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Applications for July through October Awards are due May 28th

Vermont Family Farmer of the Month Award

Applications are currently open. Apply today to be consider for July through October Awards. Applications are due May 28th

Tips for applying:

Review the award criteria before applying to confirm that you are eligible for the award.
Consider the scoring criteria below when writing your application. Be sure to provide details in your responses that address the criteria.
Save your responses in another document so you can make edits and updates if you’re not selected this round.
Have you applied in the past? Please let us know if you’d like a copy of your last application by reaching out to kayla@nofavt.org.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Vermont Family Farmer of the Month Scoring Criteria

A successful applicant will have a project that advances the long term viability of the farm by increasing its economic, social, and environmental resilience.

Applications will be scored using the following criteria on a 5-point scale, with 1 indicating that the application does not meet the criteria and 5 indicating the application is very strongly aligned with the criteria. Definitions of each area and the weights associated with each are outlined here.

Farmers demonstrate environmental stewardship [Weight: 3]:

Farmers demonstrate a commitment to environmentally conscious, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture. Examples include (but are not limited to) utilizing land management techniques such as rotational grazing, cover cropping, habitat restoration, and practices that help the farm system adapt to or mitigate climate change.

Projects that contribute to and or support the economic viability of the farm [Weight: 3]

Farm business is either economically viable or on a clear trajectory towards becoming economically viable. We define an economically viable business as one that is at least breaking even, including covering the full cost of operations, (including capital investment needs and debt service) and some or all of family living expenses, as needed.

Projects that improve the quality of life for the farmer(s) and their farm teams [Weight: 2] Projects that improve the farmer(s) and/or your farm teams’ physical, financial, mental, and/or emotional well-being.

Farmers are building social resilience [Weight: 2]

Farmers or their farm team are involved in their community. Examples include (but are not limited to): Hosting workshops; providing mentorship to other farmers; involvement in Farm to School; providing direct sales to their community through CSA’s, farmers markets, and farm stands; involvement in the charitable food system; involvement in community groups such as advocacy, nonprofit organizations, community boards, fire and rescue, and other volunteerism.

Vermont Family Farmer of the Month Application

Farm Owner Name(s)

Farm Name

Farm Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Phone

(###)

###

####

Number of Years in Business

What is your farm business structure?

Number of Acres in Production

Products Produced

Award Amount Requested (between $10,000 and $12,000)

Are you applying to other grants to help complete this project?

Describe how and why you started farming. Why are you still farming today? (200 words max)

Describe your farm including its history, products, and markets. Describe your role on your farm today and over time. (200 words max)

Describe the project that you will complete if you receive this award. Please include relevant project costs and provide a simple budget with the cost and description of equipment, materials, hired labor and the total project cost.

Describe your approach to environmental stewardship on your farm. How will this project contribute to the environmental sustainability of your farm (include helping to adapt to or mitigate climate change)? (200 words max) :

Describe how this project will contribute to the economic viability of your farm? (200 words max):

What are some ways you have built social resilience in your community or the larger Vermont agricultural community? (200 words max):

How does this project improve the quality of life for you, your family, and/or your farm team? (200 words max) :

In the past three years, what innovation or change have you implemented on your farm that you are most proud of? (200 words max) :

Does this farm face barriers that have prevented them from accessing this type of program/funding?

● Social barriers such as access to farming network, discriminations faced in accessing support ● Long term land access barriers ● Money for education program barriers

One award will be distributed each month, and therefore your application may not be awarded for up to 4 months from the application due date. Please let us know if there is a time constraint to your project and preferential for award month:

Please send up to 5 photos of the farm, including of the farmer owners and family, farm landscape, farm products, and logo to kayla@nofavt.org to qualify for this award. Photos should be original files (JPEG, PNG, TIFF) and at lease 3000pdi and 4" x 6" or larger.