Connecting Maine’s School Gardens with Agricultural Fairs
What is School Garden Grown?
A program developed by Maine School Garden Network (MSGN), “School Garden Grown” is an opportunity for local schools to promote awareness of their great work and show off their school garden’s bounty. MSGN encourages schools to enter their produce in agricultural fairs, and we work with volunteers and fair personnel to display stickers on their produce once exhibition hall judging takes place. Since 2016, we’ve seen nearly 1000 School Garden Grown entries across fairs in Maine!
I was able to submit 6 different vegetables grown from my school gardens to the Farmington Fair. We were awarded 3rd place for the school garden category. (I did not bring any other display items besides the stickers and handouts, so next year I will be sure to bring a trifold with pictures and other materials!). We won $80 which I will use to purchase seeds and other materials to support the gardens and eat the food we grow. It was a great experience to harvest with my 7th graders, choose items to showcase, and then be able to bring a nice ribbon back (with a check!) to share. It created excitement for next year’s growing season and pride in our school gardens.
Amanda Ripa, RSU 18 – Messalonskee Middle SchoolWe had a blast with the Blue Hill Fair!! We do a “weed & water” sign up so families will sign up for a week and they share pics. One photo was extra sweet because the student helped with her mom and then was so excited to see the blue ribbon at the fair!
Martha Baldwin, Ellsworth Schools
What does the process look like?
MSGN starts with promoting this opportunity to schools. We direct schools to a list of fair dates and the detailed entry information in online fair books. Schools determine what fruits or veggies they would like to exhibit, paying attention to entry requirements for each fair, then each school coordinates their drop off to their respective fair(s). Once judging takes place, stickers are placed on the entries, allowing for the name and location of the school to be recognized. Sometimes schools visit on field trips so students can see their bounties on display!
How can fair personnel be involved?
MSGN has stickers and promotional materials we can provide! We include flyers to promote the stickers, the stickers themselves, and MSGN brochures. Posting flyers near the exhibition hall tables, outside the hall, and in a welcome book are great ways to show how your fair is participating. Ideally, provide additional promotion for this in your fair’s information if there’s room! Even a simple blurb saying, “Look out for Maine School Garden Network’s School Garden Grown stickers highlighting wonderful produce grown by local students!” or something of that nature. Once judging takes place, place stickers on entries that indicate they were grown at a school garden. If possible, as a follow up, we’d love to see which schools were involved to send them congratulations and keep a tally of how many stickers are used!
Sponsorship Opportunity Available
We extend our heartfelt thanks for the support of School Garden Grown! Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement in 2023.
If you or your business are interested in sponsoring the School Garden Grown program, please contact Susan Joy Sager, Coordinator, at susan@msgn.org.
Where can we find out more information?
Contact Maine School Garden Network at info@msgn.org. We want to work with you to bring this program to your fair. Please let us know how we might be able to accommodate your needs in order to make this program happen at your fair!
