Food, people and commerce

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WILMINGTON — About 300 people ate a dinner of locally sourced food in the fields Friday at Timothy Larrick’s farm, an event that connected agriculture, commerce and local residents.

Dinner in the Fields is a picnic-style dinner of locally raised meats, locally grown crops and locally sourced appetizers from restaurants. It’s also the primary fundraiser of the Clinton County Leadership Institute (Leadership Clinton).

Also, there was homemade ice cream, beer and wine sales and a pie auction, the proceeds of which benefited Leadership Clinton.

Friday was the seventh annual Dinner in the Fields.

Larrick, whose hand print is still a part of the farm his family spent years renovating and living on, said he enjoyed seeing so many people at the farm, especially friends.

“It’s amazing to see everyone turn out for Leadership Clinton,” he said. “More than half of them I know, they’re friends of mine.”

Larrick thanked everyone involved in Leadership Clinton, as well as the farm’s tenants and the greater community.

“We’re very thankful that we live in this community that’s so supportive,” he said. “My dad would be very happy and would be very proud – well, I know he is proud – to know that this is going on here.”

Scott Holmer, executive director of Leadership Clinton, said the event was a great fundraiser for Leadership Clinton and “a great event that we put on for the community.”

He wants to duplicate this year’s successes for next year’s event and to grow the event further.

Kathleen Blake, who was executive director of Leadership Clinton for the first Dinner in the Fields, said she, too, enjoyed the event.

“Every one of them is a wonderful event,” she said. “It’s an educational event. … It’s a celebration of agriculture. … It’s just amazing to see how many different farms are in Clinton County.”

She said it grows and attracts new people every year. She, and many others, thanked those who made the food possible.

Blake, who got the idea for Dinner in the Fields from a magazine featuring a similar type of event in California, hopes to see Dinner in the Fields featured in a similar magazine in Ohio. Other than that, all she said she wants it to see another celebration at a different farm and with another agricultural family.

People at the event said the enjoyed the event, especially the food.

Jason Morrow, who attended with his wife and her family, said he liked the food most of all, especially the beef.

And Bob Groves said it was “very nice, well put together.” His favorite part, too, was the food.

His granddaughter, 7-year-old Larkyn Groves, would disagree, however.

“My favorite part was the goats,” she said.

Reach Nathan Kraatz at 937-382-2574, ext. 2510 or on Twitter @NathanKraatz.

About 300 people ate at the Dinner in the Fields Friday at Timothy Larrick’s farm. The dinner featured locally-grown crops and locally-raised meats as well as appetizers from local restaurants.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/08/web1_DSCF1157.jpgAbout 300 people ate at the Dinner in the Fields Friday at Timothy Larrick’s farm. The dinner featured locally-grown crops and locally-raised meats as well as appetizers from local restaurants.

Timothy Larrick, left, bought Nancy Jama Hayes’ cherry pie (made Friday morning) for $550.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/08/web1_DSCF1169.jpgTimothy Larrick, left, bought Nancy Jama Hayes’ cherry pie (made Friday morning) for $550.

Monica Jackson fans herself Friday at the Dinner in the Fields event. While the weather held off rain, it was a warm day for many.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/08/web1_DSCF1147.jpgMonica Jackson fans herself Friday at the Dinner in the Fields event. While the weather held off rain, it was a warm day for many.

Angel Buerkle, 15, smiles as she plays cornhole with Allison Puckett, 13, not pictured.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/08/web1_DSCF1152.jpgAngel Buerkle, 15, smiles as she plays cornhole with Allison Puckett, 13, not pictured.

Tom Wheeler, a guest of Kathleen Blake’s and from Centerville, loads his plate with locally-sourced foods at Friday’s Dinner in the Fields.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/08/web1_DSCF1155.jpgTom Wheeler, a guest of Kathleen Blake’s and from Centerville, loads his plate with locally-sourced foods at Friday’s Dinner in the Fields.

Betsy Holmer and Steven Berk, director of Clinton County’s chapter of the Ohio Farm Bureau, hold a peanut butter pie that Berk bid $60 for during the pie auction.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/08/web1_DSCF1160.jpgBetsy Holmer and Steven Berk, director of Clinton County’s chapter of the Ohio Farm Bureau, hold a peanut butter pie that Berk bid $60 for during the pie auction.

Bob Ginter holds Nancy Jones’ real Georgia pecan pie, which Ginter bid $60 for, winning the pie.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/08/web1_DSCF1163.jpgBob Ginter holds Nancy Jones’ real Georgia pecan pie, which Ginter bid $60 for, winning the pie.

Kathleen Blake and Bill Germann, who bid $70 for Blake’s peachy praline pie. Blake is one of the original coordinators of the Dinner of the Fields. The pie comes from a 1965 Ohio Farm Bureau book, and the recipe was included.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/08/web1_DSCF1165.jpgKathleen Blake and Bill Germann, who bid $70 for Blake’s peachy praline pie. Blake is one of the original coordinators of the Dinner of the Fields. The pie comes from a 1965 Ohio Farm Bureau book, and the recipe was included.

Timothy Larrick tells Nancy Jama Hayes that he strongly wanted her cherry pie. He bid $550 for it.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/08/web1_DSCF1170.jpgTimothy Larrick tells Nancy Jama Hayes that he strongly wanted her cherry pie. He bid $550 for it.

7-year-old Larkyn Groves stands in front of a field of corn with her tea. Her favorite part of the Dinner in the Fields? The goats across the street from the picnic. Ken Whittenberg raises goats at the Larrick farm, according to Timothy Larrick.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/08/web1_DSCF1173.jpg7-year-old Larkyn Groves stands in front of a field of corn with her tea. Her favorite part of the Dinner in the Fields? The goats across the street from the picnic. Ken Whittenberg raises goats at the Larrick farm, according to Timothy Larrick.
Dinner in the Fields weaves together all three

By Nathan Kraatz

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