Montana School Nutrition Association: Full Schedule

1:00pm MDT

CPR & 1st Aid Certification - Pre-registration Required

Monday June 22, 2026 1:00pm - 5:00pm MDT

Learn what you need to know to give immediate care to a suddenly injured or ill person until more advanced medical personnel arrive and take over. Be prepared for a wide range of emergencies in your personal or professional life.

Speakers

Mandi Crable

Monday June 22, 2026 1:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Gardner B

4 hour breakout session

11:00am MDT

Bridging the Hunger Gap: BackPack & School Pantry

Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Gardner B

When school is out for the week, students who depend on school meals may face gaps in access to nutritious food. That’s where Montana Food Bank Network’s Child Nutrition Programs make a meaningful difference. Join us to learn more about the BackPack Program, designed to support elementary students, and the School Pantry Program, tailored for middle and high schools.

Speakers

Samantha Dennison

MFBN

Samantha was born and raised in the interior of Alaska. After living in Bellingham, WA for 15 years, Samantha moved to Missoula to explore Big Sky country with her family. Three years with MFBN has been her first opportunity to focus on child nutrition though has seen first-hand the... Read More →

Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Gardner B

Workshop

1:00pm MDT

Expand Your Reach with Summer Non-Congregate Meals

Tuesday June 23, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Gardner B

Hear first-hand from first year sponsors on how they met the challenge to adopt non-congregate meals to feed more kiddos in their community along with other sponsors who explored the flexibilities of bulk distribution, home delivery and multi-day weekend boxes.

Speakers

Samantha Dennison

MFBN

Tuesday June 23, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Gardner B

Workshop

3:10pm MDT

How to Process Free/Reduced Meal Applications

Tuesday June 23, 2026 3:10pm - 5:00pm MDT

Gardner B

Learn & practice how to process free/reduced applications, how to check for direct certification and ensure that students are receiving correct meal benefits. Walk away with the knowledge and resources available to help ensure that students receive free or reduced meal benefits starting with checking direct certification, processing free/reduced applications, conducting verification, and ensuring that your Point of Service is accurately updated with each student's determined meal benefit status.

Speakers

Bitsey Draur

Information Technology (IT) Program Manager for the School Nutrition Programs, Montana Office of Public Instruction

Bitsey is the Information Technology (IT) Program Manager for the School Nutrition Programs for the Montana Office of Public Instruction, contracted from Peraton. Bitsey manages all things IT for the School Nutrition Programs, including the LINQ products MAPS, SFSP Meal Counter, Data Analytics... Read More →

Alie Wolf

Data Analyst, Montana Office of Public Instruction

Alie is a Data Analyst at the Montana Office of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Programs. She works to improve program integrity and access to school meals. She is a key member of the team that developed and continues to enhance the Direct Certification Application (DCA... Read More →

Tuesday June 23, 2026 3:10pm - 5:00pm MDT
Gardner B

Workshop

10:40am MDT

How to Set Up Salad, Soup, Ramen & Potato Bars

Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:40am - 12:30pm MDT

Gardner B

If you've ever wondered about having a salad, soup, ramen, or potato bar, then this workshop is for you. Should they be offered to all grade levels, what are the benefits, and is it cost effective? Laurie Hopper, Kate Huston, and other directors will answer these questions for you.

Speakers

Laurie Hopper

Newsletter Editor; Awards Chair, Montana School Nutrition Association

Laurie has been in food service for over 40 years. I started my food service career by working in the food service department at Billings Senior High School while I was still in school. I have managed numerous restaurants and bakery/delis. I have been the food service director... Read More →

Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:40am - 12:30pm MDT
Gardner B

Workshop

1:30pm MDT

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:30pm - 3:30pm MDT

Gardner B

We all deal with staff from various backgrounds. Conflicts will arise. Staff members just don't hit it off. Teachers and administration try to tell us how to do our jobs. This workshop will explore ways to make your food service staff work together as one unified team, and how you can work with teachers and administration to make work enjoyable for all.

Speakers

Laurie Hopper

Newsletter Editor; Awards Chair, Montana School Nutrition Association

Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:30pm - 3:30pm MDT
Gardner B

Workshop

1:00pm MDT

11:00am MDT

1:00pm MDT

3:10pm MDT

10:40am MDT

1:30pm MDT

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