Farm to Table event a locally-sourced treat
The fourth annual Farm to Table dinner took place on Sunday night, where farmers, residents, industry representatives and city officials gathered to celebrate the city’s continued dedication to the Siloam Springs Farmers Market and those who make it happen.
Those in attendance were treated to dinner, the ingredients of which all came from a variety of fresh and local sources. The menu consisted of a number of items that catered to an array of appetites, ranging from locally raised beef and lamb, to recently harvested vegetables, to dinner rolls cooked by local bakers earlier in the day.
The event was facilitated with the help of sponsors, including John Brown University, 28 Springs, Broadway Contracting, Walmart and Simmons Foods, and was coordinated by officials from Main Street Siloam and the farmers market. One of these officials was Farmers Market Manager Stacy Hester, who delivered a brief speech at the beginning of the night, reminding everyone why the annual gathering is a special one.
“This evening, we are sharing a meal with you that comes from local farmers and bakers,” Hester said. “Most of them (are) from our market and some (of them) are from contributing farms in Northwest Arkansas. So what does that mean? It means that
the lamb and the beef that you eat this evening was raised locally. The produce was harvested this weekend, the mozzarella was made from local milk and hand-stretched. The mushrooms were grown on logs and tended to by hand. The flowers were grown with thoughtful plans for beautiful bouquets, and the farmer that grew the pumpkins really hopes for them to serve a dual purpose, as they are edible as well as decorative.
“This great group of people worked hard this season to grow and make the food that we are sharing with you tonight. These farmers, bakers and makers, that is what we call our vendors who create beautiful handcrafted items, are a very important part of our community. It is pretty amazing to have the opportunity to get to know the families that grow and raise your food. Our market is a gathering place for the community, a place where relationships are built and a place where you can actually purchase and enjoy over a week’s (worth of ) groceries.”
Other aspects of the night included beer, wine and coffee that were available to guests and a cake walk took place at the end of the night. There was also live music throughout the night from Route 358, a Fayetteville-based band whose acoustic-style music is comprised of a unique blend of elements from folk, country, pop and rock music, according to their website.