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Salmon BBQ Event 2022
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Salmon BBQ 2022
It may seem like a contradiction in terms… Eating salmon to support Salmon Restoration, but the Salmon Trollers Association has been doing great work with this event for years. I’ve had the good fortune of participating in several different ways to support this event since I moved up here more than 20 years ago, but this year I think was the most fun, and I’ll tell you why.
Generous people, voting with their dollars to support a cause that has delicious implications.
This event is one of the largest events in Fort Bragg every year, often with a total of attendance of 3000 guests or more. Most of the folks who attend are tourists and most of the locals who attend are actually working on the periphery to make sure all these guests have a memorable experience. From the ticket takers, to the corn shuckers, to the salad spinners, to the garlic bread team with their bread mops soaked with that delicious stinking rose butter, and finally to the dignitaries wearing their best bright yellow rain gear, grilling up salmon to the delight of the masses.
(Image: Paul Katzeff on left, Joe Seta on Right)
So at the end of that buffet line you find musical entertainment, the ice cream from our local legendary Cowlicks ice cream parlor, fine craft beer from North Coast Brewing Company (also a certified B Corp.) and Thanksgiving Coffee. We had cold brew, three different hot brews and the ability for the first time to sell bags of coffee.
(Image: Crowed at the Worlds Largest Salmon BBQ, Fort bragg, CA)
The morning starts with coffee for the volunteers, who are all extremely appreciative. Then, at about 11 AM… The line forms. That line doesn’t stop until 6 PM. For the next seven hours, Paul and I look like a pair of octopus pals, each with eight arms going in every direction, telling stories while serving and explaining the difference between light roasts, dark roasts and cold brew. We live for that kind of connection to our audience.
Luckily, in the early afternoon, Jonah and Joan Katzeff arrived to give us a break, and allow us to feast like all the other salmon supporters. Wading out into the sea of picnic tables, all made by aspiring craftsman from Parlin Forks Conservation Camp, it’s inspiring to see the instant community that gets established, just by sitting next to someone from another place, from another experience, and all gathered together for the support of the salmon.
Back to it after the break, the audience primarily switched from hot brew to cold brew as the sun starts to reclaim its rightful position overhead instead of the often-present marine layer of clouds. Did I tell you that we were giving all this coffee away? Well, the coffee was ‘free’ in exchange for a donation, in any amount, to Salmon Restoration. When we took an average at the end of the day people were donating about six bucks per cup of coffee… Generous people, voting with their dollars to support a cause that has delicious implications. (Image: Momma Grows Funk Band with crowd at Worlds Largest Salmon BBQ, Fort Bragg, CA)
Below are the coffees that were served at the Salmon BBQ for you to enjoy at home.
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![Native Cinema 2024]()
Native Cinema 2024
Thanksgiving Coffee Company had the privilege to co-sponsor the “Native Cinema” event along with Xa Kako Dile: in the main tent at the 2024 Mendocino Film Festival. The sold out audience was alerted at the introduction that the next two and a half hours could make them feel “uncomfortable” and the truths that were shared at this event were even more than that word conveyed.
Corine Pearce - Pomo Basket Weaver
There were beautiful short films on the artistry and teaching of the world-renowned Pomo basketry with Corine Pearce, and the resurgence and validation of the Yurok tribe’s forest management practices using fire which has been practiced in this region for millennia. These controlled burns have now been adopted by Cal Fire and other agencies as extremely effective in controlling dangerous undergrowth and revitalizing the land.
Margo Robbins of the Yurok Tribe bringing prescribed fire back in the film - Fire Tender
This led up to the most significant part of the event – a documentary on MMIW – Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. It was horrifying to learn that we live in parts of the top 5 most dangerous parts of California for Indigenous Women, and also for other Indigenous people (MMIP) as well. Here is a snapshot of an all-too-horrific story: Missing of Murdered Indigenous People Fact Sheet
"The next 2 1/2 hours could make you uncomfortable"
Image from the documentary "We Ride For Her"
raising awareness of the heartbreaking realities
The film WE RIDE FOR HER (directed by Prairie Rose Seminole & Katrina Lillian Sorrentino) follows the birth of a group of motorcycle riding indigenous women who created this group to raise awareness of the heartbreaking realities and to aid in the search for their missing sisters and brothers. This documentary should be required education for all Californians.
History of Thanksgiving Coffee Company and Native Cinema:
Native Cinema 2024
read more -
![Coffee Center Opens at UC Davis]()
University of California Davis Coffee Center
The University of California – Davis opened a new $6 million dollar Coffee Center on May 3, 2024, with all appropriate ruffles and flourishes, and I was proud to attend.
Over the last 9 years their elective course, Introduction to Coffee, has soared its way to being the most popular elective course offered to undergraduate students, outpacing “Into to Beer” and “Human Sexuality” making a strong case that to the UC Davis student body – coffee is more important than alcohol and/or sex.
Ribbon Cutting for the UC Davis Coffee Center Opening
COFFEE RESEARCH
Fascinating work was showcased on a wide variety of coffee topics, including:
- Thermodynamics of To Go Coffee - What keeps To-Go Coffee Warmest? Study by undergrads.
(Spoiler alert… It’s the lid.) - Impacts of Total Immersion Brewing On Cold Coffee Flavor
- Climate Change Impacts on Coffee Growing Regions in Brazil
- A new mobile application for coffee bean grading and evaluation using color, size and defect analysis – all on a mobile phone.
