More than 300 people turned out for the fourth annual Farm-to-Table Food Festival at Bodhi Farms, where 10 chefs and local food businesses prepared dishes built around Montana-grown ingredients. The event brought together farmers, cooks, and eaters for a celebration of the state's agricultural supply chain, from the ranches and fields that produce the raw ingredients to the kitchens that turn them into finished food.
The festival has grown steadily since its first year, and its continued presence at Bodhi Farms has made it one of the more consistent annual showcases for Montana's local food economy. Events like this one serve a dual educational purpose: they introduce consumers to producers they might not otherwise encounter at a grocery store, and they give farmers a direct line to chefs who might become long-term buyers.
For Helena-area residents interested in connecting with local food sources beyond the farmers market, the Bodhi Farms festival represents the kind of relationship-building that advocates say strengthens regional food resilience. Details on participating farms, chefs, and vendors from this year's event were expected to be available through Bodhi Farms following the festival.