Darlene Barnes, Regional Administrator for the FNS Mountain Plains Regional Office
Taking the time to meet the people who use FNS programs and services is the best way to understand what works. It also helps build important relationships and gets the word out to those who most need FNS support.
FNS Administrator Julie Paradis spent the week of May 24 doing just that - on the move in Montana gathering great feedback about nutrition issues and programs across the state. A CNR Roundtable at Lolo Elementary in Lolo, Montana brought more than 30 school lunch workers, administrators, interested parents and news media to discuss nutrition needs for Montana’s underserved children.
On the Flathead Reservation in Pablo, Montana, Paradis met with leadership of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and toured several Food Distribution Nutrition Education grant demonstration gardens designed to teach the roots of good food all the way through to learning delicious recipes for preparing home grown and commodity foods.
In Bozeman, Montana, Paradis presented a HealthierUS Schools Gold Award to Morning Star Elementary for their excellent work in promoting exercise and healthy eating habits.
FNS Administrator Julie Paradis discusses FNS programs with Tonka Howard, host of Good Medicine, at the KSKC Public TV station on the Flathead Reservation.
FNS Administrator Julie Paradis hits the track with a Lolo Elementary student as part of the school’s Mileage Club.
FNS Administrator Julie Paradis and Ron Rotzahn, Program Specialist, Helena, Montana Field Office, discuss food distribution challenges at the St. Ignatius Food Distribution center on the Flathead Reservation.