The research is done; you’ve selected a profitable fundraiser and distributed materials to your students. Let the fundraising begin! But why does it seem, year after year, so difficult to get students motivated to raise money for THEMSELVES? Don’t they want to reap the rewards? That’s just it. You may be forgetting the most important thing. INCENTIVES! You’d think making money towards their future goal would be enough, but quite often, students need more. Tangible items, friendly competition, and special privileges go a long way with kids. In addition to publicizing your fundraiser, let students know loud and clear that there’s an extra prize for them to win. You’ll be amazed at how this increases motivation! Are you thinking, “We can’t afford to offer prizes. After all, we’re trying to MAKE money!” We’ve got you covered. Not only can the prize be of zero cost to your school, but these fun ideas fit almost any school climate. Select a fundraising organization that offers prizes like Ashley Farms. • In 2019, Aria Mody from West Essex Middle School Band Program won a 75-inch Samsung Ultra Hi-Def TV . We’re offering this same Grand Prize again this year! • Want to go to Disney World in Orlando, FL ? We’re offering a trip for your entire family! Victoria D. from St. Michael’s School in Union, NJ, won in 2019. *Don’t feel ready to travel? You can redeem your vacation anytime. Here are some great incentives your school can offer for FREE. • The Principal Challenge – Got a fun principal that loves to get involved? Ask them if they’d be game for one of these fun challenges that your students will remember for YEARS. Set a feasible goal for your group to sell, and if they reach it, the principal has to: come to school in their pajamas, dye their hair in school colors (permanent or temporary), or get duct-taped to the wall for a few photos! • Break The Rules – Let your top sellers do some rule-breaking! Within reason, of course. Students who sell above a certain number get to wear a hat to school, chew gum in class, or skip homework for the day or week. • Donated Prizes – Every school has a few parents that are business owners or have access to cool stuff. Find out who they are and ask if they’d be willing to donate a prize. It could be ice cream coupons, games at the bowling alley, a pizzeria gift card, free sports training, or a tour of their facility (as long as it’s something cool, like a magazine editor). Tap into your network! • Public Award – Every kid loves their time to shine. Have a trophy or plaque made (this cost is minimal) and present it to your top seller during a school assembly. Don’t forget to snap a photo for the school paper's front page and social media pages. Want to reward the entire school? According to PTO Today , experts say that an effective fundraiser should focus on participation, so it helps to reward everyone who participates. The greater the focus on those lower-level prizes, the better. “The grand prize [concept] is more old school,” says Kurt Koehler, president of AFRDS. • School-Wide Prizes – Want to make sure everyone feels like a winner? If students reach a specific goal as a group, schedule a school spirit day, ice cream or pizza party, fun game day, pajama day, or another treat that suits your kids' interests. School fundraisers take work, so setting up your students to raise the most funds possible is key. But most importantly, show them hard work can be fun and rewarding!

Chocolate chip cookie dough is fantastic as is. Classic. Simple. Delicious. But what if you could turn up your dough game? We’ve got six ideas that use our Ashley Farms cookie dough and turns it into a whole new dessert that everyone will love. There’s a variety you can pick and chews from, including Chocolate Chunk, Candy Cookie Dough, Macadamia White Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter with Chocolate Chip, Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip or go with the Chocolate Covered Cookie Dough Bites. We’re here to bake your day a little better! When it comes to baking, don’t be afraid to take whisks, ahem, risks. Here are a few sweet ideas that take cookie dough to the next level. 1. Stuff an Oreo in a Chocolate Chip Cookie It’s like a cookie ate a cookie! Wrap 3 tbsp of cookie dough around an Oreo and bake at 350° for about 10 minutes. Is your mouth watering yet? Get the full recipe HERE ! 2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Stuffed Oreos So, while we’re on the topic of Oreos, let’s flip that previous recipe around. It’s so crazy but so simple, and of course, delicious! Just place cookie dough inside of the Oreo and dip (or don’t dip) into chocolate. Get the full recipe HERE ! 