Patrick County Magazine Fall 2022

Design with a Purpose

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Christmas is rightaround the corner

The Christmas season is a wonderful time to delight your friends and family, thank clients, reward employees, or spread joy to anyone else you care about. A Christmas Fruit Basket is a wonderfully delicious gift that can bring a smile to anyone’s face! Every Fruit Basket we make is made fresh when you order and contains 100% fruit and NO FILLER, so every lucky recipient of a Wood’s Produce Fruit Basket is getting the season’s freshest fruit and a great value too! Our baskets are also customizable with a variety of tasty add-ons including Local Honey & Jams, Country Ham, and Christmas Candy!

The Patrick County Magazine is published in partnership by the Patrick County Tourism Office and the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce. Fall 2022 / Vol. 1, No. 2

visitpatrickcounty.org

patrickchamber.com

For advertising information:

Patrick County Chamber 334 Patrick Ave. Stuart, VA 24171 276-694-6012

For additional copies of the magazine, contact:

Patrick County Tourism 126 N. Main St. Stuart, VA 24171 276-693-2005

Chamber Director: Rebecca Adcock

Chamber Assistant: Sharon Williams

Tourism Coordinator: James Houchins

Tourism Assistant: Grace Cooper

Creative Director: David Stanley

Photographer: Kim Rakes

Design: SilverLining Design

Editor: Kristin Hylton

Contributors: Rick Craig, Kevin Hubbard, Sue Kolljeski, Sarah Sheppard, Erica Stacy

Note: Please know that changes occur with attractions and businesses before Tourism or the Chamber knows about it. We make every attempt to present accurate information, but contact businesses or attractions directly before making plans to visit.

The Cover: Harvest season at Windy Hill Orchards, a pick your own orchard in Ararat, VA

of Contents

Tourism/Chamber Welcome

Updates from the Tourism Coordinator and Chamber Director

Find Yourself Here

Fruits of family labor at Wade’s Orchard

A Long History of Working the Land

Agriculture is an important part of the history of Patrick County

An Apple Tree for the Ages

The ‘Handy Apple Tree’ stands out in Patrick County’s history of fruit growing

Great Aunt Jean’s Apple Cake

Familial recipes celebrate the taste of each season

Harvest in Patrick County

Harvest manifests in hard work, bountiful food, and community gatherings

Patrick County Agricultural Fair

Rotary’s Agricultural Fair is built on a history of service

The Meadows of Dan Experience

Meadows of Dan has grown from a farming community to a bustling, yet quaint, tourist hot spot

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Patrick County has a long history of community events during the holiday season

G R A S S R O O T S G R A N T S

One Family Productions' Grassroots Grants fund is a community based granting initiative to award microgrants that empower innovative, impact oriented projects in Patrick County and surrounding areas to enhance the community via education, creative placemaking, arts, and culture

One Family Productions is a non-profit with the mission of promoting and supporting community enrichment and growth. We create impactful partnerships and events that are accessible, innovative, and engaging.

Updates from Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce

Patrick County Tourism is proud to be a part of the second issue of the Patrick County Magazine. The success of the first issue has been amazing to see. The magazine has become a welcomed addition to our Visitors Center and event booths. We are excited to share this issue with locals and visitors alike. Autumn is a special time here in Patrick County, and we’re all happy to share our traditions. Our county celebrates the last few days of warmer weather by coming together with others in the community. This edition of the magazine celebrates the autumn harvest and the culture built around it.

Autumn is harvest time here in Patrick County. Our area’s rich agricultural history still influences our community today. Autumn is a time when communities come together to celebrate the end of a successful year before winter sets in. Our festivals such as the Apple Dumpling and Octoberfest brings the community together to celebrate the end of the growing season. Once the festivals end and the leaves fall, the tourism department is able to shift its focus to next year as leaf-peeping ushers in a slowdown of tourists before winter brings in unpredictable weather and parkway closings. Planning and preparations begin for the next year as the time changes. If you’re looking for information on Patrick County, we encourage you to come by the Visitors Center at 126 N. Main St., Stuart, or check out our website at visitpatrickcounty.org. Here you’ll be able to find county maps, event calendars, lodging information, and friendly folks ready to help. We’re happy to answer any questions travelers may have about our area.

James Houchins Tourism Coordinator, Patrick County Department of Tourism

Wow! The response to the first edition of the Patrick County Magazine has been so amazing. Visitors and residents alike have enjoyed learning and relearning about our county. We are happy to share our little slice of heaven with you. If you thought we had a lot of spring and summer events, just wait until you read about all the events for fall. The traditional changing of the seasons where the summer fades and we truly begin to reap the benefits of our hard sweaty summer work. Fields and gardens have been cut, collected, sold and canned for the winter months.

