What’s the Reach Teach Learn Project All About?

The Reach Teach Learn Project is an initiative focused on encouraging conversations between the food industry and the general public about what it takes to produce today’s abundant food supply. Information about food production is extremely valuable as it helps to develop an appreciation for the food system as well as an appreciation of the level of dedication required to run a successful farm or other production operation.

Q. How is this year’s project different than past contests?
A. This year we’re asking students in Poultry Science programs or those otherwise involved in the poultry industry to submit an entry online demonstrating why their big idea/event/activity should receive a grant. Upon submitting, students are encouraged to gather votes for their ideas. Once the finalists have been chosen, a winner will be selected based on certain criteria.

Q. What should an entry look like?
A. Some people are more persuasive on video. Others are more comfortable putting together a slideshow. We encourage students to create entries that will most effectively communicate their big ideas.

Q. What is the grand prize?
A. There are up to three grants available, each worth $3,000. No individual idea will receive more than one grant.

Q. Why does the Reach Teach Learn Project matter?
A. The food production industry benefits most when it supports itself. That’s why we encourage young people to spread the word about what we do—and what it takes to do it—as early as possible. Reach Teach Learn helps foster good will between those of us with first-hand knowledge and experience and the general public.

Q. What areas of focus should participants base their submissions on?
A. The food industry is wide-ranging. To give more focus, students should concentrate their ideas in one of these areas: youth education, community involvement or food availability. Consider these topic questions to help the thought process:

YOUTH EDUCATION:

How can you help school-age children care about or better understand the food in their lunches and how it gets from the farm to their plate?

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

What kind of awareness can you build in your community about what it takes to raise quality food?

FOOD AVAILABILITY:

Can you demonstrate to the general public what’s in front of them at the grocery store and how it got there?

Q. When will submissions be accepted?
A. Submissions will be accepted starting Monday, November 14, 2011, through Sunday, December 11, 2011.

Q: Who can participate?
A: College students 18 years of age or older and/or their student groups who are currently involved in the poultry industry, poultry production or poultry science organizations on campus or in their communities.

Q: How do I register?
A: Go to the registration page during the grant program period and follow the instructions to register. While only one registration is allowed per person/group, there is no limit to the number of project ideas an individual or group can submit.

Q: When is the voting period?
A: Each eligible application will be reviewed for selection before moving into the modification and refinement stage. From there online voting will begin January 27, 2012 and end March 2, 2012.

Q: Can I get additional help if my idea is chosen to move into the modification and refinement stage?
A: Yes, if your idea is chose for modification and refinement, you’ll be contacted by a college-designated Pfizer Global Poultry representative “champion” for your school to give you counsel and advice about how to improve your application before the voting period starts.

Q: Who can vote?
A: Anyone age 13 and older can vote.

Q: How many times can I vote for my idea?
A: You’re allowed one vote per media item, per day.

Q: What else do I need to know about submitting an idea?
A: We’re looking for ideas that:

• Describe a project promoting charitable, community or educational purposes relating to the poultry industry within one of the categories of the grant program
• Can be completed within 9 months from the first date funds are received
• Provide details of the specific activities you plan to implement to achieve your project’s goals

    We ARE NOT looking for ideas that:

• Include any negative content or show animals in harmful situations
• Discriminate against any race, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, political orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status or mental or physical disability
• Promote alcohol, illegal drugs or activity, tobacco, firearms/weapons or pornography
• Involve religious advocacy to advance a religious denomination or expand membership or encourage conversion

For more on this, see the Official Application Guidelines

Q: How are winners determined?
A: Applications will be ranked based on an overall point system, 30 percent of which will be comprised of the results of a review by a panel of judges and the remaining 70 percent derived from online vote totals.

Q: When will the winners be announced?
A: Winners will be announced at Midwest Poultry Expo (IPE) on March 14, 2012. A notification will be sent via email and/or mail to the winners no later than March 13, 2012.

Q: If I win a grant, how long do I have to implement my idea?
A: Winners have nine months to use the grant to turn their idea into reality.

See the full list of contest rules, and more details than you ever wanted to know, here.

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