what is bus the barnS?
Bus the Barns is a companion event to FairShare's Bike the Barns, an amazing day of accessible on-farm fun. As a Bus the Barns rider, you get to enjoy the same farm tours, gourmet local food and beverage, and live music as our Bike the Barns riders, plus special on-farm activities designed just for you!
Every dollar raised goes directly to supporting our Partner Shares Program, which helps low-income households afford farm-fresh veggies.
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Join us as we bike and bus to ensure food for everyone.
*more information*
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The 7th Annual Bus the Barns will start and end at Lake Farm Park in Madison, WI. ​
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*schedule of the day*
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Breakfast and participant check in
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Gather at bus for introductions and load up at 9 AM
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The day: 3 farm stops with food, beverage, music, and ​​delightful on-farm fun!
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Bus returns to Lake Farm Park
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After Party at Lake Farm Park!
*registration includes*
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Food: light breakfast, snack stops, lunch, and after party meal + drink tickets
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3 farm stops with curated activities at each stop
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Live music
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Participant Gift Bag and rider item
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Bus transportation and tour guide
Please note: activities, such as farm tours, may require participants to walk across uneven ground. It is not recommended for individuals with limited mobility.
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Have questions?
Call FairShare at (608) 226-0300 or email bikethebarns@csacoalition.org.​​​
the activitieS
Bus the Barns participants enjoy the same food and beverage, farm tours, and music as Bike the Barns riders - plus special curated interactive activities at each farm stop.
Each activity is specifically chosen to highlight the unique nature of the three farm stops, allowing our bus riders to become more fully engaged with each farm. From hands-on activities like taste testing, to hearing from guest speakers who are experts in their fields, the on-farm activities are one of the biggest highlights of the Bus the Barns experience.
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Activities for 2025's event are still in progress and will be updated here when confirmed!
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*2024 example bus activities*
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Veggie Taste Testing
Enjoy the freshness of the farm! Explore the tastes, textures, and variations of tomatoes with the UW-Madison Urban and Regional Food System Lab. Get a sneak peak of soon to be released varieties including slicer, saladette and cherry tomatoes.
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Vegetable Art
Join artist Katie Schofield and make a print to take home using vegetables! Participants will use a variety of veggies to create a design on paper and explore vegetables in a whole new way.
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Nixtamalization Demonstration
Tortilleria Zepeda will be showcasing a live demo of nixtamalization. They will start by describing what nixtamalization is, the historical importance in MesoAmerican and Native American cultures and why it's an important practice in food production today. They will show step by step how it is done and what specific characteristics to observe during the process and corn selection.
the food
The Bus the Barns menu is seasonal, local, and fresh, and the food is sourced largely from FairShare’s organic farms. Madison-area restaurants and caterers prepare the meals and provide locally produced craft beverages. Bike the Barns offers vegetarian options, but, while we will try, we cannot guarantee gluten-free, vegan, or non-dairy options across all farm stops. ​
Each year is a new and exciting menu from local chefs, featuring items from area farms! Our vendors incorporate as much local products as possible so exact menu items are not yet set. We will update with exact menu items & dietary notes as they are finalized.
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*2025 sample menu*
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Breakfast Snack
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Barrett's Bagels, cream cheese - vegan
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Assorted fruit & juices
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Coffee (Just Coffee), dairy (Organic Valley)
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vitruvian Farms Snack
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Fall Vegetable Hash with Chimichurri (Vibrant Veg) - vegan
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Elderberry, Apple, Sage & Honey Spritzer (Edible Madison) ​
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Lovefood Farms Snack
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Three Sisters "power stew", optional meat (TradeRoots)
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Kombucha (Mr Tea's Kombucherie)
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Parisi Family farm Lunch
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Mediterranean salad, hummus, chicken or falafel, stuffed grape leaves (Bunky's Cafe) - vegan, gluten-free​
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Cold brew coffee floats (Just Coffee & Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream)​
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After Party Tasting Menu (Participants get food (2 savory, one sweet) and drink tickets to "spend" on items of their choice!)
