First Fridays at B: Past Speakers
February 2019: food worker shortage
Our third season of First Fridays kicked off with a special “On the Road” edition focusing on the food worker shortage in Fargo-Moorhead, our region, and beyond.
Event featured Kyle Armitage (North Dakota State College of Science), Lisa Gibson (Sanford) and Nichole Hensen (Nichole’s Fine Pastry).
december 2018: chef life
Our final First Fridays of the 2018 season focused on three local chefs: Andrea Baumgardner of BernBaum's, Patricia Hanson Vetter of Prairie St John's Hospital, and Travis Rosenbluth of Harvestable.
November 2018: The stories of farmers
Our November edition of First Fridays featured the stories of farmers in our community.
Special thanks to Sam Rydell of Nurtured Plains Farm, Amber & Ross Lockhart of Heart and Soil Farm, and Jaclyn Weber of Folcstede Farms for dedicating your lives to growing + sharing fresh, local food.
October 2018: Red River market
Our October First Fridays focused on how food and commerce can build community. Our featured presentation was by Joseph Burgum and Simone Wai of Folkways.
As co-founders and organizers of the Red River Market, they shared a “behind the scenes” look at the Market, including the history and value of public markets, the art of creative place-making, small business incubation, and why the Red River Market is much more than just a farmers market.
September 2018: hunger action month
The September edition of First Fridays at B focused on hunger in Fargo-Moorhead, and featured Melissa Sobolik of the Great Plains Food Bank, Stacie Loegering of the Emergency Food Pantry, and Andrew Flory of Dorothy Day Food Pantry.
MAY 2018: HEART-N-SOUL COMMUNITY CAFE
The May edition of First Fridays at B featured a presentation by our friends at Heart-N-Soul Community Cafe and included Leola Dahl (founder), Deb Kluck (volunteer), and Kayla Pridmore (farmer/chef/volunteer).
April 2018: Incubator kitchens and new food businesses
The April edition of First Fridays at B featured presentations by Casey Steele, founder and owner of Square One Rental Kitchen & Events and three food entrepreneurs that have found homes and success operating out of Square One: Jeremiah and Rachel Utecht (Off The Deck Hot Sauce and Flannel Fizz) and Megan Lewis (Milk Made).
march 2018: cultural diversity resources and international potluck fargo
Our March First Fridays at B featured two presentations: Yoke-sim Guarantee of Cultural Diversity Resources and Peter Schott of International Potluck Fargo.
Cultural Diversity Resources has served as an intercultural bridge to connect diverse communities in Fargo-Moorhead since 1994. With growing multi-cultural populations, the goal of Cultural Diversity Resources is to inform, educate and assist everyone.
The International Potluck is a group of people interested in connecting with others through shared food and stories.

February 2018: prairie Roots food co-op
Our February First Fridays at B featured a presentation by Kaye Kirsch, Abby Gold and Joleen Baker of Prairie Roots Food Co-op.
Prairie Roots Food Co-op is a grocery store in the Red River Valley that is a one-stop shop for all your natural, organic and local food. Everyone is welcome to shop at the co-op, but owners get special benefits and discounts.




january 2018: growing together ~ a community garden ministry
Our inaugural First Fridays at B featured a presentation by Jack Wood, Nola Storm and Simeon Bakunda of Growing Together ~ A Community Garden Ministry.
Growing Together was founded in 2006 as a project of Olivet Lutheran Church. Its mission is to provide a safe space for our New American neighbors to meet new friends while growing food and relationships. In 2017 Growing Together had six garden across the Fargo-Moorhead community, and supported 150 families growing 57,000 pounds of food on 93,000 square feet.
Following the First Fridays program, Jack Wood was honored with a surprise proclamation by Mayor Tim Mahoney declaring January 5 “Jack Wood Day” for his contributions to the Fargo-Moorhead community. [Read the Mayoral Proclamation]
SAVE THE DATE: Mark your calendars for our next event on Friday, March 1st, and stay tuned for more details!