Designed with our food system in mind; we are requesting breakout session proposals from partners across our net work for the 2026 NH Food System Statewide Gathering. We're looking for content that centers collaboration across sectors and provides learning and skill building opportunities to foster sustainable growth in our food system, while continuing to move forward the New Hampshire Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan. All breakout session hosts will receive a free ticket to the Statewide Gathering.
Timeline
December 15: all proposals are due
January 16: proposals will be notified of acceptance
February 17: all breakout session content finalized
March 10: breakout session handouts and resources are due
April 10: present at the gathering
Theme & Framing
We ask that all breakout session proposals move forward the NH Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan in some way. Your proposal could address a specific recommendation, bring together like-minded folks around a brief, or connect to a persistent theme identified throughout the plan.
Know Your Audience
The audience for your breakout session will be as broad as our food system itself! Typical attendees include technical service providers, farmers, fishers, food businesses owners, food system non profit leaders, state agencies, legislators, educators and researchers, funders, and students.
Select Your Session Structure
Please design your breakout session using one of the following structures. Note! All breakout sessions at the Statewide Gathering are 1 hour and 15 minutes long. Not every space at the venue will have access to a projector, so please focus on content that does not require a slide show presentation.
- Learn together. Coordinate a roundtable discussion on a specific topic in a way that provides an interactive learning opportunity.
- Facilitate collaboration. Gather like-minded food system friends to solve a problem together or explore an idea that works across sectors or organizations. Or share a collaborative success and help others replicate it.
- Build professional skills. Host or suggest a workshop focused on developing a skill that would strengthen our network of food systems professionals and business owners.
- Have another unique idea? Tell us more!
Session Design Guidelines
When dreaming up your breakout session, prioritize these design guidelines:
- Action‑oriented & hands‑on. Limit lecture or slide decks; prioritize movement, small‑group work, and tangible outputs.
- Solution‑focused. Participants should leave with clear takeaways, tools, actions, or commitments they can implement.
- Collaboration‑first. Demonstrate how the session will spark new partnerships or strengthen existing ones.
Be innovative and creative. Please think outside the box; interactive, hands-on group activities that enhance collaboration and forward solutions thinking.