3. Cookie Butter Now that I have your attention let’s talk cookie butter. This is great if you have leftover cookies, which is a slim chance, but if you do, here’s how to make it. Pulse the cookies in a food processor until small. For every 2 cups of cookie crumbs that you have, you will need 1/3 cup cream, 2 tbsp brown sugar and 1 tbsp melted butter. Mix the ingredients in a bowl until a smooth dough forms. Voila! Spread it on whatever you’d like … toast or another cookie perhaps? Get the full recipe HERE ! 4. Rise and Shine Cookies Whoever said you can’t eat cookies for breakfast? It’s time to wake up and smell the cookies! Add 1 to 2 tsp of instant coffee to the batter to get a java flavor and a little caffeine pick-me-up. Bake cookies as usual. Get the full recipe HERE ! 5. Cereal Cookies Speaking of morning cookies, let’s add some cereal to our dough. They both are great with milk, so why not mix them, right? Crispy rice is a winner, but you can mix in whichever cereal you like to add crunch to the chewy texture. Try out a few different kinds of cereal and do a taste test to see which your family likes best. Get the full recipe HERE ! 6. Boozy Cookies These are not your kid's lunch box cookies. These are showing up to a friend’s house and be the hit of the party cookies (although all the booze does burn off, so really, they’re suitable for any age, but the name sounds adult). Add 2 tbsp of Kahlua and bake cookies at 350° for about 14 minutes. Let cool before serving, if you can wait! Get the full recipe HERE ! If you liked these ideas, we’d love to know! Contact Us ! And be sure to follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter to join the Ashley Farms community of dessert lovers.

Whether you’re a little kid or a grown-up, chocolate chip cookies are the dessert that can make pretty much anyone happy. When you kick it up with some ice cream in between, you’ve got yourself a mouthwatering confection. We all know they’re delicious, but where did ice cream sandwiches first come from? It’s always nice to know a little history before diving into a recipe since cooking or baking is influenced in so many ways. According to the book Sugar and Snow: A History of Ice Cream Making by Jeri Quinzio, a slice of vanilla ice cream cut from a larger slab known as a “hokey pokey” was sold between pieces of paper on the street. But in 1899, an unknown pushcart peddler in New York City created the ice cream sandwich that consisted of vanilla ice cream pressed between two thin graham wafers, which was sold for 1¢. This new sandwich, of course, took off and has become the perennial favorite treat we know today from ice cream trucks and even high-end restaurants. So how can you make these fantastic creations in your own home? It’s simple. First, you can’t have a cookie sandwich without cookies. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Ashley Farms at Home cookie dough is available in so many yummy flavors you can make a different kind each week for six weeks! Choose from the classic chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin, candy, and much more. Bake them up, and you’ve got the first step completed. Once you’ve made the cookies of your choice and let them cool, it’s time to add the ice cream. Classic vanilla or chocolate is always a win, but you can go with mint chocolate chip or any of your favorite flavors. Just take one scoop and place it on a cookie then place another cookie on top. We told you it was easy! If you’re up for the challenge, try making homemade ice cream from any of these wonderful recipes . How to jazz it up! If you want to make them extra special you can: • Add colored sprinkles around the outside of the ice cream. For example, multi-color for a birthday, red/white/blue for a July 4th, or red and green for Christmas. You can either place the sprinkles on a plate and gently roll the ice cream sandwich, or you can slowly turn the sandwich in your hand will sprinkling around the outside with your other hand. • It’s also fun to add mini chocolate chips to the outside of the ice cream and re-create a Chipwich. • Mini marshmallows, candy cane, your favorite cereal, or crushed pretzels can all be added to the outside of your ice cream sandwich. Have fun with it! However you decide to make your ice cream sandwiches, we’d love to see your pics! Share them with us by tagging @AshelyFarms in your social posts on Facebook and @AshleyFarmsInc on Twitter and Instagram .

