Sweet Owen | Spring 2023

Paying your bill directly through Owen Electric is the best way to ensure your payment is safely and promptly applied to your account. This eliminates the risk of late fees, possible interruption to your service, or the fees third-party payment providers can charge.

14 | From 1¢ donations to groundbreaking research: a look at Eden Shale Farm

Since 1955, Eden Shale Farm has provided farmers from across the world with the resources and education needed for success. First established as a research farm for the University of Kentucky, the farm is now managed by the Kentucky Beef Network (KBN), with a goal of educating cattlemen and women using a hands-on approach.

10

How to build a fence

Kirk Brooks reflects on his first time building a fence and the friends that helped him along the way 23

Get to know. . . Kendal Bowman Kendal Bowman serves as the Owen County Cooperative Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

12 Spring calendar

Spring is here, and we've got a complete list of upcoming events for the entire family

24

Remembering C.F. ‘June’ Pryor

Although June Pryor’s service in World War II would take him overseas, he maintained he was, “Just a farmer”

37

OCHS Band Craft & Vendor Expo

The Owen County High School Band hosts its annual Craft & Vendor Expo March 25

Sweet Owen

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE IN OWEN COUNTY, KENTUCKY © 2022-2023, Owen County Tourism Commission Volume I, Issue 6 March 2023

Molly Haines Riddle Editor

Whitney Prather Duvall

Copy Editor

Owen County Tourism Commission

Holly Bowling, Director

Jenni Duncan, Chairperson

Mike Haines, Treasurer

Lindsey Tirey, Secretary

Shanna Osborne, Member

Shadoe Aldridge, Member

Darla House-Webb, Member

Contributors

Kirk Brooks, Becky Doolin, Whitney Prather Duvall, Amanda Anderson Matthews,Lyndsi McNally,

Marlene Browning-Wainscott

For advertising information, email editor@sweetowenmag.com or call 502-514-6612

To submit an event, letter to the editor, or suggest story ideas, email editor@sweetowenmag.com.

Submission deadlines: 4 p.m., April 14, 2023 for Summer (June-August)

Published quarterly by the Owen County Tourism Commission

“... find yourself here”

300 S. Main St., Owenton, KY 40359 502-563-5050

www.visitowencountyky.org

The photo you see to the right still gives me pause, even after all these years. It was the last year my family raised tobacco; torrential rains flooded most of the crop, and the ever-elusive “Insurance Man” requested photographic evidence of the destruction. Now, I was following in my Daddy’s deep boot imprints with my point-and-shoot camera, snapping away at the oncehealthy plants that had dwindled to near nothingness.

A decade-plus later, the memory stands out as one of the most profound from my early adulthood. For the first time, I witnessed the ruination of my family’s hard work through no fault of ours or anyone else, and it stung. That something as solid and sturdy as a crop of Burley tobacco—a crop I knew our family depended on—could be demolished by one swift act of nature seemed a cruel joke.

As time wore on, there was a lot of talk about “pounds” and “quotas,” things that meant little to me but would be the deciding factors in my and Mama’s retirement from the tobacco setter. If I learned anything that year, it’s that of life’s many gambles, farming may be the greatest.

That was over a decade ago, and to this day, my heart’s desire to be in the stripping room pulling lugs from the stalk, surrounded by family—Mama singing, my brother bellyaching, and Daddy taking it all in—is so great I sometimes swear I can smell the dried leaves and feel the plant’s black gum between my fingertips.

I think it was Wendell Berry who once wrote, “The soil is the great connector of our lives.” If anything ever truly connected me to my family more than the bloodline itself, it was those moments spent in the barn or field working alongside those I cherish most.

This issue of Sweet Owen reflects a sort of melancholic nostalgia that I and many others across the rural landscape will likely cling to for the remainder of their years. I wanted to highlight Owen County’s rich farming heritage and prove that these things, albeit vastly different in 2023, still matter.

The restoration of a farm through the use of local resources. Neighbors helping neighbors, unafraid to get their hands dirty. An environmentally conscious business with a focus on customer service. A 961-acre Owen County farm nearing the 70-year mark of impacts felt nationwide. A World War II veteran who could’ve made a career of the military but opted instead to come home and continue his family’s farming legacy.

As inconsequential as these topics might seem to some, I hope those folks will put down this edition of Sweet Owen with a better understanding and respect of what can only be described as a way of life. A way of life that’s still more prevalent across the commonwealth today than some may realize.

Molly Haines Riddle

The cover photo of this issue was taken by Amanda Whobrey, Whobrey Farms

RESTORING WHISTLER RIDGE

Don Fromme uses local resources to revitalize Owen County farm

BY WHITNEY PRATHER DUVALL Sweet Owen Contributor

If you ask Don Fromme how he ended up tending a farm, he’ll tell you that his father set the stage for his love of all things outdoors. He’ll also reference Kent M. Keith’s Paradoxical Commandments: Do Good Anyway, a set of 10 statements Don keeps within a thought’s reach throughout each of his endeavors.

“My father was a masonry contractor, as was his dad, and so I grew up assisting with that and spent summers working outside,” Don said. “But mostly, he was an outdoorsman, so he would professionally bass fish. We had bird dogs to quail hunt, we had chickens and cats and dogs and so on, but I didn’t grow up on a farm.”

Instead, the Jasper, Indiana, native would work on neighboring farms during his summers off. The youngest of five, Don received a degree in construction management from Purdue University. He went on to work for a construction company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a career that would take him across the U.S. and even to different countries.

“I’d sometimes have to relocate temporarily for a project, and mostly, it was living in an airplane, but what it did was give me a very broad sense and exposure to different communities, different cultures, having to go into a community that you’ve never been to before and build a significant construction project,” he said, adding that it takes the community’s knowledge, trust and respect to yield a successful result.

p DON FROMME AND HIS BIRD HUNTING ENGLISH SETTER, FAITH, pause for a photo on Whistler Ridge, the 315-acre Owen County Farm Fromme purchased in 2010 and has since revitalized with help from local resources, as well as applying methods learned during his time as a construction manager. — All photos by Whitney Prather Duvall

And so, why wouldn’t it be appropriate to apply that same method and thought process to farming?

Looking to land within a reasonable radius of home post-retirement, Don and his wife purchased acreage in Owen County in 2010. Since its purchase and Don’s subsequent retirement in 2014, he’s worked to clean up old fence and restore the land. He’s cleaned out and enlarged the ponds, and eventually built a home on the farm, moving there in 2017.

Called Whistler Ridge, the farm yields pickles, relish, salsa, and tomato juice—all canned from the garden— as well as garlic, honey, sausage, and Angus freezer beef. And if that weren’t enough, there’s also a portable

log sawing mill and firewood on the Kentucky Proud-registered farm. Don also offers fishing and hunting experiences.

“I have, over time, spent a lot of time and energy into turning this place into something like a wildlife preserve, but I didn’t want it to be a preserve that you take photos of; I want it to be here for people to enjoy. Anything that I’ve acquired or developed, it’s here to share.

“We’ve taken 315 acres and turned it into a place where quail, deer and rabbits can be because I enjoy those things and others do, too. We fixed the ponds so that they’ll sustain fish. These grasses out here that you can mow for hay, I didn’t want them to be grasses that are just great for deer, so

I put a lot of flowers and a lot of forbs in a mix that was designed in part with the (Kentucky) Fish and Wildlife recommendations at the time and in part by a group called (Roundstone Native Seed). They came and drilled the seed in. They came up with this mix that would be useful for all things.”

Throughout rehabilitating his farm, Don has taken advantage of several local programs, including those provided by the Owen County Extension Service. It’s all part of a common theme in Don’s life, one of continuous learning.

“In the years since Don began utilizing some of our programs, I’ve seen his farm really progress,” said Kendal Bowman, Owen County Extension Agent For Agriculture and Natural Resources. “His farming operation is very progressive, and he is eager to learn to improve his practices.

“Don takes a sustainable approach by considering the effects his improvements and farm practices will have on the environment and local ecosystem. He’s designed areas for quail, rabbits, and pollinators and incorporates native forages into his fields. He’s removed invasive species from his wooded areas and practiced efforts to improve the overall forest health.”

Relatively new to farming, Don acknowledges the help he’s received from members of the community.

“The people in and around Owen County—and I absolutely mean this— they are wonderful, they’re awesome,” he said. “They’ll do anything for you, and I have story after story.”

Referencing offices ranging from county government to the local U.S. Department of Agriculture and Cooperative Extension, Don maintains that programs to assist farmers of any skill and experience level exists if you’re willing to do the legwork to find them.

And while he’s received plenty of help with his endeavors in the development of his own farm, Don is paying it forward through many other efforts and programs, including lending his

p DON FROMME examines partridge pea and lespedeza at Whistler Ridge. Fromme worked with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and Roundstone Native Seed to plant forage that would be useful for “all things.” u Fromme recently lent Whistler Ridge to the Owen County Cooperative Extension Service for the hands-on demonstration portion of its fencing school.

farm to the extension program for the hands-on demonstration portion of its fencing school.

Aside from participating in the activities of his parish and diocese, Don is active in the northern Kentucky chapter of Quail Forever (NKQF), a group committed to conserving the habitat for quail, pheasants, and other wildlife through improvements and education. He particularly enjoys using the program to introduce youth to outdoor activities.

“Almost everything we do is for improving the outdoors and introducing these kids to the outdoors, and we do some special activities for them. It’s part of volunteerism; it’s part of giving back; it’s how you educate and intro-

duce a kid to the outdoors, whether it’s fishing, hiking, or hunting—this is our way of doing that,” Don said. “We do fundraisers, and 100% of that goes back to the community and the kids.”

If anything is certain, it’s that Don will keep learning and working to develop his farm in the interest of the native wildlife, as well as sharing all it offers.

“If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it right, and I need to learn how to do it right and with care. I might make a lot of mistakes along the way, but it’s how I learn.”

For more information on Whistler Ridge’s offerings, contact Don Fromme at dfromme49@gmail.com or at (612) 328-3260. v

BY JONATHAN KIRK BROOKS

Iwas fencing for the first time in my life. We wanted sheep, and we needed a place to keep them. We had already set 30 posts by hand in two afternoons. We’d pulled some fence each day, using the old Massey Ferguson 35—a tractor I inherited from “Paps,” my grandfather, who bought it new around 1961. Stretching a long pull of woven wire fence after several posts were in the ground offered a much-appreciated break from tamping posts for me and anyone else I had roped into coming over for a day of “fun” farm work. There were about five of us that day, and we were tired. I like to exercise a little, but there’s no workout I’ve found quite like tamping fence posts. This particular June day, I had managed to conscript some pretty good help: a friend from church, a neighbor, and a couple of former students of mine—young men

How to build a fence

with healthy muscles and good backs eager for a rare opportunity for hard, physical, outdoor work. Relegated to flipping greasy burgers at a fast food joint, they had asked to come and help with something, anything, else instead. Here was their chance (and mine) to put all that teenage eagerness, energy, and muscle to good use. Their parents were happy to loan them to me, and I was happy to see them.

I had spent the better part of a year watching YouTube videos, talking to farmers willing to share what they knew, and helping some of them build fences in their own pastures—by far the most valuable piece of my education. I made lists of the tools and supplies I would need. I made notes about which staples I preferred to work with, how long I’d want them to be, what kind would last the longest, where to buy (or cut my own) fence posts, what type of trees made the best posts, how to drive

staples into the impossibly tough Osage orange tree if you had to, how deep (and wide) to dig post holes, how far apart to set the posts, which fencing pliers were preferred. And all of this doesn’t even begin to touch on the necessary education required for building fence braces! If all of that were an undergraduate course at a university, fence-bracing would be a graduate-level course—and far more practical than most of the graduate-level courses I took to become a middle-school principal.

For the help I offered neighbors during my fencing education, I had been paid in knowledge, new friendships, and various used tools and supplies. “Red” Shryock gave me some big corner posts and a roll of perfectly good used fence he had been keeping in a barn of his. Ford Roberts gave me more fence posts and a ton of his time and knowledge. I got an old metal gate from Doug Ball. Simon Peters let me borrow a PTO-driven post-

hole auger that fit our old tractor. Tony Jury started me with his help and knowhow and let me borrow a fine old fence stretcher and a come-along. And Randy Bishop came by with another tractor, tools, and knowledge to help speed things up a little. There was more gift and grace and help than I can remember in full. From my time with these men and others, I learned much, but one thing repeated itself on a regular basis: building fences is an art. I decided that if I could do it well, a good fence should not only keep my animals in and predators out; it should also be a pleasure to look at for years to come. But as one old farmer friend I respect very much told me, the last fence I built would be better than my first one. At some point, one has to quit studying a thing and begin it. So I did.

It was the third day of drilling and digging and setting and leveling and tamping and pulling—and doing it all again, over and over, until you knew the only thing that would taste better than dinner that night would be dinner the next night, and so on until the work was finished. My wife, Meghan, had turned her attention to the work of feeding us all each day: there were biscuits and gravy, eggs from our hens, soup and cornbread, all made from scratch, and all of it so dangerously satisfying that my helpers might have fallen asleep after lunch if I had let them. There was plenty of talk and laughter, too, all of us happy to be in out of the sun and sitting down for a change.

That afternoon I got a call from a friend who heard we’d been at work all morning and told me he had gotten loose from some of his own work and was offering to come by with a big tractor (bigger and newer than our little Massey Ferguson) and a fence-post driver.

There is a quicker way to set fence posts.

If you’re willing to spend the money, you can purchase a fence-post driver and a tractor that will operate it (most medium-to-large tractors will). A fence-

post driver mounts on the back of a tractor. It has a large anvil-type weight at the top that is usually raised and lowered hydraulically. One man can position the post up against the machine, as straight up and down as possible, while another sits on the tractor and operates the post driver. The weight on the post driver is raised and then quickly dropped on the top of the post repeatedly, hammering it into the ground and saving a lot of time on digging and tamping. I had never used a fence-post driver before, but here, in my time of need and exhaustion, was a friend offering to help finish up our last four hours of work in an hour or less thanks to this marvel of industrial machinery.

I pushed out of my mind all the essays I had written and read—and all the sermons I had preached to my wife and children—about the value of hand-work and avoiding the noise and stink of machines and working together with neighbors and going slow to make something beautiful instead of going quickly to get it done. It was getting on to be dinnertime, after all. I was tired. I had grown weary of setting fence posts by hand. So when that big shiny green tractor came by in all its industrial revolutionary diesel glory, I capitulated.

“Whoa!” I heard someone yell over the mechanical pounding and roar of that big diesel John Deere. We had already set five posts in the time it had taken me to set one earlier in the day. But just now, there had been a small explosion. I had instinctively jumped back or fallen back and was now sitting on the ground, feeling my face with both hands. It was peppered with large splinters. My face was radiating, like a bad sunburn. My eyes were watering, but I didn’t know until I took my hands away from my face and realized they were wet. My face was numb. The other men standing close by were all right, and I was, too, after just a few minutes.

Randy called from the tractor, “You all right, Brooks?”

“I’m all right. You just about knocked

my derned head off with this contraption, though!”

“Well, if you weren’t such a cheapskate and hadn’t bought these damned used posts, that wouldn’t have happened!”

I knew he was right. I had tried to save money and time. I had bought used fence posts. Frugality is a virtue, I told myself. And there would have been no problem using them; they would have lasted a good many years. It was when I turned to bigger technology to speed things along the trouble began. The fence posts I had chosen were in fact, fine—to be set by hand—not, I learned, by a tractor.

What was it Jesus said about the hypocrite with a plank in his own eye? Or was it a fence post?

“I don’t know, Randy,” I stammered, standing up, my hands still feeling my face, half expecting to find a large piece of wooden shrapnel sticking out of it, “I’m thinking I should’ve hired a different driver.”

“Well, you get what you pay for!” he said.

And we laughed.

Randy, like the other men that day, was volunteering his time. For free. For kindness. For neighborliness. He was participating in the dying art of neighborhood work. He was a loving participant in the communal art of building fences. He was a good man and had built many more fences than I probably ever will. The quality of the fences mattered to him, too, and he was right—these old posts couldn’t take the beating this post driver was giving them. We had three left. We continued working as we had been, turning our heads away from the post each time the machine hit the top of it—that jarring, obnoxious, mechanical pounding. There were, thankfully, no more surprises. v

Jonathan Kirk Brooks, “How to Build a Fence,” Copyright © 2022 by Plough Publishing House, www.plough.com. Used with permission.

EVENTS

Have an event you’d like to share? Sweet Owen Magazine accepts event listings free of charge from civic groups, volunteer organizations, churches, clubs, etc. Send your event and a brief description to editor@sweetowenmag. com by 4 p.m., March 30, 2023, for the summer (June-August) issue.

Wednesday, March 1

First Day of Women’s History Month

9 a.m., Homemakers Barn Quilt

Painting at the Owen County Extension Office Homemakers will meet at the Extension Office, 265 Ellis Road, Owenton, to paint barn quilts on canvas to hang in the Extension meeting room. This event repeats at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 2.

Thursday, March 2

10 a.m., Yoga With Tiffany at the Owen County Public Library

Tiffany, an experienced yoga instructor, leads class on the first Thursday of each month. Enjoy moving slowly and breathing deeply. Leave class feeling refreshed and balanced. Suitable for all fitness levels.

11 a.m., Walk Away the Pounds at the Owen County Public Library

Walk in place to the Leslie Sansone 30-minute walking DVD in the library’s spacious meeting room. This event repeats at 11 a.m. every Thursday.

Friday, March 3

Noon, Books@Noon at the Owen County Public Library

The group will discuss “Harlem Shuffle” by Colson Whitehead and pass out “What the Fireflies Knew” by Kai Harris for discussion in April. This event repeats at noon on the first Friday of each month.

Monday, March 6

“Spring adds new life and beauty to all that is.” —

10 a.m., Stretch & Strengthen at the Owen County Public Library

Join in the popular exercise class to participate in all standing exercises. Join Miss Julie, and follow the video on the big screen. This event repeats at 10 a.m. every Monday.

Tuesday, March 7

10:30 a.m., StoryTime at the Owen County Public Library

Meet the orchestra! Visit the library to listen to, read about, and make your

own instrument(s). This program is for young children and their parent or caregiver and repeats at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday while school is in session. 5 p.m., Crafting for Self Care Series II at the Owen County Extension Office Join the Owen County Extension Homemakers for the second in a series of “Crafting for Self Care.” The craft is a do-it-yourself string art kit. There is no cost, but space is limited.

Thursday, March 9

Noon, Sound Bath Mediation at the Owen County Public Library

Jessica Harrelson

p THE SECOND OWEN COUNTY COMMUNITY EASTER EGG HUNT & STORYWALK, hosted by Three Rivers District Health Department, is slated for 11 a.m., Saturday, April 1, at the Owen County Park & Fairgrounds, 355 Ellis Road. — File photo by Molly Haines Riddle/Sweet Owen Editor

Use the vibration of sound to connect, calm and heal the physical body. Bring a mat, blanket and pillow to be comfortable for an hour of lying on the floor listening to chimes, crystal singing bowls, hand pan and gong.

Friday, March 10

2 p.m., Mystery Book Club at the Owen County Public Library

The group will discuss “Bare Bones” by Kathy Reichs. Pick up April’s book, “Rebecca,” by Daphne du Maurier. This event repeats on the second Friday of each month.

Sunday, March 12

Daylight Saving Time begins

Monday, March 13

6 p.m., Movin’ to the Music at the Owen County Public Library

Dancing is good for the body, so join in this fun exercise class with some line dancing, the Twist, and even the Macarena. For beginners and advanced dancers alike. This event repeats at 6 p.m., March 20.

