as it is today when he took this photograph?

Can you picture the park 109 years from today?

(cjh)

#nationalpark

Just another day in the field.

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS):




Just another day in the field.

One of the major benefits of working as a scientist for the USGS is you get to spend some of your time doing work in the great outdoors! Here's one of our scientists (look really close) measuring streamflow in Little Muddy River below Cow Creek near Williston, North Dakota. If you're interested in working for the USGS, you can find current job openings at the USGS by going to: http://on.doi.gov/USGSOpenJobs

Photo credit: Brent Hanson, USGS.

#USGS #science #scientists #jobs #NorthDakota#streamgaging

Arkansas Woman Graduates from Youth Loan to Become FSA's 13,000th Microloan Recipient

From the #USDA:


Dakota Williams with cattle
Dakota Williams said raising cattle is her career. At age 18, she already has plenty of experience and within the next 10 years she hopes to own her own farm. Photo by Kim Whitten Photography.
At age 18, Dakota Williams knows exactly what she wants to do with her life — own a farm and raise cattle.
“[Farming] is all I’ve ever known. I’m a third generation farmer, working the same land as my grandparents and I don’t want to see it end,” said Dakota. A member of the Cherokee tribe, Dakota said her ancestors lived off the land and she wants to honor them in her work. “Not many people can say they live in an area where their ancestors came from and they are still trying to make that land better.”
Under the Obama Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has worked to improve housing, better educational opportunities, improve infrastructure and create employment and business opportunities for Native American families, including veterans and youth.
Dakota began her cattle business on her family’s Arkansas farm at age 12 with a Farm Service Agency (FSA) Youth Loan. Today, one month after graduating from high school, Dakota is taking that business and expanding it with an FSA Microloan to meet demand for a specialty mix breed of cow.
But this isn’t a regular microloan. For FSA, it’s the 13,000th microloan issued since the program was implemented in 2013.
“This is an outstanding accomplishment and shows how USDA is working to meet the needs of small, beginning and non-traditional farm operations,” said FSA Administrator Val Dolcini. “We’re helping Dakota build her own version of the American dream. She went from a youth loan to a microloan and will soon be able to graduate to commercial lending and meet the goal of owning her own farm.”
The microloan program allows beginning, small and mid-sized farmers along with non-traditional farm operations to access up to $50,000 in loans using a simplified application process. Participation in the popular program has increased 58 percent since last year, with already 5,000 microloans issued this year alone, at a $24,000 average. About 70 percent of microloans are issued to beginning farmers and 55 percent to first-time FSA borrowers.
For Dakota, that equates to purchasing more Angus cows to breed with Brangus bulls to create an Ultrablack breed. “It’s a growing breed and what more people are wanting,” said Dakota, whose talent for showing and high quality of standards has made her stand out among her peers.
In 2013, she was inducted into the Arkansas Purple Circle, a prestigious club that recognizes junior livestock exhibitors who have earned multiple championship honors at the Arkansas State Fair. She also won the Bill Nix Best of the Best Showmanship in 2013, the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association Reserve Grand Champion Cow/Calf pair in 2014 and was named the Junior Brangus Breeders Association Queen for 2013-14 and 2015-16.
Dakota will carry her long list of awards and accomplishments to college in the fall where she will focus on agriculture business.
“She is a good leader and a good role model for others,” said Willetta Everett, farm loan officer with the Sharp County Farm Service Agency. Everett has worked with Dakota to get a youth loan and the microloan. “Youth loans are really good and teach young students responsibility and work ethics and get them interested in agriculture, so when they graduate into the adult world they carry those traits with them.” FSA youth loans allow for establishing and operating income-producing projects in connection with their participation in 4-H Clubs, FFA and similar organizations. The project must be planned and operated with the help of the organization adviser and produce sufficient income to repay the loan.
While in college, Dakota said she plans to keep pushing her business by working early mornings and late nights, much like she did in high school.
“You have to be dedicated and know what you are getting into,” said Dakota. “If you don’t want to put in the time, then it’s not worth it in the end.”
For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/microloanswww.fsa.usda.gov/youth-loanswww.usda.gov/tribalrelations or visit an FSA county office near you. To find your local FSA county office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
Dakota Williams with her cattle
Dakota Williams with her cattle. Photo by Kim Whitten Photography.
    