Events such as the Patrick County Agricultural Fair celebrate our success in harvesting through award winning quilts and livestock to blue ribbon pies and canned goods. Community events like the Woolwine Octoberfest, Meadows of Dan Folk Fair, and Pancake Days are a chance for people to catch up from the busy summer months. The leaves begin to change, washing the valleys and mountains in beautiful shades of yellows, reds, and golds. One last splash of vibrancy before the winter sets in. Christmas season is celebrated early in Patrick County with Meadows of Dan hosting their holiday parade the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Patrick County Christmas Parade is a keystone event on the first weekend of December where Stuart becomes a Norman Rockwell painting with the annual Grand Illumination on Friday night and the Mistletoe Market and parade the following day.

The Chamber uses the winter months to begin the new cycle of the year. As our farmers are busy hoarding over seed catalogs, the Chamber is busy with membership drives and laying plans for events and programs for the coming year. We are happy to assist residents and visitors with any questions they may have.

As the sun begins to settle over the colorful mountains, I hope you take time to cozy up with this issue of the Patrick County Magazine and enjoy reading about all our fall and winter events. Either through reading or coming in person, I hope you can find yourself here.

Rebecca Adcock Chamber of Commerce Director

Rooted In Family, Wade’s Orchard, A

Harvesting Sweet Success

Doug Wade, head pro prietor of Wade’s Orchard in Woolwine had a public job for a year after he graduated. His thoughts about that job…“I hated it! Couldn’t wait to get back to the farm and the orchards. I had to get back to the Wade’s Orchard roadside stand on Wool wine Highway,” he said with a smile. The fruit orchard is where he grew up. “There is a picture of me as a baby sleeping in an old wooden apple crate that they had set up in this store.”

Wade’s Orchard started with Doug’s father, Coy, who purchased a fifteen-acre apple orchard in the early 1970s. Coy grew up working in the orchards that surrounded the Woolwine community and started selling the apples and other orchard fruits at an early age. The roadside stand soon followed Coy’s purchase of the orchard. He was one of the original members of the Patrick County Fruit Growers Association which built a cold storage building in Woolwine to consolidate the harvests from the community and to ship worldwide. At its height, 200,000 to 300,000 bushels of fruit moved through that building yearly. As orchards slowly phased out, the Wades rented the land and maintained the trees.

Today, Wade’s is the last open roadside stand in Woolwine. Along with the one hundred acres of orchards, the family grows vegetables. They regularly plant 20,000 tomato plants, 50,000 to 60,000 cabbage plants, and fifty acres of pumpkins. Not be ing able to grow enough of everything to sell in the store, they purchase from local growers. Operating the roadside stand allows them to stay in touch with the community. “We do a lot of wholesale work with local businesses and civic groups. We used

to do more civic group sales. Everyone was coming to get apples to make their apple butter to sell, but those groups have phased out. Each group has their own mix of apples that they purchase to make their secret version of apple butter.”

“I like working with my family. We are just known as the Wade family, not really singular,” Doug says as he points to his twelve-year old son, Landon. “He can drive any tractor, knows all the different apple varieties, and I hope he takes this on when he gets older. I like working with my dad too.” During harvest, the whole family helps out, Doug, his brother Dale who mainly raises cattle, and their wives join the harvest effort. “We do hire some help during the season, so it’s about six family members and six employees.”

Of the twenty-four varieties of apples that Wade’s Orchard grows, it’s a hard question to answer when asked about Doug’s favorite. “Probably the Galas, they are the first sweet apple of the season, then the Golden Delicious for summer and the Pink Lady as a late season variety. But they’re all good.”

Wade’s Orchard roadside stand sells apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, and vegetables. Store hours are 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM everyday from early July to the first of December. Wade’s Orchard is located at 10690 Woolwine Highway, Wool wine, Virginia.

“Find Yourself Here” is a guest column from someone who is either from the county or has moved to the county, and why they love it here. If you are interested in writing a column in a subsequent issue or know someone we should highlight, please contact us at director@patrickchamber.com.

A Long History of WORKING the LAND

By Patrick County Historical Society

Agriculture in Patrick County dates back farther than most people realize. According to the History of Patrick County, Virginia, published by the county historical society in 1999, the first farmers in the area seem to have been Native Americans. These “first farmers” came here almost 10,000 years ago. Though primarily nomadic and living off whatever nature provided, archaeological digs in the area found pottery and, specifically, tobacco pipes that indicate tillage of crops. We should realize, of course, the importance of the Native Americans passing on their survival skills to the colonists in cluding those on how to grow corn or maize as food to sustain them through winters in Virginia.

Many colonists moved from settlements along the east coast westward or traveled down the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania to make homes in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Some left because the land which they had farmed be fore had been exhausted from years of growing crops without

Lemily Rorrer using his team to plow his Stuart-area farm in 1948.

Field of buckwheat on the Underwood farm near Meadows of Dan in the 1920s.

replenishing the soil. Others simply wanted better opportunities or new places to live that would support their families. Most were subsistence farmers who raised virtually everything they needed to survive from year to year. Corn, wheat, rye, squash, beans, and potatoes, among other vegetables, were staples. On the “top of the mountain,” buckwheat was grown for many years while fertile bottom lands along creeks and rivers were good for row crops.

Most farms had a cow or two for milk and butter, and chickens were standard both for meat and for eggs. Many folks also raised a few hogs as a reliable food source. In the county’s early years, hogs were allowed free range to forage for acorns, chestnuts, and whatever else they might find. At a certain time of the year, those hogs would be rounded up and returned to their owners who knew his or her hog by a special ear mark. Pork was an important part of the early settlers’ diet and remains on many menus today as bacon, ham, sausage, pork chops, and so on. Chitterlings, or “chitlins,” were popular among many in years past, but not so much today. An aversion to eating the intestines of a pig, even if they are deep-fried, leads most diners to forego this one pork “delicacy” nowadays. It did not seem to bother those who believed in using “every part of a pig except its squeal” in times past.

Families, along with their neighbors, would often pick a very cold day in the fall to kill and process their hogs. Older folks in the county still remember these “hog killings.” In the days before refrigeration, a chilly day was preferred to keep the meat from spoiling before it could be cut up and salted or cured in some other way – hence, the expression “cold enough to kill hogs” came into the local vocabulary.

By the mid-20th century, some very large commercial hog farms were operating in the county – N.C. Terry’s at Cooper’s farm in the Critz area and the Willie and Aubrey Via farms in

the Stella community. Most of these farms changed to cat tle-raising in more recent times. Several large dairies such as Fulton Farms and those of E. Lyle Clark and J. Myron Clark were large enterprises for many years. Over the years, the big dairies ceased operating along with a dozen or so other smaller ones, some converting to beef cattle. The last commercial dairy in the county closed a couple of years ago.

It seems certain that early colonists began planting fruit trees soon after they arrived. What we’d now call “old time” varieties of apples became a healthy food source. Stored properly, they could be kept through much of the winter and, if dried, they would last even longer. Converting them to cider or vinegar or to another fermented product were options as well.

It’s hard to say how many orchards have come and gone over the history of the county, and several are operating even today. In the late 1890s and into the first decades of the 20th century, however, apple orchards became big business. A map of orchards in the county dated about 1910 shows six large commercial orchards, two of which contained some 60,000 trees, according to the text that accompanied the map. It reported another dozen orchards holding 1,000 to 10,000 trees and spoke of an unknown number of smaller orchards that made a “phenomenal profit” from their fruit sales.

A little hyperbole may have been in play as the same article claimed that Patrick had “the finest soil in the world” and the “largest production per tree ever recorded,” not to mention the “largest apple trees in the world” (read more about it on page 12). The “appearance, integrity, and flavor” of those Patrick County apples were “the finest ever produced from Mother Nature’s never failing bosom,” it boasted.

Not only was the soil and climate good for growing apples, three railroads for shipping apples to other markets served the county at the time. The Mount Airy & Eastern came into the

Postcard from a Va. State Fair exhibit expounding the virtues of Patrick County apples. Postcard donated to the Historical Museum by Steve Casagrande

southwestern section of the county, a spur from the Norfolk and Western ran to Fayerdale (which later became Fairy Stone State Park), and the main rail line, the Danville & Western, came all the way to downtown Stuart. The D&W or “Dick ‘n Willie,” as it was known locally, tied into the Southern Railway in Danville so that apples, often packed in big wooden barrels, along with other produce could be shipped to towns and cities over much of the eastern United States.

As noted, some apples were dried or stored until the market was right. Some became cider or vinegar, and, yes, more than a few ended up as the favorite beverage of a number of folks – apple brandy. As more than one Appala chian historian has noted, corn was easier to transport over the back roads of rural areas when it had been converted to a “liquid” product, filling jugs or Mason jars rather than bushel baskets. Likewise, many bushels of apples traveled easier after a little “processing” at a local distillery, some times a legal operation and sometimes, well, maybe not.

Agriculture truly has a long and fascinating history in Patrick County, and it continues to be an important source of income and employment for many people. A big part of the beauty of the area is that so much of its land is not industrialized but remains open as pasture, hay fields, orchards, and other farming ventures. Even if it’s not a commercial venture, so many folks grow a garden for fresh vegetables and carry on the old tradition of, at least to some extent, living off the land.

For more historical information on this topic and many others, visit the Historical Museum at 116 W. Blue Ridge St. in Stuart or online at patcovahistory.org.

The “Dick & Willie” leaving Stuart to headeast. The last train left Stuart in 1943.

In the early 1900s, steam tractors allowed crews such as this one near Fayerdale to move their mills away from water power.

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An Apple Tree For The Ages

Handy Apple Tree

Though Patrick County has long been known for its many apple orchards whose quality products were shipped far and wide, one special tree stands out in the history of fruit growing in the area. Over the years, the Patrick County History Museum has collected much information on what became known as “The Handy Apple Tree” and on what some authorities have claimed to be the “largest apple tree in the world.”

