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Thank you for supporting the Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) Expanding the 3E’s

Nutrition Education Grant (X3E). TDA is now accepting grant applications from public

school campuses in good standing with the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) and TDA.

The X3E funds will be used to expand nutrition education programs for their students. The

objective of the program is to increase awareness of the importance of good nutrition,

especially for children, and to encourage children's health and well-being through the 3E’s of

Healthy Living — Education, Exercise and Eating Right, including implementing Farm Fresh

activities. The deadline for submitting applications is March 21, 2018. For details, please visit

the 3E’s Grant Programs Web page.

This Farm Fresh Outreach Toolkit is designed to provide simple and effective ways to

communicate this exciting grant opportunity to Texas schools!

OUTREACH TOOLS

In this section you will find text and image options that support X3E outreach. Simply plug

these posts into your social media platforms to help spread the word about X3E. You are also

encouraged to incorporate the articles provided into your newsletters, blogs and listservs to

help reach the target audience.

The target audience includes all public school district representatives in Texas. The request

for application (RFA) can be submitted by many different members of the district, but must

include an individual authorized to enter into legal agreements on behalf of the organization.

FARM FRESH OUTREACH TOOLKIT

2018 Expanding the 3E’s Nutrition Education Grant

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SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

SOCIAL MEDIA POST OPTION#1:

TDA Grant Opportunity for Public Schools! The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is now accepting applications for the Expanding the 3E’s Nutrition Education Grant from public school campuses. The grants will help expand nutrition education programs for Texas students. Funds can be used toward Farm Fresh Friday activities, including school gardens, field trips to farmers markets, and more! Applications must be received by March 21, 2018.

For details, please visit http://www.texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/TradeandBusinessDevelopment/3EsGrantPrograms/Expandingthe3EsGrantProgram(Expand3E)

For information about farm to school activities, visit FarmFreshFriday.org. Read success stories from past grantees at SquareMeals.org/TexasFarmFresh. #FARMFRESHFRIDAY

SOCIAL MEDIA POST OPTION#2:

TDA Grant Opportunity to Expand Farm Fresh Fridays in Schools! Are you looking for ways to support farm to school activities? The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting applications for the 3E’s Nutrition Education Grant (X3E). Texas schools will use the grant funds to expand nutrition education in public schools. Grant recipients receive up to $10,000 per school campus or up to $50,000 per district! Applications are due March 21, 2018.

For details, please visit http://www.texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/TradeandBusinessDevelopment/3EsGrantPrograms/Expandingthe3EsGrantProgram(Expand3E) For information about farm to school activities, visit FarmFreshFriday.org. Read success stories from past grantees at SquareMeals.org/TexasFarmFresh. #FARMFRESHFRIDAY

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SOCIAL MEDIA POST OPTION#3:

Funding for Farm Fresh Fridays in Schools! Do you want to build a school garden? Are you interested in students taking field trips to local farms? How about local foods taste-testing opportunities in the classroom? Your school can apply to receive grant funds to support all these activities in the 2018-2019 school year! The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting applications for the Expanding the 3Es (X3E) Nutrition Education Grant. Applications must be received by March 21, 2018.

For details, please visit http://www.texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/TradeandBusinessDevelopment/3EsGrantPrograms/Expandingthe3EsGrantProgram(Expand3E) For information about farm to school activities, visit FarmFreshFriday.org. Read success stories from past grantees at SquareMeals.org/TexasFarmFresh. #FARMFRESHFRIDAYS

TEXT & IMAGES FOR NEWSLETTERS, BLOGS, AND LISTSERVS

OPTION#1 (41 words):

Expanding 3E’s Nutrition Grant – Deadline: March 21, 2018 The Texas Department of Agriculture’s is accepting applications for the Expanding the 3E’s Nutrition Education Grant . Funds may be used to supplement or extend Farm Fresh Friday, which includes farm-to-school educational activities.

