Agritourism Kentucky - Kentucky Farms are Fun
Transcription
Agritourism Kentucky - Kentucky Farms are Fun
Agritourism Kentucky KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Ryan F. Quarles, Commissioner Division of Agritourism ∙ Amelia Brown Wilson, Director A KENTUCKY AGRITOURISM INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER September/October 2016 Little town, big festival 350-person town has held Labor Day event over 40 years By Jim Trammel Do you think your town could hold a festival, except that it’s too small? (Never heard of Fancy Farm, eh?) Livingston County’s Grand Rivers, population 350, might have a lesson to teach. Over the upcoming Labor Day weekend, this little lakeside town will host a predicted 10,000 visitors to its annual Grand Rivers Arts and Crafts Festival – three days of original crafts, art, and music in Kentucky’s beautiful Land Between the Lakes. The festival is extending its fifth decade despite being located in a sparsely populated town, in a county where the tourism commission has succumbed to a budget pinch. In their corner, however, is the support of other organizations, a couple of vitally interested businesses, the beauty of the lake country, and perhaps most importantly, a corps of volunteers (in groups or by individuals) that turns out several times a year to put on this and other Grand Rivers events. Chamber stepped in The city wasn’t about to let a little thing like the shutdown of the sponsoring and administrativesupport organization stop a festival with over 40 years of history going for it. For many years the mainspring of the festival was Kentucky Western Waterlands (KWW), a tourism Grand Rivers Mayor Tom Moodie sets the tone for his city’s volunteers by doing much hands-on festival work himself. Here, he tosses candy to children watching the Hunters’ Moon parade. (Photo by permission of Loyd Ford, The Lake News.) organization that launched the festival decades ago and over the years had provided strong logistical support, building the event toward the five-figure attendance it enjoys today, Kraemer said. KWW ceased active operations last year in the face of budget problems, as did Livingston County Tourism, so they passed festival management to the Grand Rivers Chamber of Commerce, which had previously assisted KWW with the festival. The GRCC looked to Kim Kraemer to direct this year’s festival. Kraemer was executive director of the Grand Rivers Tourist Commission for the past decade, retiring from that work last October but still involved with the festival. (Christine Thompson is current commission executive director.) (see GRAND RIVERS, page 2) Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Ryan F. Quarles, Commissioner • Amelia Brown Wilson, Director, Division of Agritourism • (502) 7 82- 4136 • amelia.wilson @ ky.gov PATTI’S 1880s SETTLEMENT RESTAURANT is the jewel of business recreation in Grand Rivers, and it follows that the restaurant complex plays a key role in getting all that tourist traffic coming in and enjoying themselves. The restaurant is part of a reconstructed 1880s settlement that provides historical tourist entertainment during this and many other festival-style events during a typical year. (photos this page courtesy Les and Diana Shapiro) GRAND RIVERS ... from page 1 “When KWW disbanded, it was important the traditions stay in place,” Kraemer said. “This is the largest and longest-running arts and crafts festival in western Kentucky.” Since the 1970s, the festival had grown to represent a huge economic impact for the area, and it couldn’t be allowed to capsize after 40 years. ”We are a tourism destination, and on Labor Day weekend we will have 10,000 people come through our 1.8 square miles of town,” Kraemer said. 2 • Agritourism Kentucky • September-October 2016 She explained the strengths on which the festival continues to draw. “We are a town of only 350 people, but we sit on two beautiful lakes [Kentucky and Barkley]”. There are resorts on both lakes, and the town is home to Patti’s 1880s Settlement. Patti’s has been in Grand Rivers since the 