8th Annual
Farm to Table Dinner
To Benefit Schiff Natural Lands Trust
Friday, September 25, 2026
Six o'clock in the evening
at Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill
Chester, New Jersey
Schiff’s Farm to Table Benefit Dinner is one of our most important annual fundraising events. Every ticket purchased and sponsorship secured helps support Schiff’s mission of land preservation, stewardship, and environmental education.
For the first time, the gates of one of New Jersey’s last working heritage cider mills and orchards will open for an intimate evening of discovery and connection. Experience the charm and authenticity of Hacklebarney Farm, a fifth-generation family farm rich in agricultural tradition and heritage.
An Evening at Hacklebarney Farm
Enjoy a rare, guided immersion into regenerative apple orcharding — the living philosophy behind every cider pressed.
Step inside the mill for a private cider pressing, from tree to glass.
Sip cocktails as you listen to live bluegrass from The Lazy Sky.
Dine by candlelight outdoors in a uniquely curated setting, surrounded by rolling orchards. Savor the flavors of the season, drawn from local farms and fields, in a three-course menu that blends rustic warmth with an elevated culinary experience, created by Chef Zach Fabian.
Connect with local agriculture and community, while celebrating stewardship through an immersive farm-to-table dinner unlike any other.
Event Details
Ticket Access
Schiff members receive privileged early access to tickets in July. Become a member of Schiff today to secure your place at the table.
General reservations open to the public in mid-August.
Attendance
An intimate evening with seating limited to 200 guests.
This event is exclusively for guests 21 years of age and older.
Attire
Elevated countryside attire.
Comfortable flat or block-heeled footwear is recommended for walking on the orchard lawns.
Farm History
Experience the beauty of the Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill orchard and grounds while supporting the mission of the Schiff Natural Lands Trust.
Nestled in the pastoral, countryside hills of Chester, a historic Morris County property, Hacklebarney Farm has been owned and operated by five generations of the Pitney descendants since first purchasing the property in the mid-19th century.
VIP Experience
This season, Schiff's Farm to Table Benefit Dinner invites VIP guests to go beyond the table—and into the heart of the harvest.
Arriving as early as 5:30 PM to check in, guests of the immersive VIP Experience will begin their evening at 6:00 PM, taking guests on an interactive journey through three educational and sensory opportunities rooted in land stewardship, food systems, and artisanal production.
Apple Pressing Demonstration & Cider Tasting
Guided Land Tour with an Agriculturalist
Honey Infusion Workshop & Seed Collection Demonstration
A Taste of Tradition
Inside the cider mill, the evening begins with the rhythm of the press. Guests will gather in the press room as apples are transformed into fresh cider before their eyes—followed by a tasting that captures the essence of the season in every sip.
Walk the Land
From there, guests will step into the fields for a guided walk with local farmers and agriculturalists. Along the way, stories of the land unfold—of soil, seasons, and the quiet work that sustains our food systems.
It’s a rare opportunity to slow down, ask questions, and connect directly with the people who grow what we eat.
Sweetness & Sustainability
The experience concludes with a hands-on honey infusion workshop, where guests will blend raw honey with apples, herbs, and botanicals—creating their own jar of seasonal flavor to take home.
Alongside this, guests will learn the art of seed saving—an act of preservation, renewal, and hope for future harvests.
An Evening Rooted in Connection
This VIP experience is more than a prelude to dinner—it is a celebration of land, community, and the beauty of seasonal living.
Through taste, touch, and storytelling, guests are invited to reconnect with where food comes from—and why it matters. VIP guests will also enjoy cocktails and live music provided by The Lazy Sky prior to entering the dining tent.
Orchard Dinner
Arriving as early as 6:00 PM to check in, Orchard Dinner guests will begin their evening at 6:15 PM with cocktails and live music provided by The Lazy Sky.
All guests then enjoy the farm to table dinner consisting of a three-course menu drawn from local farms and fields, crafted by Chef Zach Fabian.
Tickets
Schiff members receive privileged early access to tickets in July (watch your email). Become a member of Schiff today to secure your place at the table.
General reservations open to the public August 17th.
VIP Experience – $350 each
The immersive VIP experience begins at 6:00 pm, taking guests on an interactive journey through three educational and sensory opportunities rooted in land stewardship, food systems, and artisanal production, followed by cocktails and live music prior to dinner service in the orchard consisting of a three-course locally sourced seasonal menu crafted by chef Zach Fabian.
Orchard Dinner – $275 each
Guests of the Dinner Experience will begin their evening at 6:15 pm with cocktails and live music prior to dinner service in the orchard consisting of a three-course locally sourced seasonal menu crafted by chef Zach Fabian.
Our Chef: Zach Fabian
Zach Fabian is a Private Chef currently operating in the tri state area. Born and bred in Michigan, this is where cooking would put its stamp on his life. Zach fostered an interest and respect for cooking as young as high school while learning under his mother and father at their family restaurant, The Van Camp House.
