Boots to Roots tasting event to benefit farmer veterans

Sep. 12--Tickets for an inaugural farm-to-table concept dinner hosted Sept. 20 at Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom in Hope Mills are selling quickly, organizers said.

The dinner, called "Boots to Roots: A Farm Tasting," will benefit the nonprofit Veteran's Farm of North Carolina Inc. programming and support farmers who are military veterans.

Founded in 2015 by Marine veteran Robert Elliott, the Veteran's Farm of North Carolina provides consultation and the use of equipment to help veterans who want to become farmers.

"(The farm's) ultimate goal is to train, network and equip veterans, allowing them to easily transition into the agricultural industry to further serve our country while experiencing a life of peace," Elliott said.

In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture'sNational Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the farm a grant to start its Veterans Agricultural Training and Education Program.

Elliott is finalizing plans for the program to start classes in collaboration with Fayetteville Technical Community College this fall.

To sustain the program past the grant funding, Elliott came up with the idea for the "Boots to Roots" event, which collaborates with other veteran-owned businesses for the farm-to-table tastings and connects the public with farmers who are military veterans.

"What we're trying to do is bring a whole lot more farmer veterans who we help together with the community to start an annual event that supports the Veteran's Farm of North Carolina," Elliott said. "We've been working with about 500 veterans in the area, and all of them are trying to become a farmer or expand their operations."

And the Boots to Roots farm tasting event is supported by veterans.

Dirtbag Ales was founded by three Army veterans, and its brewmaster, Vernardo "Tito" Simmons-Valenzuela, will provide flights of signature craft beer to pair with each small plate at the tasting event.

Chef Brian Graybill, a veteran and owner of Dirtbag Ales' on-site restaurant Napkins, is crafting the autumn-inspired menu from produce, meat, seafood and other products grown at veteran farms in North Carolina.

The menu includes: fall bruschetta from Watson Sanders Farm, empanadas de chorizo from CATHIS Farm, catfish croquetas from Cedar Creek Fish Farm, autumn salad from Pappy's Urban Farm, lamb bulgogi from Purpose Driven Family Farm, barbacoa de res from Green-Eyed Farms and bistecca con chimichurri from Spartan Tusk & Feather Livestock.

Attendees will be able to rotate from stations to meet each farmer.

Organizers said a limited number of tickets are being offered to comply with social distancing guidelines related to the coronavirus. Staff and servers will wear masks.

The event is split into two time slots. Elliott said the 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. time slot is sold out, but there are still tickets for the 7 to 9 p.m. spot.

Veteran and musician Ernesto Rivas of Cape Fear Music Center will perform on acoustic guitar.

A 50/50 raffle will give attendees an opportunity to win several items donated by local veteran artisans and business owners, including harvest baskets full of the farmers' products featured in the tasting.

Tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite. They are $65 for single tickets or $120 for two, which covers the farm-tasting menu, beer flights and live music.

"Everyone has come together to make this happen, and we hope to have it going for a long time," Elliott said. "We'll see how it works out and want to keep doing these events in the area."

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

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