Using respondent-driven sampling to identify key players in Georgia farm to school: An innovative application of a narrative inquiry approach

Abstract

Farm to School is a program that teaches children about healthy practices around agriculture, food, nutrition, and the environment. Organizations such as the National Farm to School Network (NFSN) serve as information resource centers for those looking to champion Farm to School in their area. In Georgia, Georgia Organics is listed as the lead organization for Farm to School and its related programs, yet no account exists detailing Farm to School’s start in Georgia, which is complicated by different participants applying Farm to School in diverse ways. This article is the first in a series and aims to name the early champions of the program. The study used a qualitative narrative inquiry approach. A semi-structured appreciative inquiry-framed interview protocol guided data collection. Researchers used respondent-driven sampling to recruit participants. Results are presented as a reader’s theater dialogue in podcast form. In total, six participants held a director role, three a CEO role, two a specialist role, and one an educator role. Future research should seek to build upon this study: This study represents a sampling of some key players in Farm to School in [STATE], some of whom indicated they were directly involved in the early days of Farm to School and others who were only aware of the early days tangentially. Future research should explore other ways to identify key players in Farm to School and how they are related to the individuals in this article. Educators can use this information to identify whom they should include in their programs.