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A competing restaurant serves their tapas dish to Michigan Sen. Roger Victory at Farms are the Tapas 2021. [Rich C. Lakeberg/Ottawa County]
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'Supporting our local ag business is good for all of us'
Tickets on sale now for Ottawa County's farmland preservation fundraiser Farms are the Tapas
ZEELAND - Ken Bing isn't a farmer. He doesn't even have a garden. But once upon a time, he lived on a farm.
"Our farm was just north of Zeeland, about 10 miles. It was more of a hobby, because my father worked in a factory," he said. "But we had cows, chickens, pigs, goats, and about anything else you can imagine for farm life. We had crops - corn, pickles, and we sold our milk, as well."
Today, he's the president and owner of Zeeland-based electrical contractor Town & Country Group. Despite his long career as an electrician, agriculture is still near and dear to him. "There's something to say about having homegrown," Bing said. "You have a higher level of confidence that the product you're eating is healthy ... In a small, rural community like ours, I think it means a lot to people to have homegrown food."
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"In a small, rural community like ours, I think it means a lot to people to have homegrown food."
Ken Bing, president and owner of electrical contract Town & Country Group, Inc.
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So when he learned about Farms are the Tapas, Ottawa County's annual fundraising dinner and silent auction, which helps fund the County's Farmland Preservation Program, he did not hesitate to support it.
"It's a great event - that's why we participate," said Ken Bing. "Multiple restaurants serve delicious food there, made with fresh and locally sourced fruits, vegetables, and meat." But for him, Tapas isn't just about having a great meal - there is an educational aspect. "Attending Tapas just made me more aware of how important it is to preserve property."
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This year's event, set for 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, September 29, is at a new location: an actual Centennial farm: The Red Shed, near Hudsonville.
"What better way to raise the profile of the farmland preservation program than by bringing our signature fundraiser into the heart of Ottawa County farm country?" said Ottawa County Farmland Preservation Analyst Julie Lamer.
Farms are the Tapas features a cooking competition with five area restaurants serving up locally sourced small-plate creations for the Harvest Knife award, and a virtual silent auction, which opens September 26, a full three days ahead of the event. Once the auction opens, registered participants will be able to bid on items via smartphone or other web-connected device. The auction closes at 7:45 p.m. September 29, near the end of the live event.
Tickets are $50 - and all proceeds go toward farmland preservation efforts in Ottawa County. However, you don't need to buy a ticket to participate in the fundraiser. Anyone can bid in the virtual silent auction simply by signing up online at Event.Gives/Tapas2022. Once you create your account, you can buy tickets, view event updates, peruse auction packages, and virtually bid on silent auction items. To register for the silent auction or buy tickets, visit miottawa.org/tapas, and click on the 'Register or Buy Tickets' button, or go directly to Event.Gives/Tapas2022.
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"Having farms locally even helps support our industry," said Town and Country's Bing, whose clients include local agriculture businesses. "We've done work for ag customers, like Janssen's Farms ... we do work for Townline (Hatchery), and Zeeland Farm Services. Supporting our local ag businesses is good for all of us."
Sponsorship opportunities for Farms are the Tapas are still available! For more information on sponsoring Farms are the Tapas, to learn more about farmland preservation program, or how you can protect your fields, visit miottawa.org/farmland, contact a farmland preservation specialist at plan@miottawa.org, or call 616-738-4852.
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About Farmland Preservation Program
Funded through a combination of private donations and both state and federal grants, the Ottawa County Farmland Preservation Program seeks to protect valuable farmland through various programmatic efforts, including the Purchase of Development Rights Program. By selling the development rights to Ottawa County, this program allows participating landowners to receive compensation for the development potential of their land, yet still retain ownership and other rights associated with it through a permanent easement.
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