In Elk County, about 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Ridgway Area School District Superintendent Tom Butler is planning a lesson in nutrition and economics for the entire community.

It involves more than 30 pounds of blueberries, 37 dozen ears of corn, 30 pounds of mixed vegetables, 140 pounds of ground beef and beaucoup napkins.

On Sept. 16, Dr. Butler wants to serve the district's 1,000 students a meal made almost entirely from locally grown and raised foods.

His "farmers market day" is an experiment of sorts, designed to teach kids about healthy eating and where food comes from.

Rena Urmann, a registered dietician and district food-service director, said she wants kids to see beets, carrots, kale and potatoes straight from the garden, uncut and unwashed.

Dr. Butler also wants to support the local economy and convince the school board that it might be worth spending a little extra to serve local food more often, instead of relying on lower-cost commodities obtained through the federal government.

Dr. Butler doesn't dispute the importance of stretching a dollar. But he said he wants the board to understand, "There are other bottom lines to consider, too," such as helping local farmers.

Once children make a connection with farms, "they will eat beets, they will eat spinach, they will eat broccoli," claimed Debra Eschmeyer, outreach director for the National Farm to School Network, which says farm-school partnerships are on the rise.

By buying local, districts also know more about production methods. "We know that none of our animals has been fed any hormones or antibiotics," said Ridgway farmer Jeanette Stump, who raises dairy goats and chickens and bakes specialty breads.

Some area farmers plan to show up at Ridgway schools Sept. 16 to take a bow. Mrs. Stump said she's bringing goat-milk fudge.