Van Buren School District will serve the community by providing a learning environment that enables students to attain their full potential and that promotes lifelong learning. FoodCorps members support this mission by helping maintain established school gardens, promoting fruits and vegetables in the cafeteria, and leading garden and cooking classes in 2 elementary schools. They partner with local organizations, local farmers, and parents to bring Farm to School to life and to create lasting change. Over the years, these schools have been named: Best Start Up School Garden, Best Overall School Garden, Best Nutrition Education Garden, and Best Community Engagement School Garden in the state of Arkansas. You may even spot a few school chicken coops in these vibrant outdoor classrooms!

Located in the beautiful River Valley, Van Buren has a population of 24,000 and neighbors Fort Smith, the 2nd largest city in Arkansas. The Main Street Historic Downtown offers many attractions including antique stores, the Old Frisco Train Depot and cozy bookshops. The area also offers a variety of environments from the rural countryside to the more urban city life. Van Buren is a smaller district, but they are making huge waves as they establish one of the first ever school aquaponics growing facilities in our state! Talk about a commitment to food access! Arkansas is deemed “The Natural State”, and that love of nature is so evident in the excitement we see for school garden programs! FoodCorps service members at the Van Buren sites are part of an Arkansas cohort that includes 11 service members across 4 communities. Our team is run by two AmeriCorps alumni who work hard to ensure members are confident in bringing their schools’ wellness visions to life. We are a small team that isn’t afraid to get our hands dirty for our communities!