Marketing Conservation Program | Orleans County Farmers & Stewardship

About the Program

The Marketing Conservation Program is a grant-funded initiative through the Agriculture Clean Water Initiative Program (AgCWIP) designed to help farmers in Orleans County share their conservation work with the public. Conservation practices—like protecting water quality, improving soil health, and caring for wildlife—play a vital role in sustaining our local landscapes and communities.

 

Program Benefits

Participating farms will gain access to specialized support such as training, personalized branding guidance, help strengthening digital outreach, and materials that make it easier to communicate conservation work with customers and the community. Valued at $7,500.

Who Can Apply

This program is open to all Orleans County farms. We welcome farms of all types and sizes who are interested in sharing the conservation work they do on their land.

Applicants should:

  • Be committed to stewardship and sustainable practices
  • Be interested in learning and implementing conservation marketing strategies
  • Have the willingess to participate in program activities and engage with peers

 

Program Timeline

  • February 2026: One-day conservation training for cohort farms
  • March-April 2026: One-on-One meetings with marketing consultant and Community Engagement & Communications Program Specialist to develop farm-specific marketing plans
  • June-August 2026: Finalize webpages, social media strategies, and media content
  • September 2026: Launch of the NEK Conservation Farmer Facebook group
  • November 2026: Cohort farms complete all posting requirements and final reporting

 

How to Apply

Interested farmers are enouraged to apply by January 20th, 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and cohort spots are limited to four farms for the inaugural year.

APPLY NOW

FAQs

Who is eligible to apply? 

Any farm of any size located in Orleans County, Vermont is eligible to apply for the Marketing Conservation program.

This includes:

  • Produce farms
  • Dairy operations
  • Livestock farms
  • Maple producers
  • Flower growers
  • Medicinal herb farms
  • Mixed operations
  • Other land-based businesses

If you are actively using (or recently began using) conservation practices, you're encouraged to apply.

What counts as a "conservation practice"? 

Conservation practices include (but are not limited to):

  • Rotational grazing
  • Riparian buffers
  • Cover cropping
  • Nutrient management based on soil/manure tests
  • Excluding livestock from surface waters
  • Crop rotation
  • Maintaining pollinator habitat
  • Water quality protection practices
  • Forest or land conservation easements

If you aren't sure whether your practices qualify, feel free to reach out! Chances are, you're doing more than you think.

How much does it cost to participate? 

Nothing! Participation is completely free for the four selected farms. The program is funded through the Agriculture Clean Water Initiative Program (AgCWIP). Participating farmers will also receive a small stipend for their time in the program, and marketing support valued at $7,500.

What will selected farms receive? 

Selected farms will work closely with OCNRCD’s Community Engagement & Communications Program Specialist and a professional marketing consultant between February and November 2026. 

Support may include:

  • Conservation & Communications Training
  • A farm-specific marketing or storytelling plan
  • Branding guidance
  • Support with online presence
  • Peer networking through NEK Conservation Farmer Facebook Group

 

Exact deliverables vary, and are valued at $7,500.

How much time will this require? 

The time commitment is designed to be manageable for busy farmers.

Expect:

  • One full-day training in February 2026
  • A few one-on-one meetings throughout the spring and summer
  • Occasional check-ins as your marketing materials or plan are developed

Most farms can fit the program into their schedule without major disruption.

My farm already has branding and a website. Can I still apply? 

Yes.

Many farms have some pieces in place. The Marketing Conservation program is designed to build on what's already been established, focusing heavily on highlighting your conservation work.

Why is OCNRCD doing this? 

Farmers are doing incredible conservation work every day, but those stories often go unheard.

This program helps:

  • Build trust between farmers and the public
  • Strengthen local markets through transparent stewardship
  • Highlight the essential role farms play in caring for Orleans County's land and waterways
  • Encourage peer-to-peer inspiration among producers

You deserve to be recognized, loudly and proudly, and in your own words.

I'm a Marketing Consultant. How do I submit a bid? 

Thank you for your interest in working with the Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation District. All proposals must be submitted in response to our official Request for Bids (RFB) for Marketing Conservation.

To submit a bid:

  • Review the full RFB document to ensure your proposal meets all required qualifications, deliverables, and submission instructions.
  • Prepare your written proposal following the format outlined in the RFB.
  • Submit your completed bid by the Jan 2 deadline to our Community Engagement & Communications Program Specialist at Rebekkah.Hochman@orleanscountynrcd.org. Please feel free to reach out with any questions!

We appreciate your interest in supporting locally led conservation and look forward to reviewing your proposal.