For better or worse, most of us are attached to our phones. There are plenty of times when I’m sure we’d all like to just put them down, and “unplug” for a while. The constant dings for texts, appointment reminders and notifications from apps we forgot we even downloaded can be overwhelming. But one of the things I’ve appreciated about always having my phone nearby is the “memories” that pop up each morning. With our busy lives, it’s easy to forget about the little things – a picture of the kids when they decided to don their Halloween costumes in the middle of summer, or an impromptu campfire in the backyard in the fall. Getting to revisit these snapshots in time also reminds me of all of the great memories my family and I make here in Owensboro. Our city has so much to offer, and I’ve been especially grateful for our city since we’ve reemerged from our COVID hibernation. From the swing set at York Park to the tennis courts at Moreland, Owensboro has provided my family with so many opportunities to “unplug” and enjoy one another. We’ve made countless memories downtown enjoying the riverfront and exploring the museum. And the memory collection wouldn’t be complete without a snapshot from lunch at Great Harvest or our summertime tour of the local taquerias. And these “memories” from my phone also invoke memories from my childhood - when I played with my friends at the same parks, and watched basketball games at the Sportscenter. And they make me especially grateful that I get to raise my four kids with my amazing wife in the same hometown where we were fortunate to grow up.
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A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Jacqueline Russell Lora Wimsatt
EDITOR Steven Wilson PUBLISHER Jason Tanner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY
In Towles’ novel, set in 1920s Russia, the protagonist struggles with the same question. Once an aristocrat, and therefore a man who never worked a day in his life, Count Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in an attic room of the Metropol Hotel. While there, the protagonist recounts events of his former existence, and finds renewed meaning through relationships with
EDITORIAL
Libby JohnJoshJohnsonKellyKirkpatrickMarlysMasonDannyMayDanaPeveler
STEVEN WILSON, EDITOR steven@owensboroliving.com
Do you have a story idea? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestion to steven@owensboroliving.com
WHAT I’M READING
At some point, we’ve all considered our purpose in life.
Trending BEHIND THE SCENES EDITOR’S NOTE
theAppreciatingMemories
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jamie Alexander LAYOUT DESIGNER Andrea Roberson AD DESIGNER
Monica Tapp DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Dave Mackey
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SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 9 WOMEN AGRICULTUREIN Owensboro Serves as Host for Statewide Conference BY JOSH KELLY FARM TO TABLE If you’re looking for a wonderful, unique evening out, join the families from Cecil and Hill View Farms for their 9th Annual Farm-to-Table Dinner! BY DANA PEVELER KENTUCKIANA LIFESTOCK MARKET A Vital Part of the Agricultural Community BY JOHN KIRKPATRICK FARMERS HELPING FARMERS A Strong Community of Families Comes Together in Times of Need BY MARLYS MASON 26 38 30 41 Contents FEATURES TRENDING 6 BEHIND THE SCENES A note from our editor. 10 NEWSWORTHY The real people, places and events that shape our community, brought to you by the Owensboro Times. CULTURE 14 THEATER The RiverPark Center at 30 16 ART Creating Recycled Art from the Heart 18 MUSIC The Lanham Brothers Jamboree Offers Good, Clean, Hometown, Family Fun! LIFESTYLE 46 SOCIAL Host The Perfect Tailgate Party 48 SENIOR LIVING Changing Your Diet as You Age - Identify Problems and Be Proactive! FLAVOR 56 RECIPES Warm & Cozy Autumn Recipes 61 DISH What we’re eating now: Local dishes we can’t live without! 48 RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT Sassafras: Keeping it Local SEPT/OCT2022
forRecognizedOwensboroasDestinationRetirees
According to a recent article published OwensboroMarketWatch.com,onisoneof the most affordable cities for retirees. In the article, a woman submitted a question asking where she and her husband could afford to live on a $38,000 annual budget. Owensboro was one of three suggested destinations in the article, and the author noted that Owensboro “comes with a low cost of living — and a big music scene.”
Trending NEWSWORTHY 5 things
byPhoto RICHARDSONRYAN 1 2
Peach Bliss at Reid’s Orchard
10 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
This may be the final year for the beloved Apple Fest, but this year, Reid’s Orchard hosted its first annual Peach Bliss market event on August 6. The day included fresh peaches, 20 vendor booths, food trucks, and U-pick flowers. we’re talking about now
Second Chick-fil-A
Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief
OwensboroComingLocationto Chick-fil-A appears to have chosen a site for a new location — and it’s on KY 54 in front of Walmart. The company is listed as a co-applicant on a rezoning request for a small piece of property that is adjacent to the old Bob Evans restaurant site, and both lots are owned by the same LLC. The news of a potential new Chickfil-A location was first reported by Owensboro Times in December, when a spokesperson said the company “is happy to share that we are actively pursuing a new location in the Owensboro area.”
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Two local women with roots in Eastern Kentucky rallied the community to send donations to the flood-ravaged area. Erin Williams and Leigh Ann Wallace contacted schools and local organizations to aid in the flood relief efforts. That turned into the formation of a number of drop-off sites around town to accept donations in the form of cleaning supplies and water.
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 11 Brought to you by OWENSBORO TIMES
THE
The Diocese of Owensboro also organized a drive that collected hygiene items and protective clothing for the victims of the flood and recovery workers.
EDC
“GrowLaunchestheBoro”
Brittaney Johnson, President/CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, said that the organization is planning to help “Grow the Boro” with a new program designed to bring remote workers to the city. The EDC will be offering some incentives to those wanting to move to Owensboro, including gift cards and memberships to businesses around town. The EDC hopes to have 10 families move to the community through this program over the next year.
12 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 13 CULTURE THEATER: THE RIVERPARK CENTER AT 30 p. 14 IN THE KNOW: 9 EVENTS TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR p. 15 ART: CREATING RECYCLED ART FROM THE HEART p. 16 → ofcourtesyPhoto ORCHESTRASYMPHONYOWENSBOROTHE
The original idea for the entertainment epicenter now known fondly as “RPC” stemmed from a combination of desires by a handful of different groups.
Jessie Mountjoy, local attorney and a member of the RPC board since its inception, recalls that a group of symphony supporters primarily wanted to relocate the Owensboro Symphony from Daviess County High School to downtown. That group worked with the Chamber of Commerce, and eventually the idea of RPC was curated and came to fruition in 1988 when Governor Wallace Wilkinson awarded the city a $4.5 million challenge grant to build a performing arts center. According to riverparkcenter.org, that grant was more than doubled with $10.7 million in localEarlyfunds.on,interested parties thought 4th Street would be a great location, however, a site selection adviser recommended utilizing the riverfront instead.“Dave (Adkisson, the mayor at the time) drew on a napkin at Pinocchio’s (a long-gone local eatery) what he thought it should look like, and it (RPC) is really remarkably similar,” Mountjoy recalls. Though the design of the building closely resembles the original dream, according to Mountjoy, the development of the Riverpark Center expanded far beyond what he personally envisioned at the outset. “If you’d asked me in the beginning, I’d have said, ‘No, this is not a place for kids,’ but it has evolved into something that is amazingly for kids, and that is something to be proud of,” he says.
14 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
IMAGERY
For a whole generation of Owensboroans, the Riverpark Center has simply always been thereanchoring the East end of the riverfront as a constant of the downtown landscape. On the other hand, there is still a large contingent of people who remember life - and downtown - pre Riverpark.Asthe Riverpark Center turns 30 and enters its fourth decade of existence, it seems appropriate to review and reflect on the facility’s past, present, and future.
THE PAST
Roxi Witt, who retired as General Manager of RPC in 2019 and was involved in its management in various roles since the beginning, is also deeply proud of the educational aspect that has become such an integral part of its mission. “We (Owensboroans) are so used to it being there and being part of our lives,” she says, but it’s another thing altogether “to witness a school bus from say, Webster County pull up by LIBBY JOHNSON Photo by AP
Culture THEATER The RiverPark Center at 30 Written
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SEPTEMBER 9 @ RIVERPARK CENTER Theirs is one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry. The four-part harmonies and upbeat songs of The Oak Ridge Boys have spawned dozens of Country hits, earned them Grammy, Dove, CMA, and ACM awards, and garnered a host of other industry and fan accolades. Every time they step before an audience, the Oaks bring four decades of charted singles, and 50 years of tradition, to a stage show widely acknowledged as among the most exciting anywhere.
