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**2025 Team VPA applications NOW OPEN - NO INITIATION FEE UNTIL DEC 13TH**
BLUEGRASS VEGFEST EXPERIENCE by VPA athlete Patrick Messenger

BLUEGRASS VEGFEST EXPERIENCE by VPA athlete Patrick Messenger

Can you spot Patrick in the picture?

"I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed being at and participating in the Bluegrass Vegfest in Louisville KY yesterday! The HUGE crowd at that event was w/o question the most diverse, eclectic, warm, cool crowd I've ever seen at a vegan event. There were people there from EVERY racial and ethnic group, age range, lifestyle and creed. There were biker-types, blue-haired hipsters and blue-haired older ladies. I saw families with kids and childless couples; teenagers in groups, and single people just hanging out. There were Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans, Indian Americans, Pacific Islanders, South-Asian Americans, straight, LGBTQ and I suspect, those who were gender fluid — EVERYONE was represented! Literally every American demographic seemed to be there, and amazingly everyone was comfortable and cool with each other.

I hate to sound trite or naive — but it was absolutely beautiful to see and experience! Much of the time I stood around looking on in what I can only describe as "wonderment" (wonder + amazement) just taking it all in. I hadn't experienced that kind of feeling since I'd been in the crowd at Barack Obama's first Inauguration. I was in an America I both recognized and didn't. It was certainly the country I wished for, but seldom see. I didn't want the day to end. The Bluegrass Vegfest was truly one of those amazing events where "you shoulda been there!” -Dr. Milton Mills
 
Did I get your attention?
 
2022 Bluegrass VegFest was amazing. It was held at Mellwood Arts Center, a former meat packing plant, in Louisville, Kentucky. Over 6000 people were in attendance, and this created an electric environment for attendees, vendors, restaurant owners, and speakers alike. 2023 Bluegrass VegFest will be held on July 15th in the same location, and we are ready to bring it again this year.
 
You read that right… We host our VegFest in a former meat packing plant. It is just removed from a small neighborhood, called Butchertown. Why? Because it brings the spirit of the present forward and vindicates our cause as the voice for the voiceless: the animals.
 
Sure, you may have read some reviews and critiques about our event having TOO MANY PEOPLE (there were 6000 of us!) and that vendors were unprepared for the turnout to be as large as it was (many of them sold out within the first 3 hours!). This did create long lines and waiting times for food, as well as packed walking and gathering spaces in and around the facilities, and the most filled parking lot I’ve seen at Mellwood Arts Center. EVER.
 
But if life has taught me anything, it’s that perspective is everything. I think this is a great “problem” to have. Why? Because it means there are a lot more people out there that want to step up and be the voice for the voiceless and that the VEGAN movement and lifestyle is mainstream and growing stronger than we anticipated! It means that there’s a lot more veg-curious folks out there and our event just became a springboard into the Vegan Revolution. And we are proud of our showing in 2022!
 
And you know what else? In 2023, we will be ready. Because you all showed up in a beautiful, unexpected, totally amazing way. And we appreciate every single one of you.
 
In 2022, we had some stellar speakers! Dawn Hilton-Williams kicked us off with an incredible cooking demonstration and tasting. Gene Baur, Co-Founder and President of Farm Sancutary was next. John “Badass Vegan” Lewis was third on the docket and my personal favorite speaker of the day. He was followed by Toni Okamoto, the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget. The final guest speaker for the day was none other than Dr. Milton Mills, who is featured in the Netflix documentary, “What The Health.” I’ve included their socials and websites at the bottom of this article. Please give them a follow so we can continue building this community together!
 
We also had an AMAZING lineup of vendors! From food trucks to pop up restaurants, non-profits and activists, to health practitioners and fitness pros, we had it all! Check out this link to see the full list of vendors: https://www.bluegrassvegfest.com/exhibitors
And if you’re interested in adding your business and brand to the 2023 Bluegrass VegFest, here’s the link for that: https://www.bluegrassvegfest.com/vendor-application
 
For those of you that joined us in 2022, THANK YOU. We are excited to have you back again in 2023. We hope that you’ll join us and invite a friend or two or 17 to come as well!
 
Peace, Love, and Veggie Grease,
 
Patrick Messenger
@louisvilleveganrunner
 
 
 -Photo Credit: Leo Weekly
SPEAKERS
Dawn Hilton-Williams
Dawn Hilton-Williams (@dawn_hiltonwilliams) • Instagram photos and videos
www.facebook.com/dawn.hiltonwilliams
Gene Baur
Gene Baur (@genebaur) • Instagram photos and videos
www.facebook.com/GeneBaurofFarmSanctuary
Gene Baur | The Conscience of the Food Movement - Farm Sanctuary
John “Badass Vegan” Lewis
J O H N • L E W I S • M.B.A (@badassvegan) • Instagram photos and videos
www.faceook.com/badassvegan
Home - Bad Ass Vegan badass
Toni Okamoto
Toni | Plant-Based on a Budget (@plantbasedonabudget) • Instagram photos and videos
Plant-Based on a Budget - Home | Facebook
Toni Okamoto (website)
Dr. Milton Mills
Milton Rene Mills (@miltonmillsmd) • Instagram photos and videos
Dr.Milton Mills – Plant Based Nation (drmiltonmillsplantbasednation.com)

MEET SOME OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS

In 2022 we had 100 Team Members. BE APART OF THE FAMILY AND SHARE YOUR STORY

Meet Team VPA member Renee @runtrails_eatplants . It is her second year on the team and she has been helping out behind the scenes on our IG @team_vpa and our FB pages"Life is too short to stay inside your comfort zone, reach for the sky. I’m Renee and I am an ultrarunner living outside Atlanta, Georgia. 14 years ago, I went plant based for my health and I never looked back. After a bad foot injury, I discovered I loved lifting as much as I love running the trails. So, at the age of 50 I added lifting heavy to my training plan. I am passionate about spreading the message that age is no limit and you can not only thrive on a plant-based diet, you can help end animal cruelty and have a positive impact on the environment too. So, get out there and go for it!"

