Party for the Pollinators Receives National Award
We understand the importance of pollinators to our food system and ecosystem. We also realize that conversations about pollinators are easy and fun to have with urban consumers. Thirteen Farm Bureau leaders designed this project to communicate farmers’ efforts to preserve and increase pollinator habitat as well as to illustrate the connection between pollinators and our food system to urban consumers. This project included four sub-projects: creation of a community pollinator garden; community presentations; pollinator garden community event; and large-scale community education event.
This project impacted over 5,500 individuals while engaging 13 Farm Bureau leaders, 34 community volunteers and 17 community partners. Community partners included for-profit businesses, state and local associations, local greenhouses, a suburban municipality and major zoological society.
State the needs, goals, and objectives
This project included four sub-projects: creation of a community pollinator garden; community and civic presentations; pollinator garden community event; and large-scale community education event.
Thirteen Farm Bureau leaders selected this activity to meet our state Farm Bureau’s goal of educating individuals about the latest science involving pollinators, the best management practices proven to protect pollinators, and the technical information needed to create and improve pollinator habitat.
The purpose of this project was jointly to educate and engage urban consumers in conversations about pollinators and the efforts farmers are taking to preserve and increase pollinator habitat.
The overall goal of this project was to connect individuals to farmers and the steps farmers are taking to preserve and enhance pollinator habitat while also providing resouces for individuals wishing to create their own pollinator habitat.
Project objectives include:
-Constructing and opening a community-facing pollinator garden.
-Engaging individuals through presentations at civic and community organizations.
-Hosting a community-facing pollinator garden event.
-Partnering with a large, community education site to promote farmers’ efforts to protect and enhance pollinator habitat.
-Engaging community partners in activities to promote pollinator habitat.
Describe the planning process the county/counties developed for this activity
With the goal of connecting individuals to farmers and the steps farmers are taking to preserve and enhance pollinator habitat while also providing resources for individuals wishing to create their own pollinator habitat 13 Farm Bureau leaders participated in 5 meetings, including 1 to review the project outcomes to ensure that the project plan was meeting the needs, objectives and project goal.
Planning meetings followed the below timeline:
-Fall of 2021: initial planning meeting establishing the project goals, objectives, timeline and volunteer and staff roles; fall garden planting by Farm Bureau volunteers and community partners; discussions with suburban municipality regarding sign permit
-Winter of 2021: planning meeting regarding large-scale community event; conversations with the large, community educational partner and additional event partners
-Spring of 2022: planning meeting regarding community pollinator garden event; conversations with partners for community-facing pollinator garden event; pollinator resources promotion and presentations
-Summer of 2022: planning meeting regarding community pollinator garden expansion; large-scale community education event; pollinator garden community event; promotions during Pollinator Week; farmer interviews and photos
-Early fall of 2022: program review by 13 Farm Bureau leaders; community pollinator garden maintenance
Based on planning meeting discussions, Farm Bureau volunteers were tasked with community pollinator garden design and installation as well as support at the community and large-scale event. Farm Bureau volunteers were also tasked with sharing social media posts and program review and evaluation. Staff was tasked with logistics including applying for and completing the sign permit; community and large-scale event details including location, materials, promotions, etc.; and community presentations.
Explain how you implemented/carried out/executed this activity
This project included four sub-projects: creation of a community pollinator garden; community presentations; pollinator garden community event; and large-scale community education event with the goal of connecting individuals to farmers and the steps farmers are taking to preserve and enhance pollinator habitat while also providing resources for individuals wishing to create their own pollinator habitat.
The project plan was put into action during five planning meetings, including one review meeting. Project updates were provided to 13 Farm Bureau leaders monthly in between meetings. Community volunteers and community partners also received updates; however, the timing of those updates varied depending on the individual or community partner’s role in the project. For example, community volunteers received more updates prior to the community pollinator garden event as compared to during the installation of the garden.
Provided below is an overview of what large project tasks and their completion timeframe:
-Fall of 2021: community pollinator garden installation including sod removal, bed preparation and fall seed planting was completed by 6 Farm Bureau leaders and 7 community partners. The community pollinator garden was installed on the Farm Bureau property, which is located near a suburban neighborhood.