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Canteen
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Madame Chu
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Afghan Kabul Cuisine: Chicken biryani, Veggie samosa
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The Baked Lab
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Heirloom Bakery - vegan
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Wine (provided by American Wine Project)
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Beer (Working Draft Beer Company)
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Non-alcoholic beer (Untitled Art)
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WiscoPop & Sprecher soda​​​​​​​​
fundraising
Bike the Barns is FairShare’s largest fundraiser. The money raised through Bike the Barns and Bus the Barns supports The Partner Shares Program, which helps low-income families gain affordable access to farm-fresh veggies. Each year, hundreds of bikers, bus riders, volunteers, and farmers come together during this special day to eat, drink, and pedal together in the name of fresh food access.
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*the cause*
Fresh, high quality produce has become more difficult to access as households with limited budgets feel the strain of rising costs. The Partner Shares Program makes farm-fresh food accessible and affordable.
​*the goal*
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Fundraising through Bike the Barns is the Partner Shares Program’s largest source of funding. We hope to raise $50,000 this year to provide critical financial support to families struggling to access fresh, locally produced fruits and vegetables.
*how you can help*
Your fundraising efforts go directly toward ensuring households have a consistent supply of nutritious food through CSA. Set up a fundraising page, or make a donation to a fundraiser rider to help all families access farm-fresh food!
*what does it mean to be a fundraiser?*
We’ll help you set up your fundraising page and provide you with tools, resources, and templates to get you on your way to helping families eat delicious veggies.
Fundraising begins the day registration opens, and fundraisers can continue to raise funds up until the day of the ride. Share your page online, ask folks to write a check, or do a mile pledge. Every dollar makes a difference, and the more you share your fundraising story, the more money you can raise in support of fresh food for every family!
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Or make a direct donation to the Partner Shares Program here.
*why should I set up a fundraising page?*
In addition to the feeling of doing good in your community and helping feed your neighbors, fundraiser riders also get:
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A commemorative Bike the Barns sticker
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The chance to earn sweet prizes and gear with our fundraising challenges
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Support from us to help you reach your goal!
fundraising prizes
There are two prize formats this year:
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Tiered prizes - reach a certain fundraising total, receive the prize at that level
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Prize raffle - the more you raaise, the better your chance is to win your preferred prize
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Fundraisers are elegible to receive both tiered prizes and enter the prize raffle.
*tiered prize*
Each time you reach a new fundraising "level", you receive another prize! ​
$100: charge it up!
Raise $100 or more and get entered to win a new Schwinn electric mountain bike!
$250: keep pedaling
Enjoy your 2026 Bike the Barns registration on us, and keep pedaling to feed our community.
$500: Local food pack
Locavores delight in this bounty of expertly crafted goods highlighting the best of our regional artisans! From salty to sweet, there's something for every taste bud in this prize pack.
*prize raffle*
Every $100 you raise gets you a "ticket" to spend on your prize of choice! Winners will be randomly selected after September 15.
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Private tour & tasting at Stateline Distillery
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Meadowlark Organics Regenerative Rotation Grain Kit
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Orange Shoe Personal Training Package
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4 Mallards and 4 NightMares Tickets for the 2026 season
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Two night stay at Circle M Farm
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REI picnic set
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Garaden bundle and seed starting kit from Driftless Seed Supply
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Orange Tree Imports gift card
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Gift bundle from Machinery Row Bicycles
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​and more to come!
REGISTRATION WILL OPEN ON JUNE 1, 2025
SIGN UP TO GET NOTIFIED
get involved
*be part of the fun*
FairShare CSA Coalition is a small team – we couldn’t pull off this grand event without our amazing community of volunteers and supporters!
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Perks of volunteering include:
-Helping ensure food for every family!
-Spending a day outdoors with food + farm enthusiasts
-Receive a custom Bike the Barns swag item and gourmet, farm-fresh food at the event
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*volunteer roles*
Though Bus the Barns is a single day event, there are many ways to volunteer before, during, or after the ride.
Volunteers assist with:
1) Marking the route
2) Stuffing rider bags and helping with pre-registration
3) Farm stop logistics
4) Food & beverage preparation & service
5) Participating on the rider support teams, and more! ​
​*volunteer with a group*
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If you or your organization would like to support this spectacular event by volunteering as a group, please complete the volunteer signup form or send questions to beth@csacoalition.org.
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We will contact you with details on signing up for specific day-of-event tasks closer to the day of the ride.
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