A Truly Remarkable Evening
The tables set beautifully in the barn at Colby Hill Inn, ready for our guests!
Reflecting on our 10 Year Anniversary Benefit Gala
It was a rainy Thursday on the last day of July and, though the Benefit Gala was planned to take place in part throughout the gardens at Colby Hill Gardens, it was good that the plants were getting some rain. As farmers, food system workers, and garden enthusiasts, we all agreed that the wellbeing of the plants and crops was of the utmost importance - even on this special night.
At about 5pm, guests started to arrive with coats on and umbrellas in toe (not the original vision for the evening, but there we were!), taking shelter in the 1840’s barn and shaking off the raindrops as they shuffled in. Maddie and Hunter were at the welcome table handing out gorgeous hand-lettered name tags made by Lorna Austin, all volunteers who offered to lend a hand in bringing the night together.
Folks headed to the bar for a seasonal blueberry cocktail and began mingling in the barn. It was lovely to see people greet each other, old friends and new acquaintances crossing paths, connected by their shared support of and investment in the Kearsarge Food Hub (KFH) mission. The rain outside kept everyone cozy in the barn while local strings trio Decatur Creek serenaded the crowd from a bandstand on the second floor loft. The tables shimmered with their place settings, fresh cut flower arrangements, and rustic charm. Passed hors d'oeuvres made their way around to eager guests as the volume of the space grew in chatter and merriment. Lots of smiles, lots of hugs, lots of love.
After mingling and snacking, we all took our seats for chilled corn and sage soup and a garden salad. We welcomed everyone to the 10 Year Anniversary Benefit Gala and were met by a surprising outburst of applause, then diving into the welcome remarks that would set the context for the night. This included a look back at the humble beginnings of KFH 10 years ago as a seasonal roadside farm stand, a short exploration into how the dire consequences of an extractive and unjust food system have only increased since then, and a proclamation that these consequences are results of a food system working as it is designed—prioritizing profit over wellbeing.
We shared that there is a better way forward and that’s why the Kearsarge Food Hub exists, as a bridge between the old way that no longer serves us and the new way we know in our hearts to be better.
The context for the evening was not only a celebration of our collective achievements over the past decade, but also a reminder of why we do the work we do and the values that drive us. And, as a fundraising event, this included a request to all attendees to invest in the next 10 years of heartfelt community service.
It was then time for our honored guest, Chef David Vargas, to give his keynote address. Chef David Vargas is an incredibly talented, passionate, and respected leader in the local food system throughout New England. Chef Vargas is proud to share his Mexican heritage by featuring beautiful local seasonal products on every plate at his award-winning, nationally recognized Vida Cantina in Portsmouth, NH.
Indeed, throughout his speech, Chef Vargas referenced his heritage often, describing his journey to the mantra he now lives by: community to table. He spoke boldly of the deep injustices immigrants face in this country, from his own parents' struggles to be accepted despite their unwavering commitment to giving back to their community, to the ICE raids happening on farms and in kitchens throughout New Hampshire today and the country today. He reminded us all of an incredibly important message; “It’s not enough to care about where our food comes from, we have to care about who it comes from.”
When he finished speaking, Chef Vargas was met by a standing ovation and tearfilled eyes. Throughout the night, many guests sought him out to sincerely thank him for the reminder that demanding justice in the food system and humanity for all people is a fight for all of us, not just those facing those injustices daily. It was timely, uncomfortable, and exceptionally moving; David’s voice could not have been a more fitting centerpiece to the night’s program.
As guests enjoyed wine and entrees with harissa spiced vegetables and a choice of Moroccan Chicken Kabobs, Beef Kofta, or Garden Vegetable Tagine, Chef and co-owner Bruce Barnes came out to address the crowd. To our delight, he informed us that 80% of the food on our plates was sourced locally from Kearsarge Gore Farm, Grounding Stone Farm, and Hop N Hen Farm, as well as their very own farm there at Colby Hill Inn (the goats make goat cheese, the land grows fresh herbs and vegetables).
Their commitment to local food is not just because of its unmatched taste and quality (though that is certainly part of it); but also because it contributes to a thriving community. Bruce and his partner Jeff are honored to be a part of this Kearsarge area community, and that was evident in the space they held in the barn that evening and the delectable food they served.