Fall is right around the corner, and you know what that means. Pumpkin treats aplenty! It’s finally that time of year for PSL lovers to rejoice, and we couldn’t be more excited. Pumpkin spice season can start a little early this year because as our country grapples with problems, we can indulge in one of life’s simple cozy pleasures. An Autumnal Delicacy Nothing smells better than pumpkin pie or a pumpkin roll warm out of the oven. That rich and moist pumpkin roll swirled with luscious cream cheese filling is just what 2020 needs to make things right in the world. Ashley Farms makes it easy to bring that delicious dessert right to your kitchen with our Broadway Café brochure, along with other fall treats like traditional Grandma’s Country Apple Cake. Drink Up Looking for more pumpkin in your life? Try a pumpkin cocktail recip e like the Polished Princess. This delightful vodka martini drink includes 5 fresh cranberries, a pinch of pumpkin spice, ½ ounces of lemon juice, ¾ ounces simple syrup, 1 ½ ounces vanilla vodka, and 1 egg white. Pumpkin pie spice can be purchased at most grocery stores and is an excellent addition to so many tasty libations and yummy bites. If you’re looking for a beverage for kids, the Creamy Pumpkin Smoothie is the answer. Pumpkin is a great source of fiber and potassium. It’s also an antioxidant to help prevent inflammatory disease and strengthen your immune system. In 10 minutes, you’ve got yourself a healthy and delicious drink the kids (and adults!) will love. Here’s what you need: • 3/4 cup almond milk • 1 cup coconut milk yogurt • 1 cup pumpkin puree • 2 tsp pure maple syrup • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (you can add 1 tsp more if you want more spice) • 1 frozen banana • ice for desired consistency Blend until smooth. Where Did It Begin? Wondering what pumpkin spice is and how it took over our lives? It’s usually a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice, but some may include cardamom or mace. Pumpkin pie spice dates back to the 1890s (although some say as early as the 1700s) and today can be found ready-mixed for all your recipe needs. The spices themselves have been found in many Southeast Asian, Indonesian, and Caribbean dishes for hundreds of years. Still, the aromatic blend of pumpkin spice hadn’t been seen in America until later. This robust “ $500 million a year cultural mainstay ” has now been injected into everything from Twinkies to vodka drinks, as previously mentioned. The mix of spices was bundled ready to use back in the 1950s, making it much easier to bake with and became synonymous with fall. Trying to recreate this flavor in a coffee drink, Starbucks moved full steam ahead with their famed PSL (pumpkin spice latte), which became the phenomenon now available in nearly 50 countries. Many other companies followed with the pumpkin craze by incorporating it into yogurt, beer, candles, and much more. If one thing is for sure right now, we could all use a little pumpkin in our lives to make us feel like we’re wrapped in a warm blanket. Welcome this fall with a delicious treat from Ashley Farms, and let us know how you celebrate the season!

With the world turned on its head this year, there is one thing we can rely on to feel better…DESSERT! And while Halloween may be more synonymous with candy than traditional table desserts, this year may be slightly different. Many families are considering trading trick-or-treating for small neighborhood gatherings featuring festive Halloween activities and snacks. One thing that’s sure to WOW your little ghouls and goblins is the Double Stuffed Brownies in our Broadway Café Brochure! And the best part is, they’re just thaw and serve. No baking required! Ashley Farms brownies are not only a decadent dessert, but decorating them can make for a fun party activity. So, whether you’re looking to show up at a friend’s soiree with a dessert dressed to impress, or a fun activity for your little pumpkins, here are a few of our favorite easy brownie décor ideas! 1. Skeleton brownies: Create a skeleton body by stacking small vanilla yogurt covered pretzels on top of each other using melted frosting in between for adhesive. Generously add frosting to the top of your brownie and place the skeleton on top. Add a marshmallow head and draw eyes with a black gel pen. For an added touch, place gummy worms on top of your brownie to create a graveyard effect. Full directions here! 2. Ghost brownies: Place a large marshmallow on top of the brownie (or if you can find ghost peeps, even better!). Melt vanilla frosting in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and stir until smooth—spoon frosting over the marshmallow. Let stand until frosting is set and add googly eyes or use a black gel pen for the eyes and mouth. Full directions here! 3. Spider brownies: Licorice or gummy worms make the perfect creepy-crawly legs! Just add a small marshmallow or chocolate m&m for the body and place it on top of the brownie. You can also make decorative spider webs around your spider (or separately) to add more detail. Simply melt white chocolate and add to a piping bag or Ziplock® bag with the corner cut off and draw spider webs from one corner outward. Full directions here! 4. Witch Hat brownies: Create witch’s hats by placing Hershey Kisses® on top of a round cookie. Cookies with a hole in the center work best. If needed, use frosting as glue to keep the two pieces together. You may want to use food coloring to make green icing or red “blood” icing. Full directions here! 5. Graveyard brownies: Combining all of the above ideas on a platter would make for a spooktacular graveyard presentation…but what would a graveyard be without headstones? Milano cookies are the perfect headstone shape. Stand them up on your brownie and write R.I.P. using a black edible gel pen. Then, add some green frosting and a candy pumpkin at the base. Full directions here! Whether you are planning a Halloween themed event, bringing a treat to the party, or celebrating with family from the comfort of home this year, Ashley Farms is your one-stop-shop for BOO-tiful baked goods that will leave everyone SCREAMING for more! The only question is…what is your brownie going to be for Halloween?

