FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 29, 2012
CONTACT:
Amanda Vasas, Marketing Communications
avasas@msu.edu | 517-353-9147
MSU’s 2012 Hoophouse Gala Raises $27,800 for Student Scholarships
Fourth Annual Fundraiser Event Features 7-course Sustainable Meal Prepared by
MSU’s Award-winning Chefs
EAST LANSING, Mich. – At Michigan State University’s recent 2012 Hoophouse Gala,
more than 250 guests came together to enjoy a local and sustainable harvest dinner
and raised $27,800 to create scholarships for the training and education of a next
generation of Michigan’s organic farmers.
Supported by MSU’s Division of Residential and Hospitality Services, the gala was held
on the MSU Student Organic Farm grounds on October 7. Guests were served a sevencourse meal prepared by MSU’s award-winning chefs that showcased pork raised at
the MSU Student Organic Farm and products from Michigan farms and wineries.
MSU recently earned a perfect score — one of just six universities in the nation to do
so — in the first Organic Land Grant Assessment released by the Organic Farming
Research Foundation.
“Supporters of the annual Hoophouse Gala have made this exemplary rating possible
and are enabling the farm to uphold its reputation as an A+ program,” said Laurie
Thorp, coordinator for MSU’s Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment.”
Three MSU farmers were awarded scholarships at the 2012 event. Originally from
Haslett, Mich., Tom McAlvey was the recipient of the Larry and Faylene Owen Emerging
Farmer Award. McAlvey is a senior horticulture major at MSU who also serves on the
MSU Student Organic Farm Crew. Ellen Murphy was named the Vennie Gore Emerging
Farmer Award recipient and is originally from Chagrin Falls, OH. Tyler Troszak was the
recipient of a scholarship presented by Dr. June Youatt, MSU senior associate provost.
Troszak hails from Canton, Mich. Murphy and Troszak will be part of the incoming
2013 Organic Farmer Training Program cohort.
“As gala underwriter, MSU’s Division of Residential and Hospitality Services works
with the MSU Student Organic Farm to provide campus-grown, certified-organic
produce to MSU’s dining halls and The State Room Restaurant at Kellogg Hotel and
Conference Center,” said Vennie Gore, assistant vice president for the Division of
Residential and Hospitality Services. “This fall, we were thrilled to introduce Bailey
GREENhouse, a hoophouse on the grounds of campus’ Brody Neighborhood in which
MSU students grow herbs that are served in campus dining venues.”
The 2013 Hoophouse Gala is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 29, 2013. For more
information and to become a sponsor, visit hoophousegala.rhs.msu.edu.
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