Dale Stewart reports from Craryville. The second annual Friends of the Farmer Hootenanny! Fundraiser Dinner, on the grounds of the Copake Country Club, succeeded in shining the spotlight on our region’s farmers. Held on on Friday, July 27, to benefit Friends of the Farmer Scholarship Fund, the evening featured guest speakers such as Congressman Chris Gibson and Assemblymember Didi Barrett (in photo, center and right, with event host and organizer Tessa Edick), who spoke to approximately 200 foodies and supporters of the locavore lifestyle before they enjoyed a cornucopia of fresh-from-the-fields food, accompanied by local libations, including Harvest Spirits Core Apple Vodka; wine from Millbrook Vineyards & Winery; and beer from Chatham Brewing Company. The centerpiece of the dinner was a roasted pig, donated by Sir William Black Angus Farm in Copake, carved and served by Chef David Burke and his staff. As if to take the evening's theme literally, guests really did have the chance to make friends with farmers — there was one at each table for guests to chat with over dinner. Everything served was sourced within 30 miles of the party.
Hillsdale' shopkeepers Kevin Draves and Ken Davis, with farmer Christine Harrington; New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's chef, Noah Sheetz, with Nicci Cagan and Gigi Hudson Valley owner Laura Pensiero.
Chatham Brewing's Tom Crowell with cheese maker Allyson Brennan and Brewing partner Jake Cunningham; farmer Ruby Duke with Whole Foods Market's Elly Truesdell and Justin Ray.
Dairy farmer Tim Joseph with fellow farmer Jordan Winters; Warren Almengel with Julie and Freddy Moran.
Cornelius du Toit chats with Equinox Farm's Ted Dobson; Joanne Hwang and Frank Schroeder.
Andrew Urankar and Matthew Kelleher closed on a house in Copake before coming to the party to celebrate with Jenna Mack and her brother, Stephen Mack.
Auctioneer Cocoa Michelle with Michael Hedges; Jenn Grein with Matt and Robi Mervis.
Mitchell Motsinger with Hudson Alderman and attorney John Friedman who came to support some of his farmer clients; Joyce Varvatos with event organizer Tessa Edick.
Royal Caribbean's Frank Weber and chef David Burke; Edible Hudson Valley editor in chief Eric Steinman with Hudson Valley Harvest's Ben Giardullo and Sam Ullman.
Maurice Peterson and Carole Murko; Rory Chase, founder of The Amazing Real Live Food Co., with Kenneth Beneke.
Written by
Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
