Support Central Texas Farm to Table at Farmgrass Fest

Spring in Central Texas stirs up an urge to relive outdoor traditions, like live music and grilled foods. To that end, Farmgrass and Simmons Family Farms have harvested an idyllic farm setting in Niederwald, Texas to host this year’s Farmgrass Fest on May 3, 2015.

Just over thirty minutes south of Austin, you’ll experience the farm fresh aromas of the grill and scenic views to bring you close to the land and the farmers whose hands pull the roots from the ground.

I tried to limit the number of times I used the word community and some version of the word farm within the bounds of this story. The fact is, those two words are the sum of what Farmgrass is.

Farmgrass in Action

Farmgrass founder Talia Bryce and Growers Alliance of Central Texas (Gro-ACT) founder Katie Kraemer Pitre work together each year to provide emergency support to farmers in need, when accidents or illness occur.

Central Texas farmers deliver food to families, community farmers markets, restaurants and even local grocers. When an emergency removes farmers from their jobs, the effects can reach as far as your community.

Talia shared, “We’re excited to be able to support local farmers, the people who work day in and day out to feed us, through Farmgrass Fest. Accidents are just part of being on a farm and we need to make sure that we are taking care of our farmers as much as they are taking care of us. Their families and livelihood depend on it.”

In 2014, Talia, Katie and a team of volunteers launched Farmgrass Fest – a community bluegrass festival where you’re either pickin’ a banjo or pickin’ your teeth. It’s a celebration of the Texas farming community and everyone is invited to come out, listen to live bluegrass, eat local fare and just hang out in the hay with friends.

All proceeds from the festival are collected to provide emergency funding for local farmers. It’s that easy: you hang out in the Texas sunshine, on a farm and your donation supports people like Skip Connett, owner of Green Gate Farms and the first beneficiary of Farmgrass.

Farm to Belly Gala Sets the Bar High

It takes a village…and within a non-profit like Farmgrass, the saying is no less true. An entire village of donors gathered at the Farmgrass VIP Gala last month. Over $10,000 was donated to Farmgrass at the event.

Attending supporters arrived to the Lawn at The Austonian just before sunset. Stellar views of downtown Austin, bluegrass tunes from Lost Pines and a farm to table dinner prepared by Chef Erik R. Zamora gave an embracing start to the evening.

Members of the “village” continued to make appearances throughout the night. Farmers from all over Central Texas donated fitting fares to the farm fresh meal.

Vendors included the following businesses:

• Farmhouse Delivery – Austin, TX
• Windy Meadows Family Farm – Schertz, TX
• Loncito’s Lamb – Dinero, TX
• Oak Hill Farm – Poteet, TX
• Miguel Ortiz Farm – Mission, TX
• Cooper Farms – Fairfield, TX
• Village Farms – Marfa, TX
• Labranza Farm – Buda, TX
• Animal Farm – Cat Springs, TX

The celebration continued with an auction led by Austin’s very own charity auctioneer Andrew Bost. As always, Andrew captivated the room and wrapped a big verbal bow around each of the auction items, all donated by Texas businesses and musicians.

Even if you missed the VIP Gala, you can find your way to Farmgrass Fest on May 3, 2015, where you’ll see headline acts such as The Gravy Brothers, Whiskey Shivers, The Lost Pines, Brennen Leigh & Noel McKay’s High Plains Jamboree, Fog & Bone and more. All this for just $20 (early bird ticket). Children under 12 are free.

I’ll see you out on the farm.

 

@CrisMueller wants to know:

Do you know a Texas farmer?