Taste Of Mansfield Winners Announced

Press release from the Town of Mansfield:

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The Taste of Mansfield and community partners including the Mansfield Agriculture Committee and Economic Development Commission announced the recipients of the third annual Taste of Mansfield Champion Awards.

The Taste of Mansfield Champion Awards program was initiated to recognize Mansfield producers, sellers, and communicators/educators who are leaders in connecting the community through local food and have a demonstrated record of promoting the Taste of Mansfield mission. The public was invited to nominate, based on the following criteria, individuals, businesses or institutions that:

The 2024 Taste of Mansfield Champion Award Winners are:

1. Stacey Stearns
2. Melanie Desch
3. Maraiah Popeleski-Tilley
4. Dog Lane Cafe

Stacey Stearns

Stacey Stearns served as a member, including Chair, of the Mansfield Agriculture Committee for nine years, and was nominated for her leadership in promoting agriculture here. A tenth-generation dairy farmer from Mansfield, she worked on her family farm, Mountain Dairy, a vertically integrated dairy operation established in 1871. Stacey’s involvement on the farm started in her youth as a 4-H and FFA member, then she earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut (UConn) and Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida. She is the president-elect of the Association for Communication Excellence and has been an active member with Tolland County Farm Bureau.

In her professional career as a Communications Specialist for UConn Extension, Stacy is a knowledgeable and vocal advocate for local farming and she is an asset to our Mansfield agricultural community.

Melanie Desch

Mansfield resident Melanie Desch is an advocate for equitable access to local foods. She has recently worked with the Windham Community Food Network's Mesa Comunitaria program which increases access to local food for those in need, and empowers farmers. Her dedication to food system equity extends beyond Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA), with her contributions to the "Rooting Deep and Scaling Up" initiative with Grow Windham. Melanie's passion for sustainability is evident in her volunteer work with CLiCK's education program teaching foraging classes, volunteering with the Windham Community Food Network composting program, Know Your Farmer Fair, Celebrate Mansfield Festival, and as a Mansfield Agriculture Committee member. As Market Master at the Willimantic Farmers Market, she fosters a vibrant space that connects local producers and consumers. Melanie and her partner also operate Foliota Farm in Mansfield growing floral products. Melanie's commitment to serving both the local farmers and community makes her a champion for the local food scene.

Maraiah Popeleski-Tilley

Chef Maraiah Popeleski-Tilley was selected as a Champion for her strides in reimagining school lunches at Mansfield Schools. As the Food Services Director, she is focused on improving the quality of school meals through scratch cooking and using locally sourced/grown products. She was recently awarded a Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship from the Chef Ann Foundation, one of only 24 fellows from across the country.

As an educator, Chef Maraiah has provided training and growth opportunities for her food service staff and teachers. She has invited local farmers to lunch waves so students can meet them and try new locally grown vegetables, Chef Popeleski-Tilley is also active with food systems issues on the state level, incorporating University of Connecticut’s Extension program resources like the Put Local on Your Tray initiative.

Dog Lane Café

This local restaurant on the corner of Betsy Paterson Square in Downtown Storrs claims “It’s all about the quality: seasonal, local, freshly prepared food.“ Known as a great spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner, coffee or beverages, Dog Lane Café proudly promotes its relationships with 15 year-round and seasonal local growers and producers. Homemade soups and quality local meats are also on the menu. Dog Lane Café, part of the Green Valley Hospitality Group, has served Mansfield since 2012, and is an example of a hospitality venue connecting the community through local food.

The winners were recognized at a Taste of Mansfield Community Dinner held on November 13 at Mansfield Middle School. Mayor Toni Moran and Superintendent Peter Dart introduced the winners who were present.

Former Champions also attended the dinner, including Diane Dorfer, Chelsea Cherrier, and Dennis Pierce.

The Community Dinner has been very popular, but they were discontinued during the pandemic. The free vegetarian dinner was created by Chef Popeleski-Tilley and her staff and served to about 110 community members in attendance at Mansfield Middle School. The Mansfield Senior Center also offered transportation services to those who needed a ride. Mansfield's Cobblestone Farm and Riverview Farm were among the local growers from where the foods were sourced.

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This press release was produced by the Town of Mansfield. The views expressed here are the author’s own.