Tuesday, March 14

1 p.m., Bridge at the Owen County Public Library

This informal group of Bridge enthusiasts invites you to join them no matter your skill level. This event repeats the second Tuesday of each month.

6 p.m., Knitting with Leah at the Owen County Public Library

Do you get in a tangle when you try to knit? Leah can help. This class is for beginners and those wanting to improve their skills. All ages and skill levels welcome.

Thursday, March 16

6 p.m., Gordon’s Gourmet at the Owen County Public Library

Gordon will take you on a culinary trip of the Emerald Isle this month as he explores Irish Cuisine.

Tuesday, March 21

1-2 p.m., Healing Herbs of Kentucky at the

Owen County Senior Center

Join public library staff at the Owen County Senior Center, 118 North Main Street, as they discuss the history of herbs as both food and medicine. Plant a pot of herbs to take home.

6-7 p.m., Painting 101 at the Owen County Public Library

Explore painting with colored shapes as you attempt to portray a brightly colored rooster portrait. All levels of expertise welcome, just come have fun playing with paint and enjoying others doing the same. Call (502) 484-3450 to register.

Friday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day

Tuesday, March 28

6 p.m., Russian Egg Painting at the Owen County Public Library

Join Janel Perusquia as she shares her knowledge of and techniques for

“Crafting for Self Care.” The craft is candle making with Liz Evans. There is no cost, but space is limited.

Saturday, April 29

9 a.m., Craftin’ for Our Community at the Owen County Extension Office

Enjoy a day of crafting with friends old and new. To register, email brandydaleneal@hotmail.com. A 6’ table is $50, or share a table with a friend for $25. Questions? Call Brandy Neal at (502) 750-1977 or Dawn Davis at (502) 6822725.

Monday, May 1

5-7 p.m., Firing Squad Ceramics at the Owen County Extension Office

Join the Owen County Extension Homemakers for firing squad ceramics (three options: gnome, mushroom, or frog). Space is limited, call (502) 484-5703

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2023

FAIRWAY GOLF COURSE 4940 KY HWY. 227 WHEATLEY, KY 41098

To register a team or for sponsorship opportunities, contact Dawn Davis at dawndavis2009@gmail.com

Organized by the Educational Excellence Foundation of Owen County

From one cent donations to groundbreaking research: a look at

Eden Shale Farm

BY MOLLY HAINES RIDDLE | Sweet Owen Editor

Since 1955, farmers the world over have made the trek to Owen County’s 961-acre Eden Shale Farm. Its claim to fame? Groundbreaking agricultural research centered on pasture improvement, management, and livestock grazing. While these topics may only pique the interest of a niche group, residents of Kentucky and beyond owe a certain degree of gratitude to the tireless efforts of the farm’s employees, past and present.

Operated by the Kentucky Beef Network since 2013, the farm’s origins date back to the spring of 1953 when a group of Owen County farmers decided to ask the University of Kentucky to develop a research farm to help them meet the unique challenges of farming land in the Eden Shale region—Eden, referring to the Eden Hills area, which includes all or part of 34 counties in the northern and central parts of the state, and Shale, referring to the type of rock common to the region.

O.D. Hawkins, born 1913 in Lockport, Henry County, would lead the charge, creating a committee of interested farmers and petitioning Frank J. Welch, then dean of the UK College of Agriculture and Home Economics, who responded, “If you people will make a farm available to the university, the College of Agriculture will operate it as a research and demonstration farm.”

After meeting with Welch, Hawkins was determined to see the committee’s dream of a research farm come to fruition, sending representatives to all counties in the Eden Shale area to gauge interest and found most were receptive to the farm’s creation.

While the committee’s plans were well laid out, the obstacle of raising enough funds to obtain land lay ahead of them. Hawkins served as chairman of a Farm Bureau committee that helped raise money, with

area farmers asked to give one cent for each acre owned. Approximately $65,000 was raised, and the group eventually voted on five adjacent farms roughly four miles east of Owenton.

All combined, the farms totaled about 961 acres at the cost of $67.04 per acre for a total of $63,000, the equivalent of $703,272.76 today. Following its purchase, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation allowing UK to receive the farm as a gift and allocated $50,000 from the state’s general fund for initial research and educational work on the farm.

Initial Research

When the farm was turned over to the UK College of Agriculture in 1955, it was said that the “land was so rundown that a rabbit passing through had to carry his dinner.” While that

may have been true, it didn’t deter Hawkins—the natural choice for the farm’s first manager—from the years of grueling work it would take to prepare the land for the research that would come.

In the first few years, more than 400 acres of land were cleared of brush and rocks and seeded to pastures or meadows. A central water system was installed to provide fresh water to residences, barns and pastures. A new three-bedroom home was built, and four existing homes were renovated. Dairy, beef, and sheep barns were built, as well as three upright silos and one bunker silo.

Six barns used for tobacco, storage, and livestock were renovated. A new tobacco barn, plastic greenhouse, farm office, a tool shed with shop space, and several other small

p THE LATE O.D. HAWKINS SERVED AS EDEN SHALE FARM’S FIRST MANAGER, serving in that capacity from 1955-1979, and, along with other area farmers, was responsible for seeing the farm come to fruition. Upon Hawkins’ retirement, Joe Wyles became the farm’s second manager, serving until 2005. — Photo courtesy of the Hawkins family

sweet owen + eden shale farm

buildings were built. Two and one-half miles of all-weather roads were created. Workers also dug three ponds and one small lake with 2.5 acres of surface and a depth of 20 feet. About 3,000 rods of new fence were built, with wood posts cut out on the farm.

By 1961, Hawkins and a number of laborers—paid $6 a day for 10 hours of work—had transformed the once-overgrown farm into a spectacle area residents were clamoring to see.

“Our tent is pitched, and I hope that in the coming years, Eden Shale will be of great service to the farmers in the Eden Shale area,” Hawkins told attendees of a field day held that same year.

Due to the farm’s topography, row crops requiring cultivation were only considered practical on a small percentage of available land. Of that available land, the majority was used for growing Burley tobacco. Hawkins, the son of an Owen County tenant farmer, knew many grasses and legumes grew well in the region. But to find out what other things might thrive, the first 20 years of the farm’s existence were spent experimenting with many types of agriculture.

Among the farm’s initial endeavors? Conducting wood lot management studies that pioneered work in the state’s Christmas tree production. As it turned out, Scotch pines for the holiday season were adaptable to the Eden Shale hills, and by 1961, 43,000 Christmas trees grew throughout the farm’s acreage.

