Bobby Lane, a longtime Wyoming farmer and agricultural advocate, is leading an initiative to bring more locally sourced food to school cafeterias across the state, Buffalo Bulletin reports.
As Wyoming’s Farm to School Coordinator since late 2023, Lane has played a key role in significantly increasing the number of school meals featuring Wyoming-grown ingredients.
In 2024, Wyoming schools served 40,000 meals incorporating local ingredients, a dramatic increase from fewer than 2,000 meals in 2023, according to the Wyoming Department of Education. This growth helped the state win the 2024 Mountain Plains Region Crunch Off, a competition recognizing states for incorporating the most local food into school lunches.
Lane credits this success to strong collaboration between schools and local producers, as well as extensive outreach. His work involves traveling across the state to connect food service directors with growers, assist cafeteria staff, and encourage more farmers to participate in the program.
Lane, who farmed over 1,000 acres west of Riverton for decades, brings deep agricultural expertise to his role. Before joining the Farm to School program, he managed the agricultural program at the Wyoming Honor Farm, where he expanded food production and contributed surplus produce to local hunger initiatives.
His hands-on experience with farming, combined with his enthusiasm for building networks, has helped bridge the gap between Wyoming’s agricultural sector and its school meal programs.
Despite the success of the program, integrating locally grown food into school meals presents logistical challenges. Wyoming’s harsh climate limits what can be grown during the school year, and schools must plan menus months in advance to accommodate large-scale meal production. However, with increased participation from farmers and school districts, the program continues to expand.
Food service directors, like Natrona County’s Desiree McAdams, have noted that local food options encourage students to try new ingredients, fostering a deeper connection to where their food comes from.
Lane’s passion for the program is evident in his commitment to expanding its reach. He continues to travel across the state, forming new partnerships and ensuring Wyoming remains a leader in Farm to School efforts.
With federal funding secured through 2026, Lane is optimistic about further growth, aiming to build a model that could inspire similar programs nationwide.
“My passion is to make this program successful,” he said. “I want every state to look at Wyoming as an example.”
