If you love treasure hunts, a little competition, and learning more about the farms and local food businesses in Central Oregon, then you’ll want to dust off your John Deere hat and sign up for the Ultimate Scavenger’s High Desert Food Trail Scavenger Hunt, set for Sept. 19 in the Tumalo-Sisters area.
“We’ll start at the Tumalo Coffeehouse and end at the Lazy Z Ranch in Sisters,” said Joshua Savage, owner of Ultimate Scavenger. “I’ll give the teams envelopes with 15- 20 clues; then it’s mark, set, go!” This family-friendly event’s goal is to raise awareness about businesses associated with the High Desert Food Trail.
Each clue will have two parts: one part leading them to the location and the second part is what to do while they are at the location to prove that they were there, which might be something like taking a video of everyone picking tomatoes while singing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” for full points.
“Sometimes the teams will gather in a corner and figure out their route, but some teams rush out the door and hit the trail,” said Savage. Both strategies will be in play as teams vie for top prizes and bragging rights.
Savage has set up numerous scavenger hunts in Bend and the Northwest designed for private parties, corporate team building, or designed around a theme such as local history or breweries, which participants do on their own. But this scavenger hunt is a little different.
“The High Desert Food and Farm Alliance called me about setting up this hunt, as they got a grant to bring visibility to the Food Trail in a different format,” said Savage. “Every stop on the trail has something unique about it and I try to educate through adventure.”
The High Desert Food Trail is a network of over 60 businesses, such as farms, ranches, craft beverage producers, farmers markets, restaurants, and events associated with agricultural culinary and agritourism in Central Oregon. This self-guided trail is a program of the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance, which brings to light the growing agricultural and agrotourism scene in the region.
“Our local food system thrives because of the passionate people behind it,” said Kristin Points, executive director of the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance. “The High Desert Food Trail Scavenger Hunt is a celebration of those farmers, ranchers, and food businesses, inviting the community to explore new places, support local producers, and create lasting memories together.”
Tickets are available on the HDFFA website, hdffa.org, or through the Ultimate Scavenger Facebook page. Cost is $10 per person, plus handling cost, and advance registration is highly encouraged as space is limited.
Ultimate Scavenger High Desert Food Trail Scavenger Hunt
Sat., Sept. 19, Noon-4pm
Tumalo Coffeehouse
19855 4th St., Tumalo
Hdffa.org
$10
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