Foothills Conservancy Hosts Successful Farm To Fork Dinner In Downtown Morganton

On Saturday, October 27, the 100 block of West Union Street in downtown Morganton was transformed into a private event space where Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina hosted its ninth annual Flavors of the Foothills farm-to-fork dinner and fundraiser. New to the event this year was the outdoor dining element, with a long dining table set up in the middle of West Union Street.More than 200 guests met at the Morganton Community House for appetizers prepared by the Morganton Community House, beer and wine from Fonta Flora Brewery and Brown Mountain Bottleworks, sangria and a silent auction. Guests bid on items generously gifted to the conservancy including as tickets to performances, dinner-and-a-show packages, handcrafted pottery and jewelry, local crafts and furniture, and unique experiences.After the silent auction, one lucky raffle winner was chosen for a weekend getaway at an exclusive cabin at Grandfather Mountain State Park. After the raffle, Todd Greene held a live auction for a weekend stay at a home on Lake James and a South African Safari adventure.Morganton's own witch flash mob surprised everyone with a festive performance before escorting the group to West Union Street for the fall dinner. The Morganton Community House prepared the meal with ingredients sourced from Blue Ridge View Farm, Bluebird Farm, Forget-Me-Not Farm, J & J Farms, Perry’s Berry’s, and The Natural Olive. Food Matters Market of Morganton donated Highland Family Farms chicken, which was smoked right on the street, as well as their bottled-from-the-source spring water. Simply Green Recycling Services and Curbside Composting provided their services to ensure the event was environmentally friendly and zero-waste.Many dedicated individuals, businesses, farms, and organizations contributed to the success of the event. Thanks to event hosts, gold table guests, attendees, and auction donors, Foothills Conservancy raised over $40,000 for land and water conservation in Western North Carolina. The conservancy would also like to thank the City of Morganton Recreation Department, Morganton Farmers Market, and the Downtown Morganton office for partnering with the conservancy to accomplish Morganton’s first dinner in the street.