Issuu

FALL 2023

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, nonprofit professional organization representing nearly 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The Wisconsin Chapter of SNA (SNA-WI) has nearly 1000 members, over half of which are certified, and another 30 have achieved their SNS Credential (School Nutrition Specialist).

SNA-WI MISSION

Use our collaborative voice to advocate for quality nutrition for all children.

SNA-WI VISION

Serve as leadership and innovative resource for school nutrition.

NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS BECKY TERRY

JENNY THORKILDSON

KAITLYN TAURIAINEN

IRENE PAWLISCH

MIKE GASPER

CAITLIN HARRISON

COLE WERONKE

ELLEN LEASURE

LAURA ROWELL

JAMIE WILSON

JOSHUA SCHMIDT

NATHAN BUTZLAFF

BOBBIE GUYETTE

S N A - W I S TA F F EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR eric ostermann

ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR emily dieringer EVENTS & MEMBERSHIP MANAGER cole weronke OFFICE MANAGER sandy shimon GRAPHIC DESIGNER darling vang

SNA-WI HEADQUARTERS 563 Carter Court, Suite B, Kimberly, WI 54136 920-560-5630 | snaw-wi@badgerbay.co

INDUSTRY INFO

Gold or Silver Industry members of the School Nutrition Association of Wisconsin (SNA-WI) receive a complimentary ad in each of the three issues of School Tray Today. These issues go out in Fall, Winter, and Spring. You can find current due dates for ads, ad sizes, acceptable file types, and where to send your ad on this on www.sna-wi.org/page/SchoolTrayTodayIndustry!

school tray today • fall 2023

CONTENTS

On the Cover 5th grade students grab Beef Teriyaki bites that were taste tested for approval by students in celebration of Nation School Lunch Week the day before it was on the lunch menu at Wautoma's Parkside School. Taste tests are a great way to introduce menu items and get students excited to try healthy food choices and develop a positive attitude towards school meals! Wautoma's Foodservice Program has implemented many new food items on the lunch menu that include organic and locally grown fruit and vegetables! Some examples are russet potatoes, roasted rutabaga, roasted butternut squash, raw beet sticks and fresh white mushrooms!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SEASONAL FEATURE

Welcome to SNA-WI's Fall 2023 School Tray Today

Photo Credit: Katie Schaefer Wautoma Area School District, School/Community Relations Coordinator

WELCOME NEW SNA-WI MEMBERS! INDUSTRY SPONSORS Special Thank You!

Shell Lake Pumpkins

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Messy Motivation

MARKETING AND MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORT Would you Live?

PAST ELECT'S MESSAGE Peer Motivation

PAST PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The Power of Self-Motivation: Igniting Your Inner Drive

NEW DIRECTOR TOOLKIT MENTOR MENTEE PROGRAM

MENTOR AND RESOURCE COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORT Motivation Ideas

Unlocking the Power of Motivation

SNA-WI 2023 Annual Conference Recap

SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT

2023-2024 CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

SEASONAL FEATURE

Get Involved with SNA-WI! Join a Committee Call for Board Nominations

SEASONAL FEATURE

EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORT Kitchen Visits Motivate

2024 SNA-WI ANNUAL CONFERENCE SAVE THE DATE 2024 ADVOCACY DAY SNA-WI STAFF UPDATE Welcome New SNA-WI Staff!

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORT SNA-WI Annual Conference through Legislative Eyes

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Assembly Speaker Creates Task Force on Childhood Obesity

INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR REPORT Dear Motivation

NATIONAL

2023 Annual National Conference

Governor Evers/DSPS Unveils New Occupational License Processing Dashboard

Governor Evers Creates Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence

Notes from National

State Rep. Deb Andraca Appointed to Legislature's Joint Finance Committee Veteran State Legislator Announces Run for Congress

SEASONAL FEATURE

Celebrating #Farm2School month and #GreatApple Crunch

NATIONAL

SNA-WI NEWS

2023 Lifetime Achievement Award

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

SEASONAL FEATURE Celebrating #NSLW23 across Wisconsin

2023-2024 INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD fall 2023 • school tray today

2023-24

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT bobbie guyette, new richmond school district 701 e 11th st new richmond, wi 54017 bguyette@newrichmond.k12.wi.us

CHAPTER PRESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE amy fisher, spring valley school district s 1450 county rd cc spring valley, wi 54767 fishera@springvalley.k12.wi.us

MENTOR & RESOURCE COMMITTEE CHAIR becky terry, de forest school district 520 e holum st de forest, wi 53532 bterry@deforestschools.org

PRESIDENT-ELECT kaitlin tauriainen ashwaubenon school district 1055 griffiths lane ashwaubenon, wi 54304 ktauriainen@ashwaubenonk12.org

EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR irene pawlisch, madison area technical colllege 1701 wright st, madison, wi 53704 irene.pawlisch@gmail.com

INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE jenny thorkildson, donovan food brokerage 4230 e. towne blvd unit 261 madison, wi 53704 jenny@donovanfoodbrokerage.com

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT caitlin harrison, elmbrook school district 3555 north calhoun rd brookfield, wi 53005 harrisoc@elmbrookschools.org

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR jamie wilson, superior school district 3025 tower ave superior, wi 54880 jamie.wilson@superior.k12.wi.us

SECRETARY/TREASURER laura rowell, howard-suamico school district 1217 cardinal ln green bay, wi 54313 laurrowe@hssdschools.org

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR joshua schmidt, shell lake school district 271 hwy 63 s shell lake, wi 54871 schmidtj@shelllake.k12.wi.us

DPI STATE DIRECTOR jessica sharkus, wisconsin department of public instruction (dpi) 125 s webster st px box 7841 madison, wi 53707 jessica.sharkus@dpi.wi.gov

Click on the icons below to be directed to our pages!

