The Fourth annual Urban Ag Fest to be held on Saturday will not just be your garden variety fundraiser, but an evening of education and feasting.

The event will take place at Rosemont High School, located at 9594 Kiefer Blvd.

In an effort to raise funds for edible schoolyard projects, Slow Food Sacramento has teamed up with Rosemont’s Green Academy, an organization that teaches students about the environmental implications of their choices.

There will be a reception showcase in the school garden in which 11 groups of representatives from schools in the Sacramento and surrounding areas will man booths displaying the highlights of their gardens.

Such treasures are set to include seed starts, salsas prepared with homegrown tomatoes and a salad bar with ingredients grown entirely by students. Participants will be able to take tours of garden and ecology projects created by students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“We’re really excited to give the schools the opportunity to show off what they do and to connect them with the public,” event co-chair Brenda Ruiz said.

More than 13 like-minded community organizations including Soil Born Farms and Sacramento Community Garden Coalition will also be present at the showcase.

A three-course sit-down dinner catered by the Supper Club and Matteo’s Pizza will follow the reception for those who purchased the $75 combination ticket. The menu is gourmet school lunch-themed, and the main course is a revamped local take on the usual burger and fries: Lucky Dog beef bleu cheese and bacon sliders served with portabello oil, parsley and jack shoestring fries.

“We want to show people that school lunch can be good on many different levels,” Ruiz said. “It can be healthy but also delicious. Food is a thing of beauty, and when you show beautiful food to people, they feel appreciated.”

After dinner, there will be an auction where participants can bid on things such as tours of Cowgirl Creamery and Capay Organics, as well as a raffle and guest speakers.

Both Rosemont’s Green Academy and Slow Food Sacramento aim to eventually build a coalition of the region’s school gardens in order to raise volunteers, money and to bring good, clean food to school lunch tables. Many volunteers are already on board and will be helping students plate and serve food at the dinner.

Ruiz said that nearly one third of people eating dinner will be participating students, their parents and teachers.

“I think that exchange is important. It goes along with what Slow Food believes in: slow down, sit down and talk to someone across the table. Serve them and be served,” Ruiz said.

While dinner tickets are sold-out, tickets for the reception showcase can still be purchased onine for $20 . The reception will run from 4 - 5:30 p.m.

The Urban Ag Fest will benefit the Green Academy at Rosemont High School and the garden and ecology center at O.W. Erlewine Elementary School.