Featuring professional songwriters based in Nashville, Tennessee, the series focuses on both hit makers and those searching for their first hit. The series highlights stories and lives of those working to create the soundtrack of America. Seating will not be provided, so bring your own chair or blanket. Gates open at 6:30 pm, concert begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 each for general admission.
THE FUTURE “My vision for the next decade of RPC is to grow in what we offer to the community. I definitely want to continue to do all the things the RiverPark Center is known for.” Jorn says. “I want my legacy to be that I opened up our programming so that everyone felt there was something for them at the RiverPark Center. Officially I work for a board of directors , who are great people and very supportive. But I really work for the citizens of this region, for all of them. I want to provide quality live entertainment experiences to as many people, groups, segments, etc…as I possibly can. And along the way I’d love to introduce folks to new things and new experiences.”
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SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 15 and a little five-year-old get off and stop in awe and say, “Wow!” Witt says RPC “gave arts a place, and gives people a place for the arts,” and also allows people to feel free to be in a beautiful facility. Reflecting on her years at RPC, Witt says that, naturally, some events and occurrences stand out more than others. Certainly, there were challenges - lots of rain-soaked weddings, a symphony performance halted and evacuated due to rising flood waters, and a tornado warning that necessitated “stuffing 1500 schoolchildren all over the building.” Though Witt says she cannot choose a particular performance as her favorite, she recalls that The Kentucky National Guard Gala on the first anniversary of September 11th was “so powerful.”
IN THE KNOW 9 EVENTS TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR SIPS & SUNFLOWERS
SEPTEMBER 8 @ BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
OL NASHVILLE SONGWRITER
SEPTEMBER 9, 16-17 @ TRUNNELL’S FARM MARKET
From 6-10 pm. On September 9, spend an evening sipping wine, beer, or spirits amid Trunnell’s gorgeous sunflower fields while enjoying over a million blooms of sunflowers. The wagon ride will take you from the farm market to their Sunflower Field, where you can enjoy delicious food, a farm bar, live music, bonfires, and splendid evening views.
THE PRESENT “When people think about important events in their lives, at least some of them will have happened at the Riverpark Center,” Witt says. Local restaurateur and entrepreneur Ben Skiadis agrees. “I have the enjoyed the Riverpark Center since its inception. As a kid going to school performances, attending the Broadway series with my family, and even directing on the big stage as a student at OHS - that was very impactful for me as a young artist,” he says. “The countless events held there certainly impact downtown business, including, of course, the restaurants owned by Skiadis and his family, and for that he is grateful. “Through every stage of my life, the RPC has played a role,” he says, “and I’m looking forward to working with Rich Jorn and Grae Greer on my newest venture - Do INC, a single source resource for all community events.” Both Jorn, the Executive Director, and Greer, the Marketing Director, are enthused about the Riverpark’s current status. One post-Covid innovation is the newish GhostLight Lounge. “When I was interviewed for the position, I was taking a tour of RiverPark Center, and I noticed this empty room that had a lot of potential. And I thought it would be a great opportunity for people to gather and socialize before and after a show. The GhostLight Lounge is entertainment based, a lot about the audience participation, and interaction with the patrons. We’re able to not only enhance their evening, but also, we’re able to promote future events as well,” says Jorn. “The GhostLight Lounge’s name came about when we were discussing various ways to enhance RiverPark Center’s nightlife. A ghost light is a light that stays on the stage when the production is over, and the curtain is down. It continues to give energy to the theatre. I love that our entertainment bar is named The GhostLight Lounge because that’s exactly what it does; it is a space that continues to energize RiverPark Center after our normal programming is over,” explains Greer. Stalwart programming for resident programs such as the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro Dance Theatre, Encore Musicals, and the OPS Fine Arts Festival are mainstays of the venue and continue to have their existence enhanced by access to the facility. Both Witt and Jorn attest that even after thirty years, the technical capabilities of RPC are still top notch. “This is not just a glorified high school auditorium,” Witt says. “It can still accommodate the most high-tech shows.”Alan Holbrook, a board member whose family has a long association with the Riverpark, co-chairs the RPC Community Relations Task Force with Mountjoy. Holbrook says he is proud of the fact that in recent years, a seat was created on the board to represent the many volunteers who staff the events. “We’ve tried - and will keep doing soto diversify the offerings and audience. It (RPC) really is multi-cultural and multi-purpose.”
THE OAK RIDGE BOYS
SEPTEMBER 15 @ OWENSBORO CONVENTION CENTER
Using wood she finds from the Ohio River, along with discarded pallets and donated jewelry, Carter creates unique pieces that give new life to the material.
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SEPTEMBER 16-17 @ OWENSBORO CONVENTION CENTER
Focusing on driftwood angels and Black sculpture, Carter creates one-of-akind pieces that vary in size because of the driftwood pieces she chooses. The sculpture pieces are painted black, adding jewelry, stone and a wooden head. Some wear a scarf, as well.Because so many people asked what Carter would do with an art degree, she did not major in art when she attended Western Kentucky University, but now, after she retires from her part-time position as a bus monitor for Owensboro Public Schools, she plans to take art classes locally.
GIRLS DAY OUT
“Everything is recycled that people would throw away,” Carter said, except for the wooden heads and binding materials.
fromRecycledCreatingArttheHeart
Girls Day Out is a shopping event with a variety of great vendors! Door prizes will be given away all day. Grab lunch at the cafe in the Convention Center. Admission is free!
In the early 2000s, Carter created dolls with a friend, and the two made a pact to not
“I think taking art classes would help me more and I would learn more about art,” she said.
16 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
SEPTEMBER 17 @ OWENSBORO CONVENTION CENTER
Jessie Carter says her style of art is labeled folk art, but she really isn’t sure what the category is for the driftwood sculptures and recycled pieces she creates.
Photos by JAMIE ALEXANDER
PIGTAILS & CONSIGNMENTCOWLICKSSALE
This annual tradition is a consignment sale that fills the Convention Center with items from over 600 families – all for kids! They will offer toys, books, shoes, furniture, clothes, boutique items and more for children from babies to teens. There is no admission fee for the public sale, and cash and cards are both accepted. 5 6
Written by MARLYS MASON
James’ success, like his comedy, is the direct result of the values he grew up with. And now, twenty something years later, it is this unique brand of humor that packs the crowds into his sold-out shows. The absence of vulgarity sets James apart and his stories are carefully crafted art. “I have lived long enough to know people, know life”, Gregory reflects. “My comedy is based on my life experiences. It’s real, it’s funny and the audience loves it. That’s why I’m still in business.”
Culture ART THE JAMES GREGORY SHOW
IN THE KNOW 9 EVENTS TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR
Wendell Foster’s Special Needs Expo is an opportunity for community agencies to collaborate in providing information about resources and services that will assist families in supporting a loved one with a disability. The Expo will include nonprofit organizations, state agencies, and private businesses that provide services in a variety of areas. 79 8 create their unique dolls if one were to die. They joined the Kentucky Crafted program that assists Kentucky artists and allows them to exhibit their art at the Kentucky Crafted Market and other events sponsored by the program, and began selling around the state.
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 17 FALL FARM MARKET
OCTOBER 12 @ OWENSBORO CONVENTION CENTER
The two also sold their dolls at The Baker’s Rack locally. When her friend died, she honored their agreement. “I believe in God, and a lot of my art is spiritual,” she said. “God said, ‘Hey, it’s time – time to do your art.”
CLAY WALKER SEPTEMBER 24 @ RIVERPARK CENTER Join country music star Clay Walker for an evening of his hits and to hear songs from his new album. Walker has a storied career marked with smash singles, platinum albums and countless honors and acclaim. Tickets start at $38 each and are available at ticketmaster.com.
SPECIAL NEEDS EXPO
Carter attends art fairs and festivals throughout the area and takes her angels, Black sculptures and the sunflower pieces she paints on palettes and tables. Some of the sunflowers and angels are painted on palettes that stand four feet tall. Each sale is important to Carter for specific reasons.“It’s not just the money, but the feeling you get when someone buys it to put in their house,” she said. Creating two angels and two Black sculptures a week is typical for Carter, but she finds that she is becoming just as popular for her sunflowers, which she now paints on four surfaces weekly. “People really love a sunflower,” she said. “It is a symbol as well in Christianity.”Carter has begun creating necklaces made from driftwood, adding in pieces of recycled jewelry, and those appear on her Facebook page, along with her other art.
