Montana School Nutrition Association: Full Schedule

9:00am MDT

Nutrition 101 - 8 Hour - Pre-registration Required

Monday June 22, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm MDT

This training provides a basic overview of nutrition with an emphasis on the importance of balance in daily food choices and the inclusion of physical activity as a key component to good health. The training incorporates a variety of learning activities including short physical activity boosters.

Speakers

Sebasthian Varas

Director for Nutrition Services, Canyons School District

Since 2009, Sebasthian Varas has worked for Canyons School District in Utah as the director for Nutrition Services. He is responsible for providing leadership and direction in matters pertaining to child nutrition programs for 33,000 students. He manages 43 schools and 275 employ... Read More →

Monday June 22, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm MDT
Stillwater

8 hour breakout session

11:00am MDT

Safety in the Kitchen is Always on the Menu

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

Stillwater

Join Brenda and Annette as they discuss the hazards reported throughout the years and walk you through ways to prevent injury and maintain safety in our kitchens.

Speakers

Annette Satterly

Risk Manager, MSGIA

Annette is a Risk Manager for the MSGIA. Annette has been with MSGIA for 29 years. She has over 30 years experience in the safety and insurance world. She holds a BS and MS in Safety Engineering and Industrial Hygiene.

Brenda Koch

Risk Manager, MSGIA

Brenda is a Risk Manager for the MSGIA. Brenda has been with the organization for 3 years. Brenda holds a Master of Education Degree and has over 28 years experience as a teacher and administrator in the MT K-12 Schools.

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

Workshop

1:00pm MDT

Indigenous-Foods Cooking Demonstration

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

Stillwater

Join Chef Luke Black Elk (Lakota) for a hands-on, Indigenous-foods cooking demonstration. Luke will be utilizing common Indigenous ingredients to make a delicious, nutritious meal that may be sized-up for large groups, or sized-down for smaller families. If you've wanted to gather wild foods, learn traditional food preservation techniques, or learn to cook with bison, dried corn, or dried squash, and wild berries, this workshop is for you!

Speakers

Luke Black Elk

Farm Director, Hohwoju Otunwe

Luke and Linda Black Elk are food sovereignty activists and teachers of traditional plant knowledge, gardening, food preservation, and foraging. They spend their time collecting and preparing traditional foods and medicines for Indigenous peoples and communities in North Dakota, South... Read More →

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

Workshop

3:10pm MDT

Harvest of the Month with MT Farmers Union

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

Stillwater

Introduction to the resources available from Montana Farmers Union including the Harvest of the Month classroom materials, Community Grants, and Local Food Sources. We will work through one or more of the HOM lessons to demonstrate how they can be used.

Speakers

Jodi Koterba

Education Director & Ambassador, Montana Farmers Union

Jodi is the Education Director and an Ambassador for Montana Farmers Union. She develops curriculum, workshops, articles, and the Lunch & Learn Podcast to educate the public in and about agriculture. She has retired after 29.5 years of teaching high school agriculture and advising... Read More →

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

Workshop

10:40am MDT

Cooking with Herbs

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

Stillwater

How to use fresh herbs, what they pair well with, hands on experience preparing them for use.

Speakers

Chandra Plakke

President, Montana School Nutrition Association

Born and raised in Montana, Chandra served 4 years in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Mechanic. I presently work as the Food Service Director at Superior School District #3 and serve on the MTSNA board as your President Elect. I am married to my awesome husband of over 20 years, and... Read More →

Lisa Hallford

Membership Chair, Montana School Nutrition Association

Lisa has a beautiful family: two kids, two granddaughters, and a wonderful new husband. I have been the Food Service Director at Florence-Carlton K-12 School for seven years. I have always wanted to be a lunch lady. I joined MTSNA six years ago and joined the Board three years ago... Read More →

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

Workshop

1:30pm MDT

Growing Green Thumbs with School Gardens

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

Stillwater

Speakers

Dawn Bauer

Dawn currently manages the front end of the elementary school and also has created a school garden and pantry. Our garden teaches STEaM lessons, pollinating facts and allows kids who have never been exposed to growing their own foods a chance to experiment and eat what they grow... Read More →

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

Workshop

9:00am MDT

11:00am MDT

1:00pm MDT

3:10pm MDT

10:40am MDT

1:30pm MDT

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