2014-07-27 Rural Intelligence

Jul 27 2014

The FarmOn! Foundation Celebrates Its Fourth Amongst Friends

Rachel Louchen reports from Copake. The annual Friends of the Farmer Hootenanny! Fundraiser Dinner returned for the fourth year bigger and better than ever on Saturday, July 26. At the Copake Country Club (with views of Copake Lake below), the dinner was nirvana for a locavore, featuring a menu filled with fare from farms throughout Columbia County prepared by host Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten of abc kitchen. The event benefited the non-profit FarmOn! Foundation, which answers the important question, “who makes the food I eat?” by raising awareness of food sources and providing agricultural education to young people. After the dinner of roast pig and chicken, the lively auction had guests John Varvatos and Dr. Oz onstage engaging and encouraging the crowd to bid on some exciting items. And as if the multiple-course dinner, plus a cheese tasting course and cocktails weren’t enough, the evening concluded with a sundae bar, for which nearly everyone managed to save some room. Above, Chase Thomas and FarmOn! board member Stephen Mack.

Karp, Ackerman, Skabowski & Hogan coworkers Jodi Cole, Debbie Bryant, Carla Altomer and Alejandra Garcia; Suzanne and Michael Graves.

Shirley Ball and Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets (and farmer) Richard Ball; Alex Taylor and Kipp Edick.

Amazing Real Live Food Company’s Rory Chase and Patrick Porter provided the cheese, which Hillrock Estate Distillery’s Tim Welly perfectly complemented with bourbon; Berkshire Property Agent’s Tim Lovett with Monterey General Store proprietor Scott Edward Cole.

Nanci Weaver, Friends of the Farmer founder Tessa Edick and Ryan Armstrong of abc Kitchen.

Courtney Dearnley, Dairy Princess of Columbia County, with Dairy Ambassador Emily Oms; Scott Morris with event sponsors Elyse Harney Morris, Brigitte Harney and Mike Harney.

Rebecca Ross, Jessica Knez and Jason Ross came from NYC to support the cause; Realtor Jen Harvey of Berkshire Property Agents with Ethan Culleton.

Linola Dempah, Paulette Daniel, Julie Leblanc and Naomi Mulgrage enjoyed the food and the views.

Posted by Rachel Louchen on 07/27/14 at 12:50 AM • Permalink