Crompond Farm Fest 2023

Crompond students enjoyed a day filled with vegetables, plants, dancing, and so much more at the school’s annual Farm Fest event on October 19.

Started in 2016, the themed event has fourth and fifth graders learning about good nutrition and sustainability in a fun and interactive way from farmers, vendors, and volunteers.

For two hours, the students moved between 10 stations, where they participated in hands-on lessons about nutrition, fitness, soil, compost, bees, maple syrup, and vegetables. The students also sampled fresh carrot soup that was made using produce from Crompond’s own garden!

The special day was organized by fourth-grade teacher Cari Byrnes and YCSD Director of Wellness Laura Tolosi. Ms. Byrnes said Farm Fest gives the students an opportunity to understand the local agricultural landscape while providing them with a hands-on approach to learning about sustainability.

Ms. Byrnes presented the Farmers Market, where each student was able to take home a piece of produce that was generously donated by Westchester's Best Home Delivery.

Of course, no Farm Fest would be complete without a little dancing! The students were excited to move their feet and learn a line dance to the tune of “Cotton-Eyed Joe” from Ms. Armstrong and Ms. Salustri.

Special thank you to Aramark, Hilltop Hanover Farm, Bob McCann, Northwell Health and Margaret Ribaudo, D.I.G. Farm and Allison Turcan, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Thomas, Cornell Cooperative/4H and Stephen Soltish, and everyone else who contributed their time, resources, expertise to this exciting day.

The fun didn’t stop that day! On Friday, students enjoyed beet chips made by Ms. Tolosi and Chrissy DePole. Some beets came from Crompond’s garden while others were donated by Baldor Speciality Foods and Westchester Best Home Delivery.

Farm Fest is tied in with the school’s participation in national Farm-to-School Month, an October celebration of food education, school gardens, and lunch trays filled with healthy local ingredients. It also aligns with Crompond’s commitment to sustainability, rooted in the school’s pollinator garden and outdoor classroom, which every class visits regularly.