FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Willimantic, CT – May 24, 2023 - The Farmer’s Cow supports Windham Public Schools! Through the Farmer’s Cow and FC Development Corporation, coupled with their comprehensive educational partnership program called Community Collaboration and Real-Life Experience, they have partnered with Windham Public Schools to promote community.
The program focuses on three main components: community partners, schools, and parents, all supported by The Farmer’s Cow brand of companies. As a community partner, they provide support and collaboration through special events, educational seminars and local partnerships. Through schools, they engage with students and staff in practical, real-life experiences through work opportunities, internships, and mentorship programs in various industries. And with parents, they are building programs to drive involvement in events, partnerships, and employment opportunities structured to develop career pathways.
Recently implemented at Natchaug Elementary and Windham Middle School, the program has shown positive results in becoming a community partner through two school events, one focused on social emotional learning (SEL) and the other supporting a school-wide initiative called ‘Attendance Wars’ rewarding the class with the highest attendance during a set timeline. Upcoming events will be held at Windham Center and North Windham Elementary Schools.
"We are excited to introduce the Farmer’s Cow Educational Initiative in the Windham Public Schools district," said Edwin Molina, CEO of FC Development Corp. "This program is a model for community collaboration addressing such things as chronic absenteeism and promoting career pathways, social and emotional learning, and community development. With continued development and expansion, the program has the potential to create lasting, positive change for students and their families across the country and we believe we have all the right assets to be that perfect community partner in achieving these goals, all set in motion by the mission of the Farmer’s Cow Co-Op when they joined together in 2003." The team at FCDC began conversations about possible programming two years ago, with a focus on solving chronic absenteeism and creating comprehensive relationships that encompass special events, educational training, curriculum development, field trips, and exploration in areas like agriculture, healthy eating, sustainability, and food production.
For those who do not know, the Farmer’s Cow is a group of six local family dairy farms working to provide farm fresh, humanely-produced milk, dairy products, and eggs. Another part of the mission of these family-owned farms is to educate people about local farming and to ensure farmland preservation.
A planned field trip the end of this month will take Natchaug Elementary students to Mapleleaf Farms in Hebron, providing hands-on learning experiences related to agriculture and sustainable farming practices, followed by a visit to The Farmer’s Cow Calfé & Creamery in Mansfield Center to taste the milk, bringing the production process into a deeper understanding and appreciation.
As reported in a recent Windham Public Schools district-wide newsletter, “Natchaug School is excited to share a new community partnership with the Farmer’s Cow. During the Windham Public Schools’ recent Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Week, the Farmer’s Cow teamed up with Natchaug School to bring joy to students and staff alike. The Farmer’s Cow donated ice cream for all students and staff during Natchaug’s Sundaes for Superstars event. Later in the week, the Farmer’s Cow Calfe and Creamery donated sandwich platters and salads for a scrumptious teacher lunch.” Natchaug School principal Eben Jones said, “Our partnership continues as Natchaug School already has plans for Kindergarten and First-grade students to go on farm tours that align with their literacy units on entomology, plants, and animals. This partnership will help our students develop a deeper understanding of where food comes from.”
FC Development Corp is proud to partner with the Windham School District to provide students with practical, real-life experiences that will prepare them for success in their future careers and promote community development.
For more information about Farmer’s Cow, please contact: Steven Lane, Chief Development Officer at lane.s@fcdevcorp.com
For more information about Windham Public Schools, please visit our website at www.windhamps.org.
FC Development Corp. functions as a management and development entity for the Farmer’s Cow brand of companies, partnering with the Farmer’s Cow Collective of six Connecticut-based family farms, and leading the Farmer’s Cow Calfé & Creamery collection of restaurants and kiosks. The Farmer’s Cow, originally established in 2003, in Connecticut, serves many local and regional communities throughout nine states, including throughout New England.