Updated January 24, 2018 Montana Harvest of the Month | www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth

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Harvest of the Month Cook-off | March 19-23, 2018

Official Rules About The Montana Harvest of the Month Cook-off (“Cook-off”) is a weeklong statewide event to celebrate Montana Harvest of the Month (HOM), National Nutrition Month, and National Ag Day! To participate in 2018, schools will serve chili and cinnamon rolls as a school meal anytime during the Cook-off week, March 19-23, using at least one Montana grown or raised HOM food. Schools can be entered to win $100 for their school by providing information about their event, recipe, and photo of the item.

Eligibility The Cook-off is open to all Montana K-12 schools. Photos submitted must comply with school district photo policies and must be submitted with the knowledge and permission of the photographer, as well as any subjects appearing in the images submitted. All human subjects appearing in the photo must provide a completed and signed USDA Photo Release Form must be included with the photo. Individuals under 18 must have the USDA Photo Release Form completed and signed by parent or legal guardian.

Sponsor The Cook-off is sponsored by Montana Team Nutrition Program, located at 325 Reid Hall, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-3370. This project is funded in part by a USDA Team Nutrition Training grant. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Contest Period The Cook-off will take place March 19 -23, 2018. Entries will be accepted beginning March 19, 2018 and will end at 11:59pm MST on March 31, 2018. Entries submitted before or after the submission deadlines are not eligible.

How to Participate & Enter • If not already, register your school for HOM: http://www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth/register.html

• Serve chili and cinnamon rolls featuring HOM foods once during the Cook-off week (March 19-23, 2018). This year, schools will serve one of our favorite school lunches—chili and cinnamon rolls—featuring as many Montana grown or raised foods from HOM. At least one HOM food must be featured. The food featured can be any of the HOM foods (see calendar below or online). Recipes do not need to be original and can be obtained from other sources and the source should be provided in the submission form. Schools are encouraged to feature HOM items in sides and other meal components as well.

Questions? For more information or questions contact: Aubree Roth Montana Farm to School Coordinator aubree.roth@montana.edu | (406) 994-5996 www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth

Photo credit: Dayle Hayes, School Meals that Rock

Updated January 24, 2018 Montana Harvest of the Month | www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth

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• Spice up your event! Consider these ways to add “zest” to your event:

o Involve students in researching, preparing, or serving the meal. o Invite parents and community members to help plan and/or attend the event. o Host a local chili and cinnamon roll cook-off competition. o Collect feedback on one of the items using the Tried it, Liked it, Loved it voting method. o Invite the producers of the HOM ingredients to join the meal and share information with students. o Feature more than 3 HOM ingredients that are grown or raised in Montana in the meal.

• Submit your Cook-off story and results to win. Each school can submit one entry. Entries must be made using the online form: https://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_23NqWj1tqyez4cB. Additional forms of entry such as email or mail will not be accepted. The following information must be included in each submission:

o Contact name and contact information o School name o Recipe used for the chili or cinnamon rolls (any # of

servings is acceptable) o Menu served o Description of the event, outreach methods, etc. o Number of student and adult meals served (reported

separately). If possible, report number of staff, parents, other community member meals served. o Photo of the meal. Photos with individuals must be accompanied with a completed and signed USDA

Photo Release Form for each individual shown in the photo. Email photo(s) to: HOM_Coo.4brd0vilo540i2fy@u.box.com. Use school name in photo or release form filenames.

o Additional comments

Prizes Following the deadline to submit entries (March 31, 2018) the entries will be reviewed. Of the complete and eligible entries, three winners will be selected to receive $100 for their school. The funding cannot be used for food purchases, except when food is used in a nutrition education setting. Selected winners must provide an invoice (template will be provided) and completed W9 form for the school.

About Montana Harvest of the Month The HOM program showcases Montana grown foods in Montana schools, institutions, and communities. Each month, participating sites focus on promoting one locally grown item (e.g., winter squash) by serving it in at least one meal or snack and displaying or distributing HOM materials. Additionally, schools participate by offering taste tests to students and doing educational lessons and activities. Montana Harvest of the Month is a perfect way to launch or grow a farm to school or farm to cafeteria program as it provides an easy framework to follow and ready-to-use materials. Participating sites will receive a free packet of materials (includes posters and cafeteria, classroom, and home handouts) as well as guides, additional resources, and training.

