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• Invite media to be part of a judging panel at a taste test or chili cook-off.
• Have a radio announcer be the master of ceremonies at your event.
Find Financial Support from Sponsors
and Funders
A successful event can be costly to produce; consider sharing the financial burden with sponsors.
Sponsorship is a marketing arrangement that allows the sponsor to achieve their goals while
helping you. Usually the sponsor hopes to increase sales and/or positively build their image in the
community. Look across the entire local food system to find partners, collaborators and sponsors.
For example, independent grocers and health food stores have provided cash sponsorships to food
events. Seek sponsorship from local government, service clubs, associations or food/farm related
suppliers and businesses.
There are organizations willing to fund events and new ideas to promote local foods. Consider the
following four funding possibilities for your event:
• Agricultural societies and other registered societies are eligible to apply for Ag Initiative Fund
and other grants.
• Community Futures help develop and implement community-based economic development and
diversification strategies.
• Tourism Destination Regions (TDRs). Alberta has six tourism destination regions. They
provide marketing funding to boost tourism within their region. If your event is meant to attract
tourists and showcase your region you may be eligible for co-operative marketing dollars.
• Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency has the Industry and Market Development Program, which
is available to help Alberta’s livestock and meat industry create a better future.
This list is just to get you started. There are other funds that might fit the goals of your event. Ask
your partners for ideas.
Promote, Communicate, and Educate
as You Celebrate Local Food
Share the menu or excerpts of the menu ahead of time; an enticing menu can sell an event.
Include a sample of the menu in your promotion of the event.
Having attracted people to your event, you now have a great opportunity to educate them about
local food. Ensure you have a positive and interesting story to tell. Use your menu to feature farm,
grower, and food artisan names, stories and/or photos. Another way to help make the connection
for your guests is through keepsake menus with farm logos and contact information.
Use photos of farms, food and the surrounding landscape to visually stimulate your guests. This
can be presented in the form of posters, postcards, tabletop tents, programs, displays, bookmarks,
or a slide show projected on a large screen.