Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Proposal

Field Exchange Program: Developing Educational Pathways through Agriculture for Urban & Rural Youth

Project Lead:

Harrison Topp, Director of Membership

Executive Summary:
The Field Exchange Program will offer urban and rural youth, week-long working trips to RMFU members’ farms and ranches. Urban participants will be recruited by Frontline Farming from Denver. Farm and Ranch hosts will consist of volunteer members who would like to build bridges across the urban/rural divide and are interested in educating youth about agrarian culture and businesses through safe experiential education opportunities.  Rising highschool juniors and seniors from schools in Denver Metro will be invited to apply, though the program may be open to older applicants as well. Youth participants will be in pairs to help them build confidence and feel more secure in an unfamiliar environment. The program will offer participants important pre-college experiences while teaching them about their food system, possible job opportunities, and the intersectional issues that influence agriculture.

The Field Exchange Program plans to launch it’s pilot season summer 2021 or 2022, with special consideration given to safety for all participants and other logistical factors. Additional curriculum will be developed and delivered to students virtually as a cohort before, during, and after their trips. RMFU, Frontline Farming, hosting farms, and other key partners will work together on the curriculum. This program works to not only build trusting relationships between urban and rural communities, but also offer urban and rural residences pathways to new ways of life; social and economic opportunities.

Key words:
Experiential education, curriculum development, young farmers, intersectional environmentalism

Links:
View full proposal
Watch partner video
Access networking event Zoom link