Cultivating Community & Connection: Success at the 2026 Local Food Throwdown!

The energy was electric at The Pearl Event Center as Northeast Indiana’s culinary community gathered for an unforgettable celebration of passion, regional heritage, and local flavor. We are thrilled to announce that the 2026 Local Food Throwdown was an extraordinary success, uniting our community to support the vital mission of the Northeast Indiana Local Food Network (NEILFN).

With talented local chefs going head-to-head using fresh ingredients raised and grown right here by regional producers, the evening was a testament to the powerful bridge from Our Land to Our Tables.

Highlights from the Evening

A three-course journey featuring appetizers, plated entrées, and desserts crafted by some of the region's top culinary talents.
Attendees casting votes to select their favorite dishes, celebrating regional agriculture and local sourcing with every ballot.
Supporters coming together through ticket purchases, silent auction bids on unique local experiences, and themed raffle baskets helped to power a thriving regional food system.

Where Your Support Goes

The remarkable success of this year's Throwdown directly fuels NEILFN's ongoing initiatives across our 11-county region:

Funding local food hub and infrastructure development to grow regional farmer prosperity and simplify access for buyers.
Expanding farm-to-school initiatives, the Power of Produce Club, and food access programs like Double Up Indiana and HEAL Farm Markets to reduce food insecurity and empower the next generation.
Building long-term nonprofit capacity to connect our local food system and nourish every family.

A Heartfelt Thank You

An event of this scale is made possible only through deep community collaboration. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to:

Our Competing Chefs: The bold culinary competitors whose creativity, skill, and passion went head-to-head to craft an unforgettable three-course menu.:
Alex Romines-Ditton - Copper Spoon
Andrew Brazis - Basted
Dawn Folsom - Hawt Mess Express
Kyle Mares - Amore Italian Steak & Seafood
Jim Huffman - Walnut Hill Catering & Events
Mary Brames - Kanela
Our Local Farm & Ingredient Partners: The incredible regional growers and producers who raised and grew the fresh, local ingredients that brought every dish to life:
New Dawn Farm LLC • Ambrosia Orchard • Berry Hill Farm • BroxonBerry • Cook's Orchard • Country Garden Farm & Market • Country Roads Coffee • Dunn Farms • E Brewing Company • Eel River Bison Ranch • Esterline Farms • Filler Family Apiary • Fruited Plain Seeds • Hardy's Farm Market • Hawkins Family Farm • Health Food Shoppe • Hine Farms • Hungry Dog Farm • Kuehnert Dairy Farm • Myzel Risin' • Orchard Hill Farms • SchoolHouse Farms (Ohio) • Semper Fi Farms • Seven Sons Farms • Soil Shepherd Farm • Solterra Farms • Something Better with Beth • Kurtz Produce • The River Farm • Tree Frog Farm • Tulip Tree Creamery • Whitley County Farmers Market • Winger's Sugarbush & Supplies • Wood Farms • YLNI Farmers Market
Our Generous Sponsors: Special thanks to Galecki Financial Management, 3Rivers Federal Credit Union, Bills Bistro, LLC, Parkview, Tracie & John Martin, Miller Scales & Food Machines, Lutheran Health Network, and Greater Fort Wayne Inc. for their support.
Our Dedicated Event Team & Partners: Thank you to Pat Hoffmann (WANE 15 Emcee), Amber Feichter (Live Music), our event photographers Adam Gaddy & Nathan Divoli, Rob Evans (Pearl Event Center), Adrien Gentie (Gentie Media, chef videographer), Ruby Moon Floral, Johnny & Esli Perez (Te Gustó Hospitality), our planning committee, board members, and all the volunteers who made the night a success.

We encourage everyone to visit these incredible chefs, farm partners, local businesses, and sponsors year-round—supporting them is a fantastic way to sustain our regional food economy and keep our local food system thriving!