‘Heart and soul of the town’ hosts annual Pie Fest

Eat! Eat! Eat!

Chants filled the air at Land’s Sake Farm’s annual Pie Fest on Sunday, Sept. 21, as children devoured fruit-filled pastry as fast as physically possible while their loved ones looked on in amazement.

The contest was the main event of an afternoon full of food, games and entertainment at the farm’s annual celebration of fall, family and pie.

Land’s Sake Farm is a nonprofit focused on growing healthy food, providing youth with education and bringing the community together, according to Executive Director Pam Hess.

The previous night, the farm held its annual Harvest Dinner, its largest fundraiser. Pie Fest was created originally as a second use of the grand white tent that is rented for the fundraiser.

“We had the tent for an extra day; we thought, ‘Let’s make good use of it,’” said Chris Sanzone, Land’s Sake president. “We just thought it would be a nice way to do something family-friendly on a fall afternoon.”

Families enjoyed a barbecue lunch while children got their faces painted and visited rabbits and ducks. Visitors shopped at vendors selling woodwork, honey and, fittingly – pie.

Sanzone said the organization strives to create enjoyable experiences for the community.

“That’s what today is,” he said. “It’s a community-centered event to get people to the farm, enjoy each other’s company and explore the land.”

Weston-based band Crossroad played live music for the duration of the afternoon, except when Heather Hilton, Land’s Sake business manager, took over the microphone to announce the pie-eating contest was about to begin.

After the children lifted their faces from their mostly empty plates, Hilton introduced a surprise twist. The adult version of the contest would soon begin. Children begged their parents to participate, and many obliged.

“If you look around, everyone here is smiling and having a great time,” said Hess. “They are meeting their neighbors, getting outside and enjoying this incredible place. When I see all of the smiles, I can’t help but smile as well.”

More than pie

Sanzone said some residents might not realize just how much there is to do at Land’s Sake Farm.

“People might drive by the farmstand and think, ‘Wow that’s an amazing building,’ but don’t realize there are about 35 acres of space,” said Sanzone. “You can pick vegetables. You can walk the fields. It’s just a really cool event.”

Many attendees brought a part of Land’s Sake back home by picking their own flower bouquets. Others used the farm’s cider press to juice apples.

“Our staff really puts a lot of time into making sure this event is family friendly, but also attractive for adults as well,” said Sanzone.

Thirty percent of all food grown at Land’s Sake is donated to people with food insecurity. Hess said 7,000 students participate in the farm’s educational programs each year.

“Events like this help us make our budget so we can keep doing things for this community and beyond,” said Hess.

Hess said she is thankful to the community for attending events, coming to pick flowers and vegetables and donating to the farm.

“I look around and I know so many people,” she said. “Everyone comes and shares this together. They see us as like the heart and soul of the town and I am honored and blessed to work here.”