2020 has presented us with so many challenges, but Ashley Farms has cooked up some great ideas to help you meet your goal. Whether it’s for new school technology or to help your non-profit organization run smoothly, fundraising is not only essential, but it’s fun! Here are five tips to get you on the right track in our new normal. 1. Click to Order - We know there’s a lot on your plate, so we’ve made it stress-free and easy to increase sales. With just about everything in our lives being online, it only makes sense to fundraise with Ashley Farms online. Six different paper brochures are still available, but our online brochures and direct ship option could be your best bet. If you know someone who may not have access to ordering online, you could place the order. Online ordering is a fast and easy way to reach more people in less time. 2. Get Parents Involved - Parent involvement is one of the easiest ways to make a school fundraiser successful. Many parents want to help but aren’t consistent or simply forget. It’s essential to provide a steady flow of information about your goal and why funds are needed, how the fundraiser is doing, data that shows past successes, and how they can continue to help. It is imperative to clarify what the fundraiser is for and how important it is for them to be involved. Posting information on social media and in school bulletins can help keep the fundraiser on parents’ minds and keep them volunteering. 3. Get the Word Out - Once you’ve decided on an online fundraiser, build a contact list by gathering friends and family emails. Then all you need to do is send out the link and a few reminders. People simply shop online at their convenience. Also, post on social media or have parents/caregivers post. Parents can help sell to their co-workers and friends, too. 4. Create a Template - When equipped with the right tools, fundraising is simple. Create a template for fun and flashy social media posts. Exciting emails can assure that your message is communicated correctly and efficiently. A tool kit that includes these items can be sent to students before starting the fundraiser to keep their message consistent. Or students can get together and design templates to share with the entire group. 5. Rewards - Prizes are vital in keeping the motivation going. Great rewards like gift cards can be used online, and items that can be delivered to seller’s homes, including big-ticket items like a new computer or TV. Also, recognize sellers along the way. Make sure to give shout outs on social media or in newsletters to those doing a great job. Don’t let these unique times stop you from meeting your fundraising goal. Ashley Farms makes it easier than ever to be successful. Just give us a call at 800-726-0373, and we’ll be happy to help! Or click here to get started.

