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YORKTON - Dr. Brass School students in Yorkton will be learning a bit more about where their food comes this week. 

The school is one of six in cities across the province involved with this year’s ‘Breakfast From the Farm’ program, which is organized by Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan.

How it will work is that a local Tim Hortons will deliver a hot egg sandwich and drink to each of schools in Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Lloydminster and Dr. Brass June 2, similar to the hot lunch programs that already exist in some schools. About 1700 will be fed through the program.

Farm & Food Care will also deliver a bag for each student with additional snacks, recipes, pencils and activities showcasing Saskatchewan-grown foods. They are also coordinating a series of interactive online activities such as virtual farm tours and agriculture trivia contests for students to learn more about Saskatchewan food and farming.

Clinton Monchuk, Executive Director of Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan, explained with COVID-19 they had to be creative about how to deliver information about Saskatchewan food and farming in a safe and fun way.

“Our objective with this project is first and foremost to feed kids,” said Monchuk in a release, who is also a grain and egg farmer himself. “We also want to make the connection between foods we’re eating and the farms that produce those foods.

Monchuk told Yorkton This Week the program is designed to allow students to interact with farmers.

In this case there will be a virtual tour of Monchuk’s egg farm at Lanigan.

“We want to make sure we provide the opportunity for students to learn where their food comes from . . . a chance to learn a little bit more about their food,” he said.

So part of the virtual tour will be a chance to ask questions about “how we raise our birds? How eggs are processed?” said Monchuk.

Monchuk said the opportunity to ask questions is key.

“If you don’t offer the opportunity to ask questions, there’s no engagement,” he said.

Hopefully, in the end the students will have greater knowledge of farming and more pride in the food produced in Saskatchewan, offered Monchuk.

There is also an online quiz with questions geared to different grade levels. The top classroom in each school will receive a $300 certificate.

“They can use that money to buy something for their classroom,” said Monchuk.

It’s a good opportunity for students said local instructor Susan Muir.

“Our students are excited to learn about food grown here in Saskatchewan,” said Muir, Grade 4/5 teacher at Dr. Brass School in Yorkton. “Connecting children to where their food comes from provides opportunities to learn about the importance of healthy eating and food sustainability. Hands-on experiences like gardening can create and foster wonder, while teaching about becoming stewards of our environment.”

Monchuk said he is hopeful the program will build some connections between the students and the farm.

“There’s less interaction (today) with actual farmers and ranchers,” he said. “…That generational connection that used to exist – a family member actually on the farm to ask a question – doesn’t exist anymore . . .Only a small portion of our population has a link to a farm.”

Monchuk added it would be great if every student could come to his farm, but that isn’t possible, but they can still build connections.

Led by Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan and presented by the Saskatchewan Egg Producers, Breakfast From the Farm is a collaboration with Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, Canola Eat Well, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, SaskOats, Grain Millers, SaskMilk and Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan.