Join us for an unforgettable Prairie Walk and Harvest Dinner with Three Pines Farm, a fifth-generation family farm & gathering place for artfully curated experiences. Through a unique partnership with the Iowa Learning Farms program at Iowa State University (ISU) and the Tallgrass Prairie Center at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), this one-of-a-kind evening pairs a distinctly elegant dinner with the opportunity to learn about and connect to the land that sustains us.

On this special evening, guests will gather for the first time in the beautifully rebuilt Farrowing House at Three Pines Farm, with sweeping glass wall views of a land filled with history and beauty, from pastures of grazing goats, to never-been-tilled prairie.

Upon arrival, piano song by Three Pines Farm’s own Jim Grupp (4th generation) will gently usher guests to grazing bites, meant to be consumed with the scenic countryside & lively conversation, on our new patio & deck, overlooking the western sunset skies.

As the night progresses, guests will partake in an elevated farm-to-table meal featuring custom-crafted flavors of the prairie, with locally sourced & seasonal, plant-forward ingredients, and served in a gorgeous setting that reflects the history, beauty, and richness of Iowa’s landscapes.

Adding to the liveliness & joy of the evening, guests will enjoy a dinnertime performance by local singer/songwriter Macie Graham, who will graciously fill the Farrowing House with her heartfelt arrangements.

Education is interwoven throughout this Prairie Walk and Harvest Dinner event, enriching the connections between people, pollinators, plants, and the beauty of Iowa’s landscape. Guests will partake in a guided prairie walk, led by Justin Meissen of UNI’s Tallgrass Prairie Center, sharing insights into the ecology and history of Iowa’s prairie and restoration efforts, as well as the larger connections of water, land, wildlife, and people across Iowa’s working landscapes. Guests will also have the opportunity to engage with ISU educators at the Conservation Station, an interactive trailer that highlights conservation practices, environmental stewardship, and the vital connections between land management and water quality in our state.

Three Pines Farm’s Prairie Harvest Dinner Menu:

Welcome Appetizers & Three Pines Farm's Herbal Iced Tea

Silken Carrot Soup (local carrots & dairy + three pines farm-grown herbs)

Sautéed Fall Salad (local apples & kale + three pines farm-grown herbs)

Vegetables Wellington with a Rosemary Walnut Cream Sauce (featuring foraged prairie sage, three pines farm-grown herbs & greens, local dairy)

Prairie Wedding Cake (notes of milkweed, almond, and vanilla + a from-the-farm raspberry sauce) & Turkish Coffee

TIMELINE:

5:00pm Welcome / Guests arrive

Mix & Mingle Time / Live music and grazing bites / Conservation Station trailer

5:15pm Official Welcome / Overview of evening / History of Three Pines Farm

5:25pm Guided prairie walk with Justin Meissen, UNI Tallgrass Prairie Center

6:10pm Mix & Mingle Time / Explore Three Pines Farm / Conservation Station trailer

6:30pm Dinner service / Live music

8:30pm Event concludes

PLEASE NOTE:

· Due to the nature of this event, dietary accommodations cannot be made - thank you for your understanding.

· Menu is subject to change based on ingredient availability.

· This dinner is vegetarian-friendly.

· Guests are welcome to bring their own wine or beer to enjoy with their dinner (liquor is not allowed).

· Portions of the evening are weather-dependent. Please be comfortable knowing that there may be some changes to the schedule (for example, in the event of inclement weather, the prairie walk may not be possible, amongst other possible changes).

· The Farrowing House, where the seated dinner will be held, is a climate-controlled space. The outdoor portions of the evening are not, of course.

· If you would like to attend the dinner, but are unable to participate in the prairie walk, you are welcome to relax back on the farm during that time – we are happy to make every accommodation we possibly can. Please reach out if you have any questions (kara@threepinesfarm.org).

· Please wear clothing & footwear that is appropriate for a prairie walk. There will be uneven terrain (we will be walking on mowed grass trails) that requires sturdy shoes. Long sleeves and long pants are recommended. Please consider wearing sunscreen & insect repellent. Nuisance plants and wildlife (e.g., wild parsnip & other plants that could cause skin irritation, mosquitoes, ticks, and more) are very possible in natural prairie settings.

DETAILS:

Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2026

Time: 5:00 – 8:30pm

Price Per Person: $120

Refund Policy: Due to the nature of this event, refunds are not allowed after the registration date, but you are welcome to send someone in your place. Please email kara@threepinesfarm.org if you have any changes.

Seating is limited for this unique and exclusive evening that reflects shared values of sustainability, education, connection, and the power of place—in an intimate setting of quiet beauty in the heart of the Cedar Valley.