Calling all audio producers!

Work with three Diné, Spanish, or English speaking Conservation Voices to produce short radio segments that highlight the stories of their conservation practices and convey Quivira’s capacity to connect historically underserved producers with USDA agencies. The segments will run typically between three and five minutes in length, depending on the requirements of radio stations.

The producer will record and use a body of content to create segments of different lengths based on need from Quivira. We are working to develop relationships with rural radio stations, with whom there is variation of length from 30 seconds – nine minutes of what they are able to air. We are seeking an audio producer with the engineering capacity to adapt content to a variety of lengths with a fair amount of ease and facility.

The overarching goal of the project is to connect listening historically underserved producers with the resources they need to operationalize conservation practices on their land. More specifically, the radio segments are meant to capture culturally-relevant narratives about why conservation practices are essential to a historically-underserved producer’s farming or ranching operation.

As our work to reduce barriers to USDA programs starts from this place, we expect the potential impact of this project not just to be an increase in participation in USDA programs among underrepresented producers, but also lasting relationships built on a healthy foundation. Since we include USDA personnel in these activities, at our workshops and services fairs, the relationships developed through this work are not just between Quivira and underserved communities, but between the three parties: Quivira, USDA, and historically underserved producers.

• Work with Quivira Coalition staff person and at least three Conservation Voices (identified by Quivira, all located in Central/Northern New Mexico) to produce 5-10 audio segments per featured Conservation Voice, amounting to at least 24 short segments total. Recording can take place at the farm/ranch/property of the Conservation Voice or in a recording studio.
• Audio segments should be three to five minutes long
• Contractor will work with Quivira staff and Conservation Voice partners to finalize subjects and storylines
• Contractor is responsible for recording, editing, and final production. Contractor will work collaboratively with Quivira staff to develop structure/outline, scripting, and interview questions for each video
• Audio: 24bit / 48k
• Destination: radio broadcast, Quivira audio platforms

• Proposals are due October 28, 2024, with the intent to respond to all candidates by November 22 regarding next steps.
• Final radio segments are due in monthly installments from March – August 2025.

$18,000, inclusive of any travel, equipment, supplies, studio time, and other costs associated with audio production

Our radio segments will cover conservation-minded land stewardship practices delivered by contracted Conservation Voices on topics relevant to production types in regions of New Mexico (i.e. grazing and livestock; diversified, flood-irrigated vegetable and hay cropping systems; orchard management). These will not only describe strategies that help producers engage with USDA programs, but also improve the health of their land and the success of their operations. Each radio spot will also advertise Quivira’s capacity to provide producers with technical assistance and workshop experiences. By producing segments in English, Spanish, and Diné Bizaad, we ensure that we are reaching underserved New Mexican communities in a linguistically-appropriate manner.

The radio segments should tell a story of real people, be inspiring for other historically underserved producers, and show connections between conservation and agriculture. While it should be clear that the radio segments are a part of Quivira’s Pathways to Resilience program, and convey Quivira’s ability to connect historically underserved producers with USDA agencies, the segments should not feel like an advertisement or a sales pitch. Rather, they should portray rich and evocative narratives of historically underserved producers’ perspectives and engagement with conservation focused agriculture.

Submissions must, at a minimum, include the following elements:

• CV or resume of the contractor that includes a general overview and credentials of relevant experience. Please also include your language fluencies.
• One-page narrative outlining the contractor’s strengths and distinguishing skills or capabilities as they might relate to the project
• A representative selection of audio samples created for current and past clients
• A detailed proposed budget/breakdown of costs for completing the project
• Declaration that those serving as contractors are not federal employees (This grant is a federal grant and prohibits federal employees from performing consulting services.)