Like many relationships, interest and respect grew to love over the years. This led to Zach completing his bachelor’s degree in 2011 at the Culinary Institute of America. Upon graduation, with his grandmother’s blessing and in true Frank Sinatra fashion, it was obvious to him he had to go to New York City.
Over the years many restaurants would become home including August, Oceana, King & Little Park. It wouldn’t be until 2017 that he would be given his first kitchen to run at Tokyo Record Bar and Airs Champagne Parlor in the West Village. Fabian ran this kitchen for 6 successful years and with the help of every purveyor at the Union Square Market, he would hone in on his specialty and style of cooking; elevated, fun and most importantly, seasonal fare.
Unknowing like most in their 20s, he could never know that his experience at TRB & ACP would lead him to life as he currently knows it. Almost a decade later, Fabian, full of gratitude, is thankful for every moment.
That gratitude raised him to the next step and with the unwavering support of long time restaurant regulars turned clients he was able to create work for himself. Their belief in his cooking allowed him the ultimate gift and goal in this industry – more time for what’s important and for Zach, that’s freedom and family.
When asked about his inspiration his answer remains – ingredient driven cuisine that allows the season’s bounty to shine, fun preparation and perspective.
Three-Course Rustic Beef Menu
Gather with friends, family, and neighbors for an unforgettable evening celebrating the mission of Schiff Natural Lands Trust and enjoy the bounty of our beautiful region. The 2026 Farm to Table Benefit Dinner will be a celebration of the season, thoughtfully crafted by Chef Zach Fabian and inspired by the rich agricultural heritage of our local community. Sourced from family farms located within just 10 miles of the preserve, each ingredient has been carefully grown and selected to showcase the freshest flavors of New Jersey’s harvest. Featuring the best of New Jersey’s seasonal harvest—including apples, onions, squash, late-season tomatoes, and fresh greens—the menu reflects both the flavors of the season and the spirit of our community. Guests will enjoy a beef short rib menu option featuring seasonal favorites such as crisp apples, sweet onions, hearty squash, vine-ripened tomatoes, and vibrant greens, while guests who prefer a vegan option will be delighted with a vegan dish celebrating the season, making for an exceptional dining experience while supporting the mission of Schiff Natural Lands Trust.
Our Farm Sponsor
River Bend Farm in Far Hills, NJ
River Bend Farm is dedicated to producing healthy, all natural meats for our local community. All of their animals are humanely raised without antibiotics and hormones. Additionally, raising their animals in a natural, low-stress environment, helps provide a more tender and appetizing product (plus happy and healthy animals). They also take care of their land, farming in a sustainable way that regenerates the soil. All the nutrients from the manure are recycled back into the soil. The cattle do the majority of the work, spreading nutrients for the next crop of grass as they graze. Manure from winter feeding areas is also spread back on the pastures and hay fields. They care for the soil to grow good grass to raise delicious meat! River Bend Farm also runs a beloved farm stand offering an array of beef, pork, chicken products, fresh seasonal greens, dairy offerings, and pantry needs.
Our Event Sponsors
We are so very thrilled to have the support of our Event Sponsors to ensure the success of Schiff’s Annual Farm to Table Benefit Dinner. Please join us in thanking them for their generous support.
Legacy Circle
Heirloom
Orchard
Cultivator
Sapling
Become a Farm to Table Sponsor
Join community leaders, local businesses, conservation advocates, and friends of Schiff as a sponsor of our 8th Annual Farm to Table Benefit Dinner on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the historic Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill in Chester.
This signature event celebrates local agriculture, environmental stewardship, and a shared commitment to preserving the natural spaces that enrich our communities. Set against the backdrop of a fifth-generation family farm, the evening will bring together more than 200 guests for an unforgettable experience in support of Schiff Natural Lands Trust.
As Schiff approaches its 50th anniversary, we are building momentum for the future while continuing to steward nearly 780 acres of forests, fields, streams, and trails and providing environmental education and outdoor experiences for nature enthusiasts of all ages. Sponsorship of the Farm to Table Benefit Dinner is an investment in this important work and helps ensure that Schiff remains a vibrant community resource for generations to come.
In addition to supporting Schiff’s mission, sponsors receive meaningful recognition and visibility among an engaged audience of community members, business leaders, and conservation supporters throughout Morris County and the Somerset Hills region.
We invite you to partner with us and help make the 2026 Farm to Table Benefit Dinner our most successful celebration yet.
Why Sponsor?
- Support the preservation and stewardship of nearly 780 acres of protected open space
- Help provide environmental education and nature-based programming for all ages
- Connect your business with more than 200 event attendees and thousands of supporters reached through Schiff’s communications channels
- Demonstrate your commitment to conservation, community, and the future of our region
- Be part of Schiff’s journey toward its 50th Anniversary and beyond
Unable to Attend?
If you are unable to attend, we invite you to make a regrets donation and help ensure the impact of this special benefit dinner extends far beyond those gathered at the table.