In collaboration with Explore Prineville, Wine Down Ranch hosted an intimate farm-to-table dinner this past Sunday, July 14, 2024. With all 30 guests in attendance, supportive locals were accompanied by numerous visitors from outside Crook County and several out-of-state visitors, showcasing the growing interest in agritourism experiences.
The evening’s menu was crafted by Chef Woody Stevens of Landmark Catering, who, along with his wife, Celena Pentrack, also owns the Sandwich Factory in Prineville — this marked Chef Woody’s first farm-to-table dinner. Despite the challenges of sourcing local ingredients, preparing 30 meals without a commercial kitchen, and plating dishes in 95-degree weather, Chef Woody and his team delivered an exceptional dining experience. The guests were impressed by the presentation of the three courses and the depth of flavors achieved in each dish.
Geoff Babb, creator of the Advenchair, praised the event, stating, “Our thanks for a very nice evening at the Wine Down Ranch… the dinner was superb, the scenery was spectacular… Roy and Mary were great hosts, we look forward to attending more events in the future and possibly spending a weekend in the Bunkhouse, too!”
This event was part of a regional initiative led by key sponsor, Visit Central Oregon, and partners, Explore Prineville and the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA), to highlight the High Desert Food Trail. This trail, “administered by HDFFA under the Travel Oregon Food Trails [offers]a self-guided adventure through Central Oregon for visitors and locals alike to experience the culinary and agritourism opportunities that make this region unique. The trail features 53 unique businesses including farms, ranches, restaurants, farmers markets, craft and beverage makers, annual events, and more, that will help you dive deeper into the high desert’s agricultural roots”.
The dinner aimed to source as many ingredients as possible from Crook County farms and ranches, specifically incorporating businesses along the High Desert Food Trail. Among the five contributing Crook County farms were Wine Down Ranch, which sourced beef; Windy Acres Dairy Farm, which supplied artisan cheese; and L&S Farm and Garden, which provided dessert and berries–all devoted food trail members since its inception.
For alcoholic beverages, the event featured contributions from two additional High Desert Food Trail members: Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards in Terrebonne, which donated a 2018 Marechal Foch red wine, and Initiative Brewing, with locations in Redmond, Prineville, and one forthcoming in Madras, which donated an American pale ale, “Hefelumps & Boozles Hefeweizen”. Additional wine donations of Oregon-made, Duck Pond Pinot Gris and Chardonnay were provided by Prineville’s own, Wagner’s Market.
Beyond the contributions of the businesses along the High Desert Food Trail, this meal supported two additional Crook County farms: Big Summit Beef, and Canyon Moon Farms; three supplemental Central Oregon producers: Brittany’s Bees, Central Oregon Spores & More, and Sungrounded Farm; and two local, artisan grocers: Prineville Produce, and Central Oregon Locavore.
This event was made possible by the support of these incredible businesses, farms, and organizations within the Central Oregon community. The positive feedback from this dinner and overall interest in agritourism events inspire Mary Beyer, co-owner of Wine Down Ranch and manager of their two short-term vacation rentals, to continue prioritizing visitor experiences that showcase the rural beauty of Crook County and the extraordinary inner workings of local agriculture.
“Roy and I are truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to host our first farm-to-table dinner and to have had the pleasure of collaborating with such dedicated and creative folks,” says Mary. “We are grateful to our guests for supporting us. Wine Down Ranch is a special place, and we are blessed to share it with our community.”
About Explore Prineville:
Explore Prineville, representing the local Destination Management Organization for Prineville and Crook County, was established in Fall 2023 as a new department within the Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center following their restructure. Explore Prineville aims to be a catalyst for tourism in our community, by providing positive social, environmental, and economic impact for Prineville and Crook County while sustaining our dynamic culture and heritage.