Stories about its origin vary. Malvern V. Stedman, a local businessman and owner of The Enterprise newspaper in the early 20th century, declared that his great-grandfather, Col. Joseph Martin, who lived in Henry County and for whom the City of Martinsville was named, planted the tree in the early 1800s. An other source says it simply grew from a seed from an apple core discarded by a hunting party about the same time.

Whatever its origin, this tree was special, a giant among trees in the area in which it grew. One visitor to the famous tree said he and his party instinctively uncovered their heads upon entering the cove and encountering “the old patriarch” amongst the other trees.

Named for Jacob Sparrel Handy who eventually owned the land on which it grew, it was reported to be the largest and most productive apple tree in Virginia and, possibly, in all the United States. The giant tree was located some seven miles south west of Stuart, not far from the end of Rye Cove Creek Road off Dobyns Road.

The State Board of Agriculture reported in 1900 that the tree was more than nine feet around, fifty-two feet high, and seventy feet broad. By 1916, it had grown to nearly fourteen feet in circumference and covered a quarter of an acre. An article in “American Fruits,” an international trade journal, declared the Handy tree the “largest apple tree in the world.” Martinsville resi dent Earl Collins recalled that a pre-1920 grade school textbook entitled A History of Virginia made the same claim. The 1900 Board of Agriculture article further stated, “Apple trees grow larger and live longer in Patrick than they do, perhaps, in any other part of the United States.” Well, it would seem so.

While the above claims are difficult to verify, the tree was certainly one of the largest known to exist at the time, and it was incredibly hardy. While its fruit was reportedly not so good for eating, the tree made up for that in productivity, size, and longev ity. One year, the tree produced 162 bushels of apples according to Malvern Stedman, an owner of the large Atwood Orchards in another part of the county. A local distillery also made beneficial use of Handy apples, fermenting them and producing eighty gal

By Patrick County Historical Society

lons of apple brandy in one year. We assume(?) this was a legal operation before prohibition laws banned virtually all alcoholic beverages in 1920 – something Patrick citizens had voted against by a two to one margin only a few years earlier.

The Handy giant seems to have died and fallen sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s. About 2007, Mr. Tom Brown, a North Carolinian who collects and documents antique apple varieties in our region, found what he thinks to be a descendant of the majestic tree, a variety known as a “Bushy Top” apple. Mr. Stedman, on the other hand, called it an “Albemarle Pippin.” No matter, it was one special tree.

Because her grandparents once lived on the property, the late Virginia Reynolds Hopkins remembered the tree and guided a group of local history buffs to its former location some years ago. Some of Sparrel Handy’s descendants are still around too, including his great-great granddaughter, Mary Bryant Haley, who provided much information about the famous tree. Thanks to these and other folks interested in recording stories of our past, much of our rich local history has been and will continue to be preserved. Visitors are always welcome to explore more history at the museum at 116 West Blue Ridge Street in Stuart. (See patcovahistory.com for hours and contact information.)

Painting of the Handy Apple Tree by Greg Arens

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Great Aunt Jean’s Apple Cake

Submitted by: Lora Mahaffey

Great Aunt Jean’s Apple Cake

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup canola oil

From the Strawberry Festival in May to the Apple Dumpling Festival in October, Patrick County has a true knack for savoring and celebrating the tastes of each season.

We are ready to greet this fall season with open arms after saying a sweet and proper farewell to summer days spent down by the river fishing, the friends we’ve made at our local farmers markets, the gift of eating cucumbers straight from the garden, the endless amounts of zucchini that led to endless amounts of zucchini bread, and the uncanny magic of picking wildflowers and berries along any road or hiking trail.

Fall brings our beloved county fair and its delicious steak sandwiches, jars upon jars of apple butter and canned green beans, and special trips to Meadows of Dan for buckwheat pancakes and gravy. Roadside produce stands trade their savory peaches and heirloom tomatoes for big bushels of crisp mountain apples and beautiful baskets of mums, and some how we all begin to remember that fried apple pies are truly the sixth love language, although pumpkins sure do their best to steal the show.

In the spirit of gathering and harvest, we wanted to share a simple yet beloved seasonal recipe from the Crossroads: Change in Rural America Smithsonian Exhibit hosted by the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce that is sure to delight your taste buds!

2 cups sugar

2 eggs 3 cups chopped tart apples- cut small

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup raisins (steep for one hour first )

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla 3 cups flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-Mix canola oil, sugar and eggs together.

-In a separate bowl, combine apples, walnuts raisins, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and vanilla.

-Add apple mixture to oil mixture.

-Combine flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add these dry ingredients to apple mixture, just until well blended.

-Grease pans and bake for 40 minutes up to 75 minutes depending on size of pan.

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patrick county Harvest in

By Sarah Sheppard

What is Harvest?

