In 2018, alongside the (adult) Food & Farm Forum, we held our first-ever Youth Food & Farm Forum, geared towards youth ages 14-21.  The Youth Forum was planned, promoted, and executed by our six-member Youth Council from around the state, along with our Youth Forum Coordinator.

About 25 youth attended the inaugural Youth Forum, and enjoyed a wide variety of workshops on topics including vegan cooking, adultism, hog butchering, greywater (water recycling) systems, food as medicine, a food/ag career panel, and much more.  These sessions were all led, co-led, or facilitated/ moderated by Youth Council members, in conjunction with guest presenters.  In planning the program, we intentionally emphasized youth-led sessions, hands-on sessions, and sessions geared towards building hard skills and critical analysis.  See the full Youth Forum program here.

 

About the Youth Council

The Youth Council will be comprised of 6-10 youth (ages 14-21) from around the state who will help to plan and develop the 2019 Youth Food & Farm Forum.  Youth Council members will have the opportunity to build skills in event planning, communication, outreach, and leadership, and to build collaborative relationships with other youth around the state, all while working towards the successful execution of a statewide event.

The Council will meet, along with the Youth Forum Coordinator, for monthly meetings via Zoom (by phone and/or computer).  At these meetings the Council and the Coordinator will make decisions regarding the topics/presenters to be featured at the Youth Forum, create and roll out a strategy for effective outreach and promotion, and oversee logistics relating to registration, lodging, and more.

Youth Council members will attend the Youth Forum Dec 6-7, 2019, in Fairhope, AL, and their registration and lodging will be waived as part of their service to the Council.  (They may also receive a travel stipend, if funds allow.)  They will participate in the Forum while also serving as go-to point people for the Youth Forum Coordinator, should the need for any last-minute event-related decision-making arise.

 

Apply to Join!

2019 YOUTH COUNCIL APPLICATION (PDF FORMAT)

2019 YOUTH COUNCIL APPLICATION (DOCX FORMAT)

2019 YOUTH COUNCIL APPLICATION (GOOGLE FORMS) AND SEPARATE PARENT/GUARDIAN PERMISSION FORM (GOOGLE FORMS)

 

PDF/DOCX versions: please submit your completed application (and parent/guardian permission, if applicable) via mail or email according to the instructions at the top of page 3 of the document.  Applications sent via print mail must be postmarked no later than March 20.

GOOGLE FORMS:  Submit the form and it will send a copy to the Youth Forum Coordinator, as well as to you at the email address you provide.

 

Deadline to apply is March 20, 2019.