Carter, who has lived in Owensboro her whole life, said that she is appreciative of the reception of her art, and no matter where it takes her, she knows she wants to continue working and interacting with people. “The best reward you can get is helping others,” she said. “While no two pieces I create are alike, they are made with the same heart.” OL
SEPTEMBER 18 @ HAYDEN FARMS Join Hayden Farms in Whitesville for their fourth Fall Farm Market in collaboration with Ruby Branch Farms. Dalisha’s Desserts will be returning again this year, along with a list of fantastic new vendors. Grab lunch or an early dinner, stock up on you fall decor, shop with any of their other fantastic vendors, enjoy yard games with your family or take some time to stroll the nature path.
The first piece she created was an angel made from a bedpost, and she donated that item to Cherri Lolley at CherriCare to be placed in the room where women who have undergone breast surgery find necessary items for healing. The reception to the piece was positive and showed Carter she had a gift. “I did not realize I had the ability to do more until I met Cherri and people liked it,” she said. Her Black sculpture, named Grace, is a Black woman filled with grace and strength. Carter is part of the Owensboro Art Guild, and she entered Grace in the Art Guild’s 60th Juried Art Exhibition in 2022, where 74 artists from Kentucky and surrounding states entered pieces. She has had 2 pieces selected for the juried exhibition. One of her driftwood angels is displayed at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art as a piece of permanent art, something that Carter takes pride in as a Black“Thereartist.is not a lot of Black art around here, and it is special to give back to the community,” she said.
Good, FamilyHometown,Clean,Fun!
The Lanham Brothers Jamboree is a fast-paced, high-energy variety show blending a mix of musical performances, Appalachian clogging, and comedy bits, entirely emceed by siblings Barry and Randy Lanham. The brothers’ playful banter adds to the humor of the show and helps segue into each act so there is never any downtime. Each brother brings his own skills and expertise to stage. Randy is a proficient fiddle player and vocalist who teaches community lessons at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, as well as private lessons for individuals. Barry shares his passion for clogging by teaching lessons and leading a traveling group called “Footstompin Express Cloggers.”
Culture MUSIC
Photos by TAYLOR WEST
Together, the duo has put together a show that brings out the best of each other, while also showcasing their students and THE LANHAM BROTHERS JAMBOREE CELEBRATES 15 YEARS
WHAT THE SHOW IS LIKE
Written by DANNY MAY //
18 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
With another soldout performance of the Lanham Brothers Jamboree on August 6 now behind them, Barry and Randy Lanham are already making preparations for their annual Christmas show at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum. By gradually building their fan base over the past 15 years, the Lanham Brothers Jamboree variety show now regularly packs the house at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Woodward Theater. Each performance is also aired on KET (Kentucky Educational Television). Barry and Randy produce the show. The crew films it. Then Randy edits it and sends it to KET.
The most recent show on August 6 featured mostly young performers such as Lucy Chaney, Parker Malone, Emmie Kate Williams, Skylar and Sophia Cain, the Bluegrass Brothers, and Mackenzie Bell.
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 21 highlighting some of the best talent in the region in a family-friendly environment.“Weworkhard on the shows to make each show unique. No two shows are ever the same. We do that so it’s entertaining for returning visitors and first-time visitors.” Barry, explained. “Randy works with musicians on his end. I work with dancers on my end. And then we bring them all together for the show.” That means the show is also equally entertaining for the performers, because they’ve never seen the full show in its entirety until all the pieces come together the night of the performance. “There is no dress rehearsal,” Barry explains. “There is a run-through with the musicians, of course, and a separate run-through with the dancers. But it all comes together for the first and only time at the show. We’ve been doing this for years, so at this point it’s like a well-oiled machine.” [See sidebar.]
“Everyone has their part to play, and they perform it exceptionally well. The dancers know their routine. They know exactly when it comes in the show. They know where to stand. They know what to wear for that dance. But the dancers don’t know what songs the guest performers are going to be singing. And the guest performers don’t know what routines the dancers will be doing. So you’ll see performers peeking through the curtain to watch from backstage, or they’ll be huddled up watching from the live feed on the screen in the greenroom.”Randyand Barry both serve as emcees and timekeepers. They know exactly how many minutes each song or dance will take so they can create a very detailed, almost to the second, set list so there are no pauses in between acts. Once the show starts, it keeps moving right on through.
THEBACKSTAGESHOW BEHIND THE SHOW
“When I’m on stage, Randy’s monitoring the backstage and making sure the next performers are cued up and in place and ready to walk out, and vice versa. We work very well together. We’ve been doing this long enough that he can give me a look, or I can look at him and we know what the other will say.”Setlists are posted in several places backstage so performers can keep up with where the show is and see when they go on next. This is also where having experienced sound and light engineers is so important, because they also follow the setlist and help keep things running smoothly. “For example, if Randy’s on stage finishing up and now it’s time for me to walk on, a sound man is ready just off stage to hand me a live mic and I’ll just grab it and walk on out,” Barry said. “As the crowd is still clapping and those musicians are walking off stage, the dancers will be getting in place behind me as I’m introducing the next act.” There are also moms who hang out backstage and help make sure the younger performers feel confident and comfortable, and make sure their shoes are tied, or take care of any other lastsecond need, and that helps, too.
The idea for the jamboree came after a school assembly where Randy was brought in to play some songs and Barry was there to demonstrate clog dancing. The dynamic of the two Lanham brothers together at the same school assembly was the “light bulb” moment that inspired them to team up for a show. “We’re brothers and we work together on different things anyway,” Randy remembers. “So we thought why not put it all together for a show? We’re not only brothers, we’re friends. It all weaves together into an entertaining show.” Their first show together was a fundraiser for the Merle Travis Center in Muhlenberg County. The brothers had a blast, and both agreed they wanted to keep it going, so they reached out to Diamond Lakes, who agreed to host what was by then known as the Lanham Brothers Jamboree in the Good Times Theater. That was a successful partnership for several years. “We loved Diamond Lakes. We loved the facility, and the staff was so good to work with,” Randy said. “Those were great times out there.”Butthe whole time the show ran at Diamond Lakes, Randy knew there were plans in the works to build a new Hall of Fame that would have its own theater one day. It took a few years for that to materialize. Meanwhile, the Lanham Brothers Jamboree slowly grew its fanbase. “In the back of my mind, I always hoped and dreamed our show could be staged at the Hall of Fame when it opened, and we were Audiences have been enjoying the Lanham Brothers Jamboree for 15 years. It’s very entertaining from the crowd’s perspective. But what is it like for the performers?
ORIGINS AND GROWTH
“There’s a nervous energy and an excitement among all the performers backstage and in the wings. Somebody’s giggling. Or somebody lost a shoe and people are frantically trying to find it at the very last second,” Barry Lanham explains.
Even the crowd feels different there because performing at the Hall of Fame brings in tourists and fans from out of town. These are bluegrass and gospel music fans. That’s why they come to the Hall of Fame - to see live bluegrass music, gospel, and country. So our show is a good fit.” Barry echoed, “We have a wonderful relationship with the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. They are wonderful to work with. We’ll bring in props and costumes weeks ahead of time. The sound, the lights, the audio equipment is all top of the line. Steve Chandler runs the house (sound). We bring in professional camera guys. The whole production is top quality.”
Randy says that longevity is partly due to the family-friendly atmosphere they planned from the beginning. “We knew we wanted to do a family show that everyone would enjoy no matter their age.” Randy said. “We always planned to have several guests and always feature young people. So I love it when people say they never know what’s coming next, or they had no idea Owensboro had so much talent. That’s a great compliment to us.” If you didn’t catch the show on August 6, be sure to buy tickets early for the Christmas show. Tickets are available at Bluegrasshall.org.
