Joanna teaches youth about chickens during our 2020 farm day at Stony Kill Farm.
Using touch to identify animals at our 2021 farm day at Old Adriance Farm.
Flourishing Farmers showing off their skills at the 2021 Dutchess County Fair!
Making friends with Teddy the Alpaca at our 2022 farm day at Clover Brooke Farm.
Flourishing Farmers Program
The Flourishing Farmers 4-H Program is an individualized and adaptive 4-H program created specifically for youth with special needs. The goal of this program is to prepare youth of all abilities for adult life by teaching them agricultural vocational skills and life skills. A few of the skills we work on throughout this program are communication, relationship building, team work and responsibility. Our program uses experiential learning programs and a positive youth development approach to teach our members in a fun and memorable way.
How our program works:
- Each Flourishing Farmer is paired with 4-H adult leaders and club youth members that will serve as their mentors.
- Together we determine a meeting schedule that will allow the Flourishing Farmer to accomplish skill goals.
- In addition to their farm meetings, youth will have the option to participate in a variety of 4-H events, activities, and service opportunities to help better their community.
- Throughout the program, each Flourishing Farmer keep a journal of what they have learned through their 4-H activities.
- Each youth that maintains good standing throughout the program will be eligible to attend the Dutchess County Fair in August to show off what they’ve learned!
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Become a Mentor or Volunteer
We are always looking for youth and adult volunteers to serve as mentors. Volunteers do not need to be established within 4-H already. Mentors meet with Flourishing Farmers for a few hours, multiple times a month. They help our Flourishing Farmers gain vocational knowledge and work on skill goals pertaining to livestock or another project area. Owning or having access to livestock animals is a plus! If you or someone you know may be interested in becoming part of our mentorship program, reach out to Allie Jeffrey through the contact information below.
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This program is funded in part by Dutchess County
Last updated January 25, 2023