“At one time, we had most anything you could think of,” Hawkins told the UK College of Agriculture years later. “We had an orchard, vegetables, greenhouses, and 50,000 Christmas trees. You name it, we had it on this farm. We had strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. People came in here by the dozens looking at our crops because it was new to them. They didn’t have those things. Even greenhouses, as common as they are

now, were new back then.”

Eden Shale would also become home to the first u-pick strawberry operation in the state.

Additionally, some of the state’s earliest research on Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue was completed at Eden Shale. The grass was planted in abundance and, according to Hawkins in 2004, helped save the farm’s hillsides. Although fescue is ideal for steep slopes because it grows vigorously and the root system holds soil, the grass is infected with an internal fungus harmful to grazing livestock. Through years of rigorous research, testing, and experimentation, Eden Shale’s livestock was eventually raised on pure fescue with few adverse effects.

In 1969, Eden Shale welcomed Joe Wyles to its staff, who would become the farm’s second manager following Hawkins’ retirement in 1979. Under Wyles’ management, the farm became home to an innovative project

with a national influence on agriculture, one still felt by producers today in fly tags for cattle. The small plastic tags, developed and tested at Eden Shale, standard on most cattle farms, contain insecticide and are attached to a cow’s ear to keep flies away.

“Since fly tags were introduced, we’ve tested them every year for effectiveness before they were marketed to beef producers,” Wyles told UK in 2004.

A no-till drill for forages was also developed from tests at Eden Shale.

“Scientists believed that if the drill would work on our steep slopes and unique soil, it would work anywhere,” Wyles said. “Agronomists experimented on how deeply to plant seed.

Agricultural engineers designed a machine to plant seed. They would bring it up here, tear it up, and go back to Lexington to work on it some more. The years of research resulted in the John Deere Power Till Seeder.”

While the farm’s contributions

p FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS farmers from across the country and beyond have visited Eden Shale Farm, where today forages are used for multiple demonstrations, research projects and a commercial cow herd representing a typical Kentucky cow calf operation. — Photo courtesy of Eden Shale Farm/Dan Miller

to agriculture were countless, UK formally suspended its management rights to Eden Shale in 2012 due to cuts in state funding for the university.

“That’s when the university called us at Kentucky Beef Network (KBN),” said the farm’s current superintendent Dan Miller. “They said, ‘Hey, we’ve got a farm we’re ultimately responsible for; we need to do something with it. Is there any chance you all would be interested in taking over that operation?’ That’s kind of how it got started and how we got involved.”

Present Day

Although KBN was quick to step in and ensure Eden Shale’s continued legacy, it was with the understanding that dramatic changes were in order. With a lack of funding and personnel to continue research on the farm, its operating model became one based on demonstration, learning, and best management practices.

“We use (Eden Shale) as a working classroom where producers can see it, see how the technology works, did it work, what do we like about it, and what are cost-effective methods for whatever the production might be,” Miller added.

Miller and Farm Manager Greg Cole communicate with industry partners to test and demonstrate products in herbicide applications and pasture renovation and management with a focus on broadleaf weed control from companies such as Corteva Agriscience. Since KBN took over the farm, grazing research trials have been performed yearly through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for forage-based solutions to increase productivity in the Kentucky cow herd.

When looking at the farm’s most impactful work of the past decade, Miller points to research by Steve Higgins, Ph.D., Director of Environmental

Compliance and Assistant Adjunct Professor with the UK College of Engineering.

“He focuses on solutions to make cattle farming easier in general but directly relates to winter feeding infrastructure, managing mud, and proper watering locations for cattle,” Miller said. “A lot of things about the health and wellbeing of the animal and how to make their environment conducive to them being more productive. We’ve had lots of projects put on the ground around those topics. Literally thousands of people have come to the farm to look at the infrastructure he’s put in. That’s probably one of our biggest, direct impacts on the Kentucky farm at this point and stage.”

The farm currently runs about 100 head of commercial cattle, which Miller said is slightly larger than the typical Kentucky cattle farm. Still, the KBN and Higgins are mindful of “real world” farms and work to ensure their demonstrations are scalable and that infrastructure on the farm can be pur-

chased from retailers such as Lowe’s or Home Depot.

“We don’t want any solutions so complicated a farmer cannot reproduce it,” Miller added. “We keep things very basic and simple, allowing the producer to scale up or down depending on how many head they have.”

Though the farm may run differently today than in 1955 when O.D. Hawkins and other area farmers saw their dream of a research farm come true visitors continue to flock to the sloping hills of Eden Shale, where agriculture’s next big thing may only be one experiment away. v

Editor's Note: To celebrate Eden Shale Farm's 50th anniversary in 2005, The University of Kentucky published "A History of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Eden Shale Research Farm” by Aimee Nielson. This, along with other UK publications and newspaper clippings collected by the late O.D. Hawkins, contributed greatly to this article.

p SINCE 2013, THE KENTUCKY BEEF NETWORK HAS ENSURED EDEN SHALE FARM’S CONTINUED LEGACY. Dan Miller, left, serves as farm superintendent, while Greg Cole, right, manages and resides on the farm. — Photos courtesy of Eden Shale Farm/Dan Miller

Earth Tools: Owen County’s best-kept secret

Owen County is home to North America’s largest retailer of walkbehind tractors

BY AMANDA ANDERSON MATTHEWS Sweet Owen Contributor

Joel Dufour repaired his first walk-behind tractor engine in 1980. He was 10 years old and has been doing it ever since. In the years since he worked for his dad in Indiana, repairing and selling two-wheel tractors, he has learned much about what it takes to build a solid business.

“If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”

He takes that lesson from his father and applies it to his life and work.

Dufour started Earth Tools in 1998 after marrying his wife, Chris, and moving from Indiana to her family’s land on the Owen-Franklin County line. He began with the gritty determination that has led him through most of his endeavors: living off-grid, raising two daughters, and starting a solar business in coal country. The business began in his shed, as so many good ideas tend to, and grew from there.

And folks drive from all over to southern Owen County’s Kays Branch Road for one reason: they want tractors. Specifically, walk-behind tractors. Dufour’s knowledge and respect for the tractor and its usefulness on the farm took him from working out of his shed to being the largest retailer of walk-behind tractors in North America.

So, what is a walk-behind tractor, and why do people drive from as far as Oregon to get them? Essentially, it’s a two-wheeled tractor that can perform most functions of the larger four-wheeled tractors, depending on the implement attached to it. The tractors can plow, mow, tow, mark rows, blow snow, and bale the cut-

est hay bales anyone has ever seen. The tractors are versatile and have a small footprint, which makes them appealing to small-scale and market farmers. But what makes Earth Tools so unique?

The people.

