The Secret Starts at 3 A.M.: How Lawton Community Schools Is Transforming School Meals
October is National Farm to School Month and, at Lawton Community Schools, the celebration goes far beyond fresh fruits and vegetables. This year, the district is taking local school meals to the next level with scratch cooking, Michigan-grown produce, and a brand-new smoker that's already earning rave reviews from students.
The smoker has quickly become the star of the kitchen, opening exciting possibilities for the food service team to create flavorful, homemade menu items. But introducing bold new flavors to students takes a little strategy. The team started small with smoked pork sliders, serving them as a bite-sized option rather than a large sandwich. The result? A student-approved success.
Building on that enthusiasm, October menus feature a hearty Smoked Pork Mac & Cheese, combining familiar comfort food with the rich flavor of slow-smoked pork. Behind every serving is a lot of dedication. Food Service Director, AJ Henderson, begins his day around 3:00 a.m. to fire up the smoker and ensure everything is cooked to perfection before students arrive for lunch.
"We want students to enjoy great-tasting meals while helping them connect with where their food comes from," Henderson said. "When we can combine scratch cooking with local foods, it's a win for everyone."
AJ Henderson, Lawton Community Schools Foodservice Director
Local Foods Front and Center
While the smoker may be stealing the spotlight, local produce remains at the heart of Lawton Community Schools' Farm to School efforts. The district has been participating in a pilot program that allocates Department of Defense (DoD) funding toward local Michigan-grown produce. From the start of school to now, students have been enjoying a variety of locally sourced fruits, including watermelon, grapes, and several Michigan apple varieties.
Much of this produce is sourced from farms through ValleyHUB, a nonprofit community food hub and program of Kalamazoo Valley Community College that connects local growers with institutions while engaging students through hands-on educational experiences. The partnership allows students to experience the benefits of eating foods grown close to home while supporting the farmers who make those foods possible.
Supporting Michigan Agriculture
Lawton Community Schools continues to be a leader in Farm to School initiatives across the state, and their commitment extends beyond its own cafeterias. Henderson is also a member of ValleyHUB’s Advisory Committee for Local/Scratch Cooking Training Development. The district's local and scratch-made efforts support broader goals of improving student wellness, increasing access to fresh local foods, supporting Michigan agriculture, and creating memorable dining experiences that encourage healthy eating habits. This not only helps students in the community, but advances school nutrition practices and local food procurement efforts throughout Michigan.
Looking Ahead
The new smoker is just the beginning.
In addition to creating memorable school meals, the equipment will be used to support athletic events and community gatherings, helping bring people together through great food. The food service team also plans to continue expanding local agricultural offerings throughout the year as new opportunities become available.
For the staff at Lawton Community Schools, Farm to School Month is about much more than serving lunch. It's about building connections between students, farmers, schools, and the community while creating meals that students are excited to eat.
Whether it's a smoked pork slider or a crisp Michigan apple, every item served reflects the team's commitment to providing fresh, nutritious, and delicious food.
And if you ask the food service team, the secret ingredient is simple: a lot of hard work and a lot of love for the kids they serve every day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Samantha is a Registered Dietitian with a breadth of experience in child nutrition and public health. As a ProTeam Consultant, Samantha has advised dozens of customer districts on providing healthy and engaging meals that comply with federal and local regulations. Her depth of knowledge makes her a uniquely qualified and skilled trainer and advisor on a diverse range of topics from meal pattern compliance to culturally diverse meals.
Prior to joining ProTeam, Samantha served as Supervisor of Menu Planning and Special Diets at Boston Public Schools where she brought all 126 Boston Public Schools (BPS) into menu compliance for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Child & Adult Care Food Program.