Strolling of the Heifers

Strolling of the Heifers is 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]

Festival

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 January, 2023 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]