Here’s a joke for you…why did the man go into the pizza business? Because he wanted to make some dough! Making money for YOU is what Ashley Farms is all about. In our “new normal” of eating more at home, make-your-own-pizza has been a fun and delicious solution. Pizza kits are nothing new and are a successful product for fundraising. But we’ve made it better! Ashley Farms has partnered with Little Caesar’s to help you raise funds easily for Sunday school, dance competitions, cheerleading, school band, martial arts teams, and much more! You Wanna Pizza This? We’ve seen so much success with our pizza kit fundraisers for obvious reasons – because the kits are delicious! From Grilled Cheese Pizza to Deep Dish to 3 Meat Treat® pizza, these kits practically sell themselves. There’s a pizza kit for everyone, including a Family Meal Kit that includes ingredients to make a 12” x 16” pizza, 18 Crazy Bread® sticks, and 15 chocolate chip cookies. There’s the Personal Pepperoni Pizza Kit that includes ingredients for nine 6” pizzas that are perfect for after-school snacks, quick meals, and birthday parties. You can even order pizza cutters and a pizza server paddle. The individually packaged ingredients make these kits so easy. Within minutes, you can enjoy the delicious taste of Little Caesars right from your home oven. If that’s not making your mouth water yet, the sweet desserts will. Cinnamon Loaded Crazy Bites® Kit makes four trays of bites (144 bites) for only $21. Also, included in the Little Caesar’s brochure is The Cookie Kitchen® exclusive. Each kit makes 40 tasty cookies for $18. That’s a sweet deal! Profit from Home Ashley Farms recognizes that COVID-19 is impacting our world, and we have made the necessary adjustments to make fundraising easy for you. We have multiple ways to conduct your fundraiser, all with your safety in mind. Contact us so we can help you find the best option to suit your needs. We’re proud of how far we’ve come after 30 years, and our customers say it all. “Year after year, I raise a ton of money for my program while working with the best staff in the industry.” -Russ Batsch from Madison High School Last but not yeast, ahem, least (sorry, our pizza puns are cheesy); we’re here to help. We want you to exceed your fundraising goals. Call us at 1-800-726-0373.

There’s so much uncertainty about how the upcoming school year will play out, but we know what is certain -- your school needs funds, and we can help! Ashley Farms has been working hard to figure out ways to make fundraising fun and easy for families. And you know what’s excellent about fundraising with Ashley Farms? It involves food. Or candles and gifts. Whichever you choose. It’s a win-win! Ashley Farms offers six different brochures including the most popular Broadway Café, Gourmet Cookie Dough, and Little Caesar’s Pizza Kits, plus a few more! You can even sell handcrafted Heritage Candles that offer the warm smell of baked apple pie. We like to think there’s something for everyone. Now that we’re all excited let’s get down to it. Here are the options we’re offering to keep your fundraiser safe, effective, and easy: Option 1 - The Usual: Like always, we will come into your school and do a kick-off presentation. You can sell for two weeks (or any other amount of time determined) like years past. The product is delivered to the school for distribution. No changes here, so if you’re district is comfortable with the status quo, we’ll make it work. The only difference would be curbside drop-off/pick-up. NOTE ABOUT CURBSIDE, NO-TOUCH PICK UP Over the past three months, Ashley Farms has established an effective curbside, no-touch delivery, and pick-up method to help keep everyone safe. Parents appreciate this format, and we are happy to continue. Detailed instructions will be provided on how this process is handled. Option 2 – Virtual Presentation: Similar to option one, but we will send you a virtual kick-off presentation to educate your group and get everyone ready to sell. Everything else remains the same. Option 3 – Online Only: A virtual kick-off presentation, no hard copy brochures, but all products can be viewed and ordered online. The product will still be delivered to your school for easy distribution. Option 4 – Online & Direct Ship: Virtual kick-off, no hard copy brochures, everything is online; all orders shipped direct. The difference between option 3 and 4 is that now products will be delivered directly to the person who ordered it. This option satisfies the requirements of several districts but does come at a cost. Please contact us for more details; we’re always here to help. Selling in a virtual format is easy and, most likely, the best option. Before your fundraiser even begins, you can gather email addresses from friends, family, and co-workers to build your contact list. All you need to do is send out the link and a few reminders, and people simply shop online at their convenience. If you know someone that may not have access to ordering online, you could place the order for them. One crucial factor to keep in mind is option 4 requires delivery costs for Ashley Farms and will result in your group earning 25-30% depending on volume. Items will be marked up approximately $6-$8 each to cover the cost of shipping. We want your school to raise as many funds as possible, so we strive to keep costs low and returns high. In times like these, we’re about being safe and being flexible. We understand that one option isn’t right for all, but please know that hard copy brochures are limited, and online viewing/ordering will likely be best. We are happy to help you decide on the best option for your needs, and we will walk you through every step of the process. We know these days aren’t easy, but we hope that we can still help your school with fundraising in the best way possible. Let’s put the “fun” in fundraising and get started! Call 1-800-726-0373.