When you hear the word harvest, what typically comes to mind? For folks in Patrick County, the term is somewhat of a two-sided coin. For many, harvest brings forth thoughts of back-braking field labor, crates stacked high with the literal fruits of their labors, roadside stands, and the funds they reap in return for their blood, sweat, and tears. On the other side of that coin are the more romantic aspects of the word. Vivid mental images occur of driving through backroads in and amongst the mountain scenery, veering around a curve and being treated to a picturesque landscape of apple orchards, dotted with ripe fruit ready to pick. Anyone traveling through Patrick County during harvest time would get their fair share of hillsides dotted with pumpkins, roadside vineyards bursting at the seams with grapes, festival streets filled with friends, family, and food, and a sea of multi-colored trees that would leave anyone breathless.

Scenic Drives

During this time of year, driving from one place to another in Patrick County becomes a tour through Mother Nature’s annual art gala. Leafy wooded tunnels of red, orange, yellow, and evergreen envelope each vehicle as it drives through. This makes a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to that favorite roadside stand even sweeter. It is this time of year that many utilize both the historic Blue Ridge Parkway and The Jagged Edge (a collection of roads from Fancy Gap, VA to Roanoke, VA) to see these beautiful roadways. Before setting off on a drive to pick up some of the local harvest, grab a map at the Patrick County Visitors Center and incorporate one of these enjoyable roads into the planned route.

Ayers Orchard during harvest and processing. Photo courtesy of Crossroads Exhibit

Celebrating Harvest

Autumn in Patrick County is filled with harvest festivals, bringing communities together to celebrate the end of the la bor-intensive harvest season, the abundance of food, and the last days of warm weather before the winter season arrives. Attendees share food, play games, and enjoy the company of friends and neighbors all while celebrating farmers and the local farming cul ture. Patrick County has played host to several harvest festivals throughout the years, and most of them have survived into the present day.

The harvest celebrations kick off each year on the mountain in Meadows of Dan. Every August, the village is packed with attendees of the annual Meadows of Dan Folk Fair. Stretching from the community building all the way to the church, this fes tival attracts people from all over, especially off the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway to listen to music, hear storytelling, try delicious foods, and shop all the talented artisan crafts on display.

For over sixty years in September, the Patrick County Agricultural Fair has celebrated Patrick County’s agricultural heritage with family fun, good food, agricultural showcases, and exciting entertainment. Displayed in the animal barn are a wide range of local agricultural animals in competition. Inside the expansive showcase building, attendees can view the many competing fruits, vegetables, canned goods, and artwork. Along with the traditional carnival-style amusement rides, midway, and beloved fair food such as caramel apples and funnel cakes, the event plays host to several entertaining competitions in the lower arena. The most notable is the regionally famous Patrick County Demolition Derby, where teams prepare their vehicles months in advance for the fierce competition. In addition, there are typically many animal showings in the animal barn, live bluegrass music, and even quirky events like pizza-eating competitions and kid’s power wheels derby. There is something for everyone at this annual event. Attendees leave each year feeling a little closer to their community and their agricultural heritage.

Doe Run Farm in Ararat, VA operates year-round with a variety of crops produced in every season. However, in the fall they open their gates for their annual Sunflower Maze festivities. Everyone from large families to single photographers flock to this farm each year to place themselves in the middle of the large six-acre field of bright sunflowers and then work themselves out, following the prompts of that year’s theme. Attendees can stroll

through the large six-acre sunflower maze, cruise the farm on a hayride, have fun with the apple launchers, pumpkin bowling, adult-sized tube slides, and the giant jump pad for kids. Families can make a day of this festival, with concessions such as hotdogs, nachos, sodas, juices, etc. for purchase and plenty of picnic tables to spread out on. Visitors can leave with all kinds of goodies like pumpkins, apples, sunflowers, decorations, baked goods, and much more. At this 16th Annual Sunflower Maze in 2022, the farm is open from September 24th through November 5th for great family fun.

During the ultimate harvest festival of Halloween, Main Street in Stuart bursts wide open for the annual Stuart Spook tacular, a strange assortment of spooky decor, costumed creatures, and children young and old “harvesting” as much candy as they can carry from tables lined up and down the street. Performers dance with fire, carved pumpkins sit on display in competition, and mirrored men waltz the sidewalks.

Apples

Throughout the county, and especially in the Ararat and Woolwine areas, lies acres and acres of apple orchards. Patrick County once saw the largest apple tree in the world, growing just seven miles outside of the Town of Stuart. To celebrate the coun ty’s love of apples and all they have done for the local economy, the Town of Stuart hosts the annual Apple Dumpling Festival in late October. When the festival begins, there is an abundance of food from apple pies and apple butter to Stuart’s famous apple dumplings. Arts and crafts line the street, traditional artisans demonstrate their skills, and live bluegrass fills the air.

The morning of the Apple Dumpling Festival, runners test their speed and endurance in the annual Apple Dumpling 5K Race. This race takes place in the same location as the historic Danville & Western Depot, which exported countless apples and other crops grown in the county, back when Patrick County was the largest producer of apples in the state.

