During its inaugural summer last year, Grazing Rights served more than 5,000 meals to Jackson locals. This summer, it aims to surpass that number, as the food truck series has expanded its distribution locations and schedule.
It was during the Covid era—when restaurants were removing tables to facilitate social distancing while visitor numbers in Jackson Hole were simultaneously breaking records—that Jackson resident Matt Donovan conceptualized the event series as a way to increase dining options for locals. Donovan had observed that many of Jackson’s public parks were empty in the evenings, and as such, the opportunity to connect community members with the area’s open spaces became a natural complement to sharing a meal.
The focus of the program is certainly the food—each event features two food trucks, which may vary from week to week. Last year, attendees dined on options that included tacos, pulled pork, mac and cheese, chicken wings and more from food truck vendors that included Spoons Bistro, Pinky G’s Pizzeria, Sagebrush Grille and others. New this year, there will be alcoholic beverages served on selective Mondays throughout the series, while Bar-SIP-Bar will be serving adult beverages at most of the Tuesday pop-ups in Powderhorn Park.
Whereas the initial iteration of the event included weekly stops at May Park in East Jackson and Munger View Park near Melody Ranch, this summer’s programming looks a little different. Starting June 26 and continuing through September 15, Grazing Rights will continue to be at May Park on Mondays, but will then make a midtown stop on Tuesday evenings in Powderhorn Park, before popping over to Wilson on Wednesdays in Owen Bircher Park. About the location updates, Donovan says, “With these new strategic locations, we will definitely surpass last year’s meal total, possibly even double it.”
Adding to the event series’ offerings are partnerships with local nonprofits. These partnerships have included a collaboration with Slow Food in the Tetons. “We are really appreciative of Matt’s collaborative effort,” says Slow Food in the Tetons program director Mari Allan Hanna. “He provided Slow Food with booth space during last summer’s Mondays at May, and we were able to offer tours of the Community Gardens and give away locally grown herbs. This year, we are scheduling work days for gardeners to coincide with the Monday food trucks so they can couple their volunteer time with dinner in the park.”
Co-sponsors of the series Friends of Pathways’ Sam Petri says, “We love the Grazing Rights food truck series because it meets people where they are – in their neighborhoods. Friends of Pathways supports healthy recreation and sustainable transportation in Jackson Hole and what better way to get people out of their cars and socializing with each other than having dinner together in their local parks? No need to get in your car, you can arrive by foot or by bike. It gets everyone outside and builds community.” Popular with the younger grazers, Friends of Pathways will host its bike Strider Course at the June 26, July 25, and August 16 Grazing Rights events.
Having established itself as the highest efficiency dining option in Teton County, Grazing Rights proves that sometimes, the best ideas are born out of a simple craving for delicious, local food. “[From] moms who don’t have to cook to elderly who feel connected to the community in a new way to kids who get to run around and eat tacos and use the strider course,” the benefits of Grazing Rights are widely felt throughout the community. So gather and graze this summer, in Jackson’s open spaces. Find Grazing Rights at the following locations:
June 26 to September 15, beginning at 5 p.m.
Mondays in May: May Park
Midtown Tuesdays: Powderhorn Park
Wilson Wednesdays: Owen Bircher Park
