For the second half of 2021, the Food Connects staff chose the Cheshire County Conservation District’s Monadnock Localvores Jeffery P. Smith Farm Scholarship as the beneficiary of their employee charitable giving initiative. Our team raised $754 for the scholarship program, which “aims to send children to an area farm camp to discover the inherent rewards that come from cultivating with one’s hands and heart.” At Food Connects, we believe that all students should have access to hands-on outdoor farming and gardening activities and we were delighted to support this important program last year. One $250 donation covers, in full, one week of farm camp for a deserving child and we are excited to see our impact go to good use this upcoming summer.

The Jeffrey P. Smith Farm Scholarship endeavors to connect young people with agriculture and the natural world. Through this scholarship, the Monadnock Localvores hope to inspire the next generation of local farmers and local food supporters, by giving regional children an opportunity, through summer camp, after-school programs, or membership to the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire, to experience sustainable farming practices first-hand & watch their efforts bear fruit. The number of scholarships disbursed continues to increase as more and more community supporters realize the value of farm education. They offered 44 scholarships in 2021 and had previously offered 24 scholarships in 2019!

Do you know a young person who wants to connect with the agricultural world? Applications for the 2022 scholarships are due March 31, 2022.