Welcome to the team@monica.strattonSport: Triathlon, Cycling, Running

"I have struggled for my entire life with food. It seems everything I ate made me feel sluggish or sick. My husband and I decided to try the vegan lifestyle and we have never felt better. My digestive system is running so much better and I feel I have more sustainable energy through my workouts and life. Being vegan has helped me fuel better for all my races and training.
I am very proud to be a vegan athlete. I have seen what it has done for me and my performance in all my sports. I want to share my story of how being vegan has changed my life in terms of how I feel on a daily basis and in sport. Being a professional athlete my students look to me and how I live my life and I am very proud to tell them how much better my body feels being vegan "

Welcome back@rjsacksVeganism saved my dad's life many years ago. He had horrible blockages in his heart and faced stents and a very dangerous operation, or seeing what would happen if he went whole food no oil plant based. He reversed his heart disease and is healthy as ever and still vegan. He never needed heart surgery. He is now 61 years old and still doing distance cycling rides. I started changing what I was eating during high school when my dad switched his diet. I made the complete switch after I met my boyfriend, a collegiate vegan runner at the time. I was mostly looking at veganism through a health lens until I met him and he helped me face the ethical dilemmas of eating animal products as well. Since I went vegan, my sister went vegan, my mom went vegetarian almost plant based, and my brother (who I thought would never change) has cut a significant amount of meat and dairy from his diet. My dad, boyfriend and I are all vegan cyclists currently. My whole immediate family is very open to veganism and eats vegan at family gatherings. Being vegan has been easy with supports like mine.
I feel strongly about spreading a positive message and hopefully helping make a change. Veganism saves so many animals, it can save people like my dad, and can save our planet. I can show other athletes that vegans aren't frail and sickly, we can compete and do well without eating animal products.

Welcome to the team@prost_1969I had high cholesterol high blood pressure and was 40 lbs over weight. The doctor said statins for the rest of my life because high cholesterol was in my family so I took things into my own hands. Since then I lost the 40 lbs and reversed all the other issues . I now also realize the impact going vegan has on the animals and the environment. I love cycling and running and by joining the team I can reach more people and show them that you can’t just survive without the use of animal products but thrive!!

Meet Team VPA athlete Shari. We are glad she joined us Meet“Hi team, this is my first year with Team VPA. I'm overjoyed to have found this team. I adore the mission statement because it reflects my beliefs too. I'm 48 years young, a small business owner, yogi, group fitness instructor, and outdoor enthusiast. My primary sport is Triathlon, but running will always be my first love with more than 6 marathons under my belt. Vegan for over 15 yrs. Before that vegetarian for 3 years. My biggest vegan athlete accomplishment was completing my first Ironman last year after many years doing Triathlons. This year I'm looking forward to enjoying long cycling tours in Europe! Follow my adventures on IG @sparks_vegan”

Welcome to the team@mattd_team_vegan_athletics"My name is Matt Dellaro. This is my first year as a Team VPA member as well as my first new year as an endurance athlete. I decided last February to buy a road bike and start cycling again after not having done it since my teens...I'm 51 now. I heard about short course triathlons and decided to see what I could do. I have 3 sprints behind me now as well as a 5k and 8k trail running races, a 5k road, two 10k races and a half marathon. I'm looking forward to longer triathlons as I get more comfortable with open water swimming, and working up to a 70.3 or even a 140.6. I've been vegan for over 8 years, and am so loving this new chapter in my life. Thanks to everyone at Team VPA who has been so helpful, supportive and just plain cool."

We are so glad you joined us@barefootjei"My name is Jérémie alias@barefootjei, I'm 28 years old and I'm from Normandy in France.

I have been vegan for 3 years now. I'm vegan for the animals! I'm so happy to have joined the team and to wear our colors in my country.

In 2022 I will be running every day to raise funds that will be donated to two Vegan associations.

My goal for 2022 is a 55km in May and another probably longer race by the end of the year."

"My name is Gloria Perez and I live in sunny Southern California. This is the first year I'm on Team VPA. I have been vegan for 4.5 years. I made the switch after my son inspired me. Becoming vegan has been one of the best decisions I've made for my health and of course for the animals and for the planet we all share. I have 3 sons and 2 grandsons. I've been running for 8 years. I've ran many distances, but my favorite distance is the half marathon. I enjoy both road and trail running. I also enjoy backpacking, cycling, lifting weights, OCR and traveling. One of my goals for this year is to start racing duathalons. I'd also love to do R2R2R (Grand Canyon). I'm also currently learning to speak French. "