Like/follow us to stay current on what’s happening and what we’re doing!

school tray today • fall 2023

WELCOME

WELCOME TO FALL SCHOOL TRAY TODAY! BY BOBBIE GUYETTE, 2023-2024 SNA-WI PRESIDENT

I hope you are as excited as I am to dive into this issue! Personally, I still cannot get over how fabulous our virtual platform of this publication is. A huge shout out to Badger Bay and our SNA WI Board for making this our new reality. This issue is jam packed with snapshots of summer conference happenings and fall promotions. Make sure you look close, you could be in one of the many photos! Thank you to all who attended summer SNA WI and SNA events. We hope to see many of you at our events this coming year. Our board and Badger Bay are working extremely hard to consider your feedback and ensure you are provided a quality membership in our professional association. Anyone else think it is a bit crazy that we are already at the end of October? Didn't we just start school? Here's the thing, we as SNA WI board members all understand that at this point in the school year we need a bit of a boost to maintain the same level of enthusiasm we entered the school year with. I know I could use a bit of motivation and inspiration! I truly hope you are able to take a few minutes out of your busy day to really read through this publication. I promise you will not regret it, and you will walk away feeling motivated and inspired. You've got this!

BOBBIE GUYETTE, MPH, RD, CD

PRESIDENT | BGUYETTE@NEWRICHMOND.K12.WI.US

fall 2023 • school tray today

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WELCOME, NEW SNA-WI MEMBERS!

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2023-2024 INDUSTRY SUPPORTERS

New Members as of 10/01/23 Shannon Anderson, Madison Metropolitan SD Ursula Ballard, Madison Metropolitan SD Holly Branville, New Richmond SD

Hudson SD Emily Riedler, Kenosha USD Kristin Runk, Hudson SD Mariah Warnecke, Sheboygan Area SD

Dawn Brown, Jefferson SD

Natalee Brzack, Appleton Area SD

Kayla Fleischmann, Jefferson SD

Holly Burr, Appleton Area SD

Annette Jackson, Madison Metropolitan SD

Jennifer Czerwinski, Appleton Area SD

Laura Jacquette, Sheboygan Falls SD Nicole Jessick, Cadott SD Gina Klatt, New Richmond SD Cassandra Lein, Spring Valley SD Dustin Lundt, Madison Metropolitan SD Jeffrey Orr, Madison Metropolitan SD

Rosy Doyle, Adams-Friendship SD Nancy Hetzel, Stevens Point Area SD Austin Holak, Holmen SD Tara Petter, Clear Lake SD Cindy Retzack, La Casa De Esperanza Jill Scafe, Holmen SD Joanie Smith, Holmen SD

Josh Perkins, Madison Metropolitan SD

Marco Victoria, Appleton Area SD

Tamira Rasco

Jenny Wegner, Holmen SD

Tyrone Reese, Madison Metropolitan SD

Diane Wittman, Appleton Area SD

Vicky Tompkins, Madison Metropolitan SD Elizabeth Walters, Jefferson SD Damien Williams, Madison Metropolitan SD Eric Zimdars, Madison Metropolitan SD Jamie Arndt Alex Bruner, Hudson SD Rhea Burks, Kenosha USD Kim Craigs, Superior SD Shayna Manikowski, Hudson SD Tamara Niedzielski,

Julianne Penrose Rebecca Blyth

Paid as of October 1, 2023

Gold National Food Group, Inc.

Rich's Products

Dole Packaged Foods

Schwan's Company

General Mills

KeyImpact Sales & Systems, Inc.

J.T.M. FoodGroup

Fork Farms

Mirkovich and Associates

Jones Dairy Farm

Boelter

Foster Farms

Gordon Food Service Kellogg's

Ute Eckstein, La Crosse SD Charles Charmley, Poynette SD Lavesa Glover-Verhagen Seymour SD, Devin Micke, G-E-T SD Jaime Hisel, Spring Green SD

Affinity Group Cavendish Farms Inc.

Specialized

D. A. Berther, Inc. Donovan Food Brokerage

Waypoint ES Foods

General Parts, LLC GVM Food Marketing Heartland School Solutions HPS - Group Purchasing

SA Piazza "Wild Mike's Pizza"

International Food Solution Inc. Kessenich's Lakeland Milwaukee

Silver

Master Sales Ritchie Marketing Scholastic Equipment Company

Butter Buds Food Service

LINQ

CORE Foodservice

Multiteria

Domino's Smart Slice

Nardone Bros. Pizza

Idahoan Foods, LLC

Peterson Farms Fresh Inc.

Infinite Campus

S&F Foods Inc

JM Smucker Company

Sunset Orchard/Richland Hills

Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Wisconsin Beef Council, Inc.

Street Level Food Marketing The Waite Group Tyson

CONSIDER JOINING SNA-WI AS A GOLD, SILVER, INDUSTRY MEMBER, OR NON-PROFIT MEMBER! If you have not renewed your Industry Membership for 2023-2024, please contact the SNA-WI office immediately: sna-wi@badgerbay.co or 920-560-5630. LEARN MORE

$1,800

GOLD INDUSTRY MEMBERS

Debra Reinke Katie Solem, Superior SD

Industry

Participation in SNA-WI events at no additional cost Technology advancements to provide real-time customer interactions Full Page color ad in School Tray Today digizine with direct link to preferred website or contact Complimentary 30-day job postings on SNA-WI website Opportunity to participate in Products on Parade feature at Annual Conference Company name featured with link to company website on header of SNA-WI online member directory Opportunity to provide news and company updates on the SNA-WI news feed Feature on SNA-WI's Facebook page for new products/ideas SNA-WI member emails delivered directly to your inbox

$1,500

SILVER INDUSTRY MEMBERS

Participation in SNA-WI events at no additional cost Technology advancements to provide real-time customer interactions Half Page color ad in School Tray Today digizine with direct link to preferred website or contact Complimentary 30-day job postings on SNA-WI website Opportunity to provide news and company updates on the SNA-WI news feed SNA-WI member emails delivered directly to your inbox

$500

INDUSTRY MEMBERS

Reduced SNA-WI event exhibitor rates at Annual Conference Technology advancements to provide real-time customer interactions Opportunity to place ad in School Tray Today digizine with direct link to preferred website or contact Complimentary 30-day job postings on SNA-WI website Opportunity to provide news and company updates on the SNA-WI news feed SNA-WI member emails delivered directly to your inbox

$100

NON-PROFIT PARTNER MEMBERS Reduced SNA-WI event exhibitor rates at Annual Conference Individual attendees from your organization pay the member rate for events/conferences Company listing in SNA-WI featured online member directory Access to SNA-WI Membership Directory on SNA-WI website Opportunity to provide news and company updates on the SNA-WI news feed Complimentary 30-day job postings on SNA-WI website SNA-WI member emails delivered directly to your inbox

fall 2023 • school tray today

Scratch-Like Quality Labor Saving

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

MESSY MOTIVATION BY BOBBIE GUYETTE, 2023-2024 SNA-WI PRESIDENT-ELECT

I think the path to success is messy, and therefore my motivation to that success is messy.

