On Saturday, October 11, more than 270 guests, volunteers, sponsors and staff gathered at the Farmers’ Market Pavilion to celebrate another season of local food, culture and community. Fall Fiesta is the Institute’s annual fundraising dinner and opportunity to honor three of our outstanding market vendors. The funds raised through our silent and live auction, sponsorships, raffle and special appeal all go to help the mission of the Institute, supporting our farmer and community outreach programs and maintaining a permanent home for the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market.
This year’s event featured a menu full of locally sourced ingredients, made with love and talent from our fabulous chefs! We are so lucky to have so many culinary masters in our fine city.
Our silent and live auctions contained more fabulous items and packages then we can list here. We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the donors who contributed to both auctions. They were a huge success!
Hats off to our generous sponsors! Their support of Fall Fiesta and the Institute helps to make so much possible.
This year’s All Star awards went to three very deserving farms.
– Phil Loomis – Jacona Farm
– Noel and Gloria Trujillo – Vigil’s Chimayo Produce
– Pilar Abadia – Anna Maria Farm
Next time you’re at the market, be sure to congratulate them.
Our special appeal raised $13,750 toward our EBT Double Value Program and secured a $10,000 matching grant—for a total of $23,750 of direct support for Santa Fe’s neediest. The two local family foundations who issued this challenge have our deepest gratitude.
To all who volunteered—we thank you for the tremendous service you provide the Institute in the form of your time, talents and energy. We remain unendingly grateful for your commitment.
SPECIAL THANKS:
Andy Abernathy, MacKenzie Allen, Jim Cook, Cornerstones Community Partnerships, Joe Dean of Lumenscapes, El Ice Plant, FACT, Inn and Spa at Loretto, La Montanita, Gabriella Marks, Barry Slavin—Design Twenty-Two Eleven, Andy Smith and Moon Recording Services, Joanne Smogor, Rick Wiegers, and Richard White and RKW Enterprises.
Special thanks to Molly Wagoner of Blue Koru Photo Works for visiting the farms and providing the photographs for the Farmer All Star Awards.
The following members of the Fall Fiesta committee dedicated their time, energy, resources, knowledge and humor to help plan this evening’s event. We are eternally grateful to you!
Bettie Cavaunaugh, Laura Deikel, Seth Friedman, Nina Harrison, Robin Lackey, Mary MacDonald, Pat Marciano, Mary McCusker, Mike McGeary, Sarah Noss, Maggie Odell, Jenna Scanlan, Debbie Shapiro, Sherry Snyder, Susan Waters, and Patricia Zisman.