Local Farms Provide the Farm to Fork 2025 Menu
One of the best parts of the Farm to Fork Summit is, of course, the food! Staying true to the Farm to Fork mission, this year’s menu is packed with locally sourced ingredients, highlighting the dedication of our regional farmers, food producers, and small businesses.
Whether you're looking forward to the homemade cobbler at lunch or a perfectly sweet pecan snack in the afternoon, every bite will connect you to the hardworking producers who make our local food system thrive.
Morning Kickstart: A Local-Infused Snack
The day begins with a selection of mini muffins from Precision Coffee Company, offering a delicious morning treat. For those needing a gluten-free option, we've got you covered with muffins from Flavor Market in Holden, known for their focus on quality, non-GMO ingredients.
To add a fresh, local touch, apples donated by Gordon’s Orchard near Osceola will provide a crisp, refreshing start to your day.
Afternoon Refuel: A Snack Packed with Local Goodness
As the day unfolds, we’ll keep you fueled with another round of Gordon’s Orchard apples, ensuring a fresh and energizing bite.
For those craving something savory, enjoy beef sticks from Salmon Enterprises, a local Missouri beef producer, and Farm to Fork breakout session speaker, dedicated to quality.
Craving something crunchy? Popcorn from Spoor Farms will be on hand, offering that perfect, light snack. And for a touch of natural sweetness, Missouri Northern Pecan Growers have generously provided locally grown pecans, packed with flavor and farm-fresh goodness.
Lunchtime Feast: Showcasing Local Farmers & Producers
Lunch will be catered by the Osceola High School FFA Competition BBQ Team, a group of talented young pitmasters who know how to serve up an amazing meal.
The Main Course:
- Pulled Pork made from pork butts sourced through Vernon County Meats, which works with a variety of local farmers to bring high-quality meat to the table. Fun fact: Monty Smith, co-owner of Vernon County Meats, was a panelist at the 2023 Farm to Fork Summit!
- Smoked Turkey Breast sourced from Buttonwood Farm, a family farm known for its pasture-raised poultry.
Sides with Local Flavor:
- Fresh Mixed Greens Salad from Wolf Creek Family Farm, owned by Karin Valez, who also happens to be this year’s keynote speaker!
- Sweet Potatoes from KC Food Hub, likely from Red Ridge Farms, though other local farms like JET and Mellowfields may contribute depending on availability. This showcases how a food hub can play a key role in blending the availability of various farms to fill orders.
- Homemade Rolls from Hometown Diner, baked with locally milled flour from Marion Milling, topped with flavored butters made in-house using honey from Colonels Apiary with butter provided by Vital Farms.
Vital Farms is not only a generous premier sponsor of the Farm to Fork Summit, but Vital Farms’ butter comes from various regional farmers and starts with pasture-raised cows who are always treated with care and respect. These four-legged ladies are 90% grass-fed, with access to the outdoors during the warm months (that’s an average of 200 days a year!). The result? Rich cream to churn into deliciously golden butter. We bet you can taste the difference.
Finishing with a Sweet Touch:
- Cobbler, baked by the Osceola High School FFA Competition BBQ Team, because no Farm to Fork meal is complete without a classic, comforting dessert.
- And to round out the meal, we'll be serving up Blues Hog BBQ Sauce from Washington, MO, a Missouri-made favorite.
More Than a Meal—A Celebration of Local Food
This menu isn’t just about great food; it’s a celebration of the farmers, bakers, and food producers who make our rural communities thrive.
Tallying up the Local Impact:
- At least 9 Local Farms & Food Producers: Wolf Creek Family Farm, Buttonwood Farm, Gordon’s Orchard, Red Ridge Farms (or JET & Mellowfields), Missouri Northern Pecan Growers, Vernon County Meats, Spoor Farms, Salmon Enterprises, Colonels Apiary, and the various Vital Farms farmers.
- At least 4 Small Food Businesses & Processors: Precision Coffee Company, Flavor Market, Hometown Diner, and Blues Hog BBQ.
- At least 9 Rural Missouri Communities Represented: Peculiar, Osceola, Appleton City, Nevada, Holden, Wheatland, Hermitage, Martinsburg, and Washington, MO.
Every ingredient in this meal tells a story of local resilience—farmers who steward the land, businesses that support local economies, and organizations who have organized this event that work to strengthen regional food systems.
Why Local Food Systems Matter for Rural Economic Development
When we buy local, we do more than enjoy fresh, flavorful food—we keep dollars circulating in rural communities, support small businesses, and create jobs. Local food systems strengthen the economic backbone of small towns, ensuring that farmers, producers, and entrepreneurs can continue their work for generations to come.
By supporting regional food networks, we reduce supply chain disruptions, promote sustainability, and help build stronger, self-sufficient rural economies. The Farm to Fork Summit is not just a gathering—it’s a movement toward a more resilient and connected local food system.
So, whether you’re here for the networking, the education, or the incredible farm-fresh flavors, know that every bite is a vote for local food and rural prosperity.
Join us on March 7, 2025, for a day full of insights, inspiration, and, of course, incredible food!
🍽️ Come hungry and leave inspired!