I am not too shy to say that my biggest motivator is success. Yes, I am stimulated by positive feedback and great results. On some level I feel many people are motivated in this way. However, it goes much deeper than what the common idea of success is. I think the path to success is messy, and therefore my motivation to that success is messy. During my very first school board meeting in my current position I showed a graphic to portray the fact that the path to success is not a straight line, but instead a big ball of squiggly lines. If there was any profession or program where that rings true, it is ours! We have experienced setbacks, changing regulations, and not to mention all the things we go through in our personal lives. It is incredibly challenging to stay motivated through the low points and difficult seasons. It’s messy! For me, if I concentrate on the grandness of our work and how important it is I get overwhelmed and I shut down. It is very difficult for me to find motivation

in the big picture. Instead I break it down, and when you break it down and realize all the good you do and all that you are truly accomplishing that is the ticket to motivation and then your success. My number one motivation is looking around me at the amazing school nutrition team in my local district and my close colleagues throughout the state. I see the passion and dedication in these individuals. I see the sparks of creativity. I see the interactions with students. I see the endless hours put in to do everything possible to make our profession respected and valued. When I see these things and reflect I can not help but feel waves of excitement. No matter where you are or where you end up there will be highs and lows. Motivation will seem unattainable at times. Rest in the fact that there is no right way or perfect way to success. What gets you there, and the motivation behind it, are created with each step you take (even if they go the wrong direction). Enjoy the messy ride! BOBBIE GUYETTE, MPH, RD, CD

PRESIDENT | BGUYETTE@NEWRICHMOND.K12.WI.US

fall 2023 • school tray today

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school tray today • spring 2023

PRESIDENT-ELECT’S MESSAGE

PEER MOTIVATION BY KAITLIN TAURIAINEN, 2023-2024 SNA-WI PRESIDENT-ELECT

Do you ever feel stuck? Like no one can understand anything you do in your job? People always ask us “what do you do?” and if you’re like me, you just stare blankly because you don’t know where to start. I usually just say something like “I feed kids. I pick the food and create menus… balance budgets, hire staff, some nutrition education in the classroom.” It’s compact and easy for someone outside of our field to understand, but it doesn’t come anywhere near to the depth of our profession. For years, I felt like I was drowning in weird day-to-day occurrences that no one could understand. I’d get up in the morning and think “ugh… not today.” When I first started working in School Nutrition, I was an island. I didn’t know anyone well enough to feel comfortable calling them up and discussing my day. I didn’t have a buying group. I thought I must be alone in this feeling.

committee for SNA-WI’s annual conference. I was delighted! This opened up a world of possibilities! I joined this group, and then the SNA-WI legislative group, and met so many people. Being part of this organization has given me such a lift in my motivation to work. These people just get it. I now have group texts and a group email chains, and honestly, it’s the greatest thing that has ever happened to me in this job. I benefit from it, my job performance benefits from it, and most importantly, my students are benefiting from the knowledge shared between this group.

Sometimes motivation looks like friends that understand everything you do.

Shortly after, I joined a local buying group, gaining 5 new confidants that were going through the same thing I was. What a relief!! I finally found some of my people - other people that did the same job as me. We didn’t meet often, and I was too green to feel like I had anything worthy to share. I slowly started to open up and feel comfortable sharing my ideas. A couple years later, one of my colleagues from the buying group asked me if I wanted to be part of the steering

Isn’t it funny how a couple people popping into your life can make all the difference? I went from feeling like a crazy person to knowing what I was experiencing at work was normal. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and said “hey- I think you’d be good at this.” Sometimes motivation isn’t about a book study or trying to have the best program around. Sometimes motivation looks like friends that understand everything you do. I say all this to encourage you to find at least one person in your professional life who understands what you’re going through. Reach out to a surrounding district. Reach out to the SNA-WI board. Get involved. People can make all the difference!

KAITLIN TAURIAINEN

PRESIDENT-ELECT | KTAURIAINEN@ASHWAUBENONK12.ORG

fall 2023 • school tray today

Nicely done, beef. You give kids the protein they need to power through the day. For more information on beef as a nutrient-rich component of school lunch menus, visit www.beeftips.com/nutrition/beef-resource-guide or scan the QR code below.

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IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

THE POWER OF SELF-MOTIVATION:

IGNITING YOUR INNER DRIVE BY CAITLIN HARRISON, 2023-2024 SNA-WI IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Self-motivation is the fuel that propels individuals to reach their goals, overcome obstacles, and achieve their dreams. It is the inner fire that keeps us going when the going gets tough. While external factors like encouragement from others, rewards, or deadlines can provide temporary motivation, the most enduring and impactful source of motivation comes from within. In this article, we will explore the significance of self-motivation and provide practical tips for cultivating and maintaining it.

Self-motivation is the ability to generate the energy and enthusiasm required to pursue our goals, irrespective of external influences. It's that unwavering determination that pushes us to take action and persevere, even when faced with challenges or setbacks. Self-motivated individuals exhibit traits like resilience, discipline, and a strong sense of purpose.

Sustained Drive

External motivations, such as rewards or praise, are often short-lived. Self-motivation, on the other hand, is an enduring force that keeps us engaged and committed over the long haul.

Create a mental image of your success. Visualizing your goals can make them seem more attainable and inspire you to work towards them. Maintain a positive mindset. Replace self-doubt and negative self-talk with encouraging thoughts. Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in your abilities.

Stay Organized

...the most enduring and impactful source of motivation comes from within.

Independence

Relying solely on external motivations can be risky, as they can change or disappear. Self-motivated individuals are less affected by external fluctuations and can stay focused on their goals regardless of circumstances.

Personal Growth

Self-motivation often leads to continuous learning and improvement. When you are driven by your own desires and aspirations, you are more likely to seek out opportunities for growth and development.

Tips for Cultivating Self-Motivation Set Clear Goals

Define your goals precisely. Knowing what you want to achieve provides a clear sense of purpose, making it easier to stay motivated.

Break It Down

Visualize Success

Stay Positive

The Essence of Self-Motivation

Why Self-Motivation Matters

manageable tasks or milestones. Celebrate your achievements along the way to maintain motivation.

