Author: Lyndsie Knox

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Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network Announces 2026 #GrowFoodChallenge Winners

The Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network (NWTN LFN) is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 #GrowFoodChallenge, a regional initiative designed to inspire youth and families to grow food, reduce food waste through composting, and strengthen local food security across Northwest Tennessee.

Weakley County participants claimed both second and third place honors. Clayton Ward received the $100 second-place award, while Brooks Crowe earned third place and a $75 cash prize.

This year’s challenge engaged 310 participants from across the region who accepted the challenge to plant, grow, learn, and share their gardening journey through themed photo and video submissions. Participants received free seeds, educational resources, and opportunities to win prizes while building lifelong skills in gardening, nutrition, and environmental stewardship.

2026 #GrowFoodChallenge Winners

Grand Prize Winner ($250): McKenzie Early Head Start (Carroll County, TN) received the Grand Prize

Second Place Winner ($100): Clayton Ward received a $100 cash prize for his photo submission showcasing his gardening efforts.

Third Place Winner ($75): Brooks Crowe received a $75 cash prize for his photo submission and commitment to growing food.

“The true winners of this challenge are all 310 participants who chose to grow something this year. Every seed planted represents healthier families, stronger communities, and a more resilient local food system” – Samantha Smith Goyret, Co-Director of the Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network

Growing a Healthier Northwest Tennessee

The #GrowFoodChallenge encourages individuals, families, schools, childcare centers, and community groups throughout Northwest Tennessee’s nine-county region to grow food, compost food scraps, and share their experiences through themed photo submissions. Participants learn that gardening can happen anywhere—from large backyard gardens to raised beds, community plots, porches, and even windowsills.

This year, 7,763 free seed packets were distributed throughout Northwest Tennessee thanks to generous donations from International Seed Company and the Society of St. Andrew, helping remove barriers to gardening and making fresh food production accessible to more families.

Thank You to Our Seed Distribution Partners

NWTN LFN extends sincere appreciation to the fifteen community organizations and agencies that served as seed distribution partners, helping connect residents with free seeds and educational resources throughout the region. Their commitment ensured that participants from Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion, and Weakley counties had convenient access to the tools needed to begin growing food and reducing food waste.

A huge THANK YOU to the W. G. RHEA PUBLIC LIBRARY for hosting their seed swap event in May 2026 and helping grow excitement for this year’s #GrowFoodChallenge!

Thank You to Our Participants

Most importantly, we thank all 310 participants who joined the 2026 #GrowFoodChallenge. Whether you planted a single herb on a windowsill, built a raised-bed garden, started a compost pile, or grew food to share with neighbors, your efforts made a difference.

Together, you have demonstrated that local food begins with local action.

As Northwest Tennessee continues building a thriving and equitable food system, the #GrowFoodChallenge remains a powerful reminder that growing food not only nourishes our bodies, it strengthens communities, supports food security, and creates lasting connections to the land and one another.

For more information about the #GrowFoodChallenge and other Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network programs, visit the #GrowFoodChallenge page.

About Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network

The Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network serves as a catalyst for a thriving and equitable local food system that is accessible to all. Through education, community engagement, farm-to-school initiatives, and local food system development, NWTN LFN connects farmers, schools, organizations, and residents to create healthier communities and stronger local economies. #Getitlocal Learn more at nwtnlfn.org.

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 NWTN Local Food Network receives ONLY USDA Farm to School Grant in TN

The Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network (LFN) received notice of its selection as a Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grantee on April 16, 2026 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this May. This $500,000 grant will support the C.H.E.F. Program (Children’s Health through Education and Food) and Tennessee Farm2Future Coalition.

“This year’s grants are a win-win for schools and children, for farmers and real food. USDA is fully committed to supporting healthy choices, healthy families, and healthy outcomes through farm to school, and I can’t wait to see the life-changing impact these new projects will have on communities across America.”
– Deputy Under Secretary for USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Patrick A. Penn

The Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network will use the funding to collaborate and procure local foods into schools from NWTN Farmers:, Bell Family Farms in Gleason, and Blackberry Pond Farm in Martin, Stockyard Market in Trenton, Healthy Flavors, Eagleville and 5 NWTN school districts along with the continued formation of the Farm2Future Group – a statewide working group to help facilitate stronger connections between local foods in local schools.

“We’ve learned that one of the most effective ways to impact children’s knowledge about health is through interactive activities like cooking labs.When students cook and experience fresh and local products, they become excited about their food and want to explore more ways they can cook and interact with the local food system.” – Samantha Smith Goyret, Co-Director, NWTNLFN

Key components of the two year grant period include establishing a CHEF Program with school partners using the national Chef Ambassador model from Wellness in the Schools (NYC), in collaboration with Healthy Flavors Tennessee, including a region wide school nutrition training, classroom and cafeteria culinary skill-building with CHEF Ambassadors, student local food taste tests, and agriculture and nutrition education through both the CHEF project, and creating a statewide Farm2Future Coalition while developing a statewide Local Food Procurement manual. Follow the progress of The C.H.E.F. (Children’s Health through Education and Food) Program and TN Farm2Future Coalition by visiting nwtnlfn.org/programs/farm-to-school.

“The Crockett County School Nutrition Department is excited to be able to expand our scratch cooking, strengthen culinary skills, and increase the use of locally grown foods through this partnership to better serve our students.” -Whitney Thornton, School Nutrition Supervisor at Crockett County Schools

For FY 2026, USDA awarded nearly $20 million to 52 projects across the country to support projects that bring more nutritious, local food to America’s schoolchildren while expanding economic opportunities for farmers and food producers. Since fiscal year 2013, USDA has awarded $115 million in Farm to School Grants, funding more than 1,250 projects throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Since 2019,  the NWTN Local Food Network has successfully helped secure 9 Farm to School Grants worth over $1M, to support the development of Farm to School cultures in schools & their communities in Tennessee. Learn more about the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program on the program’s website.

About Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network 

The Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for a thriving and equitable local food system that is accessible to ALL by strengthening local farms, empowering communities, and increasing access to fresh, healthy, locally grown food across the region.

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FREE SEEDS for YOUTH in #GrowFoodChallenge

The Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network (NWTNLFN) is proud to launch the 2026 #Grow Food Challenge, a youth-focused initiative designed to inspire children, teens, and young adults (ages 1–21) to explore gardening, composting, nutrition, and sustainability while having fun and connecting to their local food system.

Running from May 1 through July 1, 2026, with a celebration on July 4th at the Martin Farmers Market, the Grow Food Challenge invites youth across Northwest Tennessee to get their hands in the soil, reduce food waste, and submit their journey through photos and videos.

“This challenge is about more than growing food. It’s about growing knowledge, confidence, and community. From a single sprout on a windowsill to a full backyard garden, every effort counts. “- NWTNLFN Co-Director, Caroline Ideus

Participation is free and open to youth ages 1–21 in Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion, and Weakley counties.

Participants can:
– Grow edible plants such as vegetables, fruits, herbs, or edible flowers
– Plant seeds in containers, raised beds, or recycled pots
– Start indoor herb gardens or outdoor plots
– Begin composting at home
– Show how you are reducing household food waste

Starting May 1, 2026, participants can also pick up FREE seeds and supplies from 15 local Grow Food Challenge Seed Distribution Partners across the region.

“Partnership is at the heart of everything we do. Our 15 Seed Distribution Partners help ensure that young people across our region have access to the seeds, and information they need to start growing. These collaborations, along with upcoming Partner Grow Food Challenge-themed events, create opportunities for families to learn, connect, and celebrate together—strengthening not just gardens, but our entire local food system.” – Sam Goyret, Co-Director of the Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network

Participants are encouraged to submit their journey by documenting their progress through with a simple photo or collage of photos or a short video taken between May 1 and July 1, 2026. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

Enter Here

Prize winners will be selected through a random drawing from all eligible entries. Awards will be distributed as follows: 1st Place – $250, 2nd Place – $100, 3rd Place – $75.

The Grow Food Challenge promotes hands-on learning in nutrition, environmental stewardship, sustainable habits, and teamwork. Gardening helps young people better understand where food comes from and how to reduce waste that builds habits to benefit both their families and the broader community.

Sharon Public Library Seed Display for the #GrowFoodChallenge

Winners will be announced during a live celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM at the Martin Area Farmers Market and via Facebook Live @NWTNLFN.

From sprouts to harvest, every step matters. Whether it’s a leafy green, a blooming herb, or a compost bin in progress, participants are invited to share their story and help grow a stronger, more sustainable local food system.

Plant it. Snap it. Win it. Grow with us. Learn more at nwtnlfn.org/grow-food-challenge