FARMON! FOUNDATION INC

Camp FarmOn! is an Entrepreneurial Agriculture Youth Initiative as a summer learning opportunity for youth residing in the Hudson Valley Region and nearby communities. It is an innovative summer camp model blending the format of two popular television shows, “The Voice” and “Shark Tank,” to foster the development of young entrepreneurs for the agriculture industry. Camp FarmOn! is made possible in part by scholarship funding from the FarmOn! Foundation with technical assistance provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene counties and the Taconic Hills Central School District. Scholarships locally and paid attendance are accepted for students entering grades 8, 9, 10, and 11.

Education starts in the lunchroom. You can’t learn if you’re hungry. And you won’t perform your best if your body isn’t given the best fuel. By teaching kids the importance of eating nutrient-dense whole foods from local farms, they will learn to make healthier food choices and grow up to become healthy, food-literate adults.
FarmOn! offers the following programs and technical assistance to school food service directors who want to jump start a new farm-to-school initiative or enhance an existing one:
- Milk Money Program
- Local Better Beef Program
- Harvest of the Month: A featured fruit or vegetable on the lunch menu 2-3 times a month, and a special taste test once a month with cooking, and farmer visits to the lunchroom
- Smarter Lunchroom cafeteria overhaul and funding

In the school garden, kids take center stage. They engage in the science and excitement of hands-on planting, caring for, and harvesting food directly from the earth. With so many children disconnected from their food sources today, a school garden gives them the opportunity to see the whole picture of how food is produced from seed to plate. Studies show that children who grow their own food are more likely to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, or express a preference for these foods.

FarmOn! will fund the construction of edible gardens in your school district and provide educational resources as well as technical assistance to help you build a garden-based learning curriculum for your school. FarmOn! will provide visits from professional athletes to inspire and engage with your kids eating healthy food.

Hands-on cooking classes with professional chefs featuring a different locally sourced fruit or vegetable each month.

Dedicated to educating the next generation in the art of sustainable farming and the business of food we are creating viable livelihoods with a view to rebuilding local economies, healthier families and communities. By providing scholarships for students ages 21+ to live on our historic 220 acre working farm, the FarmOn! Accelerator at Empire Farm changes kids lives.
SUNY & Cornell CALS accredited applied learning program
• 3 month internship scholarships for 8 students
• Students live and work at Empire Farm
• Entrepreneurial education by doing for youth