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The 2015 Farm to Fork Fondo —Vermont atracted 384 participants from 22 states and three countries.
Registration now open for the community bicycle event at Riverside Farm
PITTSFIELD — On Monday, Oct. 12, Wrenegade Sports, LLC, and Riverside Farm announced the details of the 2016 Farm to Fork Fondo – Vermont. The second edition of the mass-participation cycling event will be hosted by Riverside Farm in Pittsfield, Vt., over the July 16-17, 2016, weekend, with 500 participants expected. The event will highlight and support the region’s distinctive agriculture with locally-sourced pre and post-meals and mid-ride aid stations hosted by working farms.
The 2015 Farm to Fork Fondo – Vermont attracted 384 participants from 22 states and three countries and generated an estimated $124,900 tourism economic impact.
Changes to the 2016 edition of Farm to Fork Fondo – Vermont include: a bigger post-ride festival; more farm stops; more farm treats; more raffle prizes, including two Bianchi Bicycle giveaways; and more money for local farms via an expanded New Holland Volunteer Competition.
Farm to Fork Fondo – Vermont weekend activities include: non-competitive rides for all ages and abilities; free bicycle skills clinic; farm-to-table dinner at the Riverside Farm Brown Barn; post-ride farm-to-table barbecue at the Riverside Farm Red Barn; live music from Graham Tichy Band; local and cycling industry vendors; farm tours; talks from specialists; and more.
General admission is free and open to the public.
All proceeds of the event’s New Holland Volunteer Competition will be donated to local farms and charitable organizations. In 2015 the Farm to Fork Fondo – Vermont organizer Wrenegade Sports donated more than $2,000 to: the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link; the Vermont Farmers Food Center; the restoration of the cupola at Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester; the expansion of the tasting room at the Neshobe River Winery in Brandon; the Ripton Community Church; the Rochester Relief Fund; and the Stockbridge historic meeting house.
“We’re very excited to bring the Farm to Fork Fondo series back to Vermont and beautiful Riverside Farm in 2016,” said Wrenegade Sports founder Tyler Wren. “The area’s distinctive farmland, abundance of beautiful bucolic scenery and supportive and enthusiastic community comprise the perfect elements for a unique and exciting event that accomplishes our goal of motivating the cycling community to support their local farmers.”
“We at Riverside Farm are excited and proud to host the 2016 Farm to Fork Fondo,” said Peter Borden, director of operations at Riverside Farm. “We believe very strongly in supporting the health of the farms and residents of our surrounding communities with this unique and all-inclusive event.”
The Farm to Fork Fondo series is proudly supported by New Holland Agriculture, Bianchi Bicycles, Colavita USA, and many supporting sponsors. The Farm to Fork Fondo – Vermont is supported by the Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Great Bike Tours, and several more local partners.
Registration for the 2016 Farm to Fork Fondo – Vermont is now open. Visit www.FarmForkFondo.com for more information and to register for the event.