Making apple butter at the Meadows of Dan Folk Fair

Sunflower Maze at Doe Run Farm

Another harvest festival that celebrates Patrick County apples is the annual Woolwine Octoberfest, held on the second Saturday in October at the Smith River Volunteer Rescue Squad in Woolwine, VA. Volunteers work tirelessly for days before hand peeling, chopping, baking, and mixing local apples into their famous apple butter to be sold alongside some of the best barbeque around. The large outdoor stage hosts multiple blue grass, old time, and gospel bands, and the expansive dance floor is filled with flat footers, cloggers, and other traditional styles of dance. Craft vendors circle the festival site displaying their handmade goods such as woodworking, crocheted pieces, and unique jewelry.

Bringing the Harvest to Market Roadside Stands

In late summer through the fall, the roadsides of Patrick County are dotted with pickup trucks loaded with watermelons, corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, and many other produce for sale. The farmers behind these popup stands load up in the early morning and set out each day to supply their neighbors with food they have grown from their own gardens and fields. These temporary roadside markets are a haven for community gathering and pro vide, in many cases, a relief from the long-distance drive it takes for many to make it to the nearest grocery store or established farmers’ market.

Situated at the base of the mountain in Woolwine and con veniently on Route 8 is Wade’s Orchard, an established produce stand full of freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, jams, and more. In the Fall, they are bursting at the seams with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes for eating, carving, and decorating as well as pecks and bushels of fresh apples. Wade’s Orchard is a favorite stop for many driving along “Bootlegger’s Run,” part of The Jag ged Edge. Drivers take Route 8 South from Floyd, VA, turn onto

Route 40 in Woolwine just past Wade’s Orchard, driving through the hills and hollows of old moonshine territory, and end up in Moonshine Capital of the World, Franklin County, VA.

Farmers’ Market

Every Friday morning, there is a buzz in the air of Down town Stuart, and it comes from the Stuart Farmers’ Market. This hilltop market offers a great view of the town and surrounding mountains, dotted with fall colors at this time in the year. Grab a hot cup of locally roasted coffee at one stand, a pastry at anoth er, and wander the market to see the bounty brought in by the local farmers, bakers, and craftspeople. Occasionally you will see a knife sharpener at work, hear a local musician play, or find a workshop led by a local group such as the Patrick County Master Gardeners. The Stuart Farmers’ Market often works in conjunc tion with the Rise & Shine Youth Market, where anyone ages 8 - 18 is welcome to come sell their fruits, veggies, baked goods, and crafts. These young entrepreneurs develop confidence in their skills and gain valuable experiences in business and community. Check out the annual Mistletoe Market in December, where vendors will be selling wreaths, mistletoe, and other traditional decor as well as skilled crafters offering a wide range of unique gifts for purchase.

The Monday Market at Fairy Stone State Park happens weekly at Virginia’s second-largest state park in the warm months. Browse through the in-season produce and baked goods from local and regional farmers. If all that fresh food makes you hungry, grab a meal from the on-site food truck. Choose a picnic area and enjoy the beautiful views of Fairystone Lake and the sounds of live music by local musicians. Take in the fall colors even more with a hike on one of the park’s many hiking trails while you are there.

Monday Market at Fairy Stone State Park

General Stores

Located at the heart of the quaint village of Meadows of Dan is a classic country store called Poor Farmers Market. A staple for locals and tourists alike, Poor Farmers Market over flows with fresh produce nearly year-round. Peruse the large variety of other merchandise such as art, jams, cast iron cook ware, motorcycle clothing, books, local wines, and much more. Grab some ice cream or an entire meal from their kitchen and sit on the back porch to watch the busy village, filled with the annual arrival of the “Leaf Peepers” traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

Poor Farmer’s Farm is another classic country store located on Route 58 in Vesta in between beautiful Lover’s Leap Scenic Overlook and Primland Resort. This spacious store offers fresh ly harvested produce, artisan crafts, plants, gifts, candies, baked goods, and even a beautiful fairy-themed room that both chil dren and adults adore. Next summer, do not miss their Front Porch Bluegrass special events taking place May - August.

W&W Produce, a large community general store, has been providing the area with fresh produce and vegetable starter plants for years. Located on the largest highway in the county, Route 58, this one-stop-shop also offers freshly cooked food, locally made candies, jams, baked goods, etc., as well as the standard fuel and snacks most travelers need on the busy highway.

Willis Gap General Store sits amongst the beautiful moun tains and valleys of the Willis Gap community, around the numerous apple, peach, and cherry orchards of this area. This general store has provided local produce, gardening supplies and much more to their community for years. A drive through this area offers rolling hills dotted with fruiting trees, colored leaves, surrounding mountains, and orchard workers up in the trees on their ladders filling their buckets with the fruit of the day.