Randy says watching variety shows like “Hee Haw” on TV was an early inspiration for the jamboree. But for Barry, Opryland USA was also a major influence. “I loved Opryland. Growing up, we would go, and I loved watching their shows. They had such a variety and mix between traditional country and newer country songs choreographed with dancing. I remember how flawless the show was. I was amazed by that, and it always stuck with me.” Both brothers also give credit to performing in Goldie’s show (Goldie’s Best Little Opry House in KY, formerly housed in the present-day TWO building on Frederica St) as a major influence when they were creating their show. “I performed at Goldie’s for years, and I watched how Goldie and Charlie Payne were able to weave together their show so beautifully,” Barry remembers. “Charlie worked the sound and lights while Goldie worked the show on stage and backstage. They worked beautifully together, so I took note of that, too.” But that was more of an unconscious influence. Barry says he had no big goals for creating a show one day when he started clogging; preserving the tradition of clogging was his main motivation. “I just fell in love with clogging. It’s such a unique Kentucky and Americana dance form. It’s the Kentucky state dance now. I really just wanted to keep it going in the area, so we started doing some shows across the state and eventually started doing school assemblies. It has expanded beyond anything I could have imagined. We introduced clogging to Shanghai, China once. Wherever God wants to take this, I’m just along for the ride.” The Lanham Brothers Jamboree is now helping expand that reach, as well, especially through the KET broadcast. “Almost every week someone will stop me and say, ‘Hey Barry we saw the show on TV. We loved it.’ I’m just honored to be around such incredible dancers that have a passion for it like I do.”
FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT Barry and Randy grew up around several relatives that played instruments, including their grandfather, who played fiddle. They also remember going to square dances and bluegrass festivals as a family.
That chance came four years ago when the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum re-opened. Both Barry and Randy say that was the tipping point for the show, and took things to the next level. “It’s always exciting to perform on the Woodward Theater stage. The atmosphere is great, and the energy of the full house is incredible,” Randy said. “The greenroom is nice. There are always lots of volunteers. It’s so much fun!
Now that the Jamboree is in its 15th year, both Barry and Randy have students who performed in the show as kids who are now grown and have kids of their own performing in the show. “This has become a family tradition for a lot of families. Especially the Christmas show,” Barry said. “We have lots of families that participate and have participated from the beginning and continue to do so.”
OL Culture MUSIC
22 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 blessed to be able to do that,” Randy said.
AT THE HALL OF FAME
H ot off the heels of the successful Strawberry Festival, The Cottage Farm Stand & Baking Co. is gearing up for the Sunflower & Pickle Festival on October 1st and 2nd from 9 am to 4 pm each day. “I always look forward to fall weather and when the sunflowers are in bloom and the pumpkin patch is full, I know fall is here,” said Marlene Knight, owner of The Cottage. “Pickling vegetables is one of my favorite things to do. My plan is to always have enough pickles on hand to get me through the winter, but they never last that long in my house,” Knight says with a laugh. “We try to keep The Cottage stocked with pickled beets, Kosher dill pickles, pickled okra, bread & butter, hot & spicy —you name it and we pickle it.” And as if that wasn’t enough, the Sunflower & Pickle Festival will offer something “sunny” or pickled for every palette. There will be fried pickles, pickle Kentucky Kolache, pickle ice pops, pickle cotton candy, pickle popcorn, sunflower shaped cookies & cake pops, pickle juice shots, slushies and more. “We like to let our imagination run wild. The festival is only two days so we want to pack as much fun with two fan favorites as we can into this event,” KnightFestivalsaid. visitors will also be able to cut their own sunflower stems for $1 each or just take advantage of the once-a-year Instagram moment when the sunflowers are at their peak. Check The Cottage’s website or Facebook page for special sunflower, pumpkin patch & corn maze hours this “We’llfall. also have plenty of pumpkins at the festival. Little ones for the kids to paint all the way up to large ones ready to be carved into jack-o’-lanterns,” Knight said.
Sunflower & Pickle
The Sunflower & Pickle Festival is also adding food trucks and other local fare to the event this year. Knight said, “I’m excited to be able to offer even more food options at this event. The Cottage will be open and serving our customer’s favorites, but we hope you’ll get to taste something new, too.”
The Corn Maze opens August 26 and will be open until 6 pm every Friday and Saturday through October and is $5.00 per person. Children under 2 get in free. Visit The Cottage Farm Stand & Baking Co. at 6869 Highway 56 in Sorgho and find them at the Farmer’s Market every Saturday. OL
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THE COTTAGE FARM STAND & BAKING CO. 9OCTOBERSUNFLOWER&PICKLEFESTIVAL1STAND2NDAMTO4PMEACHDAY$5PARKING SPONSORED CONTENT
OctoberKicksFestivalOff1st
Like the Strawberry Festival, there will be around 80 vendors setting up shop. You’ll find everything from jewelry to clothing to houseware. Anyone interested in renting a booth at the Sunflower & Pickle Festival should contact Marlene via email at marleneknightevents@gmail or send a message via The Cottage Facebook page @cottagehwy56. There are only a few spots left. You don’t have to wait for the festival to visit The Cottage though.
// Photos
A VITAL PART OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY Written
Agriculture
LivestockKentuckianaMarket by JOHN KIRKPATRICK by JAMIE ALEXANDER
26 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
Aaron Walker has been involved with Kentuckiana for most of his life, and said the market plays an essential role in the area. “We’re providing a necessary service to the local community and bordering areas,” Walker said. “Livestock producers need a good, reliable place to market cattle. We’re fortunate in this area that we don’t have to drive 100 miles to conduct business.”
Most local farmers own mother cows, and Kentuckiana’s primary objective is to assist the calf producers in marketing their calf crops. The organization also sells cull cows, bulls, and feeder cattle. Danny Fulkerson and Riley Livestock own the market, while Walker serves as the auctioneer. The process has many moving parts, but Kentuckiana’s seasoned veterans and the knowledgeable agricultural community have it down to a science.“Producers and ranchers will bring their product to the stockyard where it is sorted into uniform groups,” Walker said. “Like cattle is paired together and offered to buyers who will background them, vaccinate them, ween them, and any preconditions to send to a finishing yard out west or Texas.”
Walker said calves primarily remain in the region until they reach 850 pounds. He added that the meat quality depends on the finishing yard and how well they adhere to suggested feeding standards.“Youhave to start with a good quality product, and our local farmers do that,” he said.
“If the finishers don’t continue to feed the cow properly, the result can be a sub-par product.”
Kentuckiana’s longstanding success and reputation are likely attributed to the many generations of families keeping cattle farming in the area relevant. Walker said farming is generational by nature, and the market embodies a family atmosphere. “There’s definitely a lot of repeat business from several generations of families,” he said.
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 27 K entuckiana Livestock has been the Tristate’s leading livestock auction market for more than seven decades. The group is part of the Livestock Market Association (LMA) and serves several counties in Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. Kentuckiana specializes in cattle, but they also facilitate goat and sheep transactions.
The Baker family created the market in the 60s, with Mike Baker continuing to clerk every sale.
“The need for the yard is what makes it successful. Without this, we would have to travel a long way to market our cattle,” Walker said. “We operate with honesty and integrity at the forefront of what we do, and we have enough producers in this county to keep it going.” OL
Fulkerson is tasked with grading every calf that enters the market.
Agriculture
28 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
While the market continues to thrive, Walker said the number of cattle farmers in the area continues to dwindle. He is hopeful that a young generation of farmers will take an interest in the industry.
Kentuckiana hosts sales every Monday at 1 p.m. with few exceptions. They also facilitate certified and preconditioned health sales on Thursdays.
“There’s one individual in his 90s who has only missed two auctions since the market’s conception.”
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She said that with since being a member, she has gotten to work alongside and build longstanding relationships with several women throughout the Commonwealth, all bonding on their passion of agriculture. “It has been great to
Agriculture
Written by JOSH KELLY
U niting women in agriculture has been one of Jenny Stelmach’s passions since she got in the industry as a college graduate, and now she will have the opportunity to share her passion at the upcoming Women in Agriculture Conference in October. From October 10 - 12, the organization will gather in the Owensboro Convention Center and have several opportunities to expose the attendants to the many different agricultural opportunities in Owensboro.Stelmach originally joined the Daviess County chapter of the organization and ultimately went on to serve for over 20 years as the chair of the chapter. She felt it was important at the time, and even moreso now, to find women of like mind in her industry. When she started in the industry, she said there were a few women in the field, but all had the same passion as her for agriculture. “I went to my first women in ag conference looking to meet some women of like mind and that were in careers in ag, and so I did that and met lots of great women and I stayed involved with them and on the board up until November of last year,” she said.
WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE
OWENSBORO SERVES AS HOST FOR STATEWIDE CONFERENCE
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 31 work with any of the women that have come into the group looking for the same thing that I was, and looking to find that common passion, someone to network with and talk to be able to confide in and establish relationships,” Stelmach said. “Someone that’s going through the same kind of struggles or has the same type of questions that they would.” Now, the representation has grown and there are several women in all different positions across the industry. But that doesn’t make the organization any less important now to her. As time has passed, she notes that she sees more younger women joining and taking part in the programs they offer. The conference has been going on since 1990 and each conference rotates throughout the Commonwealth. The conference has only been held in Owensboro once in 2001. “It’s been great to see the recognition and publicity for what [the local industry] is doing. So we wanted to feature the different things that have happened in Owensboro and the agricultural field since the conference was last held here,” she said. Stelmach considers the agricultural landscape in Owensboro diverse, and since this will be the first time in 20 years that participants will be able to see the city, she wants to spotlight as many places as possible. By the time the conference is over, guests will have gone to Cecil Farm’s White Chateau, Hayden Farms and Reid’s Orchard. However, that will not be all that they have seen during their time in Owensboro. The committee who planned the conference wanted to ensure that guests saw a variety of local business and organizations in town during their stay. These include touring the Wendell Foster campus and attending a Pure Barre class. With this agenda planned, she hopes the guests appreciate the history of Owensboro’s agriculture, and also the many directions that Owensboro is expanding. “I want them to see that Owensboro has a great agricultural heritage and I also believe that it is a very diverse city,” Stelmach said. “There’s a lot of things going on in Owensboro in the agriculture field as well as economic development.”Inaddition to the conference, they are offering childcare for participants. The decision to include childcare was a new addition to the organization in an effort to not deter women from not being able to participate. They are also accepting registrations for more people to attend the conference. To register, head to their conference.www.kywomeninag.com/annual-website OL
W hen the weather cools and the air turns crisp, there’s no better place to feel the magic of fall than on the farm. The harvest season brings colorful foliage, crisp apples, mild weather and pumpkins galore. The Farm is the place to be this fall.
Trunnell’s Farm Exprience, the premier agri-tainment venue in Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana, is the place to score the perfect pumpkin and farm family fun this season! You’ll fall in love with fall over and over again at Trunnell’s. You can enjoy the warmth of the bonfires, eat
EVENTS AT TRUNNELL’S FALL FARM EXPERIENCE Wine Your Way Out OCTOBER 1 & 7 Great Pumpkin Glow Fest OCTOBER 8, 14, 22 Adult Only Fall Fest OCTOBER 15 Family Flashlight Night OCTOBER 21 HalloWine Bash & Brew Fest OCTOBER 29 The Place to Be this Fall! TRUNNELL’S FARM EXPERIENCE SPONSORED CONTENT
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caramel apples, search for the perfect pumpkin, get lost in the giant corn maze, grab a cocktail slushie or sip on your favorite fall drink. Every autumn, thousands of visitors flock to this family farm to make lasting memories. Kids that come to Trunnell’s long treasure the memories of taking an old-fashioned tractor-drawn wagon ride to the pumpkin patch and picking their own pumpkin right off the vine. Sometimes that means tall and skinny, sometimes short and round, sometimes OCTOBER
36 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
Agriculture even green and misshapen! Trunnell’s Farm Experience & Market located in Utica, KY off Hwy. 431 (Frederica Street), at first glance looks like many other farms across the tri-state this time of year, but there is something magical about this farm and the experience they give their guests. The minute you step out of your vehicle, you are greeted by a sea of bright orange pumpkins, golden corn shocks, colorful gourds, bales of straw and stunning mums. As you approach the farm market, the delicious smell of fresh baked pumpkin bread, fried apple pies, and apple cider donuts tickle your nose, and your mouth starts to water for a glass of their cold, crisp apple cider. While strolling among the thousands of pumpkins displayed, your ears ring with laughter from families making memories exploring the 35+ attractions at Trunnell’s Farm Experience! From atop the hill, you can see hundreds of families walking the paths of the giant corn maze adventure and the beautiful sunflower fields! Kevin Trunnell exclaims, “Guests of all ages love to visit our farm and make magical memories! We are excited to share with all our guests the new additions we have for the 2022 fall season September 3October 30! SEE YA’LL AT THE FARM! OL
Within minutes of hearing the devastating news, the farming community and neighbors began asking what they could do to help the farm, while also allowing the family to not worry about the farm and take the necessary time to plan the funeral.
Warren said that all that day people were stopping what they were doing on their farms and coming to help the Thompsons in any way they could. Volunteers ultimately cut, baled and stored nearly 3,000 bales of hay at the Thompson’s western Daviess County farm.
L ocal farmer Dustin Warren isn’t one for the spotlight, but when the local farming community lost one of their own, he knew the story of brotherhood needed to be shared.
“People were still coming at night as word spread,” Warren said. “After we finished, we sat under shade trees telling stories about Joey.”
Agriculture
“It’s just what you do; you don’t think twice,” he said.
“I am a small piece to this puzzle,” Warren said. “But someone has to be the front man.” Recently Joey Thompson, coowner of the multi-generational farm PPJ Thompson, went in for heart surgery and was expected to return home, but died a week later from a pulmonary embolism.
Warren learned what was needed for families in difficult situations in 1999, when his father, a part-time farmer, was dying of cancer.
Written by MARLYS MASON Photo by RYAN RICHARDSON
A COMMUNITYSTRONG OF FAMILIESTOGETHERCOMES IN TIMES OF NEED
He said he frequently was asked why he didn’t choose to get a different job where he could make more money, but each time there is a call for help, he says he couldn’t drop what he was doing if he was in a factory“It’sjob.us out here in the country, and we are doing what we do,” he said.
38 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
Fifteen years old at the time, Warren said that his feelings were hurt because he wanted to help, but he now realizes what they were doing by allowing the family to be together.
“A neighbor came to tell us he was going to cut our tobacco and for us not to worry,” Warren said.
Warren said that this feeling of stewardship is so important at these times.“It’s more than just getting a crop in, it’s asking ‘What do you need?’” he said. “There are so many stories like this that I think nothing of it.”Warren is also a volunteer firefighter for St. Joseph Fire Department and says the same is true when they are called to situations.
FarmersFarmersHelping
“I guess the Lord just said, ‘Your work here is done,’” Warren said.
“We’re all friends here,” he said. “We jump in to help and we are down to help. We need a good song, a good story. I hate that it took Joey to tell us this.” OL
In January 2022, local farmer Bill Murphy succumbed to cancer and the farming community paid tribute by lining the road to his visitation at his house with tractors. Some came from as far away as Union County and Henderson County.
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“They lined up to show support and respect,” Warren said. “It’s just another way of helping to show theyWarrencare.” believes in the power of help, and said the farming community takes this with them wherever they go. Jumping in gives people this avenue to help, something he believes all people want and need.
Local farmers did the same when David Sparks was hospitalized and died from COVID-19 in the fall of 2021 when it was time for harvesting. Ten area farmers who helped with the harvest of the corn and soybeans at the Sparks family farm received the 2022 Humanitarian Award at the 42nd Annual Farm City Breakfast this year.
“So many farmers come – bringing combines and whatever else is needed to finish a crop even if theirs is still standing,” Warren said.
