Dakotasare.info: Student Agricultural Programs and Fundraising

When a school decides to hold a fundraiser, it has many different options from which to select. One innovative idea that is spreading across the nation is to link fundraising efforts with student agricultural programs. While this is obviously easier to accomplish in a rural setting, transportation arrangements can always be made so that urban students get to experience the wonders of farm life.

Perhaps the best known student agricultural programs are 4-H Clubs and Future Farmers of America (now called the National FFA Organization). But really, any local farm, farm-related club, or agricultural co-op can be harnessed to help students raise both money and their awareness of agricultural issues.

There are very many types of fundraisers appropriate for student agricultural programs - here are a few:

Have students sell local farm products. The list of products is extensive, everything from jams and syrups to fruits and dairy products. The most convenient way to sell these products is through a coupon or peeler card program, where purchasers receive redeemable stickers that they can exchange for products at specially-designated locations.
Berry-picking expeditions are a perennial favorite for the entire family. A farmer agrees to donate a percentage of revenue to the students, and the students organize a particular weekend for families to join in.
Rent-A-Cow programs are popular in Europe, and are catching on in this country as well. Students solicit community members to "rent" a cow (or sheep or goat or chicken) for a year. For a rental fee, the purchaser gets to keep all products produced by the animal, including milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, eggs, and (in the case of sheep) wool. Students and farmers split the rental fee, and students receive discounts on their own rentals. Hearty meat-eating community members can convert their rental property into a freezer-full of delicious eating by the payment of an additional fee at the end of the year.
Getting the local parent/teachers organization (PTO) involved can lead to a sustained source of funds for schools. For instance, the Wisconsin Rainbow Farmers Cooperative has teamed up with PTOs to form a Market Basket program in which community members receive weekly deliveries of boxed fresh fruits and vegetables right off the farm. The PTO normally receives from $1 to $3 profit on each box sold, and people throughout the community learn what farm-fresh produce tastes like.

The variety of agriculture-themed student fundraising activities is limited only by your imagination. Why not consider one for your school's next fundraiser?






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			Dakotasare.info: Student Agricultural Programs and Fundraising When a school decides to hold a fundraiser, it has many different options from which to select. One innovative idea that is spreading across the nation is to link fundraising efforts with student agricultural programs. While this is obviously easier to accomplish in a rural setting, transportation arrangements can always be made so that urban students get to experience the wonders of farm life. Perhaps the best known student agricultural programs are 4-H Clubs and Future Farmers of America (now called the National FFA Organization). But really, any local farm, farm-related club, or agricultural co-op can be harnessed to help students raise both money and their awareness of agricultural issues. There are very many types of fundraisers appropriate for student agricultural programs - here are a few: Have students sell local farm products. The list of products is extensive, everything from jams and syrups to fruits and dairy products. The most convenient way to sell these products is through a coupon or peeler card program, where purchasers receive redeemable stickers that they can exchange for products at specially-designated locations. Berry-picking expeditions are a perennial favorite for the entire family. A farmer agrees to donate a percentage of revenue to the students, and the students organize a particular weekend for families to join in. Rent-A-Cow programs are popular in Europe, and are catching on in this country as well. Students solicit community members to "rent" a cow (or sheep or goat or chicken) for a year. For a rental fee, the purchaser gets to keep all products produced by the animal, including milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, eggs, and (in the case of sheep) wool. Students and farmers split the rental fee, and students receive discounts on their own rentals. Hearty meat-eating community members can convert their rental property into a freezer-full of delicious eating by the payment of an additional fee at the end of the year. Getting the local parent/teachers organization (PTO) involved can lead to a sustained source of funds for schools. For instance, the Wisconsin Rainbow Farmers Cooperative has teamed up with PTOs to form a Market Basket program in which community members receive weekly deliveries of boxed fresh fruits and vegetables right off the farm. The PTO normally receives from $1 to $3 profit on each box sold, and people throughout the community learn what farm-fresh produce tastes like. The variety of agriculture-themed student fundraising activities is limited only by your imagination. Why not consider one for your school's next fundraiser?


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