By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Bob Gorman from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Barb Depew, a child nutrition consultant with the Kansas State Department of Education visited Centre schools Thursday to view school gardens and learn about Centre’s Farm to School program.

Centre received a pilot grant for the project last spring.

Some things promoted by the program were already in place, such as the greenhouse and school gardens. The grant allowed ag teachers to expand it.

Laura Klenda, Cherie Trieb, and their assistant, Debbie Casey, shared the various aspects of the program. They related how food grown in the gardens has been used in school lunches and to teach nutrition facts.

In addition, the school established an outdoor wildlife learning site that includes native plants and perennial flowers.

With money from the grant, horticulture students planted an orchard.

Casey said she has plans to install a water fountain in the garden. Also planned are installation of a hydroponic system and fish tank.

The officials viewed a video of students involved in the program. Afterward, Gorman said it was “pretty advanced” for a small school.

Noting that Centre Elementary School was given Green School of the Year recognition in 2010, Depew said the Centre school district is “very innovative.”