Updated January 24, 2018 Montana Harvest of the Month | www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth

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Resources All schools and afterschool programs registered for HOM have access to the HOM Portal webpage that contains electronic versions of all the HOM handouts, materials, guides, and additional information. A few helpful guides are listed below.

• Purchasing Local Food Guide: http://www.montana.edu/mtfarmtoschool/resources/school-food.html

• Taste Test Guide: http://www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth/documents/k12_2017/guides/MTHOM17_TasteTestGuide.pdf

• Recipe Standardization Steps: http://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/nutrition/indiana-standardization-fact-sheet.pdf

• Harvest of the Month Overview Video (30 minutes): https://youtu.be/h8ZsHl2_UXs

• USDA Photo Release Form (included below and online): http://www.montana.edu/mtfarmtoschool/documents/USDA%20release%20EN%20photo%20release.doc

• HOM Calendar (included below and online): http://www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth/documents/k12_2017/guides/MTHOM17_Calendar.pdf

• Competition Entry Form: https://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_23NqWj1tqyez4cB

Your Rights Your photographs and information about your events will help promote HOM and Montana Team Nutrition Program projects.

You will retain all rights to any photograph you submit -- including ownership, if applicable. If you submit a photograph and taste test information as part of the submission process, you grant Montana Team Nutrition Program a royalty-free, nonexclusive right to display the photograph, recipe, and information on the Sponsor’s website, in electronic and print materials, on social media platforms, and other mediums in perpetuity. You agree to allow third-parties to share the photograph and information about the taste test on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

School or student club name, city, and state may be used in promotions and other publications.

Questions More information about Montana Harvest of the Month can be found online at: www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth

Questions and inquiries can be directed to: Aubree Roth, Montana Farm to School Coordinator, Montana Team Nutrition aubree.roth@montana.edu or (406) 994-5996

Ready? Submit your entry online at: https://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_23NqWj1tqyez4cB

Updated January 24, 2018 Montana Harvest of the Month | www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth

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September 2017- June 2018

Calendar

Sept – Summer Squash October – Kale November – Apples

Dec – Winter Squash

January – Carrots February – Beets March – Beef

April – Grains

May – Lentils

June – Leafy Greens

The Montana Harvest of the Month program showcases Montana grown foods in Montana schools and communities. This program is a collaboration between the Office of Public Instruction, Montana Team Nutrition Program, the National Center for Appropriate Technology, Montana State University Extension, Gallatin Valley Farm to School, and FoodCorps Montana. More information and resources are available at: www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth. Funds were provided in part by a USDA Team Nutrition Training grant, a USDA Farm to School grant, Montana Healthcare Foundation, Northern Pulse Growers Association, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, and Montana School Nutrition Association. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. The Montana State University Extension Service is an ADA/EO/AA/Veteran’s Preference Employer and Provider of Educational Outreach. This publication was supported by the Grants or Cooperative Agreements Numbers, 6 U58DP004818-03-01 & 5 U58DP004818-03-00, and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the DPHHS.

Although we recommend following this calendar, your school or program can change the calendar to suit your needs. None of the materials are printed with the month. The calendar will likely change each school year to allow for new harvest foods.

Updated January 24, 2018 Montana Harvest of the Month | www.montana.edu/mtharvestofthemonth

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS BROADCAST MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER

CONSENT/RELEASE FORM

I consent to the sale, reproduction, and use, royalty-free, of motion picture films, videotapes, recorded sounds, and still photographs of me by the Office of Communications, United States Department of Agriculture for all purposes including, but not limited to, education, training, display, editorial, advertising, promotion, art, and exhibits. In giving this consent, I release the United States, its officers, employees, nominees, and designees from liability for any violation of any personal or proprietary right I may have in connection with such reproduction and use. Please check and complete the applicable section below.

� The person to be recorded, photographed or filmed is of legal age (18 years of age or

older), please complete below.

(Please Print) Name _______________________________ Telephone No. ________________ Address _______________________________________________________________ Signature ____________________________ Date __________________

CONSENT/RELEASE OF PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN

� The person to be recorded, photographed, or filmed is a minor (less than 18 years of

age). And, I am the parent and/or guardian of the minor named above, and has the legal authority to execute consent and release. I approve the foregoing and waive any rights to the above.

(Please Print) Minor’s Name______________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardians Name _______________________________ Telephone No. ________________ Address _______________________________________________________________ Relationship to the Minor _______________________________ Signature ____________________________ Date __________________