1970s. Business interest vital The Settlement is a recreated historical log cabin village consisting of three restaurants, gift shops, gardens, streams, mini-golf, a gold- and gempanning recreation, animal park, a children’s playlot, a convention facility, and a wedding chapel, write travel bloggers Les and Diana Shapiro on their website “Guided Discovery.” Patti’s Restaurant, the linchpin of the Settlement, “has grown over the years and now serves 400,000 meals a year,” Kraemer said. Also, Patti’s Inns and Suites and Rose of the Lake Bed & Breakfast offer lodging nearby. Badgett Playhouse, at left, another major supporter of the festival, is located across the street from Patti’s and one block from the festival’s headquarters park. Left: Signs enumerate the Settlement’s fun activities. Right: The festival will feature over 100 vendors, and, new this year, a slate of lunchtime musical performers. (Sign photo used by permission of Les and Diana Shapiro; Vendors photo furnished by Kim Kraemer.) Sara Minihan, one of the Playhouse’s owners, is on the festival planning committee and this year made the contribution of booking the music program. “She’s got some great music connections,” Kraemer said. Enthusiastic volunteers Volunteers by the score, some organized through the Chamber and many reporting through allied organizations or just on their individual initiative, handle the parking, traffic, and other logistical challenges of making a festival run smoothly. The National Guard pitches in to manage traffic, Kraemer said. One parking gate will be staffed by volunteers from the Battle of Smithland Historic Group. Chamber volunteers, planning committee members, and individual citizens all come in to assist. “With 10,000 people visiting our little town, we have to handle and provide for all the logistics,” Kraemer said. Grand Rivers Mayor Tom Moodie sets the pace for the individual volunteers by his detail work, such as marking vendor booth spaces the day before the show, Kraemer said. He and his staff will be there all through the holiday weekend. “We have a fabulous mayor, and he’ll put in many volunteer hours,” Kraemer said. “We have a great group of volunteers we can call on time after time. They also help us run a fall festival in October, an ultra-run in March with 1,000 runners, bike events throughout the year, a quilt show in April, and six car shows a year,” she said. Art, food, and music One hundred crafters and artisans from 10 states are booked to show their works. Singer-songwriters will entertain through the lunch hours while the Food Court sells carnival foods and regional specialties. Original items from from 10 states will include floral arrangements, baskets, lawn furniture, paintings, honey, soaps, lotions, jewelry, quilts, woodwork, holiday decorations, pottery, candles, gourds, stained glass, birdhouses, rocking chairs, rocking horses and weather vanes. The festival runs 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3 and 4, and 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5 at Little Lake Park in Grand Rivers, one block behind the Playhouse. Grand Rivers is located at exit 31 of Interstate 24. Admission is $1 for walk-ins or $3 per vehicle. Festival website, www.grandriversartsandcraftsfestival.com. Les and Diana Shapiro, “Guided Discovery” travel blog: http://mvguideddiscovery.blogspot.com/2010/10/land-betweenlakes-day-19-green-turtle.html — Also published in PassageMaker Magazine, www.facebook.com/PassageMakerMagazine Agritourism Kentucky • September-October 2016 • 3 Robertson Co. Farm-To-Table event first of a series planned by new group Story and Photo by Carrie Taylor Robertson County producers, some with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations, and many of whom are involved in the Mason County Farmers’ Market, have formed the Limestone Farm and Food Alliance. We are currently focusing on networking and marketing through events. Group member Shannon Ulrich with Wholesome Foods received a Kentucky Department of Agriculture grant through the Kentucky Proud program to help their farm with