Farm Bureau Foundation Produces Video Series on Buying Local

The New York Farm Bureau Foundation has a new project that will bring consumers closer to the farmers who produce their food. 

It is launching a new video series entitled “Meet Your Farmer” that the public can view online through the Foundation’s YouTube and social media pages. Links are available on the Foundation’s website at nyfbfoundation.org

The website has also been updated to be smartphone friendly for people looking to view the series on a mobile device or tablet. The Foundation will also include QR codes on its educational brochures and calendar that will increase the accessibility for viewers to watch the videos.

The videos feature New York farm families talking about their farms and their passion for growing food and caring for their land and animals. The project fits into the Foundation’s mission of sowing the seeds of understanding to educate the public about modern day agriculture.

The first farms to be showcased in the series include CY Farms in Elba, NY, McCormick Farms in Bliss, NY, and Orbaker’s Fruit Farm in Williamson, NY. The Foundation will soon add more farms to this ongoing project.

“The New York Farm Bureau Foundation reaches thousands of children and adults every year through its educational programming, and we are pleased to continue telling the stories of New York’s family farms through this new video series," said Farm Bureau President and Foundation Chair David Fisher. 

"It is more important than ever that farmers share what they do and engage with the public to clear up any misunderstanding people may have about agriculture,” said Fisher.

New York Farm Bureau Foundation’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCZaYUrOwLZ52h7joV359Yg

Counselors to Learn about Ag Careers at Food and Farm Experience

Now is the time to sign up to attend the 2017 Food and Farm Experience, sponsored by New York Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agricultural Education.

The annual event -- scheduled for Oct. 18-20 -- will provide middle and high school career counselors with a unique opportunity to learn about agriculture. The repeat focus is a response to the overwhelming success and feedback from last year’s program that highlighted career exploration and development for New York students.
 
The event, held this year at The Beeches Inn and Conference Center in Rome, Oneida County, is an annual summit focusing on learning about agriculture and making connections with a full array of people connected to farming and food production.
 
This year’s in-depth experience will connect participants to an industry that offers more than 300 ag-related career opportunities.  The participants will meet with industry experts, employers, and post-secondary educators. Participants will be selected via nominations and applications, with a goal to develop extensive agricultural understanding, networking and connections.
 
Food and Farm Experience will be packed with essential and useful information about agriculture for a focused group of up to 35 career educators. The materials provided will include the tools, resources and connections needed to assist their students who may be interested in agricultural careers.  

Participants will visit a variety of locations over the two day experience, from farm to fork and participate in interactive workshops and panel discussions to get a feel for the multitude of career opportunities available in agriculture.
 
The event begins with a dinner Oct. 18. It will include tours, panel discussions, a trade show and more before winding down at noon Friday, Oct. 20.
 
Food, lodging and workshop material costs will be covered by the New York Farm Bureau Foundation.
 
An application must be postmarked or received electronically by July 14.
 
For those interested in attending the 2017 Food & Farm Experience or if you know someone to nominate, contact New York Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agricultural Education at (800) 342-4143. Applications are also available at www.nyfbfoundation.org

Deadline Approaches for Food and Farm Experience Applications

The July 15 deadline is quickly approaching for middle and high school career counselors to submit an application for the 2016 Food and Farm Experience, presented by New York Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agricultural Education.

The two-day event is an annual summit focusing on learning about agriculture and making connections with a full array of people connected to farming and food production. 

This year’s in-depth experience is geared towards those involved in middle and high school career exploration and development. It will connect participants to an industry that offers more than 300 ag-related career opportunities.  

The participants will meet with industry experts, employers, and post-secondary educators. Participants will be selected via nomination /application, with a goal to develop extensive agricultural understanding, networking and connections. 

Food and Farm Experience will be packed with essential and useful information about agriculture for a focused group of 35 career educators. The materials provided will include the tools, resources and connections needed to assist their students who may be interested in agricultural careers.  

Participants will visit a variety of stops over the two days, from farm to fork, in addition to interactive workshops and panel discussions to get a feel for the multitude of career opportunities available in the agricultural industry. 

The 2016 Food & Farm Experience is:
A two-day program for 25 to 35 target group members – starting with a reception and dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 19, in Batavia. 
The Food and Farm Experience will include tours, panel discussions and more before winding down at noon Friday, Oct. 21 with a trade show of agricultural education and career opportunities.

An application is necessary for inclusion in the annual Food & Farm Experience. 

Food, lodging, and workshop material costs are covered. 

Deadline for applications is July 15, postmarked or electronic submission

Interested in attending the 2016 Food & Farm Experience or know someone to nominate?  Contact New York Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agricultural Education at 1-800-342-4143. 
More information is available at www.nyfbfoundation.org

How to Introduce School Officials to Ag-Related Careers

From New York Farm Bureau Foundation

Do you want to make a difference for the next generation? 

Have you brought The Food & Farm Experience information to your local school counselors, Board of Education, or Superintendent?

If not, do it now and be part of the force that will introduce counselors to more than 300 ag-related careers for their students.  

The participants will meet with industry experts, employers, and post-secondary educators.  A two-day in-depth experience tailored as an agricultural education encounter has been created for this specific audience.  

Participants will be selected via nomination/application.  Food, lodging, and workshop material costs are covered by the Foundation.

The Food & Farm Experience is scheduled for Oct. 19-21 in Batavia, during which participants will have the opportunity to share with individuals representing agriculture. Participants will visit and tour a variety of stops along the journey from farm to fork, and get a feel for the multitude of career opportunities available in the agricultural industry.  

They will receive high-quality materials and resources that will provide easy access to the core of New York agriculture, as well as being exposed to panels representing agricultural expertise, jobs, and education.

Interested in attending the 2016 Food & Farm Experience or know someone to nominate? Contact New York Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agricultural Education at (800) 342-4143.  

The application is available here http://nyfbfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/FFX-2016-Fillable-Application.pdf and the brochure is available by http://nyfbfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2016-FFX-Brochure.pdf clicking here.

The deadline to submit an application is July 15. You will have to open the application with the Adobe Reader program in order to fill it in electronically.