It doesn’t seem like 24 years ago. I remember it pretty vividly. I was at work in Lebanon when the news reported that a plane hit the World Trade Center. My first thought was that it wasn’t the first time a plane hit a building in Manhattan. It was strange for hit to happen these days with advanced air traffic control and no fog. Then, the second plane hit. It was clear then that this was not an accident. As the day unfolded, and air traffic was grounded, the silence was strange. I never noticed how common it was to see planes in the sky, until they were gone.
People rose up to be their best selves that day and in the days that followed. Differences were largely set aside so looking for survivors and cleaning up could go on. It’s too bad that it takes tragedy to make us be those people.
This is Tim Duffy. He was off work that day, but then suited up and went towards the destruction that everyone else was trying to get away from.
People did heroic things, and some died doing them. Never forget their sacrifice, their bravery, and their excellence.
(Washington, D.C., September 10, 2025) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is delivering on its commitment to support child health and American agriculture by opening applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants. Through this grant opportunity, USDA will invest up to $18 million in farm to school projects that connect farmers to USDA’s child nutrition programs through local food procurement, agricultural education, school gardens, and more.
New this year, USDA reimagined the Farm to School Grant program, implementing several improvements, including streamlining the application, removing barriers to innovation, and emphasizing partnerships to give small family farms the best chance at success.
“Yesterday at the MAHA Report announcement, alongside Secretary Kennedy, we announced one of the key actions USDA has already taken to contribute to making our children healthy again – Farm to School Grants. These initiatives are one of the best ways we can deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to children, while also strengthening local agriculture,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “These grants will open new doors for small family farms, expand access to healthy food in schools, and inspire the next generation of Great American Farmers. Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is proud to streamline this program, so it works better for families, farmers, and communities across our nation. Putting America’s Farmers First starts with putting our children first.”
Since the Farm to School Grant program’s inception in 2013, USDA has awarded a total of $100 million to more than 1,200 Farm to School Grant projects across the country. This year’s grants represent the largest total amount USDA has offered in Farm to School Grants in a single year.
Farm to School Grants support projects that:
Incorporate more unprocessed, locally sourced foods into meals served at school, summer sites, and/or by child care providers;
Provide producers training on procurement requirements and food safety standards to protect child health;
Integrate agricultural education into career and technical programs to support the longevity of America’s agricultural legacy;
Encourage increased consumption of fresh, whole fruits and vegetables; and more.
This grant opportunity is open to state and local agencies, Tribes, child nutrition program operators, small- to medium-sized agriculture producers, groups of agricultural producers, and nonprofits. Detailed information about eligibility and application requirements can be found in the request for applications. Applications close on December 5, 2025.
4th and 5th Grade New Hampshire “I Voted” Sticker Contest
Actual size of the sticker
(2″ Diameter)
The New Hampshire Secretary of State’s Office is hosting another “I Voted” sticker contest, this time for fourth- and fifth-grade students. A panel of local election officials will choose four winning designs, which will be distributed as stickers to all voters during the 2026 state elections.
Rules
• All contestants must be 4th and 5th grade New Hampshire students in a New Hampshire school/homeschool program;
• All contestants must submit a Permission and Authorization form signed by their parent or guardian.
• Designs must be hand-drawn on the template provided by our office and include the phrase “I Voted”;
• No offensive or inappropriate designs;
• Design cannot favor a particular political party/candidate;
• Only one entry per contestant;
• Designs will be judged on their creativity, inclusivity of all voters, and New Hampshire focus;
• Have fun!
Theme
This year’s theme is “Celebrating 250 Years of New Hampshire History!” Topics you might want to consider:
New Hampshire’s First-in-the-Nation Presidential Primary;
Honoring places that have shaped our identity;
Recognizing events that are important to our story;
Anything that makes New Hampshire unique!
Deadline: To enter the contest, the participant’s parent, guardian, or teacher must submit the following as a .pdf or .jpeg file on our website at www.sos.nh.gov by 11:55 p.m. on October 14, 2025.
NH State Representative Steven Smith 
You must be logged in to post a comment.