growth and expansion, including marketing. We held a Farm-To-Table event to create an experience in our rural area at which people could enjoy local foods and products. Thanks to the McGee family and Turtleback Ridge Wares, who hosted the Farm-To-Table, we were able to showcase locally grown and harvested foods, such as meat, dairy, eggs, vegetables, fruits, herbs, spirits, and valueadded products, all produced and locally sourced. We sold 31 tickets, because our goal was to be successful with this first Farm-To-Table before we planned for a larger, similar event. Meat producers, Cedarhill Farm and Rosser Farms provided poultry for the event. Culinary artist Barbara Goldman, and Sean Connelly who owns Li’l Jumbo Coffee, prepared dishes featuring 4 • Agritourism Kentucky • September-October 2016 meats, fruits and vegetables from regional farms and from our local community garden, Mulberry Gardens, that uses all recycled water and environmentally-friendly practices. The group has held other events. One was an open-air market last June called “Pickers and Grinners,” hosted by Carlson Software™. This festival featured 30 vendors, local foods, and culinary artists. Several hundred attended. We will host another event, “Hunter’s Moon,” in Maysville’s Limestone Park Oct. 15 (see page 8). We invite everyone to Maysville in October to taste fresh foods, sample products, and visit talented crafters. We will have hundreds of fresh, local products, a testament to our regional pride and our Kentucky Proud pride. As an educator and as a consumer, I support farmers who are responsible and producers who really care about the products that come from our land. My goal is to promote these agricultural operations. They should be seen as model businesses in our region. They are positive for the economy. They offer higher-quality products and healthier foods, meats, spirits, and produce. Most of the people involved in this planning group, such as Chris and Mary Breeze of Whispering Breeze, and Eric Keef who owns Springcreek Farms, share likeminded ideas and concepts about reducing or avoiding chemical applications, and raising healthier livestock through alternative pest management systems and sensible rotational grazing. All these producers are also involved in the Kentucky Proud program. Carrle L. Taylor is an associate professor and adult-agriculture instructor at Maysville Community and Technical College. Sullivan University to host annual state wine competition The Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Grape & Wine Council have announced that the fourth annual Kentucky Commonwealth Commercial Wine Competition & Commissioner’s Cup (KCCWC&CC) will take place at Sullivan University in Louisville on Oct. 29. With a goal of public awareness and education through promotion and recognition, the CCWC&CC is the quintessential yearly guide to the best wines produced throughout the state. Eligible only to licensed Kentucky small-farm wineries, the KCCWC&CC assembles panels of expert judges made up of industry leaders throughout the nation to systematically assess and score entries. “We are very excited to partner with Sullivan University for this year’s competition,” Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said. “Sullivan is one of the top culinary institutes in the country, and their expertise will help showcase Kentucky’s grape and wine industry.” Tyler Madison, the KDA’s Grape & Wine Marketing Program manager, added: “It makes a lot of sense for us to work together. The facilities at Sullivan are incredible; it’s a perfect place to hold a top-tier wine competition. “I’m looking forward to working with some of the students. These students represent the next-generation culinary scene, and we’ll have the opportunity to not only get them involved in the planning of a wine competition but also teach them about Kentucky wine.” -- KDA press release For more information about the Kentucky Commonwealth Commercial Wine Competition, visit http://competition.kentuckywine.com/. Agritourism Kentucky • September-October 2016 • 5 WET-DRY WATCH UPCOMING