How the FunkyTown Food Project Changes Lives
FunkyTown Food Project’s leadership development program integrates agriculture, enterprise, and service to offer a rigorous, practical experience for paid high school interns. We unite a diverse and local group of young people across racial, socio-economic, gender identity, and geographic lines.
As students happily return year after year, they’re able to take advantage of new leadership roles on the farm, in our markets, and other community endeavors. Students that return each year further gain and improve their leadership skills and knowledge. New interns begin as Seed Crew, returning interns have the opportunity to assist in leading the program as Dirt Crew (assistant leaders) and Root Crew (leaders).
2024 in a Nutshell:
Youth
In 2024, we hired 16 youth to participate as Seed and Dirt Crew interns. The Seed crew members came from 12 different public and private schools in Fort Worth.
Community
Our interns and program leaders spent 500 hours on the farm learning and working. Hundreds of volunteers also came to the farm from schools and businesses in our community.
Food
4,000 pounds of produce were harvested and then sold at a Farmers Market by our interns. At least 20% of the harvest goes to food insecure families.
| OUR METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Seed Crew Interns | 11 | 14 | 14 |
| Applications | 28 | 50 | 85 |
| Dirt Crew Leaders | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| College Interns | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Pounds donated | 2,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Volunteer Hours | 75 | 65 | 85 |
| Project Partners | 6 | 10 | 15 |
What our Interns have to say:
“I learned more about the food system and the importance of home grown food. As well as being able to persevere through challenges and developing more self confidence.”
“{FTFP} helped me to realize my strengths and how I can apply those to the career path I want to pursue, and it helped me with important skills such as working with new people.”
“I have grown to work with others to achieve bigger goals and learned that leadership is key to success with each other.”
2022 Intern
“{FTFP} showed me I can try new things that are out of my comfort zone and still be successful.”
2022 Intern
“{I learned} that the connections that you make with people who are completely different from you can be can be the best and most strong friendships.
2022 Intern