Representative Raw Data -Thermodynamics of To Go Coffee
What does chemical Engineering have to do with coffee - source UC Davis Coffee Center Opening
SPEAKERS
Itenerary for UC Davis Coffee Center Opening
It was also fascinating that all these studies needed to be underwritten (in one way or another) by some type of sponsorship. The sponsorships ranged from in-kind sponsors who donated 100 cups, in 4 sizes, to Coffee roasters who donated services, to equipment suppliers who donated the funds necessary to do thousands of measurements to prove their thesis. Our higher education facilities are simply not able to fund all these kinds of projects without external financial aid, so they are very vocally appreciative for those who contribute sponsorships.
Upper left, Doctoral Candidate Laudia Anoke-Bempah, upper right Dr. William Ristenpart, Center, Chancellor Gary May, lower left, Peter Giuliano SCA, lower right Richard L. Corsi
The Coffee Center Building
The building itself was repurposed from previously unrelated research purposes, but remodeled to allow for classrooms, cupping labs, roasting, testing, green coffee storage, and more.
Attendees at the opening of the Coffee Center at UC Davis
Interior of the new Coffee Center at UC Davis
We are excited for the future to see what this program will mean for the next wave of bright new minds in the coffee industry and for the deeper appreciation of coffee to thousands of students per year. Cheers!
UC Davis student roasted beans, from Royal Coffee, chocolate covered by students as well.
Coffee Center Opens at UC Davis
read more - Thermodynamics of To Go Coffee - What keeps To-Go Coffee Warmest? Study by undergrads.
Native Cinema 2024
Thanksgiving Coffee Company had the privilege to co-sponsor the “Native Cinema” event along with Xa Kako Dile: in the main tent at the 2024 Mendocino Film Festival. The sold out audience was alerted at the introduction that the next two and a half hours could make them feel “uncomfortable” and the truths that were shared at this event were even more than that word conveyed.
Corine Pearce - Pomo Basket Weaver
There were beautiful short films on the artistry and teaching of the world-renowned Pomo basketry with Corine Pearce, and the resurgence and validation of the Yurok tribe’s forest management practices using fire which has been practiced in this region for millennia. These controlled burns have now been adopted by Cal Fire and other agencies as extremely effective in controlling dangerous undergrowth and revitalizing the land.
Margo Robbins of the Yurok Tribe bringing prescribed fire back in the film - Fire Tender
This led up to the most significant part of the event – a documentary on MMIW – Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. It was horrifying to learn that we live in parts of the top 5 most dangerous parts of California for Indigenous Women, and also for other Indigenous people (MMIP) as well. Here is a snapshot of an all-too-horrific story: Missing of Murdered Indigenous People Fact Sheet
"The next 2 1/2 hours could make you uncomfortable"
Image from the documentary "We Ride For Her"
raising awareness of the heartbreaking realities
The film WE RIDE FOR HER (directed by Prairie Rose Seminole & Katrina Lillian Sorrentino) follows the birth of a group of motorcycle riding indigenous women who created this group to raise awareness of the heartbreaking realities and to aid in the search for their missing sisters and brothers. This documentary should be required education for all Californians.
History of Thanksgiving Coffee Company and Native Cinema:
Native Cinema 2024
read more
University of California Davis Coffee Center
The University of California – Davis opened a new $6 million dollar Coffee Center on May 3, 2024, with all appropriate ruffles and flourishes, and I was proud to attend.
Over the last 9 years their elective course, Introduction to Coffee, has soared its way to being the most popular elective course offered to undergraduate students, outpacing “Into to Beer” and “Human Sexuality” making a strong case that to the UC Davis student body – coffee is more important than alcohol and/or sex.
Ribbon Cutting for the UC Davis Coffee Center Opening
COFFEE RESEARCH
Fascinating work was showcased on a wide variety of coffee topics, including:
- Thermodynamics of To Go Coffee - What keeps To-Go Coffee Warmest? Study by undergrads.
(Spoiler alert… It’s the lid.) - Impacts of Total Immersion Brewing On Cold Coffee Flavor
- Climate Change Impacts on Coffee Growing Regions in Brazil
- A new mobile application for coffee bean grading and evaluation using color, size and defect analysis – all on a mobile phone.
Representative Raw Data -Thermodynamics of To Go Coffee
What does chemical Engineering have to do with coffee - source UC Davis Coffee Center Opening
SPEAKERS
Itenerary for UC Davis Coffee Center Opening
It was also fascinating that all these studies needed to be underwritten (in one way or another) by some type of sponsorship. The sponsorships ranged from in-kind sponsors who donated 100 cups, in 4 sizes, to Coffee roasters who donated services, to equipment suppliers who donated the funds necessary to do thousands of measurements to prove their thesis. Our higher education facilities are simply not able to fund all these kinds of projects without external financial aid, so they are very vocally appreciative for those who contribute sponsorships.
Upper left, Doctoral Candidate Laudia Anoke-Bempah, upper right Dr. William Ristenpart, Center, Chancellor Gary May, lower left, Peter Giuliano SCA, lower right Richard L. Corsi
The Coffee Center Building
The building itself was repurposed from previously unrelated research purposes, but remodeled to allow for classrooms, cupping labs, roasting, testing, green coffee storage, and more.
Attendees at the opening of the Coffee Center at UC Davis
Interior of the new Coffee Center at UC Davis
We are excited for the future to see what this program will mean for the next wave of bright new minds in the coffee industry and for the deeper appreciation of coffee to thousands of students per year. Cheers!
UC Davis student roasted beans, from Royal Coffee, chocolate covered by students as well.