The Happiest of Happy Hours in Quite Awhile
Dig In! @ The Russell
On May 8th, Cultivate KC invited guests to Dig In! @ The Russell, the second installment of our updated signature dinner series, a more intimate version of our long-running Dig In! fundraising event. This year’s amazing meal was skillfully planned and prepared with local ingredients by chef and owner Amante Domingo and the rest of the team at The Russell. The entire evening proved yet again how reassuring it is to gather supporters of our local food system to celebrate farmers and food, and the work that Cultivate KC does.
During the meal, in commemoration of Cultivate KC’s 20th anniversary year, we reflected on The Past, Present, and Future of Cultivate KC. Ami Freeberg, Director of Strategy and Partnerships, spoke to the crowd about her history with Cultivate and reflected on the last 20 years of organizational accomplishments. Board President Cori Stites presented a vision of the future of Cultivate KC, focusing on our long-term plans and the role the organization hopes to continue playing in a strong and equitable local food system.
Finally, Executive Director Brien Darby, with recognition of where we’ve been and where we hope to go, focused on the present reality of our organization. We face some unprecedented hurdles- funding freezes and delays, loss of partnerships, and land access challenges- and yet, we are still full of hope.
“The work we engage in everyday is inherently hopeful, farmers are the most hopeful people I know. Each year, a farmer makes a plan to grow food and against all odds, it happens, and it will keep happening because Farmers Are Going To Farm. And the team at Cultivate KC are largely farmers, recovering farmers, and people who would rather be on a farm than anywhere else on a Friday night, so you can bet that hope and perseverance are in no short supply among our ranks.”
With gratitude for the farmers who produced the ingredients, the restaurant that hosted us, the staff who prepared the food, and the friends with whom we shared the meal, we were pleased that we met our fundraising goal for the evening! We know, together with our community, we can continue to accomplish our lofty objectives.
Working together, the outlook for our local food system is bright, but we have a long row to hoe. If you also believe in our mission, please consider making a tax-deductible gift to commemorate 20 years of Cultivate KC.
Please enjoy the gallery of images from the evening.