Large goals can be overwhelming. Divide them into smaller,

Use planners, to-do lists, or digital tools to stay organized and on track. A well-organized approach can prevent feelings of overwhelm and boost motivation.

Reward Yourself

Treat yourself when you achieve milestones. Small rewards can reinforce your motivation and give you something to look forward to.

Stay Flexible

Be open to adapting your goals and strategies when necessary. Flexibility allows you to overcome challenges and stay motivated in the face of setbacks.

Learn from Failure

Instead of seeing failure as a roadblock, view it as a learning opportunity. Analyze what went wrong, adjust your approach, and keep moving forward. Self-motivation is the cornerstone of personal and professional success. It is the inner force that empowers you to set ambitious goals and see them through to fruition. By setting clear objectives, staying positive, and maintaining resilience in the face of challenges, you can harness the power of self-motivation to achieve greatness. Remember, the journey may be tough, but with self-motivation as your driving force, you can overcome any obstacle that stands in your way.

CAITLIN HARRISON

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT | HARRISOC@ELMBROOKSCHOOLS.ORG

fall 2023 • school tray today

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SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT

UNLOCKING THE POWER OF MOTIVATION BY LAURA ROWELL, 2023-2024 SNA-WI SECRETARY/TREASURER

In the realm of leadership, the ability to motivate is not just a skill; it’s an art. Motivated teams don’t just meet expectations; they exceed them, fueling innovation and driving success. In this article, we share and explore the essential techniques our team has adopted that empower others not just within their teams but hopefully in their everyday interactions. Motivation by definition is the general desire or willingness of someone to do something. Pause. Literally. To think about the definition and each one of your team members. What drives your people to push toward your team goal? What will motivate them to help drive success? Then ask, what practices are you adopting to help encourage that? For our team, we determined that investing in the growth of our team through building professional development in partnership with relational development of each team member is important. One key strategy we focus on for professional development is listening and learning through podcasts together. One of my personal favorites for professional and personal growth is the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast. This podcast is designed to offer personal, practical coaching lessons that take the mystery out of leadership. He provides easy to understand tips you can use to lead yourself and your team. We as an entire department leadership team attend a Global Leadership Summit yearly in August to reset ourselves and our team. It’s a great place for after action of the year prior and to discuss each leader's mindset as well as think forward for the upcoming year. For relational development of the team we take every opportunity we have to engage in meaningful conversations with our staff members outside of did you finish panning

chicken strips? How many cases of broccoli do you have left in your freezer? It’s the next layer of what matters to them outside of the walls of the kitchen. What are their favorite things? What do they do outside of work? How do they relax? We did two significant things; 1) figure out each team member's favorites of drink, smell, color etc. and 2) develop specialized thank you cards. Firstly, this spreadsheet has allowed us to bring Pepsi to a cashier for doing the extra with students to a donut to a dishwasher who had to do double dishes in one day. Secondly, we have created food focused thank you cards in our department (Thanks a Bunch with bananas and You Broc My World with Broccoli) to utilize for when a simple note can be impactful. Each kitchen has a stack of these and we encourage the whole team to use them whenever they feel fits. It’s the little things that go a long way - and a few examples of how our department leans in the extra little things that matter and motivate. Motivating is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process that requires understanding, empathy, and consistent effort and it isn’t just for the leaders, it’s for everyone to support in creating a culture of care. Leaders who invest in understanding their team, communicate a compelling vision, provide unwavering support, and foster an environment of growth and appreciation, create a workplace where motivation thrives. Take time to reflect on your team's motivation initiatives and begin to brainstorm what little moments you can create to inspire and encourage them. It’s not a one-time task and it won’t happen instantly, but over time the little moments will continue to build and the culture in your kitchens, your office and your entire department will start to shift.

Lineville Love

Motivating is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process that requires understanding, empathy, and consistent effort and it isn’t just for the leaders, it’s for everyone to support in creating a culture of care. LAURA ROWELL

SNA-WI SECRETARY/TREASURER | LAURROWE@HSSDSCHOOLS.ORG

fall 2023 • school tray today

● Fresh apple slices in poly packages of ½c, ¾c, 1c and 1# ● Available commercial and commodity processed ● DoD approved fresh slices 50/2oz. and 10/1# cases ● Applesauce in nine no sugar added flavors in ½c serving sizes

2023-2024

SNA-WI CHAPTER PRESIDENTS RENEE WERNESS

BOBBIE GUYETTE

RENE ISON

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 7

wernessr@claytonsd.k12.wi.us

bguyette@newrichmond.k12.wi.us

rison@wausauschools.org

Clayton SD

HEATHER JOHNSON

New Richmond SD

MICHELLE EVENSON

Wausau SD

JANET LOEFFELHOLZ

Chapter 11

Chapter 14

johhea@holmen.k12.wi.us

mevenson@bangorsd.net

janet.loeffelholz@cubacity.k12.wi.us

Holmen SD

Bangor SD

Cuba City SD

LINDA AMMANN

MATTHEW BENNETT

NICOLE WILLIAMS

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

linda.ammann@mgschools.net

m.bennett@ocfsd.org

willnic@sdmfschools.org

Monona Grove SD

Oak Creek SD

Menomonee Falls SD

fall 2023 • school tray today

school tray today • fall 2023

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORT

WOULD YOU LIVE?