It should come as no surprise to residents of Owen County that the folks working at Earth Tools are the salt of the earth, and that’s why people continue to support the company. The

p JOEL DUFOUR STARTED EARTH TOOLS after relocating from Indiana to his wife’s family land on the Owen-Franklin County line. Today, the business, located on Kays Branch Road, is the largest retailer of walk-behind tractors in North America. Dufour attributes the success of the business to his knowledgeable employees, their attention to detail and unmatched customer service. — Photo by Amanda Anderson Matthews

customers get top-of-the-line, quality customer service. Remember that? It still exists and is the key to Earth Tools’ success. Earth Tools is a small company considering its claim as the largest retailer of walk-behind tractors in North America, but the 15 employees import, build and ship out a lot of tractors. And parts and accessories, and don’t forget the hand tools.

But let’s get back to the people and what made Earth Tools the success it is today. When a customer calls to buy a tractor, one of the salespeople will spend time matching a tractor to the customer’s specific needs, uses, and the land they inhabit. David Hosey, a salesperson at Earth Tools, explains that his job is to ensure the customer is getting the right tractor for today and tomorrow.

“Understanding the differences in tractors is the main job, and that takes time,” Hosey explained.

This attention to detail, the customer’s needs, and the Earth Tools employees’ vast knowledge and experience with the product make this experience exceptional.

Dennis Berry, who has been with Earth Tools since February 2010 and oversees inventory and parts, believes that the key to Earth Tools’ success is the personal attention each customer receives.

“When a customer calls, it doesn’t matter how long it takes; someone here can answer their questions and walk them through a solution,” Berry said. “And when customers call, they always get a person on the line.”

One of the true marvels at Earth Tools is how incredibly knowledgeable every single employee is about the products, and if one person doesn’t know the answer, someone there does. The employees at Earth Tools want their customers to succeed, so they invest the time. This is no accident, Dufour designed it this way. You can’t order from Earth Tools online. You must call.

“It’s our 100 percent personal service and complete commitment to quality that makes us stand out,” Dufour said.

Quality is essential at Earth Tools. When a customer purchases a tractor, technicians fully assemble it in the build room. They make any modifications the customer requests. The tractor is then inspected, usually by Dufour, to ensure there are always extra eyes checking the quality before it gets shipped. Imagine receiving something in the mail that didn’t require assembly. Earth Tools wants customers to use the tractor right off the pallet. Constantly checking and overseeing all the products might seem like extra work, but if customer satisfaction and product quality are where Earth Tools rests its values, then it’s the work that needs to be done.

Building something that lasts takes

effort and time. Dufour knows what he stands for and what he wants to represent, and he makes that vision a reality. Dufour lives his values. He has built a company on his belief that if you take care of your customers, they will take care of you. Earth Tools doesn’t advertise. They don’t have a fancy facility. They operate on solar power, and they compost. It is a humble place because they are humble people. This is a lesson Dufour inherited from his father. He learned early on that the most critical element of his business would be providing quality and service.

Some around the region may not be familiar with Earth Tools because there’s no sign and not much traffic out that way. Only a few people in the area require a walk-behind tractor. And that’s OK. But Owen County is lucky to have Earth Tools and the business it brings to the area. v

p A SOLAR-POWERED BUSINESS, Earth Tools strives to keep its carbon footprint as small as possible. It supports local and national efforts to help small farmers, protect the environment and work toward a more sustainable future. The above photo shows Earth Tools’ main building, built in 2007. In 2011, a solar panel array was added to the roof. — Photo by Amanda Anderson Matthews

Mabel, owned by Ashley and Sara Moore of Owenton, as seen through the lens of Kassie Ratliff.

Get to know...

Many may not know that the Owen County Cooperative Extension Office is one of the best-kept secrets in the county.

The Extension Office takes knowledge gained through research and education and brings it directly to the people to create positive changes.

Kendal Bowman serves as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Owen County. He is a partner in his family’s beef operation in Ford, Kentucky.

“Growing up, it seemed like I lived at the local Extension Office,” Kendal said. “I was involved in many 4-H clubs and was the treasurer of the horse club, even though a stick horse was the only horse I owned.”

Like many high school seniors, Kendal was unsure what lay ahead, torn between studying social work or agriculture. He chose to pursue degrees in animal science, horticulture, and livestock management, ultimate-

ly living the best of both worlds “by being out on farms helping producers.”

“Having the heart to serve others and a work ethic is the key to this job,” he added.

At one point, Kendal worked two jobs in addition to the farm while attending school and is currently working to achieve a master’s degree.

He wears many hats in his position at the Owen County Extension Office, serving on numerous boards, though his primary focus is the farmers and agribusiness.

“No two days are the same,” he said. “Some days, I start by representing agriculture at a local Chamber of Commerce meeting, and other days by assisting a cattle producer in improving his herd health or identifying a bug that’s eating someone’s tomato plants and finish the day by teaching a class to new farmers.”

The many agriculture services the

Owen County Cooperative Extension Office provides include farm visits, educational classes, recommendations, soil testing, plant disease, plant identification, feed analysis, ration balancing, forage testing, farm management and planning, and agribusiness.

The office also loans such tools as soil probes, hay temperature/ moisture probes, hay testing probes, a battery fence staple gun, and an electric honey extractor.

Whether you have 500 acres or a backyard garden, Kendal is here to help. v

p KENDAL BOWMAN, FAR RIGHT, hosts a recent Eastern Kentucky University Beef Production Class at Owen County’s Eden Shale Farm. Bowman has served as the Owen County Cooperative Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources since 2019. — Above photo courtesy of the Agriculture Department at Eastern Kentucky University/Below photo by Tayler Williams

KENDAL BOWMAN: Owen County Cooperative Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

KENDAL BOWMAN

Remembering... World War II vet C.F. ‘June’ Pryor

Author’s Note: As we pay tribute to the rich farming history in this edition of Sweet Owen, we honor the memory of Claude Franklin “June” Pryor Jr., a fourth-generation Owen County farmer who served his country during World War II. He passed away on Dec. 9, 2019, at 98. His legacy of service to others and his love of farming continue to touch the lives of the members of the local community.

During our 2016 interview, June made a statement that represented both the honorable man that he was and the farmer that he knew he was meant to be: “It was my duty to serve my country, and I was proud to do so, but I knew I was not meant to have a career in the military after the war, like many of the men that surrounded me. I was a farmer.”

BY MARLENE BROWNING-WAINSCOTT Sweet Owen Contributor

Claude Franklin “June” Pryor Jr. served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations during World War II in the 326th Glider Infantry from October 1942 to February 1946. He was born in 1921 in his parents’ home in Owen County.