Campbellsville wet-dry vote scheduled for Sept. 20 CAMPBELLSVILLE (Central Kentucky News-Journal) — An alcohol referendum affecting those within Campbellsville city limits is set for Tuesday, Sept. 20, after 570 signatures were turned in for the referendum, which needed 527. If the referendum passes, Campbellsville will go from being “moist,” where restaurants can serve alcohol by the drink, to “wet,” where liquor stores are allowed. Taylor County itself will still be “dry,” with no alcohol of any kind served. More (subscription required): www.cknj.com/content/ city%E2%80%99s-wet-dry-vote-set-sept-20 Barren Co. wet-dry vote Sept. 27 BOWLING GREEN (Daily News) — A local option election for alcohol sales in Barren County was set for Sept. 27 after enough signatures were certified on a petition to pose the question to voters. Barren County Attorney Jeff Sharp said the petition, which calls for package alcohol sales, was circulated by a group called Move Barren County Forward. The paperwork was submitted in late July. Butler Co. votes in late September MORGANTOWN (Daily News, Bowling Green) — Cities in Butler County are prohibited by state law from imposing regulatory licensing fees on the sale of alcohol, but the three movements to go wet in Morgantown, Woodbury and Rochester are not expected to slow down. Morgantown Mayor Billy Phelps said he doesn’t think the lack of city authority to levy regulatory licensing fees on alcohol sales will play much of a role in the upcoming balloting Sept. 27. This fact was well known during January’s countywide wet/dry vote in which alcohol sales were rejected, he said. “It was made pretty prevalent that [licensing fees weren’t] going to be a tax base for anyone,” he said. 6 • Agritourism Kentucky • September-October 2016 Perryville will battle Oct. 4 over allowing alcohol sales PERRYVILLE, Ky. (Lexington Herald-Leader) — Residents of the western Boyle County city of Perryville will vote Oct. 4 on whether to allow alcohol sales in the city limits. Approval of the ballot measure would allow packages sales but no bars, said Mike Lankford, a Perryville resident who led an effort to collect signatures for a petition drive. The other two incorporated cities in Boyle County, Danville and Junction City, allow alcohol sales. Unincorporated areas of the county remain dry. More: www.kentucky.com/news/state/article93781992.html DECIDED Benham residents approve alcohol sales at historic inn as business booster BENHAM (Lexington Herald-Leader) — Residents in the historic coal town of Benham voted 74-15 to allow alcohol sales at the School House Inn, which many saw as a way to help keep the hotel in operation. The vote will allow the inn to sell alcohol at events such as school reunions and in the restaurant. The inn was created by converting classrooms to lodging in a building constructed in the 1920s as the high school in a town that was wholly owned by International Harvester. Photo & more: www.kentucky.com/news/state/article92161177.htm 127-vote margin keeps Casey Co. dry LIBERTY (Casey County News) — Casey County denied alcohol sales by a margin of 127 votes, 2,097 to 1,970. Of 10,824 registered voters, 37.5 percent cast ballots. Boyd Co. soundly rejects going wet ASHLAND (WSAZ-TV) — Voters decisively turned back expanding alcohol sales in Boyd County, reports Jay Melvin of WSAZ-TVB. Fifty-eight percent of the turnout voted against county-wide liquor. Alcohol sales are legal at certain places in Ashland. Had the vote passed, alcohol purchases would have soon taken place at service stations and convenience stores all across Boyd County. LAWRENCE COUNTY SEPTEMBERFEST “BEST LiTTLE FESTivAL iN KENTUCKY” SEPT 9 - 11 LOUiSA Contact: Harold Slone (606) 638-4038 Agritourism Kentucky • September-October 2016 • 7 KENTUCKY CALENDAR OF EVENTS Compiled from the list of county fairs and ag events from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture website, www.kyagr.com; and the Kentucky Festivals Schedule page at ohiofestivals.net. Events subject to change or cancellation; check before attending. SEPTEMBER 1-3: Isom