For youth ages 13-18 who are interested in creating a more just, sustainable, and compassionate food system, Farm Sanctuary’s Youth Leadership Council provides a sense of community and the chance to connect with like-minded student peers from across the country. Through the Youth Leadership Council, we offer tools and resources to support school- and community-based advocacy projects aligned with each student’s personal interest and the opportunity for experienced student activists to play a mentorship role, as well as new student activists to seek guidance as mentees. Members come together monthly for general meetings where we discuss the interrelated issues of our food system such as farm animal oppression, the exploitation of workers, food justice and food sovereignty, and the environmental impacts of modern food production.

Members are supported in creating advocacy projects like writing op-eds in various publications, starting fundraisers, leading school clubs, campaigning for vegan options in their schools’ cafeterias, activism through social media, and contacting legislators to put laws into place to revolutionize our food system. Check out the Farm Sanctuary 2022 YLC Zine, an advocacy project created and edited by some of our YLC members that features veganized recipes, book recommendations, an original comic, and more!

The application window is now open for the 2022-23 school year. An orientation meeting will be held on September 11, though we’ll continue to accept applications through October 2. Students who apply after October 2, 2022, will be considered for the 2023-24 school year.