100th member celebrated by RCF
Rotary Club of Farragut sponsoring member Amanda DeBord, left, pins Jen Patterson, CEO and co-founder of Century Harvest Farms Foundation, as RCF’s 100th member during an induction ceremony April 24.
“Congratulations for your (100-member) milestone,” Rotary District 6780 Gov. Jim Roxlo said. “That’s really quite an accomplishment. It’s really a pleasure to be here.”
District Gov.-elect Greg Maciolek also was on hand for the gathering.
Jen Patterson, CEO and co-founder of Century Harvest Farm, was inducted as the 100th member April 24.
Next year, RCF will celebrate another milestone with its 40th anniversary April 22, RCF president Keith Bryson said.
“It’s a pretty good milestone, and certainly our 100th member is,” he said.
The club also raised more than $600 for Polio Plus with “Pets for Polio,” as members paid to have photos taken with their pets. The canines ranged from Adam Brock’s Bernese Mountain Dog, Benji; Roxlo’s Airedales, Chloe and Daphne; and Bryson’s Golden Doodles, Gracie and Charlie, to Pam Kerb’s Liddie, an Applehead Chihuahua.
Patterson shared the story of Century Harvest Farm Foundation, a non-profit organization in Greenback, during an RCF meeting in Fox Den Country Club Wednesday, May 1.
“In our rural East Tennessee farming communities, the very places where crops are grown to feed the world, many (farmers) face food insecurity and the issues associated with it,” she said. “Century Harvest Farms Foundation grew out of a desire to fill that gap.”
Chris Burger, who started Century Harvest Farm in 2010 to grow and supply the area with sustainable grass-fed beef on his 350 acres, wanted to share his farm with the community.
In 2017, Burger met Patterson, a service provider for individuals and veterans experiencing homelessness in Knoxville and 18 surrounding counties.
The two piloted a small-scale program, which taught agricultural skills and gave participants access to fresh produce.
“After piloting the program, I identified the needs of the community were far greater than just food,” Patterson said. “We decided to expand past the program to create our non-profit Century Harvest Farms Foundation.”
From the Ground Up is a 40-day workforce development program designed to feed, educate, empower and create sustainability for individuals living with limited resources.
Helping Hands brings together community members to help improve access to healthy foods for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in the region, she said.
To support Century Harvest Farm Foundation, visit CenturyHarvest.org or go on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/centuryharvest/
