Contest

Communications

PacketThe Northeast Regional Steering Committee (RSC) of the National Farm to School Network is looking for some great examples of farm to school success! We need YOUR help to publicize this contest and collect the best ideas for farm to school projects, events, promotions and activities from around the Northeast Region!

Below you’ll find sample tweets, emails, newsletter blurbs and Facebook posts to share often and widely. Please help us publicize through your networks and spread the word! Feel free to edit, adapt or reuse any of the materials.

The best way to spread the word and encourage people to enter is by sending direct, personal invitations. Make a list of people you think should know about or enter this contest. Then see our personal email template and sample Facebook and Twitter posts that allow you to tag and message people directly.

CONTEST INFORMATION

Contest overview: http://tinyurl.com/F2Ssuccess Enter here: http://www.farmtoinstitution.org/f2s-recipes-

entry-form Contest rules: http://www.farmtoinstitution.org/f2s-recipes-

contest-rules Hashtag: #F2SSuccess

TIMELINE Submission Deadline: March 2, 2015 Winners Announced: March 13, 2015

Winner Presentations at Farm to Institution Summit: April 7, 2015 Amherst, MA

QUESTIONS?Contact: Rebecca at rsanbornstone@gmail.com

SAMPLE COMMUNICATIONS

February 6-March 2 : Contest Announcement

Facebook: What’s hot in your #farmtoschool program? Share your best projects, activities, lessons and ideas in the Northeast Farm to School Recipes for Success contest this month. Great prizes and a chance to get your story featured! Open to all in the Northeast. Details: http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi #F2SSuccess

Twitter: What’s your idea of #farmtoschool success? Enter your best projects in the #F2SSuccess contest for a chance to win. http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi

Twitter: Enter the #F2SSuccess contest and share your best #farmtoschool projects and ideas! Great prizes and publicity. http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi

Twitter: What’s hot in your #farmtoschool program? Enter your best projects & ideas in the #F2SSuccess contest. Great prizes! http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi #farmtoschool

Newsletter/Email/Blog: What’s your recipe for Farm to School success? Enter your best projects, lessons and creative ideas in the Farm to School Recipes for Success contest this February. Great prizes include $500 cash, free registration at the first Farm to Institution Summit in April and seeing your work highlighted at the conference and in a new online “cookbook” of best practices. The contest is sponsored by the Northeast Regional Steering Committee of the National Farm to School Network and is funded by a USDA Farm to School grant with support from the National Education Association. Open to all in the Northeast (New England + New York). Get contest details and enter by March 2 at http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi.

February 15-March 2: Contest Reminder

Facebook: From garden parties to cooking contests, farm visits to STEM lessons, #farmtoschool programs all over the Northeast are sizzling! Enter your best projects and ideas in the #F2SSuccess for Success contest by March 2 and win a great prize. Details and entry here: http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi.

Facebook: Have you entered the #F2SSuccess for Success contest yet? Time is running out to submit your best projects,

lessons, activities and ideas for #farmtoschool programs in the Northeast. Learn more and enter today: http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi.

Facebook: [xxxx more days/weeks] to enter the #F2SSuccess for Success contest! Don’t miss this chance to get your work featured in the Recipes for Success “cookbook” and win cash for your favorite Northeast #farmtoschool program. Enter: http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi.

Facebook: [@tag a friend!], we challenge YOU to enter the #F2SSuccess for Success contest! Share your best #farmtoschool projects or ideas and win cash for your favorite Northeast FTS program. Enter: http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi.

Twitter: [xxx] more days to enter the #F2SSuccess for Success contest! Enter your best #farmtoschool projects today http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi.

Twitter: [@tag a friend!] we challenge YOU to enter the #F2SSuccess for Success contest! Share your #farmtoschool innovations and win http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi.

Twitter: Northeast #farmtoschool wants YOU! Submit your best projects, lessons and ideas to the #F2SSuccess for Success contest. http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi

Newsletter/Email/Blog: From garden parties to cooking contests, farm visits to STEM lessons, Farm to School programs all over the Northeast are sizzling! Only [xxxx days/weeks] left to enter your best projects, lessons, ideas and strategies in the Farm to School Recipes for Success contest. Enter online for a chance to win xxx. And mark your calendars for April 7-9 and the 1st Farm to Institution Summit, which will feature the best Recipes for Success from around the region! http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi

March 13-31: Winners & Summit

Facebook:  Congrats to the winners in the Northeast #F2SSuccess for Success contest! Check out these great #farmtoschool champions and their recipes for change. Mark your calendar for April 7-9… they’ll be featured (along with their recipes) at the first Farm to Institution Summit. http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi

Facebook: [@NAME] is a winner in the Northeast #F2SSuccess for Success contest! Congrats and check out these great #farmtoschool champions and innovative ideas… http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi

Twitter: Congrats to the winners in the Northeast #F2SSuccess contest! Check out these great #farmtoschool projects and champions. http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi

Twitter: @NAME is a winner in the Northeast #F2SSuccess for Success contest! Congrats and check out the winners. http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi

Twitter: Catch up with the Northeast #F2SSuccess for Success contest winners at the 1st Farm to Institution Summit! http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi

Newsletter/Email/Blog: Congratulations to the winners in the Northeast #F2SReipes contest! Check out these fantastic Farm to School champions and their creative ideas for projects, lessons, activities and strategies to build healthy kids and communities. Want to see more? Mark your calendars for April 7-9… the winners and their recipes will be featured at the 1st Farm to Institution Summit, and we’ll be releasing the recipes online! http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi

Personal Email

Dear [NAME],I wanted to let you know about an exciting Farm to School contest happening this month. The Farm to School Recipes for Success contest is seeking submissions of the most creative activities, lessons, programs, fundraisers and other ideas from Farm to School programs around the Northeast. I thought of you and your [PROJECT OR FTS PROGRAM] and think you would be an ideal entrant.

Top prizes include cash awards for Farm to School programs. The best entries will be featured in a Recipes for Success “cookbook” and will have a chance to present their projects at the 1st Farm to Institution Summit in April. The contest is sponsored by the Regional Steering Committee of the National Farm to School Network and is funded by a USDA Farm to School grant with support from the National Education Association.

Learn more and enter the contest here. Entries close March 2. http://bit.ly/1EM5HYi