Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18jRxLFvEMyfPNANm25nBrgT3VoqDSeao4dv6FylFKdY/edit?usp=sharing

This is an experimental topic thread to organize community events by county to make it easier for regional networks to connect and support one another. Feel free to add events, webinars, workshops, volunteer days, etc.!

[Example Progress Report from California's Farm to School Incubator Grant Program Evaluation: 2024 Report]([https://californiafarmtoschooleval.org/recent-reports/2024-progress-reports/]

@klucas928 Welcome Kyle! So happy you've joined our community. Looking forward to connecting with you.

The fiscal year (FY) 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program request for applications (RFAs) are now open. To apply, visit Grants.gov and follow the instructions found in each FY 2025 RFA. This year the RFA has been split into three separate solicitations:

Implementation Grant
State Agency Grant
Turnkey Grant

Upcoming Webinars for potential applicants:
Introduction to the Farm to School Grant Program Request for Applications (RFA) - Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2:00 p.m. ET: The FY 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant program has opened three RFAs for potential grant applicants to consider. This informative webinar will help grant applicants choose the solicitation that is the best fit for them and help attendees understand grant eligibility, funding priorities, and grant objectives. Please register even if you cannot attend; the Farm to School team will send all registrants a link to watch the recording at a later date.
Submitting a Complete Grant Package - Wednesday, Nov. 6 - 2:00 p.m. ET: This webinar will help potential FY 2025 grant applicants understand the components of a complete application and learn how to submit a responsive application that meets all the requirements to be considered for an award. Please register even if you cannot attend; the Farm to School team will send all registrants a link to watch the recording at a later date.

Recorded webinars:
Creating Successful Assessment Plans: This webinar provides guidance on how to create successful assessment plans for your grant proposals and projects.
Planning Sustainable Projects: This webinar provides an overview of how to create a sustainable farm to school project along with resources and examples. It highlights how to write an application that showcases a project’s sustainability, encouraging projects to outlast farm to school grant funds and initiate a permanent impact in the community. This information may be used both during the grant planning process and as a general project planning resource.
Identifying & Calculating Match: This webinar reviews the match requirements of the Farm to School grant program which includes identifying cash match sources, defining in-kind match, how to calculate a match and federal request amount, what are allowable and unallowable match sources, and a walk through of critical budget components of the Farm to School grant application.
Preparing an Effective Grant Proposal: Farm to School Grant Program presents....the "Preparing an Effective Grant Proposal" webinar. This webinar will take you through strategies you can use to write an effective grant proposal, meaning it is aligned with the intent of the program and responsive to requirements, while communicating the intent of your project.

From Cassandra Bull, National Farm to School Network:

Hello NFSN Partners!

How can we eliminate the administrative burden of tracking local food purchases and increase the accuracy of local purchasing data? Join the National Farm to School Network for a cutting edge webinar featuring Rhode Island Department of Education Child Nutrition Program leadership, consultants, developers, and a participating food service director as they introduce FoodTrails, an innovative local food purchasing tracking platform designed specifically for schools. See the details below:

FoodTrails: Rhode Island's Pilot Local Food
Tracking Software for Schools

Date:

October 8th, 2024

Time:

3-4pm ET (12-1pm PT)

Presenters:

Max Bernstein, KK&P

Shayna Cohen, KK&P

Jessica Patrolia, Rhode Island Department of Education

Jesse Skeets, FoodTrails

Neil Klissus, FoodTrails

Register Here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcucOirrj8oHNE8zYmI2e5OfjQbgQ8SqiZZ

Description:

Join the National Farm to School Network for a cutting edge webinar featuring Rhode Island Department of Education Child Nutrition Program leadership, consultants, developers, and a participating food service director as they introduce FoodTrails, an innovative local food purchasing tracking platform designed specifically for schools. The webinar will showcase the history of the platform’s development, a live demonstration of its features, and provide a glimpse into the experience of the first months of the platform’s pilot with four school districts. This is a unique opportunity to explore how automation and technology are being leveraged to improve farm to school procurement tracking in schools and to ask questions directly to the developers and users of the system.

This public webinar follows last year's closed discussion with statewide practitioners as the project was just beginning. I'm excited to learn about the progress and new pilot phase and look forward to seeing everyone there!

Dear AZ Teachers,

Please join us for an incredible hybrid Professional Development series on teaching writing and literacy in connection to the outdoors. Take part in this PD and earn $1900, connect with new network of partners (Central Arizona Writing Project, Blue Watermelon, Hedberg Foundation, and the Mollen Foundation, and ASU) and learn cutting edge strategies for connecting your teaching to the outdoors.

For more info please visit: https://www.stepoutsideproject.com/
For registration visit: https://forms.gle/dv4ku7jN8dxFxWDJ6
To sign up for an informational webinar visit: https://forms.gle/dBNJbgrMrNfisdEVA

Welcome to the Farm to School Discussion Forum! We're thrilled to have you join our community of passionate individuals dedicated to fostering healthy communities and resilient food systems. To ensure that this forum remains a safe, informative, and respectful space for everyone, we've put together these community guidelines. Please take a moment to read and abide by them:

Farm to School Discussion Forum Community Guidelines

Respect Each Other: Treat fellow members with kindness and respect. Disagreements are welcome, but keep discussions civil and avoid personal attacks.

Stay Relevant: Keep conversations focused on farm to school topics, including initiatives, resources, and challenges.

Share Constructively: Contribute thoughtfully and constructively. Your insights should enhance discussions and provide valuable information.

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Report Issues: Alert moderators to any inappropriate content or guideline violations (Flag post and email contact@azfarmtoschool.org)

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Moderation Authority: Moderators can edit, delete content, or suspend accounts violating guidelines.

Stay Safe: Safeguard personal info and report suspicious or malicious behavior. (email contact@azfarmtoschool.org)

Be Supportive: Show patience and support, especially to those new to the community.

Thank you for contributing positively to our Farm to School Discussion Forum!

https://www.goodfoodfinderaz.com/upcoming-events/2024/10/17/following-their-roots-opening-reception