40 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
A
Written by DANA PEVELER If you’re looking for a wonderful, unique evening out, join the families from Cecil and Hill View Farms for their 9th Annual Farm-to-Table Dinner! This year’s 21 and over event will be held on Thursday, September 22nd at Hillview Farms, 5024 Lee Rudy Road, here in Owensboro. TraditionFamily
Photo by JAMIE ALEXANDER
B oth Jim Gilles with Hill View Farms Meats, LLC, and Suzanne Cecil White with Cecil Farms say their families have known each other for many years, well before they started their annual dinner, and share the same passion to build community relationships through healthy food. Both are committed to giving back to the community through their investments in youth and agricultural programming. The event truly is a labor of love, with over 20 family members and friends coming together to put on the dinner. “Our families go back a long way, and when Suzanne showed me the article about the idea of a Farmto-Table Dinner, it was perfect for us to do jointly,” Gilles said. Both farms treasure being able to relax and spend time with current and potential customers in a laidback environment – getting to know each other in a different light, all while enjoying delicious, fresh food, and listening to exceptional entertainment in a truly beautiful setting. Gilles added, “The dinner gives us a chance to be with our customers, and even folks who aren’t yet customers, in a different light; a relaxed state.” Hill View Farms provides the meat, which will be chicken, pork or beef, while Cecil Farms provides the produce. Chef Matt Weafer creates a fresh, flavorful meal directly from what is in season and available from the two farms. Jim hopes to have several Kentucky-based beverages for the guests, as well. Wear whatever you’re comfortable in for this outdoor fall evening event. Bring a group of friends, or a special date. All party sizes are welcome! Appetizers and drinks will be served at 6:30, with dinner at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $75 each. Seats are limited and sell out fast! You can visit Cecil Farms
FARM TO TABLE
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 41 Agriculture
PHOTOGRAPHYBRANDIE&BRET
Photo by JAMIE ALEXANDER byPhoto
42 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 website at: www.cecilfarmspd.com and Hill View Farms Meats at: www.hillviewfarmsmeats.com to reserve your seat. You can also follow them on social media for updates! This year’s event is sponsored by Cecil Farms, Hill View Farms Meats, as well as Melon 1, and Mischel Monuments. Proceeds will continue to support youth and agricultural programming in the community.Inthemeantime, if you want to stop in and purchase some fresh items or gifts, you can visit Cecil Farms at the local Farmer’s Market, or call (270) 929-1445, or stop by 8753 Mulligan Road, Owensboro, KY. You can also email at hello@ cecilfarmspd.com. To reach Hill View Farms Meats, LLC, visit their store The Market at 5024 Lee Rudy Road, Owensboro, KY, or call (270) 570-7039, or even email at hillviewfarmsky@gmail.com! OL Agriculture
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SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 45 SENIOR LIVING: CHANGING YOUR DIET AS YOU AGE p. 48 LIFESTYLE → SOCIAL: HOSTING THE PERFECT TAILGATE PARTY p. 46
Written by JACQUELINE JORDAN
FALL IS FINALLY UPON US, AND THAT MEANS IT’S TIME TO TAILGATE BEFORE THE BIG GAME! WHETHER YOU’RE TAILGATING IN THE PARKING LOT, YOUR DRIVEWAY OR EVEN YOUR HOUSE — THESE TIPS WILL HELP YOU HOST WITH EASE. SHOW YOUR TEAM SPIRIT It’s not a party without some decorations! You can create a fun and inviting atmosphere — even in the parking lot. Add banners, balloons and signs to your space to make it feel festive, and make sure your necessities, like napkins and cups, match team colors. These details will create a fun atmosphere and make your tailgate zone stand out.
EAT UP You want to be part of the action, not behind the scenes on game day, so be sure to plan a simple menu and prep ahead if you can. If you’re grilling at the game, pick foods that cook quickly, like burgers, brats, chicken, steaks, fajitas or seafood. Chop peppers, onions and other items the night before so you don’t have to at the game. Think about foods you can eat with your hands, like burritos, wraps or sandwiches. Don’t feel like grilling? Try walking tacos! Make taco meat ahead of time, and bring individual bags of chips and taco toppings. Guests can pick their bag of chips and fill it with taco goodness to have an easy-to-carry meal while they hang out. Slow cooker meals are another grilling alternative (or supplement!).
A nice hearty soup or stew can warm up those chilly tailgaiting days. Serve up bowls of chili or chicken tortilla soup to warm everyone up and feed a crowd relatively easily. To lighten your load as host, provide the main dish and ask your friends to bring the sides and desserts! Create Perfect Tailgate Party
46 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Lifestyle SOCIAL
Host The
IT’S GAME DAY Football doesn’t have to be the only game of the day. If you’re planning on tailgating for a while, bring along yard games like cornhole or giant Jenga. Kan Jam is also a great addition to your party, and everyone from kids to seniors can participate.
HAVE AN AFTER PARTY
Instead of fighting traffic when the game is over, plan to linger in the parking lot for a bit with a tailgate after party. Rehash the highlights of the game over drinks, snacks or dessert. No matter your plans, the important thing is to have fun! Make friends with your tailgate neighbors (no matter who they’re cheering on) and share some of your treats or challenge them to a game of cornhole! OL
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 47 BinsApronsfor washing and Bottlerinsingand can Easy-upDessertsDrinksCoolersChairsopeners canopy or Footballs,Foodtent frisbees GrillGamesand charcoal MosquitoIce repellant Paper cups and plates Paper eatingforTablesSunblockStadiumSnackstowelsseatsandtableclothsprepandfor Team flags and WetWaterTrashbannersbagsforcleanupwipes ChecklistTailgating
a list of what people are bringing and share it with everyone, so no one brings the same thing. If anyone needs help, offer ideas, and let them pick.
Written by DANA PEVELER. Executive Director of Senior Living—Leisure Living Communities
48 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
Did you know nearly 11% of adults have a food allergy and about half of those were newly diagnosed in later years? Allergies like fish and shellfish, tree nuts, dairy, and wheat are just some of the most commonly reported adult-onset allergies and sensitivities.
How can you help identify whether you may be experiencing a food allergy? The first thing you can do is discuss it with your doctor. Start keeping a journal of those times when you are experiencing symptoms, and be descriptive of your environment, the times of day, how long it lasts, what you ate, what medications you’re taking, and when. Remember, just because you’ve never noticed a reaction to something before, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not having one.
Once you have identified that you definitely have an allergy or sensitivity, make sure to share that information with your family and friends. They love you, and they want to make sure you stay healthy. Don’t suffer in silence like I did for a few years, not wanting to put anyone out. I can’t tell you how many potlucks I attended without eating. This probably made them feel like I didn’t appreciate their food, when the truth was, I would’ve loved to have eaten that entire chocolate pie! Meet with a dietician. Let him or her show you the way to shop and eat safely. I left my dietician’s office crying out of gratitude because she told me I actually could have a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup – it didn’t have gluten! For weeks, I’d spent countless hours at the grocery reading labels and not understanding them fully; fearful of every bite I put in my mouth that it may counteract all the
Lifestyle SENIOR LIVING Changing Your Diet as You Age
“Dana, I ran some tests on you because I had a suspicion, and needed to verify before I brought it up. You have Celiac Disease. It’s an autoimmune disease, that you’ve most likely had your whole life, it’s just started giving you problems now ….” After that, every syllable was muffled under the roaring of questions. I don’t remember much else of what she said, except that I’d feel amazingly better in a few weeks of going on a glutenfree diet. Gluten-free?! I wasn’t even sure what gluten was, let alone how to make sure my diet was free of it! She gave me the information for a dietitian who would help me sort out what I could and couldn’t eat from now on. I left and marched straight into Einstein’s Bagels where I ordered my very last (on purpose) gluten-filled sandwich. While I sat there savoring every bite, waves of dread and fear pulsed through what felt like every cell of my body. What did she mean, no more wheat? What all was gluten in? How would I grocery shop? Why, if I’d had this all my life, was it suddenly a problem? What is the gluten actually doing to my body? What happens if I cheat?As we age, diagnosing food allergies becomes harder to do. It may be that we overlook a recurring symptom because we just started a new medication. Maybe we have more than one health concern that can cause many of the same symptoms, or maybe we’re reluctant to believe we could have a problem because we never have before. Aging changes things – it changes our gut’s absorption. It changes our skin, our sinuses, and so many more elements that can impact the development of allergies or sensitivities. For example, the average age of those diagnosed with Celiac Disease are between 40 and 60, with about 20% being diagnosed after the age of 60. I was lucky. My doctor was able to identify my symptoms even before I recognized them.
IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND BE PROACTIVE!
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 49 effort I’d put forward up to that point; severely depressed because my future seemed overwhelmingly complicated and bleak - new recipes with strange ingredients, that didn’t seem to measure cup for cup or tsp. to tsp. and that tasted entirely foreign to me. I kept at it, though, and learned some tricks, and identified some favorite products that work well.
restriction, ask them what they’d like you to do for them. I was fearful for friends or even family to cook for me because cross-contamination is so innocently and easily done. Ask them to help you understand the hidden ingredients, and necessary utensil safety. If you know someone is going to be there with a restriction, write down what ingredients and even brands of ingredients you used along with the recipe so they can see for themselves what’s in it. If you’re the one with the restriction, take extra food to gatherings for yourself so you never have to worry about having something to eat. Relationships are built and cultivated around meals. Remember that with every change you make, with every person you educate, you’re doing your part to ensure you get to enjoy those relationships for many years to come! OL
Absolutely do not give up eating out if that brings you joy! I remember eating only a bowl full of mashed potatoes at Chili’s because I had no idea how to ask the server for a glutenfree menu. Don’t be shy! If the website doesn’t tell you, call ahead to see what menu options they have available for you. Let your server know about your needs, and ask what foods you can eat. More often than not, they have a menu with allergens or nutritional information. Sometimes the chef will even come out to discuss your options with you. If you’re in food service, and have the freedom to make changes to your menu, if they’re easy changes to make, make them! No kidding – I get so goofy-giddy when I get to order a sandwich with actual gluten-free bread! Don’t even get me started about dessert! Did I encounter servers who didn’t take my request seriously? Yes. But that’s where I learned to be proactive. Fortunately, that hasn’t happened in several years! Advocate for yourself. Yes, I’ve been that woman who strutted into a restaurant clutching a bottle of gluten-free soy sauce in a brown paper bag! If you love someone with a food allergy, sensitivity, or health-related
Join a Facebook group, or find an organization online you can consult to collect information. I get some of my best ideas from them.
