Union Grove, Wis. (August 10, 2022) – More than 150 guests attended the eighth annual Wisconsin Farm to Table Dinner that took place on Friday, August 5 at Mighty Grand Dairy in Union Grove, Wis. The elegant dining event welcomed visitors near and far to enjoy an evening of extraordinary food and discovery by learning about local farmers and their contribution of farm-fresh ingredients.
“After attending a Wisconsin Farm to Table Dinner last year, we were eager to host one ourselves as it’s such a great opportunity to share the story of how we care for our animals every day to produce a wholesome product for so many to enjoy,” says Kim and Dave Daniels, one of the partners at Mighty Grand Dairy. “We enjoy welcoming others to the farm, and to incorporate other local farmers into such a unique dining experience was something we knew others would enjoy as well.”
The event at Mighty Grand Dairy included farm tours, a cheese and wine sampling reception, and a five-course meal created by Chef Chanse. Conversation and community were generated as guests dined on local fare, highlighted by presentations from the farmers contributing dinner ingredients.
Chef Chanse Schomber of Entrees by Chef Chanse based in Juneau, Wis. orchestrated the five-course menu for the evening, placing special emphasis on a local farmer during each course. Guests learned about River Valley Ranch, a local mushroom farm, as they began the dinner with a mushroom, caramelized onion and venison crostini, followed by a flavorful cucumber, beet and dill soup. Brightonwoods Orchard apples were featured in a fresh green salad and drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette. Valley Croft Farms provided a medley of beef, pork and vegetables to provide a hearty entrée of outside round beef and whiskey glazed pernil pork, chimichurri mixed beans with bacon and onions, and Dauphinoise potatoes. The evening’s taste experience was concluded with apples once again from Brightonwood Orchards in an apple caramel cannoli with mixed berry compote.
“Incorporating locally-produced food brings more than just great flavor to our evening’s menu, but a greater understanding of the passion and dedication that goes into producing the food that we all enjoy,” says Chef Chanse. “There is no comparison to the true dedication like that of the farmers within our own community, and we are proud to feature them throughout our evening.”
Local farmers and processors brought the character to the evening’s fare, but the evening would not have been made possible without the support of founding sponsors, including Adams Farms, Arch Solar, BMO Harris Bank, Community State Bank, Completed Feed Service, Duick & Associates, Edge Cooperative, FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, Feed Components, GPS Dairy Consulting, Super B Grain Farms LLC, The Scharine Group Inc., and Tier 1 Nutritionals.
Special appreciation is also given to the Kansasville Fire Department, the group chosen by Mighty Grand Dairy to receive proceeds from the 2022 dinner event. Volunteers from the Kansasville Fire Department helped staff the event and were a key component of the event’s success.
“The mission of the Wisconsin Farm to Table is to share the story of agriculture and to feature the dedication and passion of our local farm families,” says Kari Blazei, Wisconsin Farm to Table founder and president. “Over the years, our organization has been able to generously give back, and this year, the team at Mighty Grand Dairy has chosen the Kansasville Fire Department, in recognition of their presence in the local community. We are happy to help support their organization with this year’s event.”
Wisconsin Farm to Table was established in 2013 to offer an on-farm experience, including a farm tour, elegant dinner and dialogue between those interested in where their food originates and local farmers who grow and raise the food. Money raised is donated to a local non-for-profit organization selected by the host farm.
