September 11th, 2023
By Olivia Fuller
Filmmakers and Local Organizations Band Together to Launch the Stronger Together Small Farm Resiliency Fund to Help Small-Scale Farmers in the Hudson Valley
Ulster County, NY — White Feather Farm, Feeding Tomorrow, the Woodstock Film Festival, and American Farmland Trust have joined forces to launch the Stronger Together Small Farm Resiliency campaign in aid of raising $25,000+ to support local small-scale farmers.
The centerpiece of the campaign is a farm-to-table dinner buffet on Wednesday, September 27th, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the property of White Feather Farm in Saugerties, NY. This event will feature local food, spirits, and music following the documentary Feeding Tomorrow, which premieres this season at the 2023 Woodstock Film Festival. Hudson Valley farmers, who will benefit directly from all raised funds, will also be in attendance.
Feeding Tomorrow is a love letter from filmmaker Oliver English and his cinematographer brother Simon to not only American farmers but over 60 farmers and food system innovators worldwide and seeks to make the connection between the food we eat and the people on the frontlines of a new vision for a more regenerative world.
Oliver English, Feeding Tomorrow: “We are so thrilled to bring together farmers, filmmakers, and all-around supporters of a growing, healthier, and more resilient food system. Not only to bring greater awareness and attention to the incredibly hard-working farmers of New York and the country, but to actively work together to support their efforts and grow a healthier, more regenerative food system.”
White Feather Farm is a 501(c)(3) and 66-acre certified organic farm that seeks to make the connection between community, culture, and the land through public education programs for kids and adults, a science-based carbon sequestration program, and a farm stand that provides the local community with fresh produce for sale and food donations.
Jessica Cox, Executive Director, White Feather Farm: “It is important for non-profits and farms such as White Feather to raise awareness around the challenges being faced by small-scale farmers today, especially in the face of climate extremes, and also be a place to bring people together in community; we are truly stronger together.”
American Farmland Trust (AFT) is a member-supported national organization dedicated to protecting farmland, keeping farmers on the land, and promoting environmentally sound farming practices. The funds raised through the dinner and donations will go to AFT’s Brighter Future Fund for distribution to local farmers. The dinner is underwritten by the Lozen Foundation, and the implementation of the Brighter Future Fund grantmaking process has been underwritten by the Tillamook County Creamery Association, meaning 100% of funds raised will go directly to farms in need. The Brighter Future Fund has raised over $1 million in support for farmers and exists to assist farmers in successfully launching, growing, and sustaining farms in the face of forces impacting the food and agricultural system, including the COVID-19 pandemic, changing markets, severe weather, and climate change. American Farmland Trust seeks to uplift, support, and amplify the work of a wide range of farmers through this program.
Linda Garrett, New York Regional Director of American Farmland Trust, said, “American Farmland Trust is thrilled to partner with White Feather Farm, Feeding Tomorrow, and the Woodstock Film Festival to support farmers in the Hudson Valley through AFT’s Brighter Future Fund. These grants support new and beginning farmers that have typically been overlooked by traditional funding sources and have an outsized impact for these smaller-scale operations.”
Woodstock Film Festival (WFF) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that nurtures and supports emerging and established filmmakers, sharing their creative voices through an annual festival and year-round programming to promote culture, diversity, community, educational opportunities, and economic growth. WFF provides innovative mentoring and inspired educational programs that benefit filmmakers, students, and diverse audiences while serving as a powerful cultural and economic engine for New York’s Hudson Valley and beyond. Such efforts have consistently resulted in the festival being hailed as one of the top regional film festivals worldwide.
Meira Blaustein, Co-Founder / Executive Director, Woodstock Film Festival, “Movies have the power to inspire and affect positive change. I am thrilled that the Woodstock Film Festival can offer a platform to the stunning Feeding Tomorrow, connecting it with White Feather Farm for an important fundraiser that supports and spotlights the many small local farms we all love and depend on.” the Woodstock Film Festival
Tickets to the Stronger Together Farm to Table Fundraiser are $85 per person and can be purchased at: https://www.whitefeatherfarm.org/2023-events/stronger-together-fundraiser
To make an additional donation to the Stronger Together campaign, head to: www.whitefeatherfarm.org
Tickets to see the film, Feeding Tomorrow, at the Woodstock Film Festival (5pm Wednesday September 27) can be purchased here: https://woodstock2023.eventive.org/schedule/feeding-tomorrow-64e8d3a016090900473a81d6
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White Feather Farm is a 501(c)(3) and 66-acre certified organic farm that seeks to make the connection between community, culture, and the land through public education programs for kids and adults, a science-based carbon sequestration program, and a farm stand that provides the local community with fresh produce for sale and food donations.
Connect with us: www.whitefeatherfarm.org | @whitefeatherfarmny | facebook.com/whitefeatherfarmny