The Community On Demand AgVenture Games Series redefines community service by turning it into a game-based learning competition. This innovative approach combines service-learning with real-world business practices to empower participants to drive economic growth within their communities. The program is anchored in the Fresh Bites service-learning projects and supply chain management system, the ATWOOD Model for land use design strategies, and the CIGS Model for leadership and communication. Together, these frameworks create a dynamic environment for students to explore, innovate, and lead.
With themes centered around the five tenets of agritourism—education and training, direct sales, hospitality and tourism, entertainment, and outdoor recreation—the AgVenture Games inspire participants to build sustainable local economies while having fun.
The Framework of the AgVenture Games
The AgVenture Games challenges students to work in JEM Team franchises (student-managed marketing cooperatives) to address real-world socio-economic issues through the creation of agritourism products and services. Each team integrates three core strategies into their gameplay:
- Fresh Bites: A service-learning project system that teaches students how to develop and manage local supply chains, ensuring that their products and services are market-ready and sustainable.
- ATWOOD Model: A land use design strategy that equips students with tools to plan and optimize land resources for agritourism ventures, aligning with environmental and community needs.
- CIGS Model: A leadership and communication platform that fosters collaboration, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement across projects.
By combining these strategies with the skills outlined in the Community On Demand card collections, students gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, supply chain management, and leadership.
Connecting to Agritourism’s Economic Tenets
The AgVenture Games revolve around the five pillars of agritourism, ensuring that every project contributes to local economic growth:
1. Education & Training
Through the Fresh Bites system, students learn how to apply the ATWOOD Model to develop their agritourism products or services. This foundational training emphasizes research, land planning, and skill development while fostering a deep understanding of agritourism’s role in economic development.
2. Direct Sales
With guidance from the CIGS Model, students create sales and marketing strategies for their products, leveraging Fresh Bites supply chains to establish direct sales channels and launch crowdfunding campaigns. This aligns with the Entrepreneurship, Direct Sales & Crowdfunding achievement domain.
3. Hospitality & Tourism
Participants design guest experiences using the Hospitality, Tourism & Supply Chain Management achievement domain. The Fresh Bites system ensures seamless operations, while the CIGS Model encourages collaboration with local stakeholders to enhance tourism experiences.
4. Entertainment & Outdoor Recreation
Using the ATWOOD Model, teams create recreational spaces and events, such as farm tours, festivals, and outdoor activities. These initiatives align with the Entertainment, Outdoor Recreation & Market Strategy achievement domain and aim to draw visitors while promoting sustainability.
5. Leadership & Sustainability
The CIGS Model teaches students to lead with purpose, focusing on network building, stakeholder communication, and long-term sustainability. This ensures that their agritourism projects create lasting economic and environmental impacts.
The Competition Format
The AgVenture Games combine teamwork, strategy, and friendly competition to keep participants engaged and motivated. Each team earns points by:
- Completing Skill Card Challenges: Tasks are tied to specific skill cards, such as Supply Chain Management, Market Research, and Tourism Experience Design.
- Developing Fresh Bites Projects: Teams design and implement projects that integrate local supply chains and align with agritourism themes.
- Showcasing the ATWOOD Model: Teams demonstrate their ability to use land resources effectively for agritourism ventures.
- Exhibiting Leadership through the CIGS Model: Points are awarded for collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable practices.
Real-World Outputs and Outcomes
By the end of the competition, students will have:
- Outputs: Developed market-ready products, services, and events that support local agritourism.
- Outcomes: Built supply chain networks through Fresh Bites, applied land use strategies from the ATWOOD Model, and demonstrated leadership using the CIGS Model.
These outputs and outcomes help students transition their projects from service-learning activities into tangible contributions to their community’s economy.
Why It Works
The AgVenture Games will succeed because they gamify essential economic and social challenges, providing a structured yet fun way for students to learn, innovate, and lead. By integrating the Fresh Bites system, ATWOOD Model, and CIGS Model, the program ensures that students are equipped with the skills and strategies they need to make a lasting impact.