Check out or buy a book on your specific needs. I carried around a book for months that helped me navigate the path I suddenly found myself on. It’s been 12 years, and I still refer to it sometimes.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T REPLACE A MISSING TOOTH? Missing one or several teeth can significantly impact your day-to-day life, as well as your future oral health. If you choose not to get a replacement, you could suffer several consequences both now and throughout your lifetime: You might not be able to pronounce words or chew correctly: Your teeth have a crucial function — to help you eat and communicate. A missing tooth might impact your ability to pronounce words correctly or clearly and can also impede chewing.Yourteeth can become misaligned: As your teeth shift toward each other to fill in the gap left behind by a missing tooth, they can become misaligned, which can strain the jawbone and lead to greater difficulty chewing. Your jawbone starts to deteriorate: Because the gum and bone are no longer stimulated, your jawbone will begin to shrink, and your gums will pull back around the missing tooth. This process causes your face to sag and any adjacent teeth to weaken.
Dental implant: Considered by many doctors to be the best replacement option, natural-looking implants are surgically placed into your jawbone for teeth that last a lifetime.
SPONSORED CONTENTLifestyle HEALTH
IMPLANTSANDTOOTHDISCUSSESDENTALBLUEGRASSLOSSDENTAL
The importance of replacing missing teeth should not be Fortunately,overlooked.you can choose from numerous options for replacing a lost tooth,Dentures:including:Dentures are a set of false teeth that can replace either a couple missing teeth or a full set of teeth. However, they are often uncomfortable to wear and can slip out while speaking or eating.Dental bridge: A dental device “bridges” the gap of a lost tooth between your two natural teeth. The adjacent teeth must be cut down to secure the bridge, causing irreparable damage. Bridges are not a bad option at all, especially if there is not sufficient bone for a dental implant.
REASONS TO REPLACE A MISSING TOOTH
IN SUMMARY Note that the problems described above are just a few of the issues you might encounter if you have missing teeth at the back of your mouth. Having the tooth restored, preferably with a dental implant, will help maintain your oral health and facial appearance. If you have lost a tooth due to infection or decay, contact the dentist immediately for a dentalMissingrestoration.atooth? Loose Dentures? Bluegrass Dental offers free implant consultations, including a 3D CBCT scan to determine if you might be a good candidate for dental implants. OL
HOW CAN I REPLACE A MISSING TOOTH?
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The benefits of tooth replacement are numerous and can help you regain enjoyment and confidence in your life: You’ll look younger: By maintaining the contours of your facial structure, replacing a lost tooth can prevent your cheeks from sagging. You’ll find more enjoyment in your favorite foods: A tooth replacement allows you to chew your food more comfortably andYou’llnaturally.enhance your speech and smile: Clear communication and a natural smile can make you feel noticeably more confident in your interactions.
You’ll improve your overall oral health: Replacing your missing tooth will keep your jawbone strong and help protect against tooth decay and gum disease in the surrounding area.
52 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 SPONSORED CONTENTLifestyle HEALTH
“When patients are considering their options for care, the Best Hospitals ratings are designed to help them identify hospitals that excel in the kind of care they may need,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “A hospital that’s earned a High Performing rating in a service may be a good option for patients in need of that service and their medical professionals to consider.”
REGIONAL HOSPITAL A HIGH PERFORMING HOSPITAL
NEWS & WORLD REPORT NAMES OWENSBORO
U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Owensboro Health Regional Hospital a 2022-2023 “High Performing Hospital” (the highest rating available) for the care of heart attacks, strokes, COPD and kidneyThesefailure.annual ratings are intended to help patients and their doctors make informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging healthBasedconditions.onpatient outcomes, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital earned “High Performing” ratings for the care of heart attacks, strokes, COPD and kidney failure, which was significantly better than the national average.
“We’re pleased to be recognized for our commitment to excellent care,” said Beth Steele, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital Chief Operating Officer. “Our physicians and team members demonstrate their dedication to our patients and community daily. We will continue to invest in innovative technology along with a focus on recruiting and retaining expert caregivers to ensure high quality, safety and service.” For the 2022-2023 Best Hospitals rankings and ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. Fewer than half of all hospitals received “High Performing” ratings, and only four earned this rating in all procedures and conditions.
The U.S. News Procedures & Conditions methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality such as survival rates, patient experience, and how successfully each hospital helps patients get back home. OL U.S. HEALTH
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 55 FLAVOR RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT: SASSAFRAS p. 62 RECIPE: WARM & COZY AUTUMN RECIPES p. 56 WHAT WE’RE EATING NOW: FRESH PRODUCE p. 61 → byPhoto ALEXANDERJAMIE
4. Add cooked pasta and stir until coated. Then transfer into the squash “bowls” and cool a few minutes before serving! The interior of the bowls will also be edible!
Acorn Squash Mac & Cheese
Warm & Cozy Autumn Recipes
Recipes and photos by JAMIE ALEXANDER
2 Tbs butter Garlic powder to taste Dry mustard to taste Salt & pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut one acorn squash in half. If you plan on using others as bowls, you will slice the bottom points off so they can stand upright, and then the top portion at the widest point (to act as a lid). Scoop out the middle of each squash (seeds, etc), and discard. Then drizzle olive oil on top of what remains and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place the squash and lids on a baking sheet and add a small splash of water in each squash and on the pan itself. Roast in the oven for 40-50 minutes, or until golden brown and soft.
1 acorn Squash (plus additional if you plan on using as bowls) 16oz. box of pasta (your favorite bite3sized!)cupsshredded cheese (again, your favorite - I mixed white cheddar/ 11parmesan)cupmilkcupchicken broth
3. Remove from heat and blend with an immersion blender or food processor until smooth, then slowly add cheese until all cheese is melted.
56 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Flavor RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
For our agriculture issue, we thought we’d share some recipes you can make with some fresh autumn produce. So many flavors and ingredients are synonymous with autumn, and we picked some that are perfect comfort dishes that really hit the spot once the weather starts to cool. So once you see the leaves start to change, pull out the chunky socks and baggy sweaters and sit down with an oversized plate filled with these delicious fall flavors.
2. Once roasted, take the halved acorns (not the ones used as bowls), and combine them in a large pot with the butter, broth, milk, garlic powder, dry mustard, and pepper. Stir consistently while heating up on medium heat (about 8min).
1.INSTRUCTIONS
SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Owensboro Living 57 Sweet CasserolePotato INGREDIENTS FILLING: 4 pounds raw sweet potato 2 large eggs 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp cinnamon TOPPING 5 Tbs unsalted butter, melted 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup pecan halves 1/4 tsp salt 1.INSTRUCTIONS Peel and dice sweet potatoes into large chunks. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook with high heat until the potatoes are tender, then drain and transfer to a large bowl. 2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 3-qt baking dish with cooking spray. 3. Add eggs, butter, milk, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined and fluffy. Pour into the baking dish and smooth the top out with a spatula. Set aside. 4. To make the topping, add butter to a microwave-safe bowl and melt. Then add brown sugar, flour, and salt. Toss with a fork until moist crumbs form. Add the pecans and toss until incorporated. 5. Spread the topping overtop the filling evenly. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the edges are set. Serve immediately!
58 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022 Easy Apple Tart INGREDIENTS 1 sheet puff pastry 4 apples 3 Tbs Sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 2 Tbs apricot jam 1 tsp water 1 egg (for egg wash - crust) Flavor RECIPE
OL
2. Cut the cores from each apple, then slice them into 1/8” pieces. Arrange them on the puff pastry, overlapping slightly within the 1/2 inch crust. Brush an eggwash over the crust. Combine the cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle over the apple slices. 3. Bake in the preheated 400 degree oven for 40 minutes.
