Main Street McMinnville hosting its fourth annual Farm to Table Dinner this weekend to highlight regional agricultural partnerships and gather critical funding for downtown community development.
Main Street McMinnville Executive Director Hannah Cowan Jones said the event is sold out and corporate sponsorships nearly tripled since last year.
“This is an event that really has my heart because I think it really shows our community that Main Street is an economic developer, and we have every intention of providing our community with wonderful things,” Jones said. “So this one has my heart.”
Jones said multiple local establishments are dividing up the evening’s main courses to highlight different regional styles. Jones said Barren Fork Brews is preparing a chicken course alongside veggie and starchy sides, while Begonias Restaurant will handle the main beef course featuring premium cuts of Picanha steak.
“Barren Fork Brews will be cooking the chicken option with a side, and right now they haven’t really told us what that is, but I think that’ll be some kind of veggie and starchy option,” Jones said. “And then Begonia’s Restaurant will be doing the beef option, and that’s a Picanha steak with a side, some kind of veggie option also, and then downtown bakeries are doing the bread.”
Jones said the dinner features a fully stocked open bar sponsored by local businesses throughout the entire evening. Jones said the drink menu features handcrafted cocktails mixed by The Well at Tree City alongside regional craft beer selections supplied by Calf Killer Brewery.
“We will have lots of options, and then we’re very fortunate that the Well at Tree City and Calf Killer Brewery are sponsoring our drinks,” Jones said. “So it’s open bar the whole night, and it’s wonderful cocktails, wine, beer, that sort of thing.”
Jones said the community dining atmosphere will feature live acoustic entertainment and a program. Jones said local acoustic group Wild Blue will perform and there will be an address by featuring speaker Frank Clark, who serves as the assistant director of Tennessee Main Street programs.
“There will be a local band called Wild Blue,” Jones said. “Everybody loves them, they’re acoustic, they have wonderful harmonies, and then we’re going to have a program. Kind of like a keynote by Frank Clark. He’s the assistant director of Tennessee Main Street programs, and he’s very charismatic. Everyone’s going to love him. I’m looking forward to that.”
Jones said the evening’s fundraising reach expands past standard ticket sales to include both silent and live competitive formats. Jones said a silent auction will run during the gathering, leading directly into a fun live auction where attendees can try to outbid each other to support the downtown community.
“And then we also have a silent auction, and then at the end of the evening, it’s a live auction,” Jones said. “So everybody has a big time trying to outbid each other.”
Jones said the evening will feature three separate dessert options for the guests. Jones said the sweet choices for the night include banana pudding, a strawberry cheesecake delight served in a cup, and a chocolate Oreo dirt cake.
