On October 4, 2026, Tour de Farms returned for another memorable day of cycling, local food, and community in Fort Collins. Under beautiful sunny skies and comfortable fall temperatures, riders gathered at Verboten Brewing for a guided adventure through Northern Colorado’s agricultural landscape. Four groups set out that morning on a 20-plus-mile routes, visiting three local farms before returning to the brewery that afternoon. Along the way, riders enjoyed delicious food, conversations with local growers, and a firsthand look at the people and places that help sustain our regional food system.
A special highlight of this year’s Tour de Farms was the menu. For the first time, food served at the farm stops featured ingredients sourced from the farms along the route, with Chef Taylor of FoCo Cafe, a cafe & non-profit of shared responsibility that offers healthy and delicious meals to all people on a donation basis, transforming the harvest into creative dishes. Each stop offered a unique taste of Northern Colorado agriculture.
The first stop was Back Gate Farm, where riders enjoyed coffee, refreshing cucumber water, and freshly baked scones in two unique flavors: poblano pepper and lavender. Riders also heard from Compost Queen, located on the property, and learned about composting and sustainable practices that help build healthier soil and reduce waste.
Sustainability was another theme throughout this year’s ride. At Back Gate Farm, riders used cups provided by Foco Trash Mob, a nonprofit working to reduce single-use plastics through advocacy and practical solutions. This simple addition demonstrated how community events can encourage more sustainable habits while bringing people together.
The second stop brought riders to Well Fed Farmstead, where they sampled steamed beets with orange cashew cream, toasted walnuts, and fresh herbs, alongside crispy Hakurei turnips with sweet miso dipping sauce. The dishes highlighted the flavors of the farm’s seasonal harvest.
The final farm stop was Little Sun Farm, where riders enjoyed kale chips with guacamole and garlic hummus served with carrot sticks. The savory snacks provided a fresh and flavorful finish to the farm visits before riders climbed back onto their bikes for the final stretch of the route.
After a morning of pedaling and farm visits, riders returned to Verboten Brewing for lunch and a chance to celebrate with fellow participants. Verboten provided a choice of cheese or pepperoni pizza rolls, paired with a well-earned beer. It was the perfect way to relax and share stories from the ride.
A successful Tour de Farms takes a community effort. A heartfelt thank-you goes to HSD Law and OtterCares for sponsoring this year’s ride and supporting Bike Fort Collins’ mission of More Bikes. Safe Streets.
Participants also headed home with Tour de Farms keepsakes, including a canvas goodie bag and T-shirt provided by Go West T-Shirt Company, a water bottle provided by HSD Law, and a commemorative poster printed by Ink Works Printing. Thank you to New Belgium Brewing for providing extra tents and tables that helped make the event run smoothly.
Special thanks go to Dan Porter of Your Group Ride for photographing the day and capturing the people, places, and moments that make Tour de Farms such a special community event. We’re also grateful to Verboten Brewing for hosting our starting and finishing celebrations.
Tour de Farms is more than a bike ride. It celebrates the connections between cycling, local agriculture, sustainability, and community. Every mile brings people closer to the farms that feed us and reminds us of the value of supporting local businesses and working together.
Proceeds from Tour de Farms help advance Bike Fort Collins’ mission of More Bikes. Safe Streets. and support our bicycle advocacy initiatives, active living efforts, and Safe Routes to School programming, which brings bicycle and pedestrian safety education to thousands of students in our community.
Thank you to everyone who rode, volunteered, sponsored, hosted, cooked, photographed, and helped make Tour de Farms 2026 a success. We’re grateful to be part of such a supportive community and already look forward to another year of pedaling, discovering local farms, and celebrating the best of Northern Colorado. Until next time, keep riding and keep supporting local!
….Thank You again to our sponsors:
