The Farmer’s Table: An Opportunity To Thank The Farmer
Lisa Green reports from Warren. At the annual Farmer’s Table event, the tables are turned, because it’s the farmers who are the guests of the attendees. Now in its seventh year (located at a different Litchfield County farm each time), the event was held on Saturday, Aug. 5 at Hopkins Vineyard, on land that has been farmed by the same family for 230 years. With ingredients from many of the 200-plus farms in the county and prepared by local chefs who donated their time for the cause, the dinner allows residents and farmers to get to know one another and celebrate the bounty of the farms. The Farmer’s Table also raises funds to actively partner with Litchfield County farmers to continue sustainable farming practices. Now affiliated with the nonprofit Partners for Sustainable Health Communities, Inc., The Farmer’s Table hosts business workshops for farmers, funds grants for students to work at a local farm and stipends for farmers to attend agricultural conferences, and purchases CSA shares for area social service agencies. During dessert, guests watched a film produced by Palomo Criollo, one of the youngest generation of the Hopkins family, about the farm’s history and family business. “It’s a story about commitments to farmers and community,” she narrates. Well said. [Above, two generations of the vineyard’s owners: Judy Hopkins and Bill Hopkins, and Hilary Hopkins Criollo and George Criollo.]
Farmer's Table committee member Cynthia Oneglia with Chris Giftos, who for many years was the master florist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Committee members Helen Bartlett, a movie producer, and Ronnie Maddalena; Committee member Pucci McGill and Michael McGill.
Donna Bascom and Paul Biddelman flank Richard Blumenthal, United States Senator for Connecticut, who makes a visit to The Farmer's Table event every year.
Martha Bernstein, board chair of the Connecticut Community Foundation, an event sponsor, and Robert Bernstein; Abe Sylvia and Steve Roche of Warren.
Alexis Barbalinardo and Enya Cunningham, farm managers at Back 40 Farm in Washington, which supplied the florals for the event.
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Elizabeth Dickey and Rosemary Ripley, who are both deeply involved with the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy, with Peter Grubstein and Angus Grubstein; Lynn Printy and Karin Pitt.
Aaward-winning artist Wendell Minor and writer Florence Minor with Dede Keteyian and Armen Keteyian.
Litchfield Distillery's Pam Baker and Jack Baker were on hand to serve their products; The farmer's tables ready for guests.
Bill Finnegan and Amy Finnegan of Finnegan's Farm West, a family-run, permaculture farm in New Milford, Conn.
Our sentiments exactly: Support your local farmers, and the hand-painted tablecloths celebrating all that farmers do for the rest of us.
Tammy Tecklenburg, Tricia McTague, a decorative painter, and Susie Urubua of Bantam Bread, which supplied the bread for the table.
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