MSNA Staff will be out of the office working the Annual Conference from Sunday, August 3 to Wednesday, August 6. We will return to the office on Thursday, August 7. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the conference!

Quick News
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  • Attendee registration is open for the MSNA 68th Annual Conference: Scratching the Surface: The Future is Unlimited! The conference will be held August 3-6, 2025 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN. Exhibitors, booth registration is now closed. Attendees, there is no deadline and walk-ins are accepted.
  • Stay up-to-date on all-things legislative: Bookmark SNA's advocacy webpage and sign up to receive their Tuesday Morning newsletter.
  • 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!
  • 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

Paige Albrecht, Nutrition Supervisor, Forest Lake Area Schools. Read about Paige 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!

5/16: The nutrition staff of Willmar Public Schools' Lakeland Elementary School was named the 2025 MSNA Hero Site Award recipient. The West Central Tribune as well as Lakeland Media describes how this team earned this honor.

5/14: "I’ve often said that being a teacher is like being the parent in the building, but being the lunch lady is like being the cool aunt—we get to have fun, show kindness, and make sure every student feels welcome." Roseville Area Schools Nutrition Services Coordinator Stacey Gaetz has been named the 2025 School MSNA Lunch Hero Award. The Roseville Reader covers the story here.

5/6: Jennifer Walters, Director of Nutrition at Winona Area Public Schools, was named the 2025 Minnesota Director of the Year. The Post Bulletin and the Winona Post detail her contributions to her district and MSNA.

5/2: On School Lunch Hero Day, a hero at Centennial Middle School in Lino Lakes, Barbi King, was awarded the midwest region Employee of the Year by the School Nutrition Association (SNA). Watch Barbi in action here.

4/9: Darcy Stueber, Director of School Food Service for Mankato Schools and MSNA Public Policy Chair, testified before the Minnesota House Education Finance Committee to advocate for the preservation of dedicated school nutrition funds. Watch Darcy's testimony here.

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.

Find past news stories here!