The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recognizes that student leaders have a powerful voice for improving health and wellness on school campuses across the Lone Star State - that's why TDA developed the Health Ambassadors for a Ready Texas (HART) program.
The goal of the HART initiative is to create awareness of the health benefits of school meals and Texas agriculture through student engagement. Peer to peer information sharing is an effective way to teach high school students about topics that are not normally taught in classrooms. HART ambassadors can help school food service departments increase student knowledge of the hard work and planning that goes into preparing school meals and serving Texas foods.
HART APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN:
The student application for School Year 2025-2026 is open now. If you are interested in joining the HART Initiative to promote school meals and Texas agriculture, please fill out the application here.
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Child nutrition directors, HART advisors, and HART student ambassadors alike have found success by working together to create something fun and fruitful for their school and district. Bringing HART to your district allows students an opportunity to encourage and inform their peers on the benefits of healthy school meals. Share the HART program flyer with principals, teachers, counselors, and students to spread the word of HART! |
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Find information about the role of student advisors and child nutrition directors in this flyer. |
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Join HART and You'll Get to...
- Complete different tasks each month.
- Organize exciting events such as taste tests to sample local produce.
- Connect with other health ambassadors across the state of Texas.
- Promote school meals and teach your peers about Texas agriculture.
- Gather feedback on how to improve school nutrition programs.
- Work hand-in-hand with school leadership.
- Complete different tasks each month or work with a group of HART students in your school to complete a long-term project.
HART Student Requirements
- Participate in activities promoting healthy eating and Texas agriculture at your school.
- Complete progress reports for each task performed to earn recognition.
- Meet with your HART advisor once a month to discuss and coordinate activities for upcoming school nutrition initiatives.
- Attend statewide conference calls when possible to share ideas and feedback to TDA and other HART participants.
| share this flyer with principals, teachers, counselors, and students to spread the word of hart! |
| share this flyer with principals, teachers, counselors, and students to spread the word of hart! |
Who Should Apply to Participate in the HART Initiative?
Students who are passionate about making a difference at their school and/or have a desire to learn more about the benefits of local foods.
- Be enrolled in a Texas high school for the application school year
- Attend a Texas school that participates in the national school lunch program. if you are unsure, you can search for your district's name here.
- Have an email address to receive HART newsletters and program materials.
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