Strolling of the Heifers was an annual local food parade and festival hosted in Brattleboro, Vermont each year.[1] The organization behind the parade expanded to support other local food initiatives, most notably a Locavore Index, which evaluates the availability and policy support for local food in American states.[2][3][4][5]

Festival

The celebration was founded in 2002 by Orly Munzing, with a focus on sustainable agriculture in the region.[1] The parade was inspired by the Running of the Bulls, but instead of enraged bulls, groomed heifers walked down the main street wearing garlands and flower decked hats.[6]

Senator Bernie Sanders attended the parade nearly every year,[7][8] and has been credited with inspiring the parade by founder Orly Munzing.[9]

In January, 2023 Munzing announced that the parade would be discontinued and the funds disbursed between three organizations; The Winston Prouty Center (a center for child and family development), The Downtown Brattleboro Alliance and the Agritech Institute for Small Farms.[10]

Other programs

Strolling of the Heifers expanded from just running a parade, to also include small business development programs and local food advocacy programs.[11] For example, they ran a culinary skills program for training the local workforce.[12] The organization also published its annual Locavore Index, which rates the capacity of different states for providing local food.[2][3][4][5]

The Strolling of the Heifers owned The River Garden, a building in downtown Brattleboro.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Maddi Shaw (June 6, 2016). "Thousands turn out for Strolling of the Heifers". The Brattleboro Reformer.
  2. ^ a b "Strolling of the Heifers 2016 Locavore Index: Which states are most committed to locally-sourced food?". Strolling of the Heifers. Archived from the original on 2017-05-09. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  3. ^ a b Gina Vercesi (April 21, 2017). "Five ways to experience Burlington, Vt". The Boston Globe.
  4. ^ a b Amy Grisak (May 10, 2017). "Farm to fork movement takes hold". Great Falls Tribune.
  5. ^ a b "Year After Year, the Same State Ranks as the Best for Local Food". TakePart. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  6. ^ "Strolling of the Heifers Parade". Brattleboro Community Television. 2017.
  7. ^ "Strolling of the Heifers". Friends of Bernie Sanders. June 6, 2015.
  8. ^ Howard Weiss-Tisman (June 4, 2015). "Strolling of the Heifers: Sanders to march in annual Brattleboro event on Saturday". The Berkshire Eagle.
  9. ^ "Strolling of the Heifers in Brattleboro". WCAX. June 6, 2015.
  10. ^ winstonprouty (2023-01-03). "Strolling of the Heifers ends, funds disbursed to area organizations - Winston Prouty Center". Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  11. ^ "Sen. Sanders to Speak in Brattleboro on Strolling of the Heifers Entrepreneurship Grant" (Press release). Strolling of the Heifers. March 8, 2017.
  12. ^ Wendy M. Levy. "A new path into the kitchen: Strolling of the Heifers Farm-to-Plate Apprenticeship Program hopes to guide more people into food-service jobs". The Commons. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  13. ^ Keese, Susan (July 23, 2013). "Strolling of the Heifers Founders to Buy Brattleboro River Garden". Vermont Public Radio.
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