The Friends of the National Arboretum held the annual Cookout Under the Stars at the National Arboretum on June 18th. The evening began with a cocktail reception in the National Herb Garden followed by an elegant dinner in the National Capitol Columns Meadow. The dinner, which fetes a different state each year, celebrated Iowa with regional favorites that included a sweet corn soufflé, honey-apple pork loin, grilled asparagus and apple dumplings. 

Iowa’s Anderson Erickson Dairy’s President and CEO Miriam Erickson Brown and Chairman James Erickson joined IDFA as sponsors the event.  Iowa Senator Tom Harkin visited with the IDFA representative and spoke at the event, which was also attended by the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

IDFA Senior Vice President Jerry Slominski serves on the board of the Friends of the National Arboretum, the non-profit organization that provides funding for arboretum projects to increase awareness and enjoyment of the gardens and collections, advance scientific research and promote educational and public services.

More photos are available here. 

For more information, contact Slominski at jslominski@idfa.org.