“I was named after my father, so they just called me ‘Junior,’” he said. “After a while, the name ‘June’ just kind of stuck.”

A fourth-generation farmer, June lived his entire life from age 1 in the same house. After graduating from New Liberty School, he followed in his family’s footsteps and began farming while also working several odd jobs.

“Times were tough,” he recalled in a 2016 interview. “People had to find jobs where they could. You just had to

find a job here and there. In the winter, I went up to Lexington and worked at the tobacco houses.”

At 21 years old, June was drafted into the U.S. Army following the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.

“I was staying with my friend, W.O. Ball, over on Ball’s Ridge when we heard it on the radio,” he recalled. “We knew that we would be drafted. There was some uneasiness among people, but anytime there’s a war breaking out, and folks are going to have to serve, there is always some anticipation, but people understood what they had to do.”

Training

June began his service in October 1942.

“After we were drafted and enlisted, we got two weeks’ leave and reported to Fort Thomas,” he said. “Then, we went by train to Camp Blanding, Florida, for basic training. We left there and came up to North Carolina and then to Tennessee for more training. When I first went (into the Army), I went into the Army 30th Division. I was in Infantry Intelligence Reconnaissance. That was a bad mistake for them; they didn’t know how bad I was. The war might have been lost if I had stayed in there. When I transferred, I made the Sergeant mad. While waiting for my transfer papers to come through, he put me on kitchen patrol every day.”

At the time, there was a shortage of pilots, navigators, and bombardiers, so they needed men to fill those positions. As a result, many men in the infantry were moved to the air corps.

“I had enough air time to fly solo,

but we couldn’t solo in the program,” June said. “When we got ready to go to classification, there was no longer a shortage, so only those that were originally in the Air Corps stayed, and the rest of us were sent back to what was comparable to what we had been in, which was the infantry. I ended up in the glider infantry.”

During basic training, the troops trained on different types of guns, “Some had Browning automatic rifles, and some used some type of rifle or pistol. I guess we were ready to fight.”

When asked if he was a decent shot, June replied, “That is actually real funny. We were at Camp Blanding, and it was cold and rainy. I didn’t even qualify. The next time out, I shot expert. I always wondered if someone shot for me, but I was actually a pretty fair rifleman.”

Overseas

“We left out of Camp Shanks, New York. It took us 10 days to go over because we had to dodge the submarines. We went on a large ship called the ‘George Washington’ in February 1945 and landed in Le Havre, France. We were stationed in Sens, France, on the Yonne River.”

The gliders June trained on looked like a plane, except they were not equipped with an engine and were towed by a plane and pulled with a nylon rope. The glider’s buoyancy was greater than the plane, and June and his fellow troops would be up in the air before the plane. Once released from the plane, they would “glide” as close to the landing zone as possible.

The missions were usually oneway and were often used to go near or behind enemy lines because they were silent and difficult for the enemy to identify. The gliders carried the artillery, machine guns, vehicles, equipment, and troops. The gliders were often preferred over paratroopers because the troops could land in specific areas instead of the paratroopers being spread over a large drop zone.

“Our company had not been called up yet, but we knew it would be soon,” he recalled. “One night, the company officer announced that it was time for us to get ready to head out. We prepared our gear, and they issued our ammunition and morphine syrette [given to ease the pain troops may have suffered if wounded]. I will never forget that night as long as I live. The company commander came in, and we all popped to attention. He said, ‘Men, I have some bad news for you.’ You could have heard a pin drop. Our hearts were beating a mile a minute. He said, ‘They have called it off.’ I was glad, but I believe that some were disappointed that they didn’t see any action. We didn’t see any action, but we were ready.

“After Germany surrendered, they gave us leave. They said if we had any relatives, we could go see them. I had a friend with family in England, and I stayed with them for a few days. When we came back across the English Channel, our outfit had moved out. We were set to go to Japan, but while we were waiting to get on the ship, Japan surrendered. Everyone started shooting their guns to cele-

brate in the middle of the night. I was in my tent. It scared some of us half to death because we thought we were being attacked.”

Back Home

June arrived back in New York in 1945 on the ship named “Georgetown Victory.” Upon arrival, one of the first things he did was send a telegram to his parents to let them know he made it back safely. It read, “Arrived safely. Expect to see you soon. Don’t attempt to write me or contact me here.” While the telegram was short, to June’s parents, it said enough.

Pryor served seven months overseas during World War II. He was released from service on Feb. 1, 1946. He received several commendations, including the EAME Theater Ribbon with Bronze Star, American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Medal.

After he returned home, he met his future wife Glenna at “Triangle Garden”—the corner of U.S. 127 South and KY 22, where Owenton’s McDonald’s is today. June and his wife had

three children, Patty, Frank, and Jeff. He continued to farm, raising tobacco for nearly 30 years. He bought his first cow at 10 years old and was in the cattle business for over 85 years, specializing in purebred Herefords.

He would also take a public job at First National Bank (now German-American Bank) for a short time before moving to Peoples Bank and Trust Company for nearly a decade. After working at the bank, he served as Owen County Property Valuation Administrator for 21 years until retirement. He continued working on his farm.

June’s service to our country and the Owen County community, as well as his commitment to faith and family, is a wonderful example for people today and future generations.

When asked what words of wisdom he could offer, he said, “I should have more wisdom than I do, but I think this is important: so many people have financial trouble, and they say, ‘Live within your means.’ But if you live below your means, you will always have a little left.”

Wise words from a wise man. v

p JUNE PRYOR, MOONEY LYNN, and EUGENE DUNAVENT pose for a photo while stationed overseas during World War II. — Photo courtesy of the Pryor family

Ilena Figgins, of New Liberty, with a newborn lamb.

— Photo courtesy of Jenny Urie

Grilled French Bread Pizza

1/2 loaf French bread

2 tbsp. basil pesto (recipe below)

1 fresh sliced Roma tomato

1 small zucchini

1/2 white onion (thinly sliced)

McNally House of

SPRING IS IN THE AIR and that means local fresh finds. This French bread pizza can be recreated in your home using local ingredients and a little creativity. Shop your farmers market or local vegetable stand for artisan breads, spring vegetables, olive oils, and dried herbs.

2 tbsp. dried basil

1 cup Arugula and spinach blend

Shaved Parmesan Olive oil

Sea salt and pepper

For Pesto: Combine 2 cups fresh basil, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of olive oil, 1/3 cup walnuts, 3 cloves of garlic, salt and pepper in a blender until blended. Store in air-tight container in refrigerator.

