Each year, county Farm Bureau Promotion & Education (P&E) volunteers host great community events. Our How to P&E series simplifies the process for newcomers with proven tips and guidance.
Halloween is a great time of year for an ag-themed community event, especially “trunk-or-treat”-style events with an agricultural twist. Whether it’s a tractor instead of a car trunk, or a cheese stick instead of Snickers, these events are a big draw for kids and families — and a great opportunity for them to learn about farmers.
Who gets involved?
- Your county Farm Bureau’s P&E chair, committee and board of directors
- Your county administrative manager and MFB Regional Manager
- Volunteers to help with logistics and host stations on the day of
- Local businesses and other sponsors
- Commodity groups that might provide in-kind treats
Key Considerations:
- Select a venue with shelter
- Booths or informational signs at each station?
- Select which (and how many) local/Michigan commodities to feature
- Creatively showcase each commodity with a treat (example: temporary egg tattoos instead of actual eggs)
- Secure sponsors and donations
- Promote well in advance
- Have volunteers dress up and decorate the venue
- Register families to get their contact information.
- Treat your volunteers, too — maybe a meal?
Recommended Timeline:
2-3 Months Out:
- Convene a committee planning meeting
- Determine treats and which commodities to feature
- Determine leaders for aspects of the program: registration; event layout; volunteer management; meal and treats; promotion; supplies and decorations; displays...
- Tap sponsors for some treats; contact prospective volunteers
- Identify treats delegate volunteers to procure them
- Gather commodity information; reuse displays from other events if possible
- Outline promotion plan and ID your lead volunteer
2 Months Out:
- Procure all treats and give-away items
- Define volunteer roles at event; recruit 1-2 volunteers per station
- Review promotion plan and get all planning committee members to help (social media, print media and fliers at local businesses)
- Determine day of schedule for set-up and tear-down
Month Of:
- Assemble goodie bags
- Finalize displays
- Review volunteer needs & additional promotion opportunities
- Review day-of schedule
Want more detail? This event outline was based on Washtenaw’s P&E Showcase submission, but the county Farm Bureaus in Clare and Montcalm have held similar events. Contact MFB P&E Specialist Katie Cooper for more information.
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