Turning 'food deserts' into an oasis of healthy - Jun. 29, 2015

Whole meals can be had at the corner store: Chips and salsa. Chocolate bars and ice cream. Pretzels and Cheese Whiz.


Tasty occasional snacks, no doubt. But when millions of Americas rely on convenience stores as their primary grocery, offering more nutritious options becomes a public health imperative.



Turning 'food deserts' into an oasis of healthy - Jun. 29, 2015

Team Up for School Nutrition Success

From the #USDA:


American Heart Association’s Nancy Brown and Executive Director of the Dallas Independent School District’s Food and Child Nutrition Services work with children at the Charles Rice Learning Center in their school garden
American Heart Association’s Nancy Brown and Executive Director of the Dallas Independent School District’s Food and Child Nutrition Services work with children at the Charles Rice Learning Center in their school garden. (Photo credit: Dallas Independent School District)
The following guest blog highlights the important work of our partner the American Heart Association. The association is a tireless advocate for supporting nutritious options in all environments, including the workplace, grocery stores, restaurants, and schools.  AHA recently participated in USDA’s Team Up for School Nutrition Success initiative, connecting them with school nutrition professionals and other partners dedicated to supporting healthy habits in children that will last a lifetime.
By Kristy Anderson, Government Relations Manager, American Heart Association
It’s the number one killer of Americans and it costs the most to treat. Yet 80 percent of cardiovascular disease cases would disappear if we practiced a little prevention such as eating right and exercising more.
Prevention is absolutely essential when it comes to our kids. Right now one in three children in the U.S. are overweight and obese, and only about one percent meet the American Heart Association’s criteria for ideal heart health. Poor nutrition habits are putting children at risk for diabetes and fatty liver disease, and 90 percent of kids consume too much salt, which puts them at risk for hypertension – once thought to be an adult-only disease.
Because children develop eating habits early in life and many get 50 percent or more of their calories in schools, supporting nutritious school foods naturally fell in line with the American Heart Association’s mission: to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. I have had numerous association volunteer doctors and cardiologists tell me that we need to do something about the number of chronically ill children that come into their practices sick from the unhealthy foods they eat.
While healthy school food will not magically fix America’s childhood obesity epidemic overnight, we recognize it is most definitely a critical piece of the puzzle. That’s why the American Heart Association joined Team Up for School Nutrition Success as an allied organization.
We are proud to work on healthy foods from every angle, and our partnership with other Team Up organizations exposes us to new ideas from those who work every day to keep our kids healthy, which in turn encourages us to do even more. Once kids are out of school, they need to have access to healthy foods in other parts of their lives, which is why the association advocates for nutritious options in all environments, including the workplace, grocery stores, and restaurants.  
The association is hard at work in our nation’s schools, educating youth about heart-healthy habits overall through a variety of different programs, including Jump Rope for Heart, school gardens, playgrounds and CPR in schools. Our Voices for Healthy Kids initiative is on the ground in communities across the country, working on policies to make all environments healthier for young people. We have always been a strong proponent of science-based nutrition standards in schools, as well as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which is the most seminal public health victory for this generation and those to come. Team Up for School Nutrition Success is a great way for us to connect all of the dots.
School food service directors and their staff are on the front lines of a massive – and long overdue – public health change. They are the motivators who make sure our children eat nutritious foods and develop healthy habits that will last for a lifetime. Team Up for School Nutrition Success provides an opportunity to share the science and evidence on why their work is so important, proving what they’re doing is much more than simply serving kids a meal at school.
Team Up has allowed us to meet these amazing change agents and learn about their triumphs and challenges on the ground. These critical lessons will help us be that much more successful when it comes to keeping our kids healthy.