The Taste of Mansfield and community partners including the Mansfield Agriculture Committee and Economic Development Commission honored the recipients of the fourth annual Taste of Mansfield Champion Awards at a Community Dinner for more than 100 people held on Wednesday, November 19.  

The Taste of Mansfield Champion Awards program was initiated to recognize Mansfield producers, sellers, and communicators/educators who are leaders in connecting the community through local food and have a demonstrated record of promoting the Taste of Mansfield mission. The 2025 Taste of Mansfield Champion Award Winners are:

The public was invited to nominate, based on the following criteria, individuals, businesses or institutions that:

Dominic Shooks

Dominic Shooks is the proprietor of Shooks Apiaries located on Wormwood Hill Road in Mansfield.  He produces and markets local honey and other related products, at farmers markets throughout the region.

Dom has served as a resource to the Taste of Mansfield and the Town of Mansfield on many occasions, acting as an educator at local events, answering questions and sharing his observation hive with children and guests at the Community Center and Senior Center.  Dominic was the authoritative speaker at a beekeeping seminar hosted by the Mansfield Agriculture Committee, sharing his knowledge about the role of pollinators in our environment and agriculture. In addition to products including raw honey, raw creamed honey, beeswax, candles, and lip balm, Dominic produces delicious honey that sweetens plates across our town and broader community. His commitment to local foods as both a producer and an educator truly makes Dominic a Taste of Mansfield Champion

Robert Landolphi

Rob Landolphi has been contributing to the “community feel” of Mansfield for a long time, starting by opening a favorite drop-in cafe in Mansfield called The Sugar Shack.  Today, as Director of Culinary Development at UConn Dining Services, Rob influences the food culture of UConn by continually developing new menu items for UConn students and inspiring his staff. Rob spearheads the Culinary Olympics at UConn each year, a popular challenge that has brought UConn national recognition.

Rob also founded a summer cooking school, “UCann Cook", an experience for local youth providing basic culinary skills while also utilizing local ingredients sourced from a local garden. Additionally Rob has been a participant each year at Mansfield’s Celebrate Mansfield Festival. At the festival, Rob offers culinary demonstrations in front of a large audience, often utilizing local ingredients, and supplying recipes and tasty samples. Rob is also a nationally renowned author of three best-selling cookbooks containing gluten free recipes.  As an advocate and an educator, Rob deserves to be called a champion.

G.M. Thompson & Sons, Inc.

Thriving agriculture requires a solid infrastructure—those business resources that support farms and farming.   For nearly a century, G.M. Thompson & Sons has delivered feed, bedding and much more to production agriculture operations and homestead farms throughout this region. The Thompsons were involved in the store along the railroad tracks in the early 1900s, and again since the 1930s and incorporating in 1963.  From straw bales to salt licks, seed packets to chicken coops, Thompsons General Store has been a reliable resource to the Mansfield local agriculture community. And there’s no extra charge for the wisdom and advice these family members share, as well, on their blog on the website or in the aisles.  And don’t forget to check the bulletin board—an old-school marketplace for pet and animal lovers.

The store supports other local farm ventures, too, selling honey and syrup, and serving as a distribution spot for a local farm’s CSA when needed.  As the landmark in historic Mansfield Depot, G.M. Thompson & Sons is truly a proven champion for local farms and farmers.

Mayor Toni Moran, Mansfield Downtown Partnership Executive Director Steven Ferrigno, and Dwight Codr, Chair of the Mansfield Economic Development Commission introduced the winners and presented their plaques.

Former Champions also attended the dinner including Mansfield resident Chelsea Cherrier, Education Coordinator of CLiCK, retired UConn Dining Services Executive Director Dennis Pierce, and Chef Maraiah Popeleski-Tilley of Mansfield Schools Food Services.  Under the Chef’s leadership, the schools’ Field to Tray staff sourced the local ingredients and prepared the dinners using school meal-approved recipes.  

The menu included a starter of Butternut Squash Soup, and guests chose from one of two dinner options: Glazed Chicken Drumstick, Roasted Radish Medley, Kimchi-Style Pickled Cabbage, and Brown Rice or Baked Eggplant Parmesan with Marinara Sauce, Braised Fennel, and Focaccia bread.

The dinner concluded with a dessert of local Apple Crisp.  Most of the products used in the menu were grown locally at Cobblestone Farm, Cloverleigh Farm, The Good Farm, Karabin Farms, and Mountain Dairy.   Serving E.O. Smith High School, Mansfield Elementary School, and Mansfield Middle School, the Field to Tray vision is to Increase participation in the schools’ food service program by serving high quality meals which are supported by the use of local ingredients and scratch-cooked recipes that are crafted by a team of well-trained school food professionals