How it Works

INTRODUCTION

The School Farm of the Year competition was started in 2015 by the Blue Skies Foundation in partnership with Waitrose and Albert Heijn. The aim of the competition was to help improve the image of agriculture in Ghana, and encourage more young people to consider farming as a career. We award prizes to schools that produce the best farm in terms of how it has engaged students in farming to promote active learning, and develop a positive attitude about food and agriculture, the environment and entrepreneurialism.

Each year over 60 Schools and 3,000 students participate in our competition to find the Blue Skies School Farm of the Year.


HOW IT WORKS

The School Farm of the Year Competition is open to Junior High Schools and Senior High Schools in Ghana that are located in the areas where Blue Skies sources its fruit. These are Ashanti Region, Central Region, Eastern Region, Greater Accra, Volta Region and the Western Region.

ROUND 1

Schools apply by completing an application form by the end of January each year. Our team of judges then select sixty schools to participate based on the strength of the answers provided in the form.

ROUND 2

In February, the selected schools are provided with basic tools and equipment plus expert training on managing a school farm. Between February and March schools are expected to:

  • Demarcate an area of land
  • Grow crops as determined by a ballot
  • Share progress reports and photos via the School Farm Whatsapp Group
  • Develop a plan to sustain the school farm after the competition has finished.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

A team of judges visit the schools periodically to provide support where needed and assess the performance of schools based on the following criteria:

  • Evidence of Good Agricultural Practice throughout the competition
  • Evidence of what has been learnt by the students
  • Evidence of involvement by the students
  • Evidence of engagement with the local community
  • Evidence of how wildlife has been encouraged
  • Evidence of a convincing and viable sustainability plan

AWARDS

Awards are presented at a special ceremony at the end of the year. Prizes include computers and laptops and are presented to schools in the following categories:

  • SHS School Farm of the Year
  • JHS School Farm of the Year
  • SHS First Runner Up and 2nd Runner Up
  • JHS First Runner Up and 2nd Runner Up
  • Best SHS Female Student
  • Best SHS Male Student
  • Best JHS Female Student
  • Best JHS Male Student
  • Best JHS Teacher
  • Best SHS Teacher
  • Most Entrepreneurial School
  • Most Committed School
  • Most Innovative School
  • Most Environmentally Friendly School
  • Most Sustainable School
  • Lemuel Mantey Agric Leadership Award
  • Ruth Smith Adjei Special Recognition Award
  • Dr. Anthony Pile Special Award
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