How to P&E: Grown-Up Project RED

Project RED (Rural Education Day) has traditionally been used to school young people about agriculture, but what about adults?

Date Posted: November 13, 2025

Sophee Garcia, Michigan Farm Bureau

Every year, county Farm Bureau Promotion & Education (P&E) volunteers across the state coordinate fantastic community-focused events. It can seem intimidating and overwhelming to newcomers, so our How to P&E series is here to share tried and true procedures, broken down into easy steps.

While it’s important to educate young people about agriculture, sharing that same awareness with older generations is just as necessary. At the Gratiot, Isabella and Midland Tri-County Annual Meeting, Promotion & Education committee members decided to host a Project RED for adults.

Similar to typical Projects RED that target elementary school-age children, the Tri-Counties’ Grown-Up Project RED featured a variety of informational education stations on topics including bees, cows, insects, farm safety and other topics. It was a great way to bring the community together and share stories and knowledge about Michigan agriculture.

Who’s Involved?

Your county Farm Bureau P&E committee
County Farm Bureau members who worked different stations
Volunteers to help with logistics
Sponsors and other agricultural organizations

Key Considerations

Volunteers: Recruit members who want to have a station and share their story to the participants.
Speakers: Contact guest speakers in advance to appeal to any age group attending.
Stations: Plan ahead to determine the number of stations and quantity of resources needed for the day.
Promotion: Be sure to promote in advance! Get an attendee head count so the day runs smooth.

Recommended Timeline

3-4 Months Out

Discuss hosting a Grown-Up Project RED at a committee meeting.
Determine what stations will be included.
Contact presenters to secure their availability .
Reach out and invite other small businesses or organizations.

2 Months Out

Finalize your time frame.
Members RSVP to the invitation

1 Month Out

Confirm guest speakers.
Finalize displays and stations.
Review volunteer needs and additional promotion opportunities.
Review and distribute schedule.

Week Of

Determine how many participants will attend.
Decide how many groups to have and how to section them off.
Layout where each station will go.

This event outline was based on an Isabella County Farm Bureau P&E Showcase submission and from Jackson County Farm Bureau Connecting Communities submission. Contact MFB P&E Specialist Katie Cooper for more information.

South Haven native Sophee Garcia is interning with MFB’s Young Farmer and P&E Departments this fall. She’s studying economics and agribusiness at Michigan State University.