What a Swell Time it Was –

Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute’s

20^th Anniversary Community Celebration

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The 2022 All Stars: Amy Fagan of Crumpacker's Bakery, Sarah Grant Co-Founder of New Mexico Farmers' Marketing Association, Rosa Maria Alcantar of Rocio Produce, and Annie Krahl of Annie's Herb Farm.

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Celebrating the 20^th Anniversary with Gruet Winery Gruet Brut NV; Institute Board Member Kaitlyn Kimzey welcomes Remy’s Good Day Fund Executive Director Maureen B. Vosburgh to the Seed The Future event; Robert and Jean Bowley set the style bar high at the Seed The Future Celebration; Michael and Lea Ann Knight chat with Institute Board Member Nathaniel Earls and Finance Committee Member David Loeb; Jose Gonzalez of Gonzales Farm catches up with Santa Fe Farmers' Market Board Member Manny Encinias of Trilogy Beef Community; Volunteer Catherine N.H. Lewis, Tamara Prochorchik, Institute Founding Executive Director Sarah Noss, and Community All Star Sarah Grant enjoy the reception; F. Rick Pedram, President - CEO of Santa Fe Dining, Inc. which provided the Hidden Mountain Brewing Company beer and servers talks with Volunteer Gail Grimes; Guest Janet Salk, Institute Board Member Lisa Kantor, and Guest Lloyd Abrams pause for a photograph; Institute Vice Chair Pam Walker speaks about the Double Up Food Bucks Program; Institute Board Member Diane Sandoval-Griego introduces the new Solar Microloan Program Video; We were grateful for the interest and support of civic leaders in attendance. Pictured (l-r) Institute Development Chair Robert W. Jones, J.D.; Development and Communications Director Janice L. Mayer; Renee Villarreal District 1 Councilor, City of Santa Fe; Bobbie Ferrell, Constituent Services Representative for Teresa Leger Fernández Representative for New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District; Signe I. Lindell, District 1 Councilor and Mayor Pro Tempore, City of Santa Fe; Reena Szczepanski, District 47 State Representative Elect, State of New Mexico; and Michael Knight, Institute Board Chair; The Bert Dalton Trio set the atmosphere! Pictured here is Dave Anderson on Saxophone and Jon Gagan on Bass; The table is set for dinner for 244 guests. As with all Santa Fe Farmers' Market Institute events, food was sourced from the Market vendors; The New Mexico Farmers' Marketing Association turns out to celebrate Co-Founder Sarah Grant (standing on the right) who was named a Community All Star; Robert w. Jones, Amy Fagan, who accepted the All Star Award for Crumpacker's Bakery, and Mary Dixon;  It was a family affair for Annie's Herb Farm. Board Members Robert W. Jones and Mary Dixon of Green Tractor Farm present the Farmer All Star to Annie Krahl, who accepted with two-year old Mabel and nine-year old Charlie; The Farmer All Star video of Rosa Maria Alcantar of Rocio Produce is shown;  Institute Executive Director Andrea Fisher Maril gives an update from the podium decorated with a wreath created by Rosa Maria Alcantar; Auctioneer Mark C. Johnson, director of Sales and Business Development for New Mexico Fresh Foods leads the fundraising portion of the evening; Santa Fe Farmers' Market Board President Jennifer Fresquez and outgoing Institute Board Member Brenda Fresquez lift their paddles; Sponsor Gretchen Elsner, Esq. of Elsner Law & Policy, LLC contributes at the event; Institute Treasurer Kyle Burns expresses gratitude for the generosity of the attendees; The Institute's 20th Anniversary Community Celebration Wraps Up - Cheers!

On Thursday, October 13, 2022 nearly 250 guests joined together for the culminating event of the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute’s 20^th Anniversary with a celebration in the Market Pavilion. The Burt Dalton Trio set the relaxed atmosphere for the evening where guests mingled, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres passed by YouthWorks, and toasted with Gruet Winery wines and Hidden Mountain Brewing Company beers. David Sundberg, the Institute’s Program Development Director and a chef, curated the menu that was sourced from the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market vendors.

A true community gathering, farmers and vendors celebrated with patrons and civic leaders. We were especially pleased to welcome Bobbie Ferrell, Constituent Services Representative for Teresa Leger Fernández Representative for New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District; Signe I. Lindell, District 1 Councilor and Mayor Pro Tempore, City of Santa Fe; Reena Szczepanski, District 47 State Representative Elect, State of New Mexico; and Renee Villarreal District 1 Councilor, City of Santa Fe.