Pick-Your-Own

Anyone can harvest their own crops this fall at a pick-yourown farm. These experiences bring the harvester closer to the land and their roots, and is just plain fun! You can pick your own apples in Ararat and Willis Gap at both Levering Orchard and Windy Hill Orchard. Levering Orchard offers acres of apple trees in a beautiful mountainous location, where harvesters can climb the ladders and see an even better view. Windy Hill offers rows of apple varieties that are low-spray and pruned to be low-hanging for tiny hands to reach. Pick your own sunflowers and pumpkins at Batts Blooming Blessings Farm in Patrick Springs. Wander the rows of flowers and vines alongside their delightful pigs, goats, peacocks, and other friendly animals.

The Land

Harvest means a lot of different things for folks around here. From hard work, to bountiful food, to community gatherings, to natural beauty. It is a busy time of the year, yet everyone seems to be in their highest spirits. The land has given back what has been tended, and all of its natural beauty is in full show. Exploring Patrick County in the fall around harvest is synonymous with falling in love.

This author encourages you, reader, to explore a part of the county with which you are unfamiliar. Pull off at the designated scenic spots, experience a pick-your-own farm, join in the fun at a festival, traverse a hiking trail, and travel the multi-colored backroads. As Ruth Jean Bolt (part of the Patrick County Oral History Project) once said, “The land is the heart and soul of Pat rick County. It is etched into the consciousness of every native of Patrick County. It is part of their waking up, and their day and their going back to bed. Their love of it motivates them.” Explore the land and harvest the Patrick Countian inside of you. Come get lost and find yourself here this harvest.

Poor Farmers Market

Homestead part of

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more info, contact the Town of Stuart Office at 276-694-3811

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The Patrick County Agricultural FairA History of Service

By the Rotary Club of Stuart

For five magical days each September, Rotary Field in Stuart, Virginia is home to the Patrick County Agricultural Fair. The excitement of thrilling rides, local music, and candy apples fill the air and the imaginations of children and adults alike. The games of skill and daring and the special amphi theater events, such as the Demolition Derby and tractor pulls, bring squeals of delight. Beautiful displays of canned goods, quilts, garden produce and so much more provide onlookers with a sense of county pride. With the many types of horses, cattle, rabbits, chickens, pigs and goats, the animal barn is always a treat for young and old, and the exhibits give everyone an opportunity to see the many local clubs, services and organizations in our county. There is always something for everyone at the fair!

Photo by Rick Craig

After a two-year respite due to a world-wide pandemic, the fair is back for its 68th year, and the Stuart Rotary Club could not be more pleased. This annual event is one of their biggest and most successful projects! The county fair allows the club to continue its work supporting many community service programs. It is through the fair that students receive college grants, children receive classroom dictionaries, and the buildings and grounds are made available for so many community activities.

Prior to 1952, when the fair officially became a Stuart Rotary Club project, Patrick County was like most rural areas in the South—a carnival would come to town once or twice a year. Many folks remember the excitement as they watched the tents go up on Main Street between Friendly Barbershop and the corner of Rye Cove Road, extending back to where the True Value Hardware Store was located. As businesses grew along Main Street, the fair was moved to Community Field, located on Commerce Street just past the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office and along the South Mayo River. At that time, Community Field was owned by J. Myron Clark and was leased to the county for recreation, primarily baseball. A grandstand was constructed and stood for many years until its collapse just a few years back and there was an abandoned cold storage unit (icehouse) that remains today as only a slab of concrete. It was not unusual in those days to have up to 9,000 attendees during the four-day carnival; admission was twenty-five cents per person. The fair

was held at Community Field for ten years until the move to its current location at Rotary Field on Woodland Drive in 1962.

In 1962, Stuart Rotary Club formed Patrick County Agricul tural Fair, Inc (PCAFI). This allowed the club to purchase land, making the location more suitable for the fair and for other com munity interests. Between 1960 and 1995, PCAFI acquired ad ditional land and now has a total of 77 acres. Early on, there were neither roads nor houses in the area and part of the purchase agreement was that a road had to be built between Commerce Street and Route 58. Now called Woodland Drive, the road was built by S. G. Hopkins and Ray Lee Wood, and they graded the new road as well as the fairgrounds site.

Improvements at the fairground continued as funds became available through the generosity of many in the community, and the Patrick County Stuart Rotary Club’s Agricultural Fair grew. The first to be constructed was the original block building, later named for Judge John Hooker, and the pole shelter for livestock. These two buildings were built in 1965 under the guidance and considerable personal support of V. R. Williams, J. Myron Clark, and others. In 1985, the larger Rotary Memorial Building was completed. Subsequent years showed improvements to both buildings as well as the addition of the Boy Scout building and the amphitheater. Rotary Field began serving the community in more ways than just a fairground. It became a venue for school sports, classrooms, community meeting spaces, and local busi

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nesses. In 2004, the Patrick County Farm Bureau Federation, along with local grant funds and generous donors, renovated the livestock shelter with the goal of bringing back the show animals so popular at county fairs.

