Brooke Krancer

“Try Harder” Shows the Humor and Pressure of the
College Application Process
A Woodstock Vermont Film Series feature documentary

Showing at Billings Farm & Museum
Saturday, Jan. 22 at 3PM & 5:30PM

WOODSTOCK, VT … On Saturday, January 22, the Woodstock Vermont Film Series will present “Try Harder” a humorous and heartfelt look at the reality of the American college application process, in showings at 3PM and 5:30PM. 

The documentary focuses on San Francisco’s top public high school, Lowell High school, where seniors are stressed out. As they prepare for the emotionally draining college application process, students are keenly aware of the intense competition for the few open spots in their dream colleges. They scrutinize how every element of their application, from their classes to their extracurricular activities to their racial identities, might be read by admission officers.  

At Lowell, cool kids are nerds, nearly everyone has an amazing talent, and most of the student body is Asian American. With humor and heart, director Debbie Lum shows us the reality of the American college application process and the intersection of class, race, and educational opportunity as experienced by high school seniors living through it. Try Harder! is a portrait of young adults in the most diverse American generation ever as they navigate a quintessential rite of passage and make it their own. 

This season the 12^th Annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series will present a selection of 10 diverse films reflecting Billings Farm & Museum’s vision to share place-based stories of people near and far, to engage our audiences, and to inspire conversations that increase connections with each other and our world. The Woodstock Vermont Film Series is curated and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jay Craven, and produced by the Billings Farm & Museum, with generous support from local sponsors. We gratefully acknowledge our lead sponsors: D. R. Horne & Company and the Woodstock Inn & Resort, as well as Ellaway Property Services, Inc. 

In re-opening the Billings Farm & Museum Theater to the Film Series, the health and safety of guests is a top priority. The theater has been upgraded with a MERV 13 filtration system, a hospital level standard for air filtration that is more effective in capturing small airborne particles. Film attendees are required to wear masks in the theater at all times and to show proof of vaccination to enter.  

Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited. Purchase advance tickets online at billingsfarm.org/filmseries or reserve by phone at 802-457-5303 by noon on January 21. Tickets may be available for purchase at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film if seating allows.    

Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend. We recommend providing proof of vaccination online in advance to avoid lines. Find the form at billingsfarm.org/proof-of-vaccination-form/ .For a complete list of screenings and to purchase tickets visit: www.billingsfarm.org/filmseries.  

Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us on billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at instagram.com/billingsfarm/.   

Photo courtesy of Try Harder

Kimchi, Kraut & More Fermented Food Workshop with Chef Emery
Presented by Billings Farm & Museum
Live on Zoom, Saturday, January 22 from 10-11:30AM

WOODSTOCK, VERMONT . . . According to scientists, fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha increase the diversity of gut microbes and lead to lower levels of inflammation. It turns out these can be easy to make at home and fun too! Who knew cooking and science, coupled with cultivation and patience could produce such delicious results!

Anyone can learn to make these fermented foods with Billings Farm’s Chef Emery as she leads our next Billings Backyard Series cooking workshop, Kimchi, Kraut, and More!, on Saturday, Jan. 22. The workshop will take place live on Zoom from 10-11:30am.

In this class Chef Emery will demonstrate how to make your own sauerkraut and kimchi. She will discuss other “lacto-fermented” foods, and how they can be used in unique and delicious ways in everyday life as participants make a multi-purpose sauce using Kombucha!

This live Zoom presentation is followed by a 30-minute Q&A period. The workshop costs $15/person; $10/BF&M Member. Space is limited!

Registration is required by January 19 for participants to receive advance instructions, recipes and preparation details. Registered participants will receive a recording following the live presentation. Visit billingsfarm.org to register.

About Chef Emery
Emery Gray, Farm to Table Manager at Billings Farm & Museum and former Pastry Chef de Partie at the Woodstock Inn and Resort, had a passion for food at a very young age. Seeing the way that people connected through the growing, sharing and cooking of food, inspired her to make a career in the kitchen. She attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, earning her Associates Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and her Bachelor’s in Business Management. Traveling the country and the world has translated into a deep appreciation for sustainability of local food systems, and all types of outdoor pursuits year-round.

Billings Backyard is a series of workshops designed to teach sustainable living skills to adult participants and is underwritten by a generous grant from the SpringRiver Private Foundation Trust. Each workshop includes hands-on demonstrations and concrete steps for incorporating these skills into everyday life. The next workshop will be:
February 26, 2022: Seed Starting & Garden Planning Like a Champ with Master Gardener Ben Pauly

Billings Farm & Museum, now in its 39th season, is open weekends Nov – Feb 10AM-4PM, and daily, 10AM-5PM April – October. Find the Special Events Calendar, daily schedules, admission pricing and membership information at billingsfarm.org.

Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us on billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at  instagram.com/billingsfarm/.

photo credit: Billings Farm & Museum