I am writing to extend an exciting opportunity for farmers, fishermen, and ocean farmers in Connecticut to join the Yellow Farmhouse Farm to Culinary Classroom (F2CC) Speaker Network. This initiative is funded by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids (CTGCTK) Grant.
We believe that by having students interact directly with the people growing and producing their food, we can create a deeper sense of connection and inspire them to be more aware of where their food comes from. Your unique experiences and knowledge are incredibly valuable in fostering this understanding.
As a member of our Speaker Network, you will have the opportunity to:
- Share your story and expertise with students through in-person or virtual presentations.
- Create lasting impressions that encourage students to appreciate and engage with local food systems.
- Be compensated for your time (up to $300 per speaking engagement) and effort in delivering these presentations.
Additionally, this program aims to:
- Build a repository of Connecticut farmers who want to engage with K-12 schools.
- Develop a user-friendly webpage with speaker bios, areas of expertise, and a speaker request form.
- Provide transportation costs, budgets, and funds for the purchase of farm-fresh food and supplies for use in school visits.
- Support farmers in developing or refining their presentations and/or educational materials.
To ensure that our speakers are well-prepared and confident in their presentations, we will offer the following support:
- A playlist of onboarding materials that participating farmers can complete at their own pace.
- A 1-hour virtual coaching call with a Yellow Farmhouse educator to develop or refine educational materials.
- One-time design support to develop and print visual aids such as posters or hands-outs.
- Handle logistics with schools, including scheduling speakers, processing payment/purchase orders, reimbursing speakers for mileage, etc.
- Provide platforms and technical support for virtual speaking engagements via StreamYard or Zoom.
We are committed to supporting you in curating your presentations, ensuring they are engaging and impactful for the students. Whether you prefer to present in person or virtually, we will provide the resources and assistance you need.
We would be honored to have you join us in this initiative. If you are interested or would like more information, please fill out this quick form.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to inspire the next generation of food enthusiasts and advocates.