Strolling of the Heifers

Local food festival in Vermont, US

Strolling of the Heifers was an annual local food parade and festival hosted in Brattleboro, Vermont each year.^[1] The organization behind the parade expanded to support other local food initiatives, most notably a Locavore Index, which evaluates the availability and policy support for local food in American states.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

The celebration was founded in 2002 by Orly Munzing, with a focus on sustainable agriculture in the region.^[1] The parade was inspired by the Running of the Bulls, but instead of enraged bulls, groomed heifers walked down the main street wearing garlands and flower decked hats.^[6]

Senator Bernie Sanders attended the parade nearly every year,^[7]^[8] and has been credited with inspiring the parade by founder Orly Munzing.^[9]

In December, 2022 Munzing announced that the parade would be discontinued and the funds disbursed between three organizations; The Winston Prouty Center (a center for child and family development), The Downtown Brattleboro Alliance and the Agritech Institute for Small Farms.^[10]

Other programs

Strolling of the Heifers expanded from just running a parade, to also include small business development programs and local food advocacy programs.^[11] For example, they ran a culinary skills program for training the local workforce.^[12] The organization also published its annual Locavore Index, which rates the capacity of different states for providing local food.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

The Strolling of the Heifers owned The River Garden, a building in downtown Brattleboro.^[13]

References

1 2 Maddi Shaw (June 6, 2016). "Thousands turn out for Strolling of the Heifers". The Brattleboro Reformer.
1 2 "Strolling of the Heifers 2016 Locavore Index: Which states are most committed to locally-sourced food?". Strolling of the Heifers. Archived from the original on 2017-05-09. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
1 2 Gina Vercesi (April 21, 2017). "Five ways to experience Burlington, Vt". The Boston Globe.
1 2 Amy Grisak (May 10, 2017). "Farm to fork movement takes hold". Great Falls Tribune.
1 2 "Year After Year, the Same State Ranks as the Best for Local Food". TakePart. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
↑ "Strolling of the Heifers Parade". Brattleboro Community Television. 2017.
↑ "Strolling of the Heifers". Friends of Bernie Sanders. June 6, 2015.
↑ Howard Weiss-Tisman (June 4, 2015). "Strolling of the Heifers: Sanders to march in annual Brattleboro event on Saturday". The Berkshire Eagle.
↑ "Strolling of the Heifers in Brattleboro". WCAX. June 6, 2015.
↑ "'Strolling of the Heifers' cow parade ends but mission will go on". 30 December 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
↑ "Sen. Sanders to Speak in Brattleboro on Strolling of the Heifers Entrepreneurship Grant" (Press release). Strolling of the Heifers. March 8, 2017.
↑ Wendy M. Levy. "A new path into the kitchen: Strolling of the Heifers Farm-to-Plate Apprenticeship Program hopes to guide more people into food-service jobs". The Commons. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
↑ Keese, Susan (July 23, 2013). "Strolling of the Heifers Founders to Buy Brattleboro River Garden". Vermont Public Radio.

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