Bringing the Midwest grain chain together in person for community conversations and connections!
We kicked off the Barnstormer week at AGC member Long Winter Farm in East Troy, WI, which is also home to Rooster Milling. We began our day around an amazing lunch provided by AGC Steering Committee member Simple Cafe & Bakery (Lake Geneva). Chef Young Cho described the spread as Korean picnic-inspired, and we were all wowed.
Farm owner Graham Adsit talked about the farm’s crop rotation, challenges, and collaborations. Mill manager Andy Rowntree led a tour of the farm’s robust cleaning and milling equipment, as well as some of their upcoming plans for even more processing capabilities.
The Member Showcase featured offerings from 11 members including cold-hardy rice, certified organic beer, flours and baking mixes, malted barley, and educational and research resources. Bakers contributed to a “Bread Table” and attendees sampled a variety of cookies and breads. To commemorate the 10-year anniversary of AGC’s founding, we all enjoyed a decadent tiramisu anniversary cake from Madison Sourdough.
On Wednesday we convened at AGC Steering Committee member Bang Brewing in St Paul, MN. We were treated to a fantastic lunch from Farina Rossa with a delicious array that was headed up by their wood-fired pizzas made on-site.
Bang co-owners and brewers Sandy and Jay Boss Febbo provided a tour of their brewing operation and the prairie plantings surrounding the facility that have been a beautiful extension of the passion for improving water and soil behind their brewing practices, which includes using Kernza® in all of their beers (see more about Kernza below).
After the tours we gathered for a group discussion of needs and offers, where members had a chance to share their current challenges and others were able to suggest solutions and referrals. We then heard introductions to the Member Showcase participants and the bakers who brought scrumptious samples for the Bread Table.
On Friday we descended upon AGC member Thornton Distilling Company (TDC) in Thornton, IL (just south of Chicago) for our third and final Barnstormer. We started off with a round of introductions from everyone present before proceeding to lunch. The culinary team at TDC prepared a delicious spread of tacos and fixings, featuring tortillas from AGC member Tortilleria Zepeda.
Co-founder Andy Howell and head distiller Ari Klafter treated us to a fascinating tour and discussion of their grain and peat ingredients, as well as their historic site with its limestone artesian well.
Following the tour we enjoyed delicious samples from the Member Showcase and Bread Table. As a fitting culmination to the week we enjoyed a magnificent anniversary cake from AGC member Jenn Duke of Après Bakery, who uses flour from fellow member Janie’s Mill.
Throughout the week, AGC staff were so happy to meet some members for the first time in person, to re-connect with longstanding members, and to witness members meeting and connecting with each other. We were glad to have the opportunity to hear from our network and offer resources such as our new Local Grain Champion embroidered patches!