BY JOSHUA SCHMIDT, 2023-2024 SNA-WI MARKETING AND MEMBERSHIP SERVICES CHAIR

photos courtesy of joshua schmidt

Recently, a friend shared this post/quote: “I would die for my child” I believe you. But, would you live for them? Would you get yourself healthy? Would you eliminate distraction? Would you lead them more intentionally? You’d only have to die once. You have to live every day. Do that. Wow, did that hit home? This is one truth that I personally agree with… that we must choose to live every day. In order to live we must sacrifice something, something has to give. What does that look like for you? A few things that come to mind, dying to self… self-centeredness, selfish ambitions, selfishness. We often must give up laziness, doubt,and hesitation to live well. We must believe we can do it, even before we begin. Please don’t see this as not having an over-confident spirit because the one way that we will succeed is to have a spirit of humility. We can be humble and still be confident, confident in who we are, and who/what our hope is in. Read those questions above again. These questions and perspective are real, heartto-heart, and they aren’t easy to address. Take them to heart and answer them with honesty, write down your response if it helps. Over the next few days and weeks ask yourself, “Is this

where I am satisfied with living?” What is the motivation for you to do to the great things in life even on the difficult days? I hope that you will reflect over this perspective and then choose to write and create a better/improved answer (mission) for what you want to live for and what you want your life to reflect. You can change and it begins with your mindset and continues with the motivation from within. What is the motivation for you to do to the great things in life even on the difficult days? Most things in life that are worth doing, those great things, will come with challenges. Even then, life will bring challenges and it is how we react and respond that shows our true self. I will end wit this thought: Nourishing the future starts with nurturing yourself. Your commitment to wellness, both personal and for the children you serve, is the cornerstone of a healthier tomorrow. Rise Up. Salt & Light, JOSHUA SCHMIDT

MARKETING AND MEMBERSHIP SERVICES CHAIR | SCHMIDTJ@SHELLLAKE.K12.WI.US

fall 2023 • school tray today

Elevate YouR PlaTe

2.45 oz of Jackfruit Credits as

½ Cup Serving of Fruit per USDA Meal Pattern Requirements

Get to Know Jackfruit Make it Meatless

DOLE Jackfruit serves as a natural meat replacement for chicken, beef, or pork.

Plant-forward

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K-12 Specialist - Wisconsin shannon.kumbier@affinitysales.com 262.309.5877

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MENTOR AND RESOURCE COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORT

MOTIVATION IDEAS

BY BECKY TERRY, 2023-2024 SNA-WI MENTOR AND RESOURCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

Motivation looks many different ways depending on your age, perspective and end goals. There are many factors that impact motivation and trying to find the right factor each day is difficult. As a foodservice supervisor, I am always looking for ways to motivate staff to improve meal participation at their school as well as to motivate kids to dine with us for breakfast and lunch. I have asked a few of my staff members what motivates them to come to work everyday. The biggest common answer is coworkers and teamwork to get the job done. This is amazing and demonstrates the importance of getting along with our teammates, building relationships and having the right people staffed in the right places. Some of the other motivators were wages, benefits, schedule, flexibility in schedule, trying new recipes, working with kids and doing something that improves the health of kids. All of these factors are what motivate me in this profession as well.

So, how do we capitalize on these things? What can we do?

1. Keep positions full and be creative with filling open shifts. Hiring is a challenge right now, but working short staffed

quickly leads to burn out. This year we have asked some of our support staff substitutes if they want to help out in foodservice as well. This has really been a great untapped resource for us. 2. Regularly check in at the school with foodservice staff. Check ins with staff have resulted in problem solving and building relationships with co-workers. 3. Talk to human resources about wages and benefits. Have HR come to a staff meeting to go over what benefits foodservice staff have and can take advantage of. One of the resources we have is the EAP that offers so many things for people and is greatly underutilized. 4. All staff have different talents and things they are good at. Some really like trying new recipes, talking with kids and are more extroverted. These staff are perfect for doing fun things and building excitement with kids. These are the folks that will help with try it days or student focus groups. Others are really talented with making signage and can make signs that are amazing. We have staff who are super organized and cleaning is their superpower. I love their ability to organize and label a storeroom and do inventory. Putting the right people in the right roles that complement their strengths is a win-win for everyone. 5. Say thank you and mean it. We all can not say thank you and appreciate each other enough. Feeling appreciated and respected in what you do really fuels our inner motivation. 6. Ask foodservice staff what motivates them. See if there is anything that comes up that is easy to do, and do it! 7. Be a consistent positive potato (see picture). The more we can lead with positivity and be consistent in how we approach students and staff, the more teamwork and positive outcomes there are. My friend gave me this little potato as a reminder! In conclusion, everyone may have different things that motivate them, but money isn’t always the number one item. Creating an environment where staff have the resources they need, positive communication back and forth and they feel appreciation can have a big impact on motivation.

BECKY TERRY

MENTOR & RESOURCE COMMITTEE CHAIR | BTERRY@DEFORESTSCHOOLS.ORG positive potato

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Thanks for joining us at the Annual Conference! We can't wait to see you next year!

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SNA-WI STAFF UPDATE

WELCOME NEW SNA-WI STAFF! BY COLE WERONKE, SNA-WI EVENTS AND MEMBERSHIP MANAGER

Hi SNA Members, I’m Cole Weronke, the news Events and Membership Manager for SNA-WI. I am a new addition to the SNA team as of September of 2023 and look forward to supporting, learning and executing all your goals and future interests! My role is to work hand and hand with Emily to plan SNA-WI events and conferences. I will also be managing, creating and updating items for the SNA-WI website and social media accounts. I am very excited to be joining such a wonderful team and look forward to the upcoming months of planning and getting to meet you all! Prior to joining SNA-WI, I planned, executed, and supported events for SentryWorld located in Stevens Point, WI. I was lucky enough to be a part of over 1,500 events including two major golf championships the most recent one being the U.S. Men’s Senior Open held there in 2023.

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Outside of work, you would find me traveling! I have been to almost every major city in the U.S. with the goal to visit friends and family. I also own a floral business that does large arrangements and event flowers. My favorite flower pieces to create are ones that make a real impact on a person’s life, such as a floral bouquet for an ecstatic bride. Working with floral is such a lovely outlet that I am so grateful to have to show my creativity, passion and kindness. I am extremely excited and eager to work with SNA-WI and the individuals involved to make it the vision and resource that everyone strives for it to be!

