5H Farm to Table event a success for 2023!

submitted by Ruth VanBogelen

On Sunday, September 10, Manchester hosted the 8th annual Farm to Table Fabulous Feast at Alber Orchard & Cider Mill and Freedom Winery in Manchester. The attendee list included 155 people, and we want to say “Thank You” to all who purchased tickets to support the Farmers Markets in Chelsea, Dexter (Winter Market), Grass Lake, Manchester, and Stockbridge.

The venue was beautiful, and having the event at a working and successful local farm business was perfect. The new event barn at Alber Orchard & Cider Mill was constructed using lumber from an old barn that had been carefully disassembled. The decorating committee, led by Laura Wohlgemuth and including Joy Matthews, Liz Polk, Tim Polk, Wendy Huber, and Sue LaRocque, set up tables in a Barn Quilt design using antique tablecloths and miscellaneous historic decorations.

Songbird Blooms (Grass Lake) donated many flowers as a beautiful final touch. The look
was perfect for the venue!

Next, let’s talk about the fabulous feast. The Chef Team, coordinated by Emily Griswold and Kenny Frost, included Dan Huntsbarger from Moveable Feast, Emmanuel from the Manchester Market, Emily Vanderwaard from Chelsea Ale House, Keegan Rodgers from Lakehouse Bakery, Keith Stiglitz from Chelsea, Michaela Levanseler from Smokey Michigan, Phil Tolliver from Smokehouse 52, and Travis Ringler from Silver Maples. These chefs donated their talents on a Sunday afternoon for the amazing food creations. The appetizers were Bruschetta di Caponata and Smoked Duck Canapé with Goat Cheese and Orchard Fruit Chutney. The salad was Smoked Apple Butter and Gorgonzola Romaine.

The main course was Smoked Pork Shoulder with Braised Cabbage and Roasted Apples. There was also a vegetarian main course, which was Lion’s Mane Steaks over Polenta. Sides were Dinner Rolls with Herb Butter and Braised Collard Greens with Garlic and Red Pepper. Dessert was Apple Corn Cake with Michigan Sweet Corn Ice Cream.

Beverages included hard cider from Freedom Winery (on site at Alber Orchard & Cider Mill), sweet cider from Alber Orchard & Cider Mill, wine and beer from Chateau Aeronautique Winery (Onsted), and Green Tea Hibiscus Spritzer from Millie’s Coffeehouse (Manchester).

Many local farms donated produce for the meal, including Goetz Greenhouse & Family Farm, Old Brick Farm, LLC, Kermit’s Pad, Kapnick Orchards, Arbor Spring Farms, Tantré Farm, Jacob’s Fresh Farm, Marks Farm and Greenhouse, Lands of BruGarick, White Lotus Farms, Calder Dairy and Farms, Agricole Farm Stop, Alber Orchard & Cider Mill, and Pregitzer Farm Market.

We had some super volunteers who checked in attendees, helped the chefs, and served the meal to attendees. Many of these volunteers return each year to help out, including Betty Cummings, Mary Ann Sahakian, Wendi Londos, Anne Young (Dexter Winter Market Manager), Emily Griswold, (Chelsea Farmers Market Manager), Carol Wotring, Kathleen Spillane, Angela Zahner, Reily Curran, Rob Huber, Wendy Huber, Tim Polk (Acorn Farmers Marker Board Member in Manchester), Sabrina Edgar (Grass Lake Farmers Market Manager), Kathleen Gould, Jack Gould, Rosie and Joseph Brodeur, Karin Villarreal, Sue LaRocque, Katy Hunsche, Brian Peterson, Carrie Buss, and Kenny Frost. Joe DeBoe — also known as Ghostrider D.J. Services — provided the music. Dana Queen served as MC to announce information throughout the event.

Each year, the Fabulous Feast works with Zero Waste to compost and recycle as much as possible. Maegen Gabriel coordinates this work. This year with about 150 dinners served, there was only one bag of trash because there were four bags of compostable material collected and a half bag of recyclables. Nan, Jean, and Alex helped Maegen to keep trash to a minimum.

Sponsors are very important to the financial success of this event. 5 Healthy Towns Foundation was the top sponsor, and other sponsors included Power Wellness, Silver Maples, Chelsea State Bank, Dexter Chamber of Commerce, Dexter Rotary, Orthopaedic Rehab Specialists, Brio (Cedars of Dexter), Rankin Audiology and Hearing, New Leaf Landscaping, Shawn and Bill Personke, Boullion Sales, Owl Hollow Bakery, and Edward Jones Colleen Newton of Manchester.

Each of the 5 Healthy Towns has a Wellness Coalition that work with others in the community to develop, implement, and evaluate wellness-related programs; each sponsor the event. The final financial contribution was from many donations for the silent auction. Thirty-four businesses and/or individuals donated items or gift cards for the silent auction.

While we have tried to mention everyone who contributed to this event, we apologize if we forgot to acknowledge you! We thank you and you were a very important team member!

This was the second time Manchester hosted the Farm to Table Fabulous Feast, second time Alber Orchard & Cider Mill donated their venue, and second time Ruth VanBogelen chaired the event. The proceeds will be divided among the farmers markets to help with expenses to run the markets in 2024!

Next year, the event will be in Dexter! In early summer 2024 look for announcements. The best two ways to find out about this event is by liking the Facebook page 5 Healthy Towns Farm to Table Fabulous Feast and by visiting the farmers’ markets in Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester, and Stockbridge!

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.