Dig Into Memphis Blues and Farm-Fresh Bites at Farmers for Tomorrow
What happens when you combine Memphis blues, a James Beard-level chef, student-grown ingredients, and the mission to launch local farms? Thursday night at The CAFF Farm, you’re about to find out.
Welcome to Farmers for Tomorrow, the annual benefit that proves doing good has never tasted so incredible.
Where Farm School Meets Happy Hour
Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 12th from 5:00-7:30 PM at The CAFF Farm on Meade Avenue in Fayetteville. This isn’t your typical charity event where you politely nibble crackers and make small talk. This is a full-blown celebration where every bite tells a story—and that story starts right in the soil beneath your feet.
The CAFF Farm (that’s the Center for Agricultural and Food Systems, for those keeping track) transforms into the coolest outdoor venue you never knew existed. Think of it as farm-to-table dining meets block party, with a side of “let’s change the world.”
📍 The CAFF Farm – 1005 Meade Avenue, Fayetteville
📅 June 12, 5 PM – 7:30 PM
💲 $75 (all proceeds go to supporting new local farms!)
Memphis Heart, Ozark Spark
The musical headliner alone is worth the $75 ticket price. Buddy Shute & the Motivators bring serious Memphis blues credentials to the Ozark mountains, and this isn’t just any cover band—we’re talking about the reigning Best Album winners from the Ozark Blues Society three times running. Born in Memphis, shaped by New Orleans, and now calling Northwest Arkansas home, Buddy knows how to make a crowd move.
And when we say move, we mean it. This is dancing-with-a-drink-in-your-hand kind of music.
The Chef Everyone’s Talking About
Chef Elliot Hunt from Atlas is crafting the evening’s menu, and if you know Atlas, you know this is going to be special. We’re talking Golden Beet Bruschetta, Carrot Custard with Blueberry Gelee, and Watermelon Cups with Shrimp Salad—all made with ingredients grown by Farm School students right there on the property.
Hunt’s resume reads like a foodie’s fever dream: trained under Michelin-starred chefs in Paris, worked kitchens from Australia to Chicago, and somehow found his way back to Northwest Arkansas to share his art with us lucky locals.
Drinks That Actually Matter
Fossil Cove Brewery is handling the beer situation (because of course they are), and sommelier Aleks Berry is mixing up the Berry Smash—a bourbon cocktail featuring those same student-grown blueberries. Two drink tickets come with your admission, but honestly, you’ll want to pace yourself for the farm tour.
Why Your $75 Matters More Than You Think
Here’s the thing about starting a farm: it’s expensive. Seeds, tools, irrigation, cold storage—we’re talking serious startup costs that can make or break a dream before it even gets planted.
The Farmers for Tomorrow fund steps in for CAFF Farm School graduates who’ve done the work, found their land, and just need that crucial boost to get their hands dirty. This year’s recipient, Vernie Loretta Farm, will be there to tell their story and explain exactly how your ticket purchase translates into fresh food at local markets.
The Experience You Can’t Get Anywhere Else
Between the silent auction browsing, farm tours with cocktails in hand, and conversations with actual farmers who’ll tell you what it’s really like to grow your dinner, this is the kind of evening that sticks with you.
Plus, where else can you literally taste the impact of your donation? Every appetizer on your plate was grown by students learning to feed their community. That’s not just farm-to-table—that’s investment-to-table.
Grab your tickets now for $75 each (group discounts available for six or more), and prepare for the most delicious way to support local agriculture you’ll find anywhere in Northwest Arkansas.
Because let’s be honest—supporting small farms has never come with this good of a soundtrack.
