ITW Food Equipment Group Announces Second Winner of Save Your Kitchen 2026

Ft. Worth, TX (June 10, 2026) – ITW Food Equipment Group, parent company of Hobart, Traulsen, and Vulcan, is pleased to announce Plainville United School District of Plainville, Kansas as the Round 2 winner of the 2026 Save Your Kitchen contest. The district’s winning entry was submitted by Miranda McCune, Food Service Director for Plainville USD.

Serving approximately 425 students from preschool through 12th grade—along with 30 children in its daycare program—Plainville USD plays a central role in its rural community. Beyond daily meal service, the district offers free summer meals to children 1-18 through the Kansas Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Meal Program, extending its impact beyond the school year.

Plainville USD is recognized for its strong community pride and student achievement. The district maintains an exemplary graduation rate and a tradition of alumni success, with former students contributing to NASA’s Orion space program, serving in the state senate, and competing at the Division I level. That momentum continues today, with recent championships across junior high athletics, a regional football title in 2025, consistent top five state cheer finishes, and the district’s first female state wrestling champion in 2026.

At the center of this success is a foodservice program committed to supporting student performance through reliable, nutritious meals. Like many rural districts, Plainville faces challenges in balancing menu variety with broad appeal and access to fresh products. Even so, the team continues to expand offerings and introduce new options that meet the needs of staff and students of all ages.

“We are super excited and honored to win ITW Food Equipment for our kitchen,” said McCune. “At first I was hesitant and in disbelief, but this opportunity means so much for our team and our students.”

The awarded equipment will help modernize the district’s kitchen and improve efficiency. A Centerline™ by Hobart HMM20 mixer will replace a unit that has been in operation since 1953, while a Vulcan VBP15 heated holding cabinet will support safe, consistent meal service. A Traulsen RLT132WUT freezer will provide dedicated storage for gluten-free and daycare meals, strengthening both food safety and flexibility.

Plainville USD has long trusted ITW Food Equipment brands, with Hobart and Vulcan already integral to daily operations. “If you look around our kitchen, you’ll see the Hobart label on many of our machines, and we make use of Vulcan’s great ovens here,” McCune noted. “These products are built to last!”

Equally important to the program’s success is its team. Despite a year of transition, including McCune stepping into her role as director, the group has built a strong, collaborative culture. Their adaptability and shared commitment ensure students receive consistent, high-quality meals each day.

Looking ahead, Plainville USD aims to further enhance its food service operation with future upgrades to its serving line and expanded menu options. For now, the team remains focused on continuous improvement and delivering the best possible experience for students.

Encouraging others to participate, McCune added, “Enter! This is such a great opportunity- I’ll definitely be spreading the word to other directors I have met.”

ABOUT TRAULSEN
Traulsen, an ITW Food Equipment Group brand, has been providing the most trusted refrigeration equipment for food service and food retail operations since 1938. Traulsen engineers a broad refrigeration product offering that includes reach-ins, roll-ins, undercounters, blast chillers, prep tables, merchandisers, and milk coolers. Traulsen is part of ITW Food Equipment Group LLC (a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works) and is proud to be an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year since 2008. To learn more about Traulsen, visit www.traulsen.com or connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/traulsen.

ABOUT HOBART
At Hobart, an ITW Food Equipment Group brand, people and food are our passion. We believe great food brings people together, and the relationships we share feed our inspiration to be the best we can be for one another. As a food equipment manufacturer and service provider, we’ve been dedicated for more than a century to supporting those who are not only passionate about creating great food but are inspired by the people they serve and come to know on a daily basis. Likewise, it is our mission to provide premium food equipment that food service and food retail professionals can trust to work hard and deliver quality, consistent results day in and day out, empowering them to focus on what they love most- creating great food for great people. Backed by our nationwide network of 1,500 factory-trained service technicians, we’re always nearby to install, maintain, and service your equipment. Hobart is part of ITW Food Equipment Group LLC (a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works) and is proud to be an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year since 2008. Explore Hobart by visiting www.hobartcorp.com, connecting with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hobartfoodequipment, or by contacting your local Hobart representative at 888-4HOBART.

ABOUT VULCAN
Masterful design. Precision performance. State-of-the-art innovation. For more than 160 years, Vulcan has been recognized by chefs and operators throughout the world for top-quality, energy-efficient commercial cooking equipment that consistently produces spectacular results. Trust Vulcan to help make your culinary creations turn out just right-each and every time. Vulcan is part of ITW Food Equipment Group (NYSE: ITW). For more information, visit vulcanequipment.com.