Twin Cities Veg Fest is planned and coordinated by a committee of volunteers dedicated to making the event a success. With September 19 just around the corner, the committee is in high gear putting the final details together for this year’s hybrid in-person and virtual gathering. Meet the festival’s volunteer leadership team. They’re working with our staff and a team of 20 volunteers to orchestrate this year’s festival. Learn what they’re most excited about in 2021.
Lillie Gardner
Tell us about your role for Twin Cities Veg Fest.
I am Social Media Coordinator for Twin Cities Veg Fest as well as being co-chair alongside Nathan Gaut. I work with our social media team to create content, schedule posts, and connect with people virtually about Twin Cities Veg Fest. It’s fun to be part of the leadership team, which makes sure all the nuts and bolts of the Festival are in place — and, this year, includes learning a lot about EventHub, our new virtual event platform!
What inspired you to get involved with the Twin Cities Veg Fest?
I’ve been volunteering with Twin Cities Veg Fest for the past four years. I wanted to be more connected to the Twin Cities vegan community and to work on behalf of animals by spreading the word about how great plant-based food is!
What are you most looking forward to about this year’s festival?
I’m super excited to hear all of our amazing speakers and watch the cooking demos. I’m also looking forward to the virtual event experience, since it will be our first time having this component.
Nathan Gaut
Tell us about your role for Twin Cities Veg Fest.
I’m co-chair for the Twin Cities Veg Fest Planning committee.
What inspired you to get involved with the Twin Cities Veg Fest?
I had moved to the cities a few years back and wanted to get involved volunteering. The planning process for Twin Cities Veg Fest 2017 was starting up, and it was perfect fit for me to begin learning about CAA, their programs, and the vegan community in the Twin Cities! I’ve been on the committee for the past three Twin Cities Veg Fests and have had a blast getting to know the new committees each year.
What are you most looking forward to about this year’s festival?
I’m mostly looking forward to just having it back! It’ll be nice to have a large outdoor festival after a year of quarantine and social distancing. I’m really looking forward to trying all the new food items I’m sure our vendors will come up with!
Breanna Knutson
Tell us about your role for Twin Cities Veg Fest.
My role is assistant to the chairs, within this role I assist with general planning and really whatever anyone needs assistance with!
What inspired you to get involved with the Twin Cities Veg Fest?
I have been to Twin Cities Veg Fest the last four years and I have always had a lot of fun attending the event. I was vegetarian for a long time and by going to Twin Cities Veg Fest I learned more about the dairy and egg industry and how harmful it is to animals. I also learned how delicious vegan food could be and between those two things it motivated me to transition to becoming vegan. When I saw the opportunity to volunteer I thought this would be a great chance to get more involved within the vegan community and meet like-minded people!
What are you most looking forward to about this year’s festival?
I am excited to connect with the vendors and speakers as well as people attending the event! And of course, I am very excited to try all the delicious food!