Shironda Brown, Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Training Coordinator and Extension Associate with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), received the 2026 NC Association of Cooperative Extension Specialists (NCACES) Award for Outstanding Subject Matter Program Developed by an Individual. Brown was nominated by Robyn Stout and Dara Bloom in recognition of her leadership and impact through the NC Farm to Early Care and Education Program.
Launched in 2016, Farm to ECE is an evidence-based program designed to increase young children’s access to local food while providing hands-on learning opportunities through gardening, nutrition education and food preparation. The program serves preschools, child care centers, Head Start programs and family child care homes across North Carolina, helping children develop healthy eating habits and stronger connections to agriculture and local food systems.
Brown joined the Farm to ECE team in 2018 and has served as Interim Program Director since 2024. Drawing on 28 years of experience as a child care educator and director, she develops educational tools and trainings tailored specifically to child care professionals. Her work supports not only young children, but also educators, Extension agents, Smart Start technical assistance providers and community organizations focused on child well-being.
Under Brown’s leadership, Farm to ECE programming has expanded to include a statewide Farm to ECE Collaborative, virtual Learning Burst webinars, Cooking with Children instructional videos, onsite Whole Center Trainings and the annual Farm to ECE Institute. Recognizing that trainings often only reached center directors, Brown developed Whole Center Trainings to engage entire child care staffs — including teachers, chefs and cooks — helping ensure farm-to-ECE practices are fully implemented within centers.
Brown has also worked to strengthen partnerships and expand Farm to ECE programming statewide through collaboration with county Extension agents, local food organizations and statewide early childhood networks. Her train-the-trainer approach helps child care providers of varying capacities build practical skills in gardening, local food purchasing and food-based learning.
Since Brown joined the program, Farm to ECE has reached more than 6,000 children across nearly 200 child care programs in 31 counties and the Qualla Boundary. The annual Farm to ECE Institute has also engaged 80 to 100 participants each year since 2021. In addition, Brown has mentored 25 Farm to ECE interns since 2022, supporting the next generation of educators and food systems leaders.
Participants consistently report increased knowledge and confidence in sourcing local food, starting gardens and incorporating experiential food education into their classrooms. One participant shared, “Working with young children, I see how powerful Farm to ECE is in shaping healthy habits early. Growing and cooking fresh food together helps children feel capable, connected and excited about learning.”
Through her leadership, Brown continues to strengthen connections between agriculture, education and community health while supporting young children, child care professionals and local farmers across North Carolina.
We congratulate Brown on this well-deserved recognition and celebrate the continued impact of Farm to ECE across the state.