COLE WERONKE

EVENTS AND MEMBERSHIP MANAGER | COLEW@BADGERBAY.CO

EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORT

KITCHEN VISITS MOTIVATE BY IRENE PAWLISCH, 2023-2024 SNA-WI EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR

Kitchen Visits Motivate Me

This September, I visited Aaron Krulc and Chef Joe Hollenback of the Minneapolis School District (MPS). MPS has been in transition from packed meals to bulk transport of product. Chef Joe shared a quote from Bertrand Weber District FSD, “when you eat at home do you peel back the wrapper?” That one question led many of the choices the district has made over the last two decades. They are moving away from reheating prepackaged meals to kitchens cooking. For consistency, the central kitchen produces the recipes and ships them out to be heated and assembled in schools. Not all schools have been transformed. There is less prepackaging that takes place, which has had an impact of the staff’s job duties in the central kitchen. We started out with the tour discussing staffing concerns and how they have found ways to nurture a positive work culture. During the tour Chef Joe talked a bit about why he started working in school food. The quote about peeling back the paper and transforming the program into cooking kitchens made him want to work with Bertrand. Then when Chef Joe walked into the kitchen, he was completely overwhelmed. His direct boss spent several years mentoring him in processes and standards to help him be the success he is today. Positive mentorship that included showing how to have a thick skin during times of adversity, focusing on systems, and focusing on feeding students. As Aaron and Chef Joe toured me around some of my takeaways included automation through equipment has empowered them to do more recipes in their production space, kitchen culture can change dramatically with a single positive leader, and taking care of employees retains employees. Aaron also discussed how some equipment purchases were fair choices, what they know now, and what they are looking at purchasing next to meet production needs. Chef Joe pointed out that the new employees that have come from the restaurant industry are bringing innovative ideas to the program.

We ended the tour discussing the impact of free meals for all on their bottom line and ended with how menu choices can bring in more customers. What do our customers want to eat decides most of their menu mix from serving fries for the first time in years or creating a culturally inspired wrap to include a large refugee population on the menu. I am looking forward to Aaron Krulc sharing his ten plus years’ experience in food purchasing at the fall conference December 5th. On this day their staff had finished making cheese sauce, in the process of making a chili, and preparing farm fresh onions, carrots, and peppers for the choppers. They make pickled jalapenos in their district! What a fun farm fresh product to produce. Because they did not have many meals to package, they took care of the team by providing market vegetables for them to process to give them labor hours. They have a sauce room where they make many dressings, salsas, and hummus. Chef Joe uses the same recipes at home. In fact, his own children took them and made them for their families. You know you have a great school recipe when your adult children want to make it at home. I encourage anyone to get out and visit a similar size district to breathe in a fresh perspective. It was beneficial to me to hear how it took years for certain concepts to become an accepted norm and that no kitchen is perfect. It is nice to know you are not alone in certain struggles, validated on the importance of systems/processes, and to be inspired by simple ideas, like pickling jalapenos.

IRENE PAWLISCH

MENTOR & RESOURCE COMMITTEE CHAIR | IRENE.PAWLISCH@GMAIL.COM

MPS1 cook adds sauce to beef for chili, MPS2 staff are preparing vegetables for the chopper, MPS4 cheese made in house, bagged with a machine and now in a chilling in cold water. Equipment helps them make more scratch recipes.

To learn more about the MPS go to: www.nutritionservices.mpls.k12.mn.us

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registration is now open! exhibitor and sponsor opportunities available

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORT

SNA-WI ANNUAL CONFERENCE

THROUGH LEGISLATIVE EYES BY JAMIE WILSON, 2023-2024 SNA-WI LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR

Hi, friends, and welcome back to another great school year! This past summer, we had the opportunity to gather in Appleton, WI for the SNA-WI Annual Conference. The conference was three days long and consisted of various breakout sessions, general sessions, and networking opportunities. When we go to conferences, we all tend to see things differently. We have different perspectives and different ideas of what content we’re looking to gain from attending. Being on the SNA-WI board or legislative committee doesn’t change that; we all look for something. This year, I was looking for something specific: helpers. We’ve learned over the last few years that free meals for all students is even more of a blessing than we actually thought it would be. As school nutrition professionals, we always said “I want to feed everyone” or “if I just had a chance to feed everyone for free, what an incredible difference I would make!” As a side note, kudos to all of you who already do!! We learned that students’ bellies were full, yes, but the behavior of our students was better. Test scores go up, sure, but students didn’t have to be embarrassed about going to the cafeteria to get food in the morning. Parents were happier, too! As a mom of two, I can say that I definitely took advantage of the free meals during Covid. One thing rang out loudly at the conference: We all want free meals for our students. Here’s the problem, friends: We need your help! We can’t do it all on our own, and you all have excellent ideas! I was fortunate enough to sit on a panel designed to help our school nutrition brand. We thought of hashtags and social media promos to bring light to the excellent things we do each day. So many creative people in that session had excellent ideas for the legislative committee, which isn’t surprising - you are all bold, brilliant, and experts at what we do! Our legislative co-chairs tried to get you to interact with the presentation this year. If you remember, we made you stand if you

1) Believed in free meals for all students, 2) Thought every kid deserves equal access to breakfast and lunch, 3) Attended Virtual Advocacy Day, 4) Contacted your legislator, and 5) Hosted your legislator for a site-visit. Everyone stood up for number one. Only two remained standing for number five. We need your help. Reach out to your local legislator. You can find their information here. Tell them in the email that you are a constituent and would love to hold a visit. We will be leaning heavily on your expertise for your area come mid-February, early March. We need you to get those legislators in and create a relationship with them. Maybe they don’t agree with everything you say, but if you’re not sharing the story, who is? Holding a visit with an elected official can seem scary. I remember the first time I went into an office and looked blankly at the legislator while a colleague of mine did all the talking. It took me some time to feel comfortable to be able to do it myself. If you need our help with that, believe me, we are here for you! SNA-WI also has a number of helpful tools and resources on our Advocacy Webpage. Remember: if you can feed hundreds to thousands (or hundreds of thousands!) of kids each day, you can definitely do this. We need your help, but more importantly, so do the kids.

JAMIE WILSON

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR | JAMIE.WILSON@SUPERIOR.K12.WI.US

KAITLIN TAURIAINEN

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR | KTAURIAINEN@ASHWAUBENONK12.ORG

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Assembly Speaker Creates Task Force on Childhood Obesity BY NATHAN BUTZLAFF, SNA-WI LOBBYIST, HOVEN CONSULTING

On August 31, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Racine County) announced the creation of the Speaker’s Task Force on Childhood Obesity. This task force is comprised entirely of Republican and Democratic state representatives and will hold public hearings at various locations across Wisconsin. In particular, the task force is planning on holding hearings throughout the state. The first such hearing was held in Madison on September 26. The aim of the task force is to complete its work by the end of 2023 and recommend legislation for introduction during the 2024-2025 legislative session. This task force will be chaired by state Rep. Karen Hurd (R-Eau Claire Area). The following is the scope statement for this task force: “The Speaker’s Task Force is directed to study childhood obesity and weight management. The Task Force shall consider circumstances contributing to childhood obesity, including physical activity, nutrition, medical, and other root causes and physical environment factors. The Task Force shall also review current and past efforts to prevent and improve weight management in order to consider and build upon effective practices. Following these efforts, the Task Force shall consider recommending legislation in the following areas: (1) school-based efforts to impact circumstances contributing to childhood weight management; (2) parental support for and education on childhood weight management; (3) early interventions and screenings to better identify and promote healthy weight management; (4) removal of potential barriers and promotion of better access to proper nutrition and spaces for play and other physical activities; and (5) data collection efforts and implementation of childhood weight management interventions.” SNA-WI’s Madison lobbyists are working on scheduling a SNA-WI presentation in front of the full task force.

