Celebrate HARVEST Continuing Education Awards Program

Each year, under the program, two individuals who are interested in pursuing any aspect related/pertinent to the agritourism/agritainment industry will be awarded $1,500 each in July (application deadline is May 31st and the announcement of winners is made in June). There are many aspects – finance, marketing, promotions, food, construction, agriculture, events planning, etc. – that are used in the agritourism/agritainment industry. We would prefer those seeking this continuing education opportunity have a love and/or passion for agriculture in particular, but it is not THE determining factor in our decisions for who receives them, only one factor. Our 3-person board of directors reviews all applications and determines the award winners. In its first four years of the program (started in 2021), Celebrate HARVEST has awarded $10,500 to seven individuals to pursue continuing education (either at farm conferences or colleges) in the field of agritainment. It has also helped pay an additional $3,000 for two individuals to attend an agritainment conference.

Program Guidelines & Priorities:   

• Seeking graduating seniors or individuals currently working in or at an agritainment venue that want to pursue some aspect of agritourism/agritainment, aka experiential farming.  
• Applicants must plan on attending a two (2)-year community college, four (4)-year college or university OR be an individual who is currently working at an agritainment venue that would like to pursue more education and/or training toward an aspect of the industry by either attending college, attending a farm conference or interning at another agritainment venue. 
• Winners to be announced in June. Funds to be paid during the month of July —directly to the college or agritainment venue, not the recipient. The funds will be issued to the college or university upon receiving a certificate of enrollment for the fall semester, which includes the Student ID number and Financial Aid Office address. If it’s to an individual headed to another agritainment venue for a “hands-on” internship, the funds will be awarded directly to the winner to help pay for travel and accommodations to farm venue hosting the recipient. Funds provided upon proof from host venue that they will be interning the winner. 
• Applicants must have the endorsement of their Guidance Counselor or venue employer on their application attesting they are qualified for this continuing education award program.   
• Applications must be received by Celebrate HARVEST no later than May 31st of the calendar year.  Late applications will not be accepted, unless there are mitigating circumstances.  

Mail one copy of a 1-page letter describing why you believe you should receive the continuing education award AND completed and typed application package to:    

CH Continuing Education Awards Committee c/o Celebrate HARVEST
11709 250th Ave E
Buckley, WA  98321

Your package must include:

1. Application with sign off by Guidance Counselor/Employer
2. Essay/Letter describing why you should be a continuing education award recipient  
3. Letter of recommendation 

FUNDING K-6 Field TRIPS FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS

Celebrate HARVEST has been funding field trips to local agritainment farms like Maris Farms in Buckley, Thomasson Family Farms in Enumclaw and Knutson Farms in Sumner since 2021, contributing more than $75,000 during that span. The focus is to fully or partially fund these field trips for students attending schools that cannot normally afford to fund themselves. It serves a dual purpose: 1. It provides an opportunity for underfunded or underserved students/schools to be exposed to these awesome farms (in hopes of inspiring them to someday work for or own one) and 2) it provides the local farms with revenue they might not otherwise receive, therefore contributing to their bottom line. of study/profession

FUNDING/BUILDING/MANAGING NON-TRADITIONAL FARMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES FOR FARMS

Events we’ve funded/created/built/managed:


• Live pig racing event
• Live duck racing event
• Fun Run 5K
• Pumpkin Smash event

Here are some other projects we’re working on funding:


• Field trips for schools/students at various farms
• Scholarship fund for those wanting to pursue the field of agritourism
• Animated pig race video game
• Challenge course funding
• Beer/wine garden service
• Outdoor agritainment stage/performance theater
• GourdStock/CornStock: a music and food truck festival
• NW Cornhole Championships (cornhole tournament with food, beer and wine as well as several agritainment activities going
• Wall Board Mazes
• Apple Cannons
• Cow Trains
• Barnyard Ball Zone activities
• Pop up movie screens
• A Christmas Village/FarmLights event
• Bee hive displays
• FarmBoy Olympics