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Farrand Hall’s 2026 guest chef series is set with culinarians from across the country

Farrand Hall’s longest running event — which began the same year it opened, 2017 — is its Guest Chef series where they invite top chefs from all across the country giving them a space to cultivate and share their food. 

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Photo provided by James Gray

The series, which officially begins April 4, 2026 is a celebration of good food and a great community, continuing to bring a unique dining experience to Colon County. 

“We try to create a diverse group of chefs and styles. Our guest chef series is all about communal dining and a night of celebrating human connection around food,” said Farrand Hall co-founder James Gray in a statement to Watershed Voice. 

The event will be an interactive experience with the chefs — not only through their food, but hearing from them about their passions and stories. 

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“Chefs will talk to guests about the menu and stories around dishes throughout the evening,” Gray said. 

Farrand Hall has been operating in Colon Township since 2017 after James Gray and Jacob Fagan purchased it. The historic venue was originally built in 1854 after Henry K. Farrand, who first came from the East Coast as a young man, built and lived in a log cabin near the site before building Farrand Hall, according to their website.

Now the land offers a unique dining experience to Colon Township residents and guests who travel across the country in pursuit of its unique culinary offerings. 

“Farrand Hall is a big deal for Colon on many levels. It’s brought excitement and something new to the community. But it also has a strong economic impact, creating more than 24 jobs and bringing thousands to the community,” Gray said. 

Farrand Hall’s longest running event — which began the same year it opened, 2017 — is its Guest Chef series where they invite top chefs from all across the country giving them a space to cultivate and share their food. 

Here’s this year’s lineup:

Author

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Maxwell Knauer attended Ohio State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in philosophy and political science.

He previously worked for Ohio State’s student newspaper, The Lantern, and interned with the Columbus lifestyle magazine CityScene before relocating to Kalamazoo.

Knauer, 23, enjoys watching movies, reading books, and playing basketball. Some of his favorites include RoboCop, My Dinner with Andre, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

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