4. Mix apricot jam and water in a bowl (microwave for 10-15min if it needs to be thinned out more). Brush the jam over the baked apples and crust to make a glaze. Cool before serving!
1.INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Roll out puff pastry sheet on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Score out a 1/2 “crust” around the perimeter, then poke holes through the interior.
Peach & ToastHalloumi
For something to satisfy your sweet and savory craving, try Niko’s Bakery & Café’s Peach & Halloumi Toast. Made on Niko’s fresh sourdough bread with halloumi cheese, and featuring Reid’s Orchard Peaches and Cecil Farms honey and rosemary.
Hillview Hash SASSAFRAS
NIKO’S BAKERY AND CAFÉ
Since this is our annual issue on our community’s agriculture, we thought it fitting to feature fresh, local produce. And everyone knows our farmers produce some of the best veggies (and meats) around.
Stuffed Tomato
COLBY’S DELI
For a fresh take from a local favorite, try a farm-fresh stuffed tomato from Colby’s Deli. They start with a giant tomato from Riney Farms, and stuff it with chicken salad (or tuna salad, if you prefer). Then Colby’s Deli serves it on a bed of greens with egg and cheese and your choice of salad dressing.
Flavor DISH What we’re eating now
Like we said, in addition to the county’s fresh vegetables, our local farmers also produce outstanding quality meat. For their hash, Sassafras uses slow smoked, fresh beef short rib from Hillview Farms. They finish it with locally-sourced sauteed cabbage, carrots, onion and cherry tomatoes.
62 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
Photos by JAMIE ALEXANDER
KeepingItLocal Sassafras, a hyper-local restaurant featuring scratch-made Kentucky and regional food with a global influence, is now open in downtown Owensboro. The owners, brothers Matt and Dennis Weafer, say this is just the beginning.“Something like this has always been in the back of my mind,” Matt, who also owns Niko’s Bakery & Cafe, said. “And my brother and I have always wanted to do something together.” “We’ve talked about working together for a long time,” echoed Dennis, who owns Fetta Specialty Pizza. The two have combined their talents to create a new restaurant that highlights the best local ingredients and spirits, where patrons can dine surrounded by local“It’sart. comfort food,” Matt said. “It’s the stuff that my brother and I grew up eating, stuff from backyard cookouts. That’s the origin of it.” The dishes are familiar, but often with a twist — like chicken and dumplings, but with smoked chicken and French gnocchi.“We wanted to remind you of stuff you’d have at your grandmother’s house, but not that close, because Grandma always makes it better,” Matt said. “We want to make sure it’s different enough. It’s not grandma’s chicken, but it’s special.”Dennis said he’s proud to stand behind any dish they serve, but his favorite is anything featuring their smoked pimento cheese.Sourcing hyper-local ingredients instead of using more prominent restaurant vendors not only makes the SASSAFRAS
Flavor RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
“Local vendors have worked out great, and it’s a more sustainable way for smaller restaurants. We can change our menu as the seasons change, depending on what’s available.”
Written by JACQUELINE RUSSELL
“We buy the food from local farmers, and with almost everything, we’re on a first-name basis,” Matt said. “Most of our farmers, we just send them a text, and they come straight from the farm.
After launching with a slow, soft opening to get everything just right, Dennis wants everyone to know the restaurant is ready for customers.
restaurant special, but could also be what keeps it going during uncertain economic times.
“Kentucky has so many cool boutique distilleries we want to feature and highlight,” Matt said. “We have a handful of gins and handful of vodkas that are made here in Kentucky. Same thing with the beers, with the exception of a few major domestics that people have to have.”
“It’s a unique situation,” Dennis said. “Large food vendors have anything you’d want, but that changed with COVID. Local vendors have worked out great, and it’s a more sustainable way for smaller restaurants. We can change our menu as the seasons change, depending on what’s available.”Eventhe drink selection has local roots, sourcing locally made liquors.
Suzanne Cecil (of Cecil Farms) brought a bunch of produce down here earlier, and she’s like, ‘I just picked it this morning. It’s still dirty.’ But that’s what I want.”
“We’re open,” he said, “And I’d highly recommend making a reservation.”
SASSAFRAS IS LOCATED AT 420 FREDERICA STREET AND IS OPEN TUESDAY - SATURDAY, 11 A.M. TO 9 P.M.
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The brothers say this is just the beginning. “We are all a bunch of food geeks and the thing we’re most excited about is the possibilities of what we get to make,” Matt said. “We want to play around with making our own charcuterie and our own cheeses. We’re going to start bottling sauces and put them up on the shelf to sell.”
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Fertile Land and HardworkingFarmers
In describing how the system would work for local farmers, Virgil Chapman of Lexington, the assistant general counsel of the cooperative marketing association, explained that “under the present system, the tobacco manufacturer and buyers borrow money with which he buys tobacco, pays insurance, wages, handling costs, etc., adding these to the price he asks for his tobacco – but not taking into consideration the cost to the farmer growing the crop.” He added: “Under the co-operative system, the farmer would figure land values, depreciation, labor, interest on his investment, and base the price for his tobacco on the actual cost of raising it plus a reasonable profit.”
64 Owensboro Living SEPTEMBER // OCTOBER 2022
Daviess County farmers crowded into the circuit courtroom 100 years ago to consider an endorsement presented by the Burley Tobacco Growers Co-operative Marketing Association – and overwhelmingly voted to organize a similar organization in the Green River, One Sucker and Stemming district.Yes, that’s what it was called, according to an article published in the Jan. 15, 1922, edition of the Owensboro Messenger. The eloquent appeal detailing benefits of cooperative marketing included an example previously experienced by fruit growers in California. Prior to their organization, they had received anywhere from 8 to 12 cents for every $1 spent by consumers for their products. Now, their share had risen to 48 cents.
As of Feb. 19 that same year, the tobacco crop in the five-county Green River district had been measured at 28,000,000 pounds – and its growers had been paid $4,085,881.83. A lot of money then (and now!) –especially when a quick zip through an inflation calculator places that figure at $72,056,471.73 in 2022 dollars.By June 1922, more than 25 percent of Daviess County’s tobacco acreage – conservatively estimated at 14,000 acres – had been pledged to the “tobacco pool.” The figure would have been higher, the newspaper reported, but of course “the growers are all very busy,” and so far only eight out 86 districts had been surveyed, but of those eight districts, anywhere from 75 to 85 percent of farmers signed up. Recruitment was important because of a requirement that two-thirds of the total acreage of tobacco grown in the county had to be pooled before the contract became binding.
Chairman Will Hayden reported “the organization committee was highly elated over the spirit displayed on all occasions when workers have submitted the contracts to growers.” As an example, about 115 acres out of a total of 214 in the Masonville district were committed. J.W. Ellis of that district said it was an easy decision: “There is nothing else to do if the tobacco growers ever expect to get anywhere than mere laborers by the day.” By Aug. 27, about 15,000 acres had been pledged, including 8,000 acres in Daviess County – and it was clear that the overall district quota would be met. Farmers were informed that receiving stations would be held in Owensboro, Fordsville, Hartford, Calhoun, Cloverport, Hawesville and Livermore, and the growers would receive advances on their crops after they had been delivered and graded.
Written by LORA WIMSATT
The co-op also offered the benefit of consistent grading, and the speaker promised that buyers and warehouses were not opposed to the development of the organization. This was a big deal to local farmers.
It was just one example of progress being developed among the agricultural foundation upon which Daviess County stood so strongly. Overall, 1922 was a very good year for local farmers, with an Owensboro Messenger article on Oct. 15 saying crop reports in Daviess County exceeded those of neighboring counties. Corn, wheat, Irish potatoes, tobacco, sorghum for syrup and, of course, tobacco, were all having a successful year of production. And it may have been for that reason that land values in Daviess County exceeded those of other counties in the district. Land without improvements was valued at an average of $77 an acre; with improvements, the valuation soared to $94.
By comparison, unimproved land in Hancock County was valued at a measly $23.33 per acre; Ohio County, not much better at $23.75; McLean, $45; and Henderson, $50. With improvements, values “rose” to $32.25 in Ohio County; $46 in Hancock; $58.33, McLean; and $60 in Henderson County.
Or
Because
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What does it all mean? Maybe nothing. maybe everything. here’s what we know for sure: Farmers are important, their work is essential, and their contributions to our community, state, country and the world are priceless. OL
