The application period for 2019 Frontera Farmer Foundation grants is officially open. Ready to apply? Please follow this link. The deadline to apply is March 1. About the Frontera Farmer Foundation The Frontera Farmer Foundation is committed to promoting small, sustainable Midwestern farms serving the Chicago area, by providing them with capital development grants. Small … Continue reading 2019 Frontera Farmer Foundation Grant Applications Available Now →

Ready to apply? Please follow this link. The deadline to apply is March 13th. About the Frontera Farmer FoundationThe Frontera Farmer Foundation is committed to promoting small, sustainable Midwestern farms serving the Chicago area by providing them with capital development grants. Small local farms, which often struggle financially, are more likely to promote biodiversity by planting a … Continue reading 2023 Frontera Farmer Foundation Applications are Open! →

A Frontera Farmer Foundation grant allowed Ellis Farmily Farm to purchase two pieces of equipment: a rototiller (which they call "our right hand piece of equipment") and a mulcher ("a blessing"). The Frontera Farmer Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, is committed to promoting small, sustainable farms serving the Chicago area by providing them with … Continue reading About Frontera Farmer Foundation →

The renovation of a dilapidated hog barn, the creation of a mobile goat milking parlor and the purchase of a supercharged egg washing machine are just a few of the projects that will be funded in 2016 with grant money from the Frontera Farmer Foundation, a nonprofit started by Rick and Deann Bayless and the staffs … Continue reading Announcing the 2016 Frontera Farmer Foundation Grant Winners! →

It is always a special day when we call up hardworking Midwest farmers to let them know our board has awarded their farms with capital development grants. Sometimes they cry. Sometimes we do too. “Oh, I think I might start dancing,” said one farmer when getting the good news. Another farmer screamed so loud, for … Continue reading Announcing the 2018 Frontera Farmer Foundation Grant Winners! →

The Frontera Farmer Foundation is proud to announce the recipient of our 2019 grants. This year, our committee has awarded 14 Midwest family farms with $170,000. Raised by our volunteer restaurant staff throughout the year — aided by our annual one-of-a-kind dinner and auction — the grant money will be used for on-farm capital development … Continue reading Announcing the 2019 Frontera Farmer Foundation Grantees! →

The application for 2021 grants is now available! The deadline to complete the application is 11 p.m. (CST) on Sunday, March 14. Before applying, please carefully read the eligibility requirements. Comments, concerns and questions can be sent to Frontera Farmer Foundation director Casey Cora by emailing ccora@fronteragrill.net 2021 Frontera Farmer Foundation Application *** About the … Continue reading Apply Now 2021 Frontera Farmer Foundation Grants! →

Each summer we throw a huge benefit dinner for our Frontera Farmer Foundation, which supports sustainable farms throughout the Midwest. It’s a night full of thrilling raffles, auctions and incredible food. This year, we’re getting the party started early with a special online auction featuring once-in-a-lifetime prizes. Bidding begins 8 a.m. Feb. 24 and ends … Continue reading Auction Alert! Win an Epic James Beard Weekend Starring Rick Bayless →

Starting today, you can help us celebrate the delicious craft (and ensure the livelihoods) of hardworking Midwestern family farmers by participating in our online auction to benefit our Frontera Farmer Foundation. Here’s the link to the auction page. We have some truly amazing prizes up for auction, including a private cooking demo for 14 hosted by … Continue reading Bid on Our Online Auction, Win Amazing Prizes and Help Midwest Family Farmers →

Midwestern farmers are encouraged to apply for the Frontera Farm Foundation’s annual round of grant funding, which sends up to $12,000 to a handful of local farms serving the Chicago area. The deadline to apply for 2015 grants is March 1. Applicants will need to submit, via email or U.S. Postal Service, an application detailing … Continue reading Deadline Looms for Frontera Farm Foundation Grants →

Chef Rick Bayless will once again host the annual Dinner Like No Other, our signature fundraising event for the Frontera Farmer Foundation. The 2015 event takes place June 14 at Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, where Rick and his staff will create six never-before-seen courses featuring early summer produce, meat and fish sourced exclusively from local … Continue reading Dinner Like No Other 2015: Tickets on Sale Now! →

