On Saturday, October 3, almost 300 guests, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and staff gathered at the Farmers’ Market Pavilion for Fall Fiesta – a celebration of local food, culture, and community.
Farmer All Stars
This year’s All Star awards went to three very deserving farms.
Monte Vista Organics, Dave and Loretta Fresquez
Gonzalez Farm, Jose Gonzalez & Maria Mandujano
Camino de Paz School and Farm, Greg Nussbaum and Patty Pantano
Next time you’re at the market, be sure to congratulate them.
Training & Professional Development Program
This year, two family foundations joined forces, and matched up to $10,000 raised at Fall Fiesta for our Training and Professional Development Program.
This important program strives to help vendors grow their businesses by providing scholarships to attend outside trainings, as well as organizing local workshops based on vendor feedback.
Thank you to all who contributed to this special appeal!
Silent and Live Auctions
The funds raised through the Silent and Live Auctions and the raffle support the mission of the Institute, supporting our farmer and community outreach programs and maintaining a permanent home for the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market.
Sponsors
Hats off to our generous sponsors! Their support of Fall Fiesta and the Institute helps to make so much possible. Please click here to see this year’s sponsors, and please – support the businesses that support your community.
Special Thanks
Our endless gratitude to Pat West-Barker for her tireless work coordinating all of the culinary details, and to Mu Jing Lau (Mu Du Noodles) for lending her time and talent to making this event a success.
Many deep-felt thanks to the Santa Fe Community College Culinary Arts Students for their kitchen assistance; to Liza Stanton-Hitt and Corina Logghe and all of our amazing servers; to Beth Koch and Marcy Walsh (Zia Diner) for tonight’s bar service; to Nina Yozell-Epstein (Squash Blossom) for assisting in sourcing local, farm-fresh ingredients; and to all of the volunteers who helped this evening!
Thank you to those who provided assistance, time, expertise, and equipment along the way! Cornerstones Community Partnerships, Art Smart, Joe Dean (Lumenscapes), Andy Smith (Moon Recording Services), El Ice Plant, Gabriella Marks Photography, Daniel Quat Photography, Walter Burke Catering, Image Ratio Design and Printing, Fiasco Fine Wines, Second Street Brewery, James Gould, Tom and Mary Dixon (Green Tractor Farm), Poki Piottin (Gaia Gardens), Damon and Sabrina Griffith, Richard White, Mackenzie Allen and Jason Malone.
This event would not be possible without the months of hard work and support from our dedicated volunteers. This amazing group of community members shared their time and talent, for which we are forever grateful:
Bettie Cavanaugh
Pam Culwell
Mary MacDonald
Pat Marciano
Mary McCusker
Mike McGeary
Kathy Morse
Sally Munde
Jenna Scanlan
Sherry Snyder.
And, last but not least, we are thankful for the ideas, humor, support, and skilled implementation provided by Kelly Waller.
To all who have helped make the 2015 Fall Fiesta a success – we appreciate you!