09/09/2026
Amazing event yesterday in downtown Bismarck! 🌒🐺
Special thanks to Tracey and her whole team. We had a blast! 🙌🏼
What an incredible day at FARMS to Table 2026! 🌾🧡
The North Dakota Tribal College System extends our deepest gratitude to everyone who helped make yesterday’s sold-out event such a meaningful celebration of agriculture, food sovereignty, culture, innovation, and community.
We are especially grateful to:
🌾Dr. Leander “Russ” McDonald, NDTCS Board Chair and President of United Tribes Technical College, for serving as our event MC.
🌱Joe Dunn of Sitting Bull College for sharing the opening prayer and presenting during our Tribal College program.
🌾Lt. Governor Michelle Strinden for her continued partnership and support of FARMS to Table and North Dakota’s Tribal Colleges.
🌱Dr. Hollie Mackey and the entire NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota team for your continued support and partnership, which makes this event possible.
🌾Our NDTCS Board of Directors for their leadership and commitment to NDTCS initiatives!
🌱Our featured chefs, Juan De La Cruz and Rosebud Bear Schneider, along with their helpers, for creating an unforgettable meal grounded in Indigenous foods, stories, and traditions.
🌾Chef Amber Gagnon for stepping in at a moment’s notice to assist with plating and service.
🌱Katt Chapin, owner of CharKatterie for creating the absolutely incredible grazing table enjoyed by our guests.
🌾Kayla and Devin Bercier of Embellish Your Scene by KB for transforming the venue into such a beautiful and welcoming space.
🌱Our Tribal College presenters, who shared the important food sustainability and agricultural work happening across our five institutions:
• Ayanna Maynard — United Tribes Technical College
• Jeremy Lewis — Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
• Jessica Fish — Cankdeska Cikana Community College
• Joe Dunn — Sitting Bull College
• Mark Hamley — Turtle Mountain College and TMC Anishinaabe Campus
A special shoutout to Ayanna Maynard and Jeremy Lewis for organizing the Indigenous Farmers + Makers Market, and to all of the market vendors who shared their produce, handcrafted goods, and talents with our guests.
✨Our dancers—Jasten “Jazz” Bearstail, Pre Bearstail, and Kathleen Headman Taylor. Thank you for sharing your gifts through such a powerful performance.
🌱Our MHA Sober Living Program volunteers—Darris Grant, Brandon Lund, Darrell Dean Brady Jr., and Jeremiah Lindley—for truly showing up and showing out! Yesterday would not have run as smoothly as it did without your hard work and willingness to help wherever you were needed.
📸Melanie Sioux Photography for capturing the people, connections, and special moments that made the day so memorable.
🌾Jared and the entire crew at Eclipse Venue for making every step—from rental and planning through event-day execution—so seamless, professional, and welcoming.
🧡 Our FARMS to Table Planning Committee for the many hours of preparation, coordination, problem-solving, and care invested in making this event possible.
🤎To every guest who purchased a ticket or table and joined us in yesterday’s celebration highlighting the important work happening across our ND Tribal College campuses. Thank you!
🧡Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank our small but mighty NDTCS staff. Your hard work, dedication, flexibility, and teamwork brought every piece of this event together.
FARMS to Table 2026 showed what is possible when we come together to honor traditional knowledge, support Indigenous producers and celebrate Tribal College leadership to build stronger, healthier futures for our communities.
Thank you for helping us cultivate community, honor tradition, and grow the future. We are already looking forward to FARMS to Table 2027!
🗓️Save the Date: September 7, 2027
More pictures to come soon!
