VERMONT — The second annual #Farm24VT, a 24-hour social media celebration of agriculture, food, and dairy in Vermont, is set to get underway on May 18 at 5 a.m. The event will run through 5 a.m. on May 19. 

Vermont farmers, agribusinesses, and food producers will take to social media to share photos, videos, and stories, giving people throughout the region a real-time look at where their favorite food and farm products come from. All of the posts will include the #Farm24VT hashtag so members of the public can easily find them.

More than 4.5 billion people across the globe are now actively engaged on social media platforms (WeAreSocial). Showcasing how food and other agricultural products are made on social media is an integral trust-building tool for farmers and producers. Not only will the public be given this behind-the-scenes opportunity to learn, they also have some other prize-packed reasons to tune-in on May 18.

In 2021, 100 agricultural and food businesses throughout the state participated in #Farm24VT. They represented a broad spectrum of Vermont products, including dairy, meat, eggs, maple, honey, wool, fruits, vegetables, herbs, fungi, rice, trees, and more. Altogether, they reached an estimated 150,000 consumers in Vermont and beyond.

“What I think is most exciting about this event is that it brings our amazing agriculture and food communities together,” said Sarah Audet, interim Executive Director of Addison County-based Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition (CVFC), which organizes the event in partnership with the Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance (CRWFA). “They are all deeply committed to their work and proud to help educate the public about our food system.” 

Erin Farr of Farr Farm in Richmond concurs. She participated in #Farm24VT in 2021, and plans to do so again this year. “Social media has been an entertaining and effective way for us to build relationships with our communities and our consumers,” said Farr. “It’s an opportunity for us to share how our values influence the way we farm, and address some common questions folks have about food production.” 

Janna Guillemette of Guillemette Farm in Shelburne is another participant returning for the next #Farm24VT. “We love what we do. Farming is a lot of hard work, but it’s something we’re very passionate about,” said Guillemette, who often posts funny and educational videos of her family’s farm. “#Farm24VT is a great way for us to spread that message to a larger audience, and get them just as excited about food and farming as we are.”

For community members wishing to enjoy all that Vermont farmers, food producers, and agribusinesses are sharing during #Farm24VT, participation is simple. They can head to Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter and enter the #Farm24VT hashtag in the search bar to find their posts throughout the day.

Amy Richardson of the Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance and one of the event’s organizers encourages Vermonters to like, comment, share, and ask questions.  “Vermont farmers and food producers are thrilled for this day to share their work with the community,” said Richardson. “They welcome everyone’s questions about what’s happening in the agriculture and food sectors.”

The event will include the chance for those watching from home, work, or school to win Vermont food and farm products every hour of the event. Prizes include a year’s supply of Cabot cheese, a Dakin Farm breakfast basket, and goat’s milk caramel from Fat Toad Farm. Other businesses donating prizes include 5 Generations Farmstead Creamery, Broadfork, Daona Farm, Farr Farm, Guillemette Farm, Hanover Co-op Food Stores of New Hampshire and Vermont, Poulin Grain, Silloway Maple, Silver Street Alpaca Farm, Smith Family Farm, Summit Maple Farm, Vermont Creamery, vTerra Farms, and West Addison Acres. 

Anyone in the Vermont agriculture and food sectors who would like to participate in #Farm24VT are welcome to register through the day of the event. All participants receive free access to social media workshops produced in partnership with New England Dairy, an online support community, and a toolkit with social media tips, post ideas, and more. 

#Farm24VT is a project of the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition and the Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance. It is sponsored by Farm Credit East, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Cabot, Hanover Co-op Food Stores of New Hampshire and Vermont, Reed’s Equipment, North Country Organics, Vermont Economic Development Authority, Bourdeau Bros. of Middlebury, The Farmer’s Feed, Seedway, and the New England States Holstein Association. 

For more details about #Farm24VT, visit their website, www.farm24vt; find them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter @farm24vt; or search for the #Farm24VT hashtag.