Agriculture
Farm to School of Park County works across school districts in classrooms, gardens, farms, and school cafeterias to help children better understand where food comes from, build practical food and agriculture skills, and increase access to healthy, locally grown food.
Park County faces growing economic pressures that threaten both its rural way of life and the well-being of local families. According to the 2025 We Will Report, median household income declined for the first time in 13 years to under $67,000, while the cost of living for a family of three has climbed above $95,700. At the same time, as of 2025, Park County has experienced a 17% decline in local farms and a 23% decline in agricultural employment, threatening both the region’s agricultural heritage and its capacity to produce local food. Farm to School responds by creating paid, hands-on opportunities for young people to build skills and explore careers in agriculture and food systems while strengthening connections among schools, producers, and the broader community.
Food insecurity compounds these pressures. The Livingston Food Resource Center now serves nearly 20% of Park County residents each month, and approximately half of local students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. In summer 2026 alone, 8,758 free meals were served to local children. Meanwhile, school foodservice programs face serious staffing and capacity shortages that make it increasingly difficult to consistently prepare nutritious, appealing, affordable meals. Farm to School works alongside school foodservice teams with local food procurement, produce processing, volunteers, outreach, and operational support—helping ensure that children have access to healthy food while strengthening the systems designed to feed them.
As demand for Farm to School programming continues to grow, the organization is looking for ways to build capacity without losing the hands-on, community-based nature of its work. AgCorps has become one important part of that strategy.
“AgCorps gives us a chance to expand thoughtfully,” said Rachael Jones, Executive Director of Farm to School of Park County. “A service member can help us test new ideas, strengthen systems, support programming, and better understand where we need additional capacity long-term. At the same time, they get real responsibility, professional skills, and deep connections to the community. It's a triple win.”
Current Farm to School AgCorps Specialist Averie Wheatley has supported the organization’s efforts to grow food for Park County children, strengthen volunteer engagement, and expand capacity across Farm to School’s growing spaces and programs. She will complete her service term this November.
“What drew me to Farm to School was my passion for addressing hunger and meeting a basic need,” Wheatley said. “AgCorps was an avenue for me to help accomplish that goal, and it's been good and hard and fun along the way - from weeding to irrigating to teaching children and even building a root vegetable washer, this experience will stick with me forever!”
Farm to School is now recruiting its next AgCorps member for a January–November 2027 and April - November 2027 term based in Livingston. The approximately 40-hour-per-week position will support programs connecting K–12 students with local agriculture, nutritious food, gardens, farms, and sustainable food systems. Benefits include a living allowance, healthcare, and an education award to help pay for school or student loans.
The role is a good fit for someone interested in agriculture, education, community organizing, nonprofit work, or food systems who wants meaningful, hands-on experience while contributing directly to the Park County community.
Montana AgCorps is a statewide AmeriCorps program that places service members with organizations working in agriculture, education, and environmental stewardship. Since launching in 2024, AgCorps members have contributed more than 30,000 hours of service across Montana.
Those interested in the Farm to School of Park County position can contact Amanda Coyle at 406-444-7819 or Amanda.Coyle@mt.gov for more information, or apply through My.americorps.gov.