JACKSON, Wyo. – At first glance, a wealth management firm and local farmer’s market don’t seem to have much in common. However, if you ask the team at Wind River Capital Management they would beg to differ. As the People’s Market Lead Sponsor for the second year in a row, the firm believes supporting the growth of the local food system is just one of the many benefits of working with an organization like Slow Food in the Tetons.
Supporting the People’s Market is a natural fit for how they approach financial advice with their clients. Wind River Capital Management believes strongly in the benefits of impact investing: a strategy that couples an individual’s financial goals with investments that strive to have a positive impact at the local and/or global level.
Commonly referred to on Wall Street as Environmental, Social & Governance Investing (ESG), it’s an approach that helps investors align their personal values with their financial goals. For this local firm, the People’s Market, which sets up just blocks from their offices, is one way for them to put their practice into action right in their home community.
“We share Slow Food’s vision for a vibrant market,” says Wind River Capital Management Co-founder Cody Lockhart. “In addition to the sustainable benefits, the local market gives our valley farmers another source of revenue. It also allows community members, and aspiring backyard growers like those in our office, the opportunity to connect with local growers. It’s a great way to get together outdoors with friends and neighbors as well.”
“This was always the plan,” explains Scott Steen, Executive Director of Slow Food in the Tetons. “The People’s Market serves as the touchstone for the larger idea of a healthy, sustainable local food network.” The plan is working, and the impact is measurable.
The energy generated by the People’s Market has indeed helped to grow the Slow Food organization and garner support for additional programming. This summer’s lineup includes additional opportunities to shop for local and regional produce and packaged items through the weekly Online Marketplace and Farm Stand.
Kids Cooking and Farming Camps offer young people the chance to spend time on a local farm, harvest their own ingredients and prepare locally sourced meals in an outdoor kitchen. The Jackson Hole Community Gardens Project provides neighborhood gardening and green space as well as excess vegetable harvests that are shared with those in need.
The Veggie Voucher program supplements the purchase of local, healthy food options for those with limited access, and this fall’s Farm to Fork festival will be an all day, all ages celebration of the dynamic nexus between food and community.
As the list of local food programming continues to grow, the People’s Market remains at its core. “We are particularly proud of the leadership role the market has taken on during COVID,” says Steen. “We have worked closely with Teton County Environmental Health and other local officials to adhere to safety guidelines and ensure a continued gathering of producers, shoppers, families and friends.”
Wind River partners are thrilled to be a part of this success story. This sponsorship is a fulfillment of their goals to align sound investment strategy with meeting community needs, solving problems and creating opportunities. “Our hope is that the People’s Market continues to be a place that fosters both commerce and goodwill,” adds Lockhart.
About Wind River Capital Management
Wind River Capital Management is an independently owned and operated wealth management firm based in Jackson, Wyoming that has been dedicated to providing sound, unbiased financial advice to individuals, families and institutions since 1982. www.wrcmjh.com