For Pizza: Drizzle olive oil on bread and grill in a cast iron grill pan or on your outdoor grill until marks appear. Meanwhile, sauté zucchini and onion in olive oil with salt, pepper, and dried basil. Spread pesto onto grilled bread, then spoon vegetables over pesto. Top with salted tomato, Arugula and shaved Parmesan. Drizzle balsamic glaze for a little extra kick.

u LYNDSI MCNALLY is a resident of Owen County, wife, and mother of two boys. She makes her living as a Family Support Worker for HANDS at the Three Rivers District Health Department and often entertains her hundreds of Facebook followers by sharing photos of home-cooked meals.

— Photo by Lyndsi McNally

Find your 'Furever Friend'

Meet "Buffy"

Buffy is looking for a forever foster home, meaning the Owen County Friends of Animals will cover all her reasonable vet bills Buffy is a senior with arthritis and would love to have a home for her remaining years. She is sweet, easy-going, and does OK with slow and proper introductions with another dog, as long as they respect her space. She would not do well with a pushy dog or young children that do not understand how to be gentle and respect a dog's space Buffy only wants to rest and receive some love.

All about Buffy

Colors: Brindle

Age: Senior, approximately 10 years old Gender: Female

Life with Buffy: Sweet, easy-going, does OK with slow and proper introductions with another dog, as long as they respect her space Would not do well with a pushy dog or young children that do not understand how to be gentle

Ready to meet Buffy? Call Elizabeth at (502) 7501673 or text Hilari at (502) 514-1897.

good book Spring into a

Owen County Public Library’s Becky Doolin shares her top-four books to read this spring. Drop us a line at editor@sweetowenmag.com and let us know your favorite.

1

The Confession of Richard Shuck by Richard Shuck and Jesse Fears is Richard Shuck’s confession to a series of crimes related to the Ku Klux Klan. Known as “Simmon’s Gang” or “The Kentucky Marauders,” Shuck indicted others in a spree of violent crimes that remained unsolved for over 15 years. Shuck’s 1877 hanging was the final in Owenton and took place about one mile from the local prison.

2 3 4

Desolation Creek by William W. Johnstone is the fifth installment in the bestselling prequel series about Smoke Jensen’s life and adventures before he became the legendary mountain man. It’s a satisfying tale of revenge—especially for Johnstone diehards—as Smoke seeks vengeance after outlaws ambush his old friend and crossover series star, Preacher, in the town of Desolation Creek deep in the Montana Territory. Expected publication May 23, 2023.

fashion turn deadly in the latest installment of Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery, “Lemon Curd Killer.” Tea shop entrepreneur Theodosia Browning has been tapped to host a fancy Limon Tea in a genuine orchard as a rousing kickoff to Charleston Fashion Week. But as fairy lights twinkle and the scent of lemon wafts among the tea tables, the deadly murder of a fashion designer puts the squeeze on things. Expected publication March 7, 2023.

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes is a story of mix-ups, mess-ups and making the most of second chances.

Nisha Cantor lives the globe-trotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope—she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.

120 Progress Way, Owenton

For Primary Care Appointments

Owenton, 502.484.2117 | Carrollton, 502.732.1082

For Primary Care & Behavioral Health in Warsaw

859.567.1591

For Behavioral Health Appointments

Owenton, 502.484.2595 | Carrollton, 502.732.1092

For Dental Appointments

Owenton, 502.484.5888

Owen County High School Agriculture Department Sheep.

— Photo by Jacklyn Bond

Epperson Farm located in Lusby’s Mill.— Photo by Barbara Epperson

Larry Duncan works ground for his last crop of tobacco, 2016.

— Photo courtesy of Susan Ellis

OCHS Band Craft & Vendor Expo March 25

BY MOLLY HAINES RIDDLE Sweet Owen Editor

As a Franklin County High School band alumnus, Amie Crowe is wellversed in successful fundraising efforts. Now an Owen County resident and mother of two, Crowe drew inspiration from her alma mater’s annual Band Bazaar to help create the Owen County High School Band Craft & Vendor Expo, slated for Saturday, March 25.

Not unlike the FCHS event, the Expo’s vendors vary from handcrafted items such as lamps and crochet to door hangers and baked goods, filling the gymnasium and cafeteria at OCHS. Band students will assist vendors in setting up, tearing down, and running a silent auction, among other duties.

“I was in the band at Franklin County,” Crowe said. “All of the kids have to work (the Band Bazaar), and they’ve done it for so many years. That’s what I would like (the Expo) to become, a big thing for us that can live on for years.”

Only when a group of OCHS parents created the Band Boosters program in 2018 did the band have a major fundraising vehicle. The Expo, now in its third year, serves as its most significant fundraiser, with money raised going toward the purchase of props to enhance marching band performances throughout the year, copyrights to the music performed, and other needs as they arise.

A silent auction is held in conjunction with the Expo in the back foyer area of the school, making up about a third of the event’s revenue, according to OCHS Band Director Michael Pinkston.

“(Items for the silent auction) come from families, local businesses, corporations, and vendors,” Pinkston

added. “We walk around and ask the vendors if there’s a small donation they’d like to make throughout the day. We’ve also had donations for tickets to Kings Island, Florence Y’alls, and the Louisville Zoo, so we get a lot of that stuff too.”

Student-run concessions are also available throughout the day, including hot dogs, chips, pizza, cookies, candy, and drinks. A bake sale, made possible through donations, is also included in the day’s festivities.

The Boosters are working to increase advertising this year to up event attendance. Signs are located in prominent areas, including in adjoining counties, and event fliers are posted in local businesses. The group also advertises through a Facebook event page.

“Every year, we survey the vendors, how they think everything went, any questions and all that,” Crowe said.

Prospective vendors should contact Crowe at ocbandexpo@yahoo.com no later than Wednesday, March 15. The cost of a 10’x10’ booth is $30 or $50 for two. Each booth is provided with two chairs, but vendors must furnish their own table. Wall spaces are available, as well as electric, at no additional charge.

“The band works tirelessly throughout the year on performances, competitions, and so on,” Pinkston said. “The Expo is an excellent way for the community and region to support the band and goes beyond your typical school-related fundraiser selling candy bars or what have you. The Expo is different; it’s unique.” v

If you go:

The Owen County High School Band Craft & Vendor Expo is scheduled for 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, March

* S u b j e c t t o t e r m s a n d c o n d i t i o n s I n s u r a n c e p r o d u c t s a r e n o t a d e p o s i t , n o t i n s u r e d b y t h e F D I C , n o t i n s u r e d b y a n y f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c y , a n d n o t g u a r a n t e e d b y t h e b a n k O u r m o b i l e s o l u t i o n s a r e f r e e , b u t s t a n d a r d r a t e s a n d f e e s f r o m y o u r w i r e l e s s c a r r i e r m a y a p p l y