-Spring of 2022: bed preparation (late spring) and additional seed planting was completed by 6 Farm Bureau leaders and 3 community partners. 1 staff member reached 150 individuals through community and civic organizations.
-Summer of 2022: Seven Farm Bureau volunteers and three community partners hosted large-scale community education event which reached over 500 community members. The large-scale community education event was held at a large, urban zoo. Ten Farm Bureau leaders and five community volunteers hosted fifty community members during the pollinator garden community event held at the community pollinator garden near a suburban neighborhood. Additional activities included social media promotions during Pollinator Week, which reached over 3,000 individuals and farmer interviews and photos, which were used in publications, website and on social media.
-Early fall of 2022: community pollinator garden maintenance.
Through four sub-projects Farm Bureau was able to accomplish its goal of connecting individuals to farmers and the steps farmers are taking to preserve and enhance pollinator habitat while also providing resources for individuals wishing to create their own pollinator habitat.
What makes this activity unique, or how does it bring new focus to the county Farm Bureau's mission
This first-year project offered the County Farm Bureau the opportunity to bring attention to our State Farm Bureau’s goal of educating individuals about the latest science involving pollinators, the best management practices proven to protect pollinators, and the technical information needed to create and improve pollinator habitat.
This project also enabled Farm Bureau to accomplish its overall goal of connecting individuals to farmers and the steps farmers are taking to preserve and enhance pollinator habitat while also providing resources for individuals wishing to create their own pollinator habitat. This goal was reached through two in-person, community-facing events at the Farm Bureau office and at a major, urban zoo. The goal was also accomplished through presentations at civic and community organizations as well as through social media.
This project also provided value to the County Farm Bureau by:
-Enabling the organization to connect individuals to farmers and the steps farmers are taking to preserve and enhance pollinator habitat while also providing resources for individuals wishing to create their own pollinator habitat.
-Offering the County Farm Bureau an opportunity to hold two community facing events focused on engaging individuals in conversations regarding pollinators and the efforts farmers are taking to preserve and enhance pollinator habitat.
-Enabling Farm Bureau to connect and work with 17 community partners and 34 community volunteers.
Unlike our existing work in the area of pollinator education, this project was different because it focused on urban, adult consumers rather than youth.
What were the results of this activity, including the impact and benefit to Farm Bureau and/or the local community
This project included 4 sub-projects: creation of a community pollinator garden; community presentations; pollinator garden community event; and large-scale community education event with the goal of connecting individuals to farmers and the steps farmers are taking to preserve and enhance pollinator habitat.
Objectives, outcomes and results include:
-Constructing and opening community pollinator garden. RESULT: 7 community partners and 6 FB leaders planted the garden and designed, built and installed an educational sign.
-Engaging consumers through civic and community organizations. RESULT: FB engaged with 150 consumers about pollinators through in-person, recorded resource materials and virtual presentations. Speakers and resources were promoted online, on social media and the monthly publication.
-Hosting a community pollinator garden event. RESULT: 5 volunteers and 10 FB leaders engaged with over 50 community members about the importance of pollinators. Activities included honey tasting; monarch feeding; and worms and compost demonstration. The event was promoted through social media, local newspaper and monthly publication.
-Partnering with a large, community education site to promote farmers’ efforts to protect and enhance pollinator habitat. RESULT: 3 community partners and 7 FB volunteers engaged with over 500 community members about the importance of pollinators. Activities included trivia, crafts and take-home activities and resources. The event was promoted though social media, state ag publication and the monthly publication as well as by the educational site.
-Connecting individuals to farmers and the steps they’re taking to enhance pollinator habitat. RESULT: over 3,000 consumers learned more about farmers’ efforts to protect pollinators through social media promotions during Pollinator Week and four farmer interviews.
-Engaging community partners in activities to promote pollinator habitat. RESULT: 17 community partners worked collaboratively with FB to educate, construct and promote pollinators.
13 FB leaders evaluated the project results and opted to expand the community pollinator garden, large-scale community event at the zoo and community and civic presentations going forward.
This project impacted over 5,500 individuals while engaging 13 FB and 34 community volunteers and 17 community partners including for-profit businesses, associations, local greenhouses, a suburban municipality and major zoological society.
