Three Great Non-Profit Events Coming Soon
Fun with Northern Illinois Young Farmers, IL Stewardship Alliance & Evolved Network
Get Out Your Calendars
Three of my favorite regional non-profits are holding exciting events over the first half of October. Get your tickets so you don’t miss out.
Northern Illinois Young Farmers Coalition
Midwestern Farmily Reunion
October 1-2, Pickasaw Gardens, Harvard, Illinois
From the organizers:
Join us October 1-2 at Piscasaw Gardens in Harvard, Illinois to celebrate the 2023 season with your friends, neighbors, and fellow farmers. You can expect farm olympics, dinner by Chef Fresh, live music by Family Junket, and a night spent sleeping under the stars!
One of our core goals is to build community amongst farmers in northern Illinois, from Chicago to the suburbs to all the rural corners. Thus, we are hosting our Midwestern Farm-ily Reunion for the second year in a row! This is a family-friendly, farmer-friendly, friend-friendly event to celebrate ourselves, our farmers, our local producers and the folks that support us. Together we will gather and take a collective deep breath as we close out the 2023 growing season.
There will also be an abundance of healthy collaboration (and a bit of competition too), local eats, and dancing. Join us to celebrate the magic of farming and what happens when a community works together. We’re preparing for a big, ‘ole fashioned harvest celebration and looking forward to having an amazing time together….
Registration costs are offered on a sliding scale for participants, ranging from $0-150. We have four suggested tiers of registration with an explanation of what each tier covers. As you consider what you'd like to pay, we encourage you to consider your own income, other personal supports (e.g., partners, family), debt, and any other factors that impact your financial access. Here's a graphic that can help guide you in choosing a rate that feels right for you. Any profit remaining after costs are covered will go towards future community-based NIYF events.
Free ticket - attendees who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), low-income, student, have been significantly financially impacted by COVID, or are living with disability
While the event is at the beginning of October, ticket sales close on September 24. Click below to get yours.
Farm-to-Fork Feast
October 7, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., McDonald Farm, Naperville, IL
Illinois Stewardship Alliance — the state’s leading policy advocate for local farms and food — is holding its first farm-to-fork feast. The event, to be held in the Chicago suburb of Naperville, will bring together farmers, eaters and food system leaders from northern Illinois for a celebration of fellowship and the finest local food sourced from nearby farms.
Proceeds raised support the Alliance’s work to bring farmers and eaters together to build a more just, local and regenerative food and farm system.
Click the button to get your tickets.
Eat & Evolve 2023 Annual Fundraiser
October 16, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., eden Restaurant, Chicago
Local Food Forum has written often about The Evolved Network, but if you’re new to the newsletter, The Evolved Network is a Chicago non-profit that works with young people from under-resourced communities to provide education and support through farm-to-table experiences.
Chef Sebastian White currently provides cooking lessons for students in several Chicago schools. His ultimate goal is to build out a restaurant and urban farm that will provide young participants with job, business and growing skills while providing therapeutic assistance for those who need it. (Sebastian’s first career was as a clinical psychologist working with young people to help them from getting involved with gangs.)
And if doing good isn’t enough reason to buy tickets for Eat and Evolved, you’d do well to check out the amazing roster of participating restaurants seen at the bottom of the graphic above. Click below for tickets.