When I think back to our inaugural edition in 2019, I’m struck by how much has transpired since then and the quality and quantity of people I’ve met. When appreciating the contributors and supporters of this publication, it’s not the length of time that’s of note, it’s the closeness of the relationships. I often speak of the deep connection I feel to those who make Edible Bozeman possible. I’ve had many relationships in my life, personal and professional, and those I’ve developed in this region have happened faster and seem to be more meaningful than most previous ones. There’s something truly special about the people in our region—the Last Best Place.
I recall all the people who supported us, even before there was a magazine to show them. Their passion for helping us tell the stories of local food and drink was palpable—and still is. I hadn’t found this response common in business, but some longtime locals explained to me that Montanans help each other. What a joy to discover! I leaned into the new reality quickly, treating people I’d known an incredibly short time as if we had long and deep relationships. In a world of “No,” the people in our community say “Yes.”
In October of 2022, my editor and I traveled to Denver for the Edible Communities Owners Meeting and Edible Institute, where we met colleagues from other regions and found inspiration from industry news that informs our publication. One feature of the conference was an awards dinner, simply called The Best of Edible. Edible Communities’ network of more than 80 hyper-local publications, from across North America, submit their best stories, recipes, photography, and illustrations. Hundreds of entries were submitted, representing the best content that appeared in Edible magazines in 2021. There are ten categories; Edible Bozeman won first place in two of them and was a finalist in a third. Of course, we were thrilled. What I’m most proud of is the breadth of the awards: Both writing and photography were acknowledged nationally.
The very small team of people who curate the contents for each quarterly issue didn’t win these awards alone. It was the product of the work done by many people who are part of our Edible Bozeman community. There are far too many names to mention here, but you can find them in our pages. The acknowledgement goes to all of us—this tremendous community, small in size but huge in heart. This magazine tells stories of how we sustain an industry of producers, and, at its core, it’s about people. The amazing, inspiring, and lovely people in our little part of the world.
Jackie Page
Publisher
