Last month, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill that had been introduced by Rep. Tim Madden to support farm-to-school programs across the commonwealth. The bill was drafted by a group of Martha’s Vineyard students with Representative Madden and introduced to the legislature two years ago. Since then, groups of Vineyard students have traveled to the State House to advocate for its passage, with the support and guidance of Island Grown Schools.

On Oct. 26, Governor Baker issued a proclamation establishing October as Massachusetts Farm to School Month, one of the tenets of the legislation. Eleven students from the Vineyard, including teacher Jonah Maidoff from the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, and Noli Taylor of Island Grown Initiative, attended the ceremony in the governor’s office along with students from other communities.

The Vineyard students included Jared Rivard, Lucy Thompson, Isabella Quinones, Ryan Scherer and Nathan Lopez-Matta form the Charter School, Emmett Taylor and Clara Athearn from the Chilmark School, and Chilmark Preschool student Tillie Taylor.