FEDS REVEAL NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES

The federal government has introduced new dietary guidelines that set the standard for federal food programs such as school lunches and SNAP. The new standards recommend that most people get 2,300 mg of salt a day or less; the average American gets 3,400 mg a day. And, for the first time, the guidelines recommend limiting added sugar to 10 percent or less of calories. They also recommend that people eat more fruit, vegetables and whole wheat. While the new guidelines mention that cholesterol in food isn't necessarily harmful--it doesn't directly raise blood cholesterol--they say people should eat as little cholesterol as possible. The new guidelines also say that caffeine and alcohol appear to be safe in limited amounts, but say no one should start drinking either if they do not do so already.

Source: NBC News, 1/7/16, New Diet Guidelines

Student anti-hunger projects can apply for awards

The Lead2Feed Challenge was created by the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning and the Lift a Life Foundation, with assistance from the Yum! Foundation, to encourage middle and high school students to hone their leadership skills by completing a service-learning project that addresses hunger or other community need.

Teams of students in grades 7 to 12 in a public, private, or charter middle school or high school are invited to enter the challenge. Each team must comprise at least three students and a sponsoring teacher or adult advisor. Students must be a legal resident of the United States or Guam, a full-time student between the ages of 13 and 18, and a member of a local club or service organization such as the Boys & Girls club or a scout troop.

Each team must create and execute a service learning project to raise awareness of world hunger by setting a goal that attempts to solve a local, statewide, or national hunger-related issue (i.e., help an existing charity or create a project in its community whose mission is to address or solve hunger related problems locally or nationally); developing an action plan to achieve that goal; and demonstrating leadership. Each entry must include a written summary or video overview of the project and quantifiable results (i.e., number of meals served, cans collected, hours of service donated, Facebook “likes,” families served from an urban garden, etc.).

First-, second-, and third-place prizes of $25,000, $5,000, and $1,000, respectively, will be awarded, for a total amount of up to $275,000.

See the World Hunger Leadership Challenge website for complete challenge guidelines and application procedures.

Link to Complete RFP

Jr. Iron Chef registration closes next week!

4th Annual North Country Jr. Iron Chef is Coming!

ncjrironchef.org

Registration Closes January 15th Space is limited, don't delay!

FORM teams of 3 to 5 middle or high school age youth CREATE healthy recipes using a combination of Local & USDA commodity foods   COMPETE against teams from Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis & St. Lawrence counties

JOIN US! March 12, 2016 at  A.A.K. Middle School, Potsdam Check out event guidelines, see pictures and videos, & browse cookbooks at ncjrironchef.org

Annie's Project: Risk Management for Farm Women

Do YOU want to increase your knowledge and professional skills in agricultural risk management through goal setting, networking among farm colleagues and industry professionals to meet goals, and discovering their personality type and how it affects working with others?

Annie’s Project is a business planning and risk management training for farm women focused on:

• Farm business planning

• Marketing

• Financial statements

• Record keeping

• Software training

• Agricultural production

• Employee relations

• Estate planning

To find the site closest to you offering this series, please visit this link. 

As we begin a new year, a message for all of our supporters!

Support for military veterans who want to farm

The mission of the Farmer Veteran Coalition is to cultivate a new generation of farmers and food leaders and develop viable employment and meaningful careers through the collaboration of the farming and military communities. The coalition believes that veterans possess the unique skills and character needed to strengthen rural communities and create sustainable food systems. We believe that agriculture offers purpose, opportunity, and physical and psychological benefits.

Through the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, the coalition provides direct assistance to veterans starting out in farming or ranching. The fund does not give money directly to the veteran but rather to a third-party vendor for any items that will make a critical difference in the launch of a young farm business.

Since it began in April, 2011, the fund has provided more than $800,000 to 150 fellows in more than 35 states, and it expects to award more than $300,000 in 2016.

In addition to monetary awards, the fellowship provides support in the form of guidance with respect to production, business planning, and marketing. Awards are also made in the form of scholarships for coursework in agriculture at a college, university, or farm-training program.

To be eligible, applicants must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, currently be on active-duty or serving in the military reserve/National Guard; be members of FVC; and have an honorable discharge (other characters of discharge may be accepted on a case-by-case basis). In addition, applicants must have an agricultural business in operation; be willing to fully participate in the fellowship program (which includes reporting progress, mentoring aspiring veteran farmers, and the possibility of representing FVC at events); and have a desire to continue to serve others and make a positive impact on the farmer veteran community.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, visit the FVC website.

Link to Complete RFP

Grants available for youth-led projects

The Karma for Cara Foundation is a nonprofit founded by 21-year-old Cara Becker and her family while she was undergoing treatment for leukemia at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Cara and her two brothers began volunteering at a young age as part of their family’s commitment to community service. She and her family saw a tremendous need to help support other patients and their families who were also challenged by cancer. Tragically, Cara passed four months after her diagnosis, yet her wish to help others through K4C lives on with the support of an ever-growing circle of family and friends.

As part of an effort to promote and support youth voluntarism, k4C started a microgrant program in fall 2014 to encourage kids 18 and under to apply for a grant of between $250 and $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities. Examples of fundable projects include but are not limited to turning a vacant lot into a community garden, rebuilding a school playground, and helping senior citizens get their homes ready for winter. Grants will be distributed as gift cards to home goods stores, office supply stores, grocery food chains, and toy stores.

For complete program guidelines, profiles of previous projects, and application instructions, visit the Karma for Cara Foundation website.

Link to Complete RFP