Request for Proposals for Farm to Plate's 2023 Gathering is Live!

RFP form is available here!

Vermont Farm to Plate is excited to welcome you to be a part of its 2023 Annual Gathering on November 16th and 17th at Killington Resort. For this year's Gathering, we are calling on Farm to Plate network members to propose breakout sessions that reflect this year’s theme, “Transformative Change”. Based on feedback at the 2022 Gathering, there is a shared sense amongst Network members to "be brave" in how we work together to address some of the most pressing issues facing our state, region, and world.

To be brave together we need to draw upon knowledge and skills that have led to demonstrative change. Which is why we're looking for breakout session RFPs for the 2023 Gathering that focus on developing applied skills and sharing lived examples of innovative and effective programs, research, campaigns, business models, and supply chain approaches that build toward transformational change for our state's food system. This is your opportunity to share your knowledge, expertise, and transferrable skills to motivate and inspire others, and stimulate insight and greater collaboration in Vermont's food system. 

Submissions should focus on innovative strategies and applied skills that build community, economic prosperity, racial equity, food access and security, and environmental sustainability and regeneration. We're particularly interested in sessions that relate to climate change and action, land access and land use, farm and food business innovation and supply chains, and creating a just and resilient future through diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Farm to Plate is committed to furthering our shared values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. We encourage and will prioritize sessions that feature a diverse mixture of backgrounds, voices, and perspectives that includes farmers and food entrepreneurs, food and farmworkers, and underrepresented groups including proposals that feature race, gender, and age diverse panelists and/or contributors. Stipends and/or comped registration are available for farmers and food/farmworkers, small food business owners and employees, BIPOC, and student/youth participants and presenters.

Estimated running time for each session is 1.5 hours with the possibility of offering a two part workshop that spans 3 hours. Sessions can take various formats including panels, co-facilitated and or individually facilitated workshops. Ideally, attendees will leave with a new skill and/or knowledge that they can apply to their own work.  Please note, all proposals are required to include a participatory element for session attendees intended to stimulate emergent ideas, group dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel comprised of Farm to Plate Steering Committee members and staff. The deadline has been extended and deadlines are due by Friday, August 18th. Please reach out to Kelly Dolan, Vermont Farm to Plate Network Manager, with any questions: kellydolan@vsjf.org