SW Minn. school to receive healthy schools award

A U.S. Department of Agriculture official will be visiting an elementary school in southwestern Minnesota to celebrate National School Lunch Week.

Julie Mikkelson is the USDA's Midwest regional director for special nutrition programs. She'll visit Adrian Elementary School in Adrian on Friday to present a healthy schools challenge award.

The program is a key component of first lady Michelle Obama's campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation.

The USDA says Mikkelson will discuss the Obama administration's priorities for enhancing school meals and the health of the nation's children.

The department's National School Lunch Program serves more than 31 million children each day.

---

Online:

HealthierUS School Challenge

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)