Quick News
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  • Attending the Annual Conference on August 3-6 in Rochester? Registration will open in May! View the schedule overview here.
  • Help End Youth Hunger on April 9th! Join MSNA on April 9th for a packing session in Mankato, MN serving Feeding Our Communities Partner (FOCP). This event is limited to members only and the cost is free! Register here.
  • Share your knowledge at the Annual Conference: The Call for Speaker Proposals is open! Read the list of suggested topics and submit your proposal before March 31. The 2025 Annual Conference will be held August 3-6 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN.
  • Next in the MSNA Webinar Series: The Power of Emotional Intelligence on Tuesday, April 8th from 3:00-4:00 PM, CT. Learn more and register for free.
  • Happy National Nutrition Month! Did you know that working in school nutrition comes with hidden health benefits? Julie Kronabetter, MSNA Nutrition Chair, reflects on how working in school food service affects our body, mind, and soul. Read the article here.
  • Speak up! The House Ways and Means Committee proposed some concerning changes to school meal programs that could limit student access to school meals and administrative costs. We need your help to protect access to nutritious school meals! Tell Congress: Don't cut school meals access for millions of students!
  • What is MSNA advocating for in 2025? Read the 2025 MSNA Position Paper and Press Release!
  • Whether you couldn’t attend SNA’s School Nutrition Industry Conference (SNIC25) earlier this year or you simply want to revisit the most valuable education sessions, the Best of SNIC25 Webinar Series brings top-rated presentations directly to you. Sign up for one or more virtual sessions!

Member Spotlight

Brenda Johnson, Manager, Eastern Carver County Schools. Read about Brenda here.

To read past member spotlights, click here. 

Nominate a Colleague You Admire!

Help recognize the hard work of our colleagues in the school nutrition profession who go above and beyond. The MSNA and SNA Awards programs highlight the outstanding and important work of our members and state affiliates. Members and state associations are eligible for a variety of honors that recognize their achievements in school foodservice, leadership, membership recruitment and professional development. Nominations for 2026 will open fall 2025.

MSNA Members in the News!

3/7: MSNA Secretary/Treasurer and School Nutrition Director for Red Wing Public Schools, Jess Peña, was featured on FOX9 News to highlight the importance of school breakfast during National School Breakfast Week.

3/6: Funding for school lunch programs is uncertain as House Republican leaders are considering major spending cuts. Zumbrota-Mazeppa School's Food and Nutrition Director, Brenton Lexvold, was interviewed by KIMT News 3 as well as KTTC News on the impact this would hold for school programs.

3/5: Could the new administration stop free school lunches? Jess Peña, MSNA Secretary/Treasurer and School Nutrition Director for Red Wing Public Schools, was featured on WCCO News' podcast to discuss school meals and implications of funding changes.

2/4: Three Minnesota school nutrition professionals were accepted into the Chef Ann Foundation 2025 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship Cohort. Congratulations to Claire Nielsen (Wayzata Public Schools), Courtney Chapman (Minneapolis Public Schools), and Kevin Trierweiler (Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Schools)!

1/29: Free meals in Minnesota has meant great things for the students in Rochester Public Schools. Hear what students have to say and learn more about what's' new in the program from Angie Wuerflein and Virginia McCosh of Student Nutrition Services on KTTC News.

1/28: WCCO Radio's Jason DeRusha learned more about the great things happening in MN cafeterias from Ashley Schneider, Director of Nutrition Services at Moorhead Area Public Schools and MSNA Vice President. If you didn't catch it live on Drivetime with DeRusha, hear the DeRusha Eats podcast on Audacy.

1/7: What pointers can we give our children to encourage healthy eating? Jess Peña, School Nutrition Director for Red Wing Public Schools and MSNA Secretary/Treasurer, explains in an interview with FOX9 News.

Find past news stories here!