Mountain Roots to honor Hensley at 2026 Feast in the Field

Mountain Roots Food Project will honor longtime educator and school leader Sally Hensley as the 2026 Community Honoree at this year’s Feast in the Field, taking place Sunday, July 12, at Red Dog Ranch in Crested Butte.

Each year, Feast in the Field celebrates the relationships that connect food, agriculture, and community in the Gunnison Valley. This year, Mountain Roots is recognizing Sally Hensley for her decades of service to local children and families, and for the meaningful role she has played in helping school-based food and garden education take root across the valley.

Over the course of her career - from her early childhood leadership at Stepping Stones Children’s Center and Lake Preschool and Kindergarten to her years serving as principal at Gunnison and Crested Butte Elementary Schools - Sally has helped shape generations of young people and create the conditions children need to thrive.

“She understands that learning does not happen in isolation,” said Holly Conn, Executive Director of Mountain Roots Food Project. “It grows from care, stability, belonging, and helping every child feel seen and valued. Sally has helped create that kind of environment for children throughout the Gunnison Valley for decades.”

Mountain Roots leaders say Sally’s support and partnership helped open the door for meaningful collaboration between schools and community organizations, including school gardens, food education programs, and hands-on learning experiences that connect students to where food comes from and why it matters.

In school gardens and outdoor learning spaces, Sally saw opportunities for children to experience confidence, curiosity, pride, and connection. She also recognized the important role healthy food plays in helping students focus, participate, and succeed.

Reflecting on the students who shaped her career, Sally said simply, “I truly love these children and I’m going to miss them so much.”

The evening will also introduce the Growing Minds Education Fund, a new initiative created by Mountain Roots and inspired by Sally’s impact on youth education in the Gunnison Valley.

The Fund was established to help ensure that hands-on food and environmental learning opportunities continue to thrive for local students through programs such as school gardens, Farm to School education, nutrition and culinary experiences, environmental learning, and scholarships that help make youth programs accessible to all families.

“The Growing Minds Education Fund is about investing in the next generation,” said Holly Conn. “It reflects something Sally has modeled throughout her career - that education should help young people build meaningful connections to food, land, community, and each other.”

The Fund will support Mountain Roots youth education initiatives and partnerships throughout the Gunnison Valley, helping students gain practical skills, deepen their understanding of local food systems, and develop lifelong connections to the natural world.

“Over the years, Sally has touched the lives of so many children and families in this valley, including my own,” said Carol Blitz Smith, Treasurer of the Mountain Roots Board of Directors. “She has always led with compassion, steadiness, and a genuine belief in the potential of every child. Her impact reaches far beyond the classroom and will continue to shape this community for generations.”

Feast in the Field is Mountain Roots’ signature annual fundraiser, raising funds to support food security programs, year-round education activities, and farm and garden needs. Held outdoors beneath the summer sky at Red Dog Ranch in Crested Butte, the evening will feature a multi-course dinner prepared by Chef and Owner Matt Santor of Crested Butte Catering Company using locally and regionally sourced ingredients, along with live music, a local Maker’s Cocktail Hour, live and silent auctions, and a celebration of the people and partnerships that help nourish the Gunnison Valley.

Community members interested in attending or learning more about the Growing Minds Education Fund can visit mountainrootsfoodproject.org.