As the host and first sponsor, the St. Louis Animal Rights Team considers the annual St. Louis VegFest event to be one of the most successful and visible events for sharing our mission and love for animals to the region.
The organizers of St. Louis VegFest are START members, and are pleased to be working with compassionate and like-minded local organizations and businesses to promote plant-based living and alternatives to animal products.
START is a not-for-profit educational/activist group, formed in 1985, and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 1988. Our goals are to:
► Educate society about the rights of all species to live freely and die naturally
► Expose the harm and suffering caused by the denial of animals’ natural rights
► Promote the adoption of lifestyles compatible with the animal rights philosophy
► Promote the reform of social institutions to be compatible with animal rights
Thank you for joining START organizers and members in bringing St. Louis VegFest back for our 5th year!


Torre Washington is a NASM certified coach, speaker and IFBB Pro competitor. Raised vegetarian and vegan since 1998, Torre built his physique entirely on a Plant based regimen without the aid of supplements since 2009 to 2018. Torre’s training style focuses on physical symmetry and aesthetics. “He disassembles your physique and reassembles it back the way you want it to be” and has therefore become one of the most sought after coaches of celebrities and high end clientele and bodybuilders globally. Torre also advocates for “lifestyle changes” to his global fan base and brings to light the plight of animals and the need to heal mother earth through living a more Plant-Based vegan lifestyle.