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OPTION#2 (138 words):

Apply for TDA Grant to Expand Farm Fresh Fridays in Schools! The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is now accepting applications for the Expanding the 3E’s Nutrition Education Grant. Funds are available for public schools to use for expanding nutrition education programs. TDA’s objective is to increase awareness of the importance of good nutrition and to encourage children's health and well-being through the 3E’s of Healthy Living — Education, Exercise and Eating Right.

Grant recipients can use the funds to pay for Farm Fresh Friday activities — fun and educational nutrition projects that will contribute to improving children’s health and well-being. Applications are due March 21, 2018. For full details, visit the 3E’s Grant Programs Web page. Learn more about Farm Fresh Fridays by visiting FarmFreshFriday.org. Farm Fresh resources and success stories from past grantees are available at SquareMeals.org/TexasFarmFresh TexasAgriculture.gov.

OPTION#3 (136 words):

TDA Grant Opportunity to Expand Farm Fresh Fridays in Schools! Research shows that children who are familiar with growing their own food tend to eat more fruits and vegetables! Public schools in Texas may be eligible to receive grant funds to support existing garden programs or create new ones. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is offering the Expanding the 3E’s Nutrition Education Grant (X3E) to help expand Farm Fresh Friday activities, which include, but are not limited to school gardens, taste testing, farmer visits, and more! TDA is now accepting X3E grant application, which grants and applications are due March 21, 2018.

For details, please visit the 3E’s Grant Programs Web page. Learn more about Farm Fresh Fridays by visiting FarmFreshFriday.org. Farm Fresh resources and success stories from past grantees are available at SquareMeals.org/TexasFarmFresh TexasAgriculture.gov.

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OPTION#4 (152 words):

TDA’s 3E’s of Healthy Living — Education, Exercise and Eating Right The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting applications for the Expanding the 3E’s Grant Program from public schools. Grant funds may be used to supplement or extend Farm Fresh Friday activities such as the following:

Building garden beds Planting an orchard Planting a pollinator garden Adding shaded areas to new or existing gardens to encourage outdoor learning Improving garden accessibility for students with disabilities Creating walking trails that invite physical activity near garden spaces Paying for staff time for garden maintenance Taste testing activities using seasonality focused products Networking events that strengthen local purchasing relationships with Texas

farmers and ranchers Field trips to local farm or farmers market Meet the Farmer days

For details, please visit the 3E’s Grant Programs Web page. Learn more about Farm Fresh

Fridays by visiting FarmFreshFriday.org. Farm Fresh resources for schools are available at

SquareMeals.org/TexasFarmFresh TexasAgriculture.gov.

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OPTION#5 (89 words):

2018 Expanding the 3E’s Grant Program The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting applications for the Expanding the 3E’s Grant Program. The grant program enables public schools to create, supplement or expand nutrition education programs. Grant funds may be used to establish or extend schools’ Farm Fresh Friday activities, including school gardens, taste testing, farmer visits, and more! Selected projects will receive funding on a cost reimbursement basis (funds will not be advanced to grantees). The maximum award is $10,000 per school or $50,000 per district. Apply today!

Applications are due March 21, 2018. For details, please visit the 3E’s Grant Programs Web page. Learn more about Farm Fresh Fridays by visiting FarmFreshFriday.org. Farm Fresh resources and success stories from past grantees are available at SquareMeals.org/TexasFarmFresh TexasAgriculture.gov.

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SUCCESS STORIES FOR NEWSLETTERS, BLOGS, AND LISTSERVS

SUCCESS STORY#1 (211 words):

Expanding 3E’s Nutrition Education Grant (2017)

In 2017, Bethke Elementary in Katy was awarded a $10,000 Expanding the 3E’s Grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Grant funds were used to establish a learning garden for students. The garden was designed to give all grade levels ownership over the items they chose, all the way from planting through harvesting. The learning opportunities in this elementary garden include activities planned to enrich science, math, social studies and language arts classes. Bethke Elementary parents participating in Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) nights will also have an opportunity to engage with the garden and experience the joy of harvesting. Eight months after receiving the grant, the project is taking shape. The first step completed was establishing a garden committee that will provide ongoing input from different groups within the school, including students, teachers and parents.