Updates on programs were given by Institute leadership, including the announcement of a new Solar Microloan Program in partnership with Guadalupe Credit Union and Remy’s Good Day Fund. A successful paddle-raiser was led by Mark C. Johnson, Director of Sales and Business Development for New Mexico Fresh Foods assisted by a cadre of 25 dedicated volunteers. (If you missed the opportunity to support the Institute’s programming in person, donations are accepted on our secure processing page.)

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the annual All Star Awards following heart-warming videos of each recipient. We congratulate Annie Krahl of Annie’s Herb Farm, Amy Fagan and Keegan Crumpacker of Crumpacker’s Bakery, Rosa Maria Alcantar of Rocio Produce, and Community All Star Sarah Grant, Co-Founder of the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association. If you couldn’t join us this year, please mark your calendar to join us next October. In the meantime, please enjoy this photo collage from the evening and view the All Star videos on our newly redesigned website.

Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute Board Welcomes Ami Caldwell

New Institute Board Member Ami Caldwell participates in the Seed The Future paddle-raise.

Native New Mexican Ami Caldwell joined the Board of the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute this month, where she will serve on the Program Committee. With the Seed The Future 20^th Anniversary Community Celebration scheduled on October 13th, it was a busy month for her to begin her tenure. Jumping in as a volunteer with the prearrangements, Ami enjoyed the opportunity to meet other like-minded volunteers. She found the event “heart-warming.” She shared that “the All Star Videos were inspiring to me. I came away with renewed gratitude for the sacrifices that the farmers make and humbled by their commitment and resiliency.”

Ami and her husband Carlos met as high students here in Santa Fe, and he has now become an AP History teacher himself. She observed common characteristics between the farmers and teachers such as her husband. “They are so dedicated, put in long hours, and do a lot of unseen work along the way. They are driven by their passion for what they do, even though their careers do not pay high dividends financially.”

Ami experienced food insecurity growing up, and is committed to assuring that there is “more dignity and choice in the way and amount of food that is distributed to those with less resources. I find it amazing the things that the Institute is doing to help people with less resources buy fresh, locally-produced, healthy food from the Farmers’ Market.”

She approaches her Board term as an opportunity to “apply good listening and thoughtful questioning” in order to learn ways in which her skills and strengths can be most useful to the Board. As a Manager of Fund Operations at Thornburg Investment Management, Ami’s more than 16 years of experience in the financial industry will be put to good use at the Institute.

When not at work or volunteering for the Institute, Ami enjoys “traversing the natural world” with her spouse, daughter, and two dogs: a Dachshund-Beagle mix named Biscuit and an Australian Cattle Dog mix named Scout. Ami holds a BS in English Literature from Southern Oregon University and maintains her love of reading. “After living in other places, I have returned to my hometown where the culture, landscape, and food fill her heart, mind, and belly with joy,” she said. We’re delighted that she made the Institute her nonprofit of choice here in Santa Fe.

Shining a Spotlight on Winona Nava of Guadalupe Credit Union,

the Institute’s Microloan Partner

The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute is pleased to acknowledge that Winona Nava, President/CEO of Guadalupe Credit Union (GCU), was recently awarded the 2023 Herb Wegner Memorial Award from the National Credit Union Foundation. The Herb Wegner awards are the credit union movement’s highest national honors. Guadalupe Credit Union is the Institute’s Microloan Program Partner and was featured on our recent Solar Microloan Program video found here.

Under Winona Nava’s leadership, GCU has made a commitment to the community and enabled many Northern New Mexicans to achieve financial security and prosperity. “Ms. Nava is the first New Mexican to win this award, and we could not be prouder or more excited about this selection,” said Juan E. Fernández Ceballos, President/CEO of the Credit Union Association of New Mexico (CUANM). “Her deeds have been noticed not only in the national credit union movement, but at the local level, helping to move the needle, rein in predatory lending, and provide safe and reliable services to our immigrant community.”

Institute Board Member and Chief of Financial Empowerment at GCU, Diane Sandoval-Griego, shared appreciation for Winona’s achievement on behalf of the GCU team, saying, “With 44 years in the credit union industry, she has done amazing work! It’s great to have her honored like this. We are so proud of our fearless leader.” Congratulations Winona!  

Last Call for 2022 Market Tours!

Did last week’s Seed The Future 20^th Anniversary Celebration whet your appetite for farming? Do you want to know more about the hardworking farmers and vendors who spoil us with the freshest possible produce, meats, and poultry every week?

Well, now is your opportunity! There are only two Tuesday Market Tours remaining on this year’s calendar of events and participation is limited. So sign up now, and gather with us in the Market Pavilion on either Tuesday, November 1^st or 15^th at 9am. To register for the one-hour tour with an expert guide, please sign up here.