2026 Fall Apple Press

A few weeks into the school year now, the frenzy of the first days has settled into something steadier — but if you talk to anyone on your team, they'll tell you the rhythm is still new enough that a kid slides their tray past without a fruit or vegetable on it, and someone patiently reminds them, again, that it has to be there. That's the season we're in — a little chaotic, a lot of heart, and mostly invisible to anyone who isn't in it with you. I am, and this year, I get to be in it with you as your WSNA president. Here's what I keep coming back to as I step into this role: this work holds up when people feel two things — seen, and supported. Seen, because what you do in that kitchen or that district office is real, skilled, essential work, whether or not the people around you clock that. And supported, because none of us are meant to do this alone, and an association is only as good as its ability to actually show up for its members. In July, at our Annual Conference in Tacoma, I had the honor of being installed as WSNA president by my daughter. It meant more to me than she probably realizes — because of something she said one night at our dinner table, at six years old. It was just following a [United States] presidential election, and the way you do with kids, I asked, “Who wants to be president some day?” "I think Dad should," she said. My husband, without missing a beat, said, "What about Mom?" And before I could even brace myself for the answer, she looked at us like it was obvious and said, "Mom already has a great job." She wasn't thinking about who's allowed to lead, or my gender. She was thinking about her mom, who works in school kitchens — and in her mind, that job was already big enough, important enough, good enough, exactly as it was. I think about that a lot, especially on the harder weeks. It's part of what keeps me going — knowing this work matters enough that even a six-year-old could see it plainly. There is a plan behind this year — the board spent real time getting it right, and I'm proud of the work that went into it. But more than any list of tasks, what I want you to feel from us this year is care: that we're paying attention to what actually helps you, not just checking boxes. I'm grateful for the officers, chairs, and regional leads standing beside me while we carry it out. Thank you for everything you do for the kids in your care. I'm honored to serve you this year.

Warmly,

Juliana Fisher
President, Washington School Nutrition Association

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