Student Recognition Day at the Farm
May 24th, 2025 from 2-4pm
If you are familiar with us here at Hop & Hen Farm, you already know how we love to engage with youth on our farm and in the community. We both have backgrounds (past and current) in teaching, coaching, and mentoring so it got us to thinking: what additional things can we do to reach into our community and not just acknowledge, but *celebrate* students for their positive contributions in their schools and community? What initiative could we create to support and foster the youth of today to continue being positive and inspirational contributors to their schools and community at large? So here it is!
Hop & Hen Farm Student Recognition Program
Most schools have some kind of initiatives in place to encourage positive actions from their students. A good deal of those initiatives center around students reaching noble and worthwhile goals like:
- Charitable efforts in school and community
- Helpfulness in school
- Kindness in school
Generally students get positive feedback from the school, fellow students, and their families, and the rewards are typically a certificate or award of some kind. We’d like to take that recognition a step further.
Student Recognition Day on the Farm
Collectively Recognizing Student Contributions in the Community
Our program is designed to be a heartfelt celebration of students who make a difference in their schools and communities. Here’s how it works:
- Recognizing Student Achievements
Each student is honored by their school for accomplishing a meaningful goal that positively impacts their community and school environment. - Sharing Personal Stories
Students submit a brief reflection to us (a paragraph or two) explaining why their accomplishment is special to them and how it benefits their community and school. - Invitation to the Farm
We invite recognized students to our farm for an afternoon of celebration and connection. This invitation is open to students in Lake, McHenry, and Kenosha County school districts ages 5-14.
Student Day on the Farm: Fun and Interactive Activities and Prizes
We’ll start with a fun goat hike, where we’ll explore trails on the property, and have some fun games identifying plants and chickens along the way. Once back in the barnyard, we’ll spend quality time with the goats, and additional activities. Students get to share their recognized contribution to their school, and hear others speak of theirs. We’ll be serving popcorn (gluten-free) and sparkling water (sugar-free), and all recognized students will go home with a special memento from their time here.
Benefits: Students will interact with other students who are also making a positive impact in their schools and communities. By bringing students together in a welcoming and inspiring environment, the aim is to foster a sense of camaraderie, and help reinforce how their contribution makes a worthwhile impact.
Ready to celebrate the next generation of community leaders? Let’s make this happen!
Student Recognition Day on the Farm will be May 24th, 2025 from 2-4pm
Deadline for online submissions: May 23, 2025- 9pm
*** This event is Free for students who have been recognized by their schools. There is a $5/person charge for folks that want to attend, but who have not received an award from their school/community. This fee will be donated to Flint Wildlife Rescue in Barrington.
- Share this with your schools and teachers who you think they might be interested in having their students recognized with our program
- Have the student submit their personal story in the form below. In fairness, we want to allow students who’ve received their recognition in the last four months.