Governor Evers/DSPS Unveils New Occupational License Processing Dashboard On August 31, Governor Tony Evers and the state Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) unveiled a new online dashboard that provides high-level data on occupational license processing. In addition to showing the average number of days to process all new applications, all health applications, and all business applications, users may also look up application review times by profession.

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We’re Ready for the Rush The lunch bell rings and, at first, it’s a trickle. Suddenly, a flood. Students pour in, and they’re hungry now. The lunch rush is well-named. It thrills us, too. That’s why we’re ready with experienced nutrition experts, on-trend menu ideas and tools to fuel your success.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (CONTINUED)

Governor Evers Creates Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence On August 23, Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order creating the Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence. This task force will “produce an advisory action plan to identify the current state of generative artificial intelligence’s impact on Wisconsin’s labor market and develop informed predictions regarding its implication for the near term and future.” In addition, it will “recommend solutions related to workforce development and educational systems.” This task force will be chaired by the state Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek and will include the Secretary of the state Department of Administration, the head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, representatives from the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Technical College System, as well as other public and private sector representatives. The Governor’s executive order did not include a timeline for the work of this task force.

State Rep. Deb Andraca Appointed to Legislature's Joint Finance Committee On August 16, state Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) appointed Rep. Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay) to serve on the Legislature’s budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance for the rest of the 2023-2024 legislative session. Rep. Andraca, who represents portions of the north shore Milwaukee suburbs, will replace Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee), who has departed the committee to focus on his campaign for the position of Milwaukee City Attorney.

Veteran State Legislator Announces Run for Congress In early October, veteran State Representative Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) announced that she will run for the Democratic nomination for the Third Congressional District. This district includes much of the western portion of the state, as well as a portion of central Wisconsin. In particular, the district includes Eau Claire, La Crosse, Platteville, Wisconsin Rapids and Stevens Point. Shankland was first elected to the state Assembly in 2012. Several other candidates have already announced that they are running for the Democratic nomination for this Congressional seat. If Shankland wins the Democratic nomination, she will face first-term U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien). Van Orden narrowly won the seat in 2022. Prior to 2022, Democratic U.S. Representative Ron Kind represented this Congressional seat since 1997. NATHAN BUTZLAFF

SNA-WI LOBBYIST, HOVEN CONSULTING | NATHAN@HOVENCONSULTING.COM

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Thursday, October 12, 2023

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#GreatAppleCrunch (search this hashtag to see more)

October 9-13, 2023

#NSLW23 (search this hashtag to see more)

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2023-2024

SNA-WI INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD (IAB) JENNY THORKILDSON

KAITLIN TAURIAINEN

Donovan Food Brokerage Co-Chair, Industry Represenative

SNA-WI Board Co-Chair, President-Elect

BOBBIE GUYETTE

DENISE KARNOWSKI

HECTOR VALDEZ

President

General Mills Manufacturer Representative

Gordon Food Service Distributor Representative

ANGIE KONICEK

ANNE STERN

CINDY GEISERAT

Sysco Baraboo Foods Distributor Representative

Boelter Equipment Representative

Anderson Food Service Equipment Representative

DANNY EDMONDS

SHANNON KUMBIER

JOHN DOBBE

Waypoint Broker Representative

Affinity Broker Representative

General Mills Manufacturer Representative

jenny@donovanfoodbrokerage.com

SNA-WI Board bguyette@newrichmond.k12.wi.us

angie.konicek@sysco.com

danny.edmonds@asmwaypoint.com

ktauriainen@ashwaubenonk12.org

denise.karnowski@genmills.com

astern@boelter.com

shannon.kumbier@affinitysales.com

BECOME AN INDUSTRY MEMBER TODAY! LEARN MORE 36 school tray today • fall 2023

hector.valdez1@gfs.com

cindy@afsreps.com

john.dobbe@genmills.com

INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE REPORT

MOTIVATION: WHERE ARE YOU?

BY JENNY THORKILDSON, 2023-2024 SNA-WI INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE

Dear Motivation, Where have you been lately? Life has been busy with school starting up. Not to mention, my kids are now transitioning to fall sports, so I now must reconfigure my entire schedule. I am dreading driving in the snow again, but it seems like winter is just around the corner. It kind of feels like you ditched me, but I won’t take offense. Instead, I will keep looking for you. I will look for you in the fall leaves I see while I am driving school to school. I will look for you in the smiling faces of the kids sampling my products. I will continue to search for you in the kind emails I receive from directors and distribution. I will nurture you, motivation, with a regular appointment with my elliptical and a satirical TV show. I will try to feed you healthy foods so that you don’t die on me. I will try to take breaks so that you don’t burn out. I will allow you to fluctuate on a day-to-day basis because nothing can be 100% all of the time. When I feel like you are lost, I will reach out for support. I will call friends, family, colleagues and get that boost I need to keep on “trucking” (literally I drive all of the time). I will recognize that you aren’t gone forever and try to look harder. Motivation, you are sometimes hard to find, but I know you aren’t fully gone. Thanks for being there when I need you most. Sincerely, The Road Warrior Food Broker

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SNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NOTES FROM NATIONAL BY MICHAEL GASPER, SNS

I am excited to have been asked to write a column for The School Tray Today to let our great Wisconsin SNA members know what is happening at the National level. SNA has been very busy working on a number of things.

Options for Schools. This Final Rule lowers the CEP minimum identified student percentage (ISP) from 40% to 25%, giving states and schools greater flexibility to choose to invest in nonfederal funds to offer no-cost meals to all students.