Bethke Elementary broke ground on their new gardens October 14, 2017, with help from many community members. Students, including volunteers from middle and high schools, teachers, staff, parents, and others contributed 450 hours to getting the project off the ground. Even with delays caused by Hurricane Harvey, the project is on track for success. You can follow the progress of the Bethke Elementary Garden on Twitter @BethkeGarden.

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SUCCESS STORY #2 (275 words):

Expanding 3E’s Nutrition Education Grant (2017)

Northside ISD in San Antonio applied for and received a 2017 Expanding the 3E’s Nutrition Grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Grant funds were used to support the establishment of eight garden bed systems throughout the district. The goal of the garden project is to give students access to garden based learning and to provide educators with training using the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Youth Garden Education Training program.

In a recent quarterly report, Northside ISD stated, “Each school will build an average of five raised garden beds, maintained daily by a core group of 25 students per school. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension will provide Youth Garden Educator Training to all lead teachers, who will then train other teachers on gardening techniques. The garden beds will be available to all teachers to use as the staging ground for inquiry-based science and nutrition lessons. Through a partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank, local farmers and chefs will visit schools to work with students and provide information on healthy eating. When the vegetables are harvested, each campus will host a community event inviting parents and community members to sample the students’ produce and learn about the importance of fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet.”

Each elementary campus has reported positive outcomes. Many have had an opportunity to share healthy recipes for harvested items with family and community members during Farm Fresh Friday celebrations. Villareal Elementary reported, “Students are really coming out of their comfort zone and trying out vegetables that they have never tried before! Growing these vegetables is giving them the courage to try new things.”

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QUICK REFERENCE TOOL

This quick reference sheet can provide talking points when opportunities arise. For example,

this tool will come in handy when sharing information about X3E and Farm Fresh Friday

activities with child nutrition directors. This section is for your reference only. Please do not

distribute.

Overview

Expanding the 3E's Grant Program (X3E) rewards the expansion of existing education

programs in public schools. TDA administers the 3E’s grant program to promote better

health and nutrition programs and prevent obesity among Texas children. The objective of

the nutrition education program is to increase awareness of the importance of good

nutrition and to encourage children's health and well-being through the 3E’s of Healthy

Living — Education, Exercise and Eating Right.

Eligibility

Grant applications will be accepted from any Texas public school campus in good standing

with the Texas Comptroller’s Office and the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Farm Fresh Implementation

Public schools may use X3E Grant funds to supplement or extend Farm Fresh Friday activities and approved coordinated school health programs — Bienestar, NEEMA Health Program, CATCH, Spark and Healthy & Wise. Expanding Farm Fresh Fridays includes, but is not limited to creating, school gardens; providing local foods for taste testing; taking field trips to farms or farmers markets;, and hosting Meet the Farmer days. Farm Fresh Friday resources are available at SquareMeals.org/TexasFarmFresh

Projected Timeline

Application Deadline: March 21, 2018

Anticipated Start Date of Project: August 1, 2018

Term of Project: August 31, 2019 For details about this grant, including the application and related deadlines, please visit the 3E’s Grant Programs Web page. Learn more about Farm Fresh Fridays by visiting FarmFreshFriday.org. Farm Fresh resources for schools are available at SquareMeals.org/TexasFarmFresh TexasAgriculture.gov.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Thank you for your support in the promotion of the Expanding the 3E’s Nutrition

Education Grant (X3E) and Farm Fresh opportunities in Texas schools. If you have any

questions about the promotion of the grant, please contact

FarmFresh@TexasAgriculture.gov. For questions regarding submission of the application

and/or TDA requirements, please contact the Grants Office at (512) 463-4406 or by email at

Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov.

This product was funded by USDA. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Fraud Hotline: 1-866-5-FRAUD-4 or 1-866-537-2834 P.O. Box 12847 | Austin, TX 78711 | Toll Free: (877) TEX-MEAL| For the hearing impaired: (800) 735-2989 (TTY)

www.SquareMeals.org