Days Festival 1-4: Terrapin Hill Harvest Festival – Harrodsburg 2: Fest of Ales – Lexington 2-4: Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival – Winchester 2-4: Elliott Co. Tobacco Festival – Sandy Hook 2-4: Heritage Days – Augusta 2-4: Ky. Bluegrass & Bourbon Experience – Louisville 2-4: Swift Silver Mine Festival – Campton 2-6: WorldFest – Louisville 3: Arts ’n Barks in the Park (merged Goldenrod Gala Arts Festival & WoofStock) – Carrollton 3: Monroe Co. Watermelon Festival – Tompkinsville 3: Wayne Co. Heritage Festival – Monticello 3-4: Homecoming – Livingston 3-4: Native American Heritage Museum Festival – Corbin 3-5: Arts and Crafts Festival – Grand Rivers (see story) 3-10: Pecan Festival – Hickman 4: Riverfest – Newport 5: Labor Day Celebration – Paducah 7-10: Clay Co. Fair – Manchester 7-10: Fraley Festival of Traditional Music – Olive Hill 8-10: Meadowgreen Park Fall Festival – Clay City 8-10: Old Fashioned Trading Days – Williamsburg 8-17: Edmonson Co. Fair - Brownsville 9-10: Area Days – Neon 9-10: Family Fun Festival & Craft Show – Middletown 9-10: Ice Cream Festival – Murray 9-10: Lake Cumberland Blues, BBQ and Arts Festival – Somerset 8 • September - October 2016 14: Jefferson Street Soirée – Lexington 15-17: Black Gold Festival – Hazard Email details, with the word 15-17: Blazin’ Bluegrass Festival – “Event” in the subject line, Whitley City to jim . trammel @ ky . gov. 15-18: Robertson Co. Fair – Mount Olivet 16-17: Bourbon Co. Secretariat Festival – 9-10: Lake Cumberland Poker Run – Paris Jamestown 16-17: Cow Days – Greensburg 9-11: Chautauqua Days – Millersburg 16-17: Fall Festival – Mount Washington 9-11: Christ the King Oktoberfest – 16-17: Hay Days – Onton Lexington 16-17: Hazel Day – Hazel 9-11: Festival of the Horse – Georgetown 9-11: Hart Co. Civil War Days – Munfordville 16-17: Heritage Festival – Horse Cave 16-17: River Days Festival – West Point 9-11: Hofbrauhaus Oktoberfest – Newport 16-18: Cirque de Virgo – Hustonville 9-11: Ky. State BBQ Festival – Danville 9-11: Lawrence Co. Septemberfest – Louisa 16-18: Poage Landing Days – Ashland 16-18: St. Timothy Oktoberfest – Union 9-11: Mainstrasse Village Oktoberfest – 16-18: Waterfowl Festival – La Center Covington 17: Arts and Eats Fest – Morehead 9-11: Roots and Heritage Festival – 17: Berry Festival – Berry Lexington 17: Butchertown Oktoberfest – 9-11: U.S. Bank Balloon Classic – Louisville Bowling Green 17: Dixie Music Festival – London 10: Black Patch Heritage Festival – 17: Dragon Boat Festival – Paducah Princeton 17: GourdPatchFestival–Mayfield 10: Dragon Boat Festival – Louisville 17: Jane’s Saddlebag Craft Beer & 10: Fall Festival – Simpsonville Bourbon Festival – Union 10: Fall Heritage Festival – Campbellsville 17: National Jug Band Jubilee – 10: Highlands Fest – Louisville Louisville 10: Hillbilly Daze Festival – Frankfort 17-30: Harvest Festival (weekends) – 10: Japan Summer Festival – Lexington Georgetown 10: Mackville Harvest Homecoming 17-18: Fall Festival – Midway 10: Pagan Pride Day – Louisville 17-18: Festival Latino – Lexington 10: Rolling Fork Iron Horse Festival – 17-18: Simon Kenton Festival – Maysville New Haven 21-24: Honeyfest – Clarkson 10: Via Colori Street Painting Festival – 22-24: Barbecue on the River – Paducah Elizabethtown 22-24: Bluegrass Festival – Vine Grove 10: Wooden Bridge Festival – Island 22-24: Casey Co. Apple Festival – Liberty 10-11: Apple Festival – Georgetown 22-24: Mountain Heritage Festival – 10-11: Fleur de Lis Regatta – Louisville Whitesburg 10-11: Kids Fest – Richmond 22-24: Ohio Co. Fair – Hartford 10-11 September Art Fair at Mellwood – 22-25: World Chicken Festival – London Louisville 23: Brewfest – Louisville 10-11: Trimble Co. Festival – Bedford 23-24: Cave Run Storytelling Festival – 10-17: Banana Festival – Fulton Morehead 11: Fall Arts Festival – Frankfort 23-24: Central Ky. Crafts Festival – 11-18: Gaslight Festival – Jeffersontown Owenton 12-17: Powell Co. Fair - Stanton 23-24: Proud Days – Cave City 13-18: Bourbon Festival – Bardstown 13-18: Poppy Mountain Bluegrass (see CALENDAR, page 10) Festival – Morehead How to get your event listed here Agritourism Kentucky • September-October 2016 Agritourism Kentucky • September-October 2016 • 9 CALENDAR ... from page 8 23-24: Wall Street Festival – Lebanon Junction 23-25: Anderson Co. Burgoo Festival – Lawrenceburg 23-25: Marion Co. Country Ham Days – Lebanon 23-25: Morgan Co. Sorghum Festival – West Liberty 23-25: Oktoberfest – Newport 23-25: Ol’ Cider Days – Versailles 24: ButterflyFestival–OakGrove 24: DKY Harvest & Heritage Fest – Danville 24: International Festival – Bowling Green 24: Merchants and Music Festival – Fort Thomas 24: Nulu Fest – Louisville 24: St. Francis of Assisi Fall Festival – Louisville 24: Seven Springs Sorghum Festival – Sulphur Well 24-25: Fort Harrod Jazz Festival – Harrodsburg 24-25: Irish Fest – Louisville 24-25: Ol’ Cider Days – Utica 25: Art Off Pike Arts Festival – Covington 26-10/1: Spencer Co. Octoberfest – Taylorsville 29-10/1: Bittersweet Festival – Mount Vernon 29-10/1: Carroll Co. Tobacco Festival – Carrollton 29-10/1: Down Home Days – Muldraugh 29-10/1: Old Fashion Days – Greenup 30-10/1: Apple Festival – Paintsville 30-10/1: Black Bear Festival – Cumberland 30-10/1:JimBeamBBQClassic–Springfield 30-10/1: Mary Breckinridge Festival – Hyden 30-10/2: St. James Court Art Show – Louisville 30-10/2: ScareFest – Lexington 30-10/2:SorghumFestival–Springfield 30-10/2:WashingtonCo.Fair–Springfield OCTOBER 1: Arts and Crafts Festival – Wilmore 1: Crittenden Co. Pumpkin Festival – Marion 1: Edmonton-Metcalfe Co. Chamber Pumpkin Festival – Edmonton 1: Noble Pioneer Village Heritage Day – Booneville 1: Northern Ky. Kite Festival – Dayton 1: Octoberfest Celebration – Smithland 1-2: GRADD Arts & Crafts Festival – Henderson 1-2: Lincoln Days – Hodgenville 1-2: Louder than Life Festival – Louisville 1-2: Pumpkin Festival – Paris 1-8: Logan Co. Tobacco and Heritage Festival – Russellville 2-8: Daniel Boone Festival – Barbourville 5: Taste of Louisville 5-8: Jenny Wiley Festival – Prestonburg 6-9: McCreary Co. Heritage Trail Days – Whitley City 7-8: Belknap Fall Festival – Louisville 7-8: Caneyville Fair and Homecoming 7-8: Downtown Days – Columbia 7-8: Garvin Gate Blues Festival – Louisville 7-9: Civil War Days – Columbus 7-9: Oak, Toast and Two Aging Barrels Festival – Covington 7-9: Wool Festival – Falmouth 8: Barktoberfest – Louisville 8: Foxhollow Farm Fall Festival – Crestwood 8: Harvest Fest – Newport 8: Hunters Moon Fall Festival – Grand Rivers 8: South Elkhorn Christian Church Fall Festival – Lexington 8: Southwest Festival – Louisville 8: Turning of the Leaves Festival – Augusta 8-9: Arts, Crafts & Antique Fair – Bardstown 8-9: KGAC Fall Fair – Berea 8-9: Old Fashioned Court Days – Flemingsburg 8-9: Perryville Commemoration – Perryville 9: Farmington Harvest Festival – Louisville 13-15: Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ CookOff – Munfordville 14-15: Foothills Festival – Albany 14-15: Forkland Heritage Festival and Revue – Gravel Switch 14-15: Trigg Co. Country Ham Festival – Cadiz 14-16: Salt Festival – Union 14-17: October Court Days – Mount Sterling 15: Craft Beer Festival – Bardstown 15: Crossing Festival – Glendale 15: Maiden Alley Oktoberfest – Paducah 15-16: Apple Festival – Owensboro 15-16: ColorFest – Clermont 21-22: Harvest Festival – Wickliffe 21-23: Hermitage Classic and Fall Festival – Goshen 21-23: Woolly Worm Festival – Beattyville 22-23: Independence Bank Sorghum Festival – Hawesville 28: Beer Festival – Louisville Send your activity news to your state newsletter! Publicize your end-of-year events in the next Agritourism Kentucky, out Friday, November 4 ‒ in time to let everyone know how your agritourism venue plans to mark the holiday season. Copy deadline: Friday, Oct. 14. Agritourism Kentucky A KENTUCKY AGRITOURISM INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER Published by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Ryan F. Quarles, Commissioner ∙ Amelia Brown Wilson, Director, Division of Agritourism 10 • Agritourism Kentucky • September-October 2016 Agritourism Kentucky • September-October 2016 • 11