While folks were having their final bites of dinner, we unveiled the surprise of the evening: a special honor for Professor Leon Malan and his profound service to the Kearsarge Food Hub over the years as an educational partner, food system enthusiast, board member, board chair, and so much more. Professor Malan was presented with an original Susan Reeder Moss ceramic platter adorned with a field of thriving vegetables and the Kearsarge Food Hub and Sweet Beet logos and imagery throughout.
In bestowing this honor, we referenced the African philosophy of Ubuntu (one that Leon brought to KFH from his South African heritage) which can be translated to “I am because we are;" it a philosophy that emphasizes the interconnectedness of people and the belief that one's humanity is shaped by their relationship with others. It was not hyperbolic in the least to state to Leon “we are because you are”, as he has been a key figure in bringing Kearsarge Food Hub to where it is today.
The program for the evening wrapped up with the big reveal of Kearsarge Food Hub’s organizational values through a short film. We gave an introduction that centered thanks to the folks who made this project possible, including Darnell Adams of Firebrand Cooperative who facilitated the creation of these shared values with the food hub team, the team itself - board, staff, and volunteers - for crafting these values collaboratively, and Alana Redden, creative partner in bringing the film to life, which was a key piece in demonstrating exactly how these values translate into action.
In setting the context, we referenced an understanding recently popularized by philosopher and historian Yuval Noah Harari that the core “super power” of human beings is our ability to cooperate around shared stories. This is what allows humans to have such an unmatched impact on the world around us. Our values are stories about what matters to us, and yet we tend to forget our agency in writing them.
When you unravel all the problems of the food system, it comes back down to the values that drive it: values of short term gain, extraction, dominance. Using food - or the lack thereof - as a weapon, as a tool for oppression and war. It’s happened throughout history and it's happening today.
This is why we felt strongly that this moment in particular called for articulating the shared values that help to rewrite the story of food and how we choose to live on this planet. With all of this in mind, the room watched the short film unveiling Kearsarge Food Hub’s core values - values that can transcend our politics, our differences, and our conflicts - giving us the tools we need to build creative and caring systems that we can all rally behind.
This, at the end of the day, was the core message of this 10 Year Anniversary Benefit Gala. Together, we have crafted our own set of shared values, we have embarked on a journey building a new kind of food system that honors these values, and we are working to bring our vision into focus each and every day:
One of a resilient and connected community where everyone is empowered to access healthy food, where farmers are supported and the land is nourished, and where all people share a common sense of place.
We wrapped up the night with a reminder of how essential our donors are in making the work of the Kearsarge Food Hub possible, inviting everyone to give what they can to ensure we can grow meaningfully into the next decade and meet the challenges ahead.
The smiles, the kind words, the nods of agreement, the feelings of joy and gratitude throughout the room, and the outpouring of support reminded us all that nobody does this work alone. We succeed when - and only when - we join together.
As the evening wound down, folks sipped on the limited edition 10 Year Anniversary brew crafted by our friends at Witching Hour Provisions, snacked on a variety of Grounding Stone Farm blueberry desserts, gave final hugs, and slowly trickled out.
We were left feeling a swell of overwhelming gratitude for our guests, their presence that evening, and their generosity in powering Kearsarge Food Hub’s mission to reinvigorate our community within a restorative local food system. This work feels more important than ever and, while there is much yet to do, we must find moments to celebrate how far we’ve come and cultivate joy in the process.
To everyone who joined us and to everyone in this KFH community - thank you. Thank you for an unforgettable 10 years, thank you for the difference you make, and thank you for being you.
Special thanks are in order to:
Lead sponsor Walden Mutual and partner sponsors Stonyfield, Farm Credit East, and Bar Harbor Wealth Management Fund for making this event possible
Jeff, Bruce, and everyone at the Colby Hill Inn for hosting and feeding us a delectable local meal
Chef David Vargas for speaking, for inspiring us, and for bringing his whole beautiful family
Alana Redden for supporting the creation of KFH’s Values Short Film with her creative talents
Witching Hour Provisions for making a limited edition 10 Year Gala brew for our guests
Decatur Creek for playing delightful music
Ridgelight Studio for taking gorgeous photos
Volunteers Susan Reeder Moss, Lorna Austin, and Maddie and Hunter for making the evening full of life
KFH staff for pulling it all together!
And, of course all of our attendees for joining us and supporting the Kearsarge Food Hub!