It’s time once again for Dinner Like No Other, our annual fundraising bash for the Frontera Farmer Foundation. Bring your party shoes, because it’s going to be our biggest, best year yet. This year’s event takes place 6 p.m. Sunday, October 16. Reserve your spot by calling our Hospitality Center at 312-661-1434. The rundown: $475  VIP … Continue reading Dinner Like No Other 2016: Tickets on Sale Now! →

It’s that time of year!  Tickets for our annual Dinner Like No Other are on sale now. Go here to get yours. Our annual blowout dinner party is the main fundraiser for the Frontera Farmer Foundation, which supports Midwest family farms with capital development grants.  Tables always fill up fast, so act quickly to secure your spot at this always-amazing event, … Continue reading Dinner Like No Other 2019: Tickets on Sale Now! →

It’s been way too long! We are thrilled to say that tickets for our annual “Dinner Like No Other” are on sale now. Our annual blowout dinner party benefitting the Frontera Farmer Foundation takes place Sunday, Oct. 17 at Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. Tables always fill up fast, so act quickly to secure your spots. … Continue reading Dinner Like No Other 2021 →

We’re changing things up a bit. Our annual Dinner Like No Other fundraiser is set for Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016 at Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. It’s a departure from our typical summertime bash, sure, but the new fall date gives us a little more time to make this year’s auction and dinner the best it’s ever been. … Continue reading Dinner Like No Other Has a New Date! →

The Frontera Farmer Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting small, sustainable farms serving the Chicago area by providing them with capital development grants. The Foundation envisions a year-round interchange between sustainable farmers and consumers, including farmers’ market patrons and chefs, in which seasonal local agriculture provides the foundation for sustainable regional cuisine. We … Continue reading Donate to the FFF →

We’re in great company. FoodTank, a website that advocates for “environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity, and poverty,” has credited Rick Bayless and the Frontera Farmer Foundation as one of 24 chefs who are affecting change within the food system. And wouldn’t you know it, right now the Frontera Farmer Foundation is … Continue reading FoodTank Says We’re Cooking Change Outside the Kitchen →

The application period for 2023 grants will open in January 2023. Comments, concerns and questions can be sent to farmerfoundation@fronteragrill.net or ksullivan@fronteragrill.net • • • About the Frontera Farmer FoundationThe Frontera Farmer Foundation is committed to promoting small, sustainable Midwestern farms serving the Chicago area, by providing them with capital development grants. Small local farms, … Continue reading Grant Applications →

Your contributions make a huge difference. Wanna see how they help? Use the dropdown menu below to find information on all farmers the foundation has funded recently.  In each section you'll find the names and locations of the farms, along with links to their websites where you can learn much more, like how and where to … Continue reading Meet the FFF Farmers →

JOIN IS FOR THE 2023 FRONTERA FARMER FOUNDATION DINNER! Tickets are available here: https://www.exploretock.com/fronterafarmerfoundation Since its official start in 2003, the Frontera Farmer Foundation has been dedicated to changing the lives of those behind midwestern family farms. This year is no different. We are awarding $200,000 to 18 different farms with projects as diverse as … Continue reading Our favorite day of the year is here! →

We’re making even bigger plans for this year’s Dinner Like No Other, our fundraising party for the Frontera Farmer Foundation. Stay tuned for announcements on ticket sales!

When it comes to raising much-needed funds to insure that local farms thrive, this party will be the G.O.A.T. — the greatest of all time. Hyperbole? We don't think so. We are flying in Juan Ramón Cárdenas, Mexico's greatest master of Mexico's most legendary specialty, fire-roasted cabrito. And he's going to prepare his showstopping specialty … Continue reading The G.O.A.T. Sunday Funday Will Be The Greatest Party of All Time →

The nation is losing some of its best farmland. Nearly four million acres of irrigated land are lost each year because fertilizers and pesticides used in conventional agriculture choke irrigated soils with salt, costing some $11 billion in reduced productivity annually.1 In Illinois, we lost 160,900 acres during 1992-1997—a 137% increase in the rate of loss over … Continue reading Why Support Organic Farming? →