The next conference held will be SNIC, in sunny Orlando, Florida January 14th – 16th at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort. Bringing together the brightest minds in school nutrition, this event will explore the latest trends and innovations shaping the profession. With regulatory changes on the horizon and the rapid emergence of cutting-edge technologies like AI, #SNIC24 promises enlightening discussions, dynamic workshops and expert insights. Embrace the journey of evolving together as we learn, adapt and unlock the potential of the exciting possibilities ahead. Oh, and did I mention it is in ORLANDO, FLORIDA in JANUARY?

SNA provided comments in response to the related proposed rule published in March. In the letter, SNA expressed appreciation for USDA’s ongoing efforts to expand access to CEP. SNA recognized that for states or localities that committed funds, lowering the ISP allows more schools to participate, eliminating long standing barriers to healthy school meals. For those without supplementary non-federal funds, implementing CEP at the lower ISP would be financially unviable.

By the time you read this, I will have already attended the Supply Chain Summit (October 17th-18th) in Alexandria, VA. The Supply Chain Summit is sponsored by SNA, the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) and No Kid Hungry. The theme is Resetting the Narrative Around K-12 Supply Chain Distribution. While the K-12 product shortages experienced over the past two plus years have improved, there are systemic supply chain challenges that need to be addressed for the school foodservice segment to be sustainable in the future. The purpose of the Summit is to convene K-12 segment leaders – distributors, manufacturers and operators - to reset the narrative around K-12 supply chain procurement and distribution, and provide an action-oriented day of discussions that focuses on identifying innovative ideas and solutions. Last week, the USDA published the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) – Increasing

SNA urged USDA to continue advocating for Congress to increase the CEP multiplier to allow more schools to successfully implement the program, and to pass other measures to expand access to free school meals for all students. At the time of this writing, Washington is in a bit of disarray with the removal of the Speaker of the House. It appears that not much will happen at the Capital until a replacement is elected. The concern is that without a new Continuing Resolution that must be voted on by both the House and the Senate, we could be facing a Government Shutdown again in November. The ramifications of a shutdown will impact many things like the economy and National Security. My understanding is that in the event of a shutdown, School Nutrition Programs will still receive reimbursement checks, at least for a period of up to 6 months. All of this means that Child Nutrition Reauthorization will not be on the agenda anytime soon. SNA continues to monitor bills introduced and lobby for School Nutrition Programs.

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SNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)

The Made With School Lunch campaign is in full swing. If you have not seen these great videos that promote school lunch, go to this link: www.socialpresskit.com/made-with-schoollunch. These videos are great to share on your social media and with parents. A Call for Nominations for open national positions like the Board of Directors and spots on our many committees ended on September 30th. By the time you read this, the candidates for those positions should be public. I hope there are a few names from our great state on the slate. If you have any interest in continuing your leadership journey with SNA, either on a state or National level, I highly encourage you to do so. What you gain in connections, friendships, experiences, and leadership

skills will help you in your job performance as well as help you take your program to another level. It is a great honor to have been elected to represent our members on the Board of Directors. I look forward to helping shape our Association for the future and to continue advocating for School Nutrition related programs. I am always happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have, so shoot me an email at gasmic@holmen.k12.wi.us and we can set up a time to chat. MICHAEL GASPER

GASMIC@HOLMEN.K12.WI.US

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SNA-WI NEWS

2023 WINNER OF SNA-WI’S DR. KATIE WILSON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BY ELLEN LEASURE, ELMBROOK SCHOOL DISTRICT

Cheryl Peil has always been very passionate and knowledgeable while representing her colleagues in school nutrition. We can’t think of a more deserving person than Cheryl to win this award. She is SNA-WI’s 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, carrying on Dr. Katie Wilson’s legacy! Cheryl started her school food service career 38 years ago and still counting. In 1985 she became the Food Service Director at Menomonee Falls Public Schools. During her time there she established new menus and worked with the USDA Commodity program to establish healthy menus. She joined SNA-WI and Chapter 16. In 1990 Cheryl became the Food Service Director at Whitnall Public Schools. She started taste testing programs to help change menu options while expanding access to fruits and vegetables. Student committees were formed to allow students more input into the meal planning meeting regularly. Then, Cheryl started her participation with SNA-WI on the state level while continuing to support Chapter 16. She worked on the state Food Safety Committee to help establish the State School Lunch safety guideline manual. From 1999 to 2022 Cheryl became the Director of Elmbrook Public Schools. Some of the highlights of her career there included starting an Allergy Advocate Committee to establish a Food Allergy Guide for the school district. This committee included Administration, doctors, parents and local community members. They received local, State and National media coverage for their program. She participated in Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative and wrote a grant to get salad bars for all of their elementary schools and received a full grant to start fresh fruit and vegetables in all their schools. School breakfast programs were implemented to bring healthy options for students to start their day with. She worked with the State Farm to School programs to expand fruit and vegetable options. She also worked with the local produce company to procure local produce as much as possible. She started work with Fork Farms to establish hydroponic plantings for monthly fresh lettuce and implemented school gardens in a couple of the elementary schools.

She organized a school catering program to showcase the food service employee’s talents. Student committees were created to help promote taste testing new recipes and work with the students to promote the school lunch programs. She established a Food Security Community Program to ensure meals to the families in the community during the Covid-19 pandemic by a partnership with Hunger Task Force and a local faith community. Cheryl’s participation at the state and national level has also included the following: • Served on the State Commodity Committee for many years Won the National Mariel C. Furlong Award for school from the Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network FAAN for her work with the allergy awareness in their school • Worked on USDA Allergy Committee in Washington DC • Participated in WI DPI Smart Goals Conference in 2016 to mentor new directors • Attended 3 School Nutrition Industry Conferences • Was the first district in the state of WI to use Nutrislice. This program has been a great asset to students and families in the district to allow smart food choices based on nutritionals Cheryl may have retired from her position as a Director but she has continued her dedication to child nutrition. She continues to mentor new Directors and is now working as a sub in a child nutrition program. She was SNA-WI President during the 2010 Reauthorization. Award nominator Ellen Leasure recalls this was a very tumultuous time for food service, “I remember hearing she was in the airport heading to a conference when she had to take a phone call from a reporter. She was very calm and articulate in her responses while trying to explain to the reporter how the changes would impact students and school food service.”

ELLEN LEASURE

ELMBROOK SCHOOL DISTRICT

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