Opening night at the Patrick County Agricultural Fair calls up the colors of fall and cool September nights. The five days of fun and excitement is the culmination of a full year of planning. The fair committee, under the guidance of Rotar ians Tom Inman and Sonny Swails, works hand-in-hand with businesses, schools, community groups, and individuals. Throughout the year, Rotarians work on corporate, govern ment, and business sponsorships, sell ads for the fair book, plan advertisements, make improvements on the grounds and buildings, and co ordinate with many town, county, and state offices to make the next fair even better.

The fair has evolved over the years but the fun and excite ment continues to thrill folks of all ages just as it did so many years ago as a carnival on Main Street. With the guardianship of the Rotary Club of Stuart and the support of local busi nesses and community programs, the fair and the fairgrounds have grown into a major contributor to the life of Patrick Countians. Every week you will see children and adults using the facility for school, business, recreation, reunions, musical performances, and many other events. Each month the American Red Cross sets up in the Hooker Building to collect lifesaving blood from Patrick County donors.

And, with the most recent renovations completed in 2011, the facility is now designated as an emergency shelter. It is estimated that over 45,000 people visit the fairgrounds annually – 15,000 alone during those five days of the fair.

The Patrick County Agricultural Fair allows the Rotary Club to give back all year round to people from every part of the county. An educational loan program established in 1968 and a scholarship program added in 1976 are funded in large part from the Patrick County Fair. The Stuart Rotary Scholarship and Loan Foundation, established in 1999, man ages the funds which are often augmented by families and individuals who donate or set up memorials. Since 1968, the Stuart Rotary Club has awarded 143 loans totaling $168,875 and 342 scholarships totaling $299,450.

The future shines bright at Rotary Field. New trails have already been constructed and building and land improvements are always on-going. Most recently, under the leadership of

the 2020-2021 Rotary President Rick Cole, a study was con ducted inviting local citizens, businesses, clubs and organiza tions to share their ideas and to determine how 77 acres could best be utilized to meet the needs of the Rotary Club, the fair, and the citizens of Patrick County. From this survey, a longrange plan was developed by Virginia Tech, and diagrams of those dreams and possibilities are located on the walls inside the Hooker Building.

Come to the Patrick County Agricultural Fair and make memories that will last a lifetime. You will experience a long history of agricultural pride in place and, at the same time, support the Rotary Club’s vision for a brighter future in Patrick County.

Community is our Business

From ribbon cuttings to lunch-and-learns, we are here for your business. Whether you are a new business looking to network or an established business needing to learn about new tools, we offer many opportunities to make connections and grow. Join the chamber and let’s build together.

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The Economic Development Department of Patrick County proudly supports all new and existing businesses, industries, and manufacturers throughout the County of Patrick and Town of Stuart. Contact our new Director, Sean Adkins, at 276-692-4490, or SAdkins@co.patrick.va.us.

JOIN SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS FOR SOME CHRISTMAS MAGIC AT

The Meadows of Dan

Experience

In Old English, haerfest (harvest) referred to the period between August and November that marked the end or waning of summer, the season that we know as autumn or fall. But by the mid-1300s, the word evolved to take on an implied reference to the gathering of crops, a meaning which finally emerged as the primary definition by around 1530.

Today, nearly five hundred years later, as fall ushers in shorter days and cooler weather, communities around the globe and right here in Virginia still celebrate the traditions commonly associat ed with the harvest - communities like Meadows of Dan where growing and harvesting mean much more than gathering crops. They are a connection to a way of life that has been and contin ues to be passed down from one generation to the next.

A page from history

Meadows of Dan is an unincorporated community in Pat rick County, Virginia, near the Patrick/Floyd county line. The community, which is located about 20 miles east of Hillsville and about 14 miles northwest of Stuart, can be found right where the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses U.S. Route 58 (Jeb Stuart Highway), a convenient spot for locals and visitors alike.

“The mountain,” the local identification for Meadows of Dan, has been settled since the 1820s and 1830s. New roads, specifi cally the Blue Ridge Parkway, helped open the area for tourism, and the geographic beauty and naturally occuring amenities inspire fun and exciting activities year-round.

Nearby Mabry Mill, which is just up the Parkway at Mile post 179, draws thousands of visitors annually. Walking the mountain arts trails at the mill transports individuals and fami lies through time to the way things used to be on the mountain, as people made their living the old-fashioned way—grinding

their own corn, making their own shoes, and crafting their own tools. And just a little further up the Parkway many hiking trails beckon outdoor enthusiasts who may be searching for long, vigorous hikes or for meandering walks in the peaceful moun tains. Fishing, hunting, camping, or simply driving around taking delight in the beauty of the mountains can all be enjoyed in the hills around Meadows of Dan. The community is located along the Crooked Road, Virginia’s famed heritage music trail, and is situated in the heart of the Rocky Knob American Viticultural Area.

The naming of Meadows of Dan is credited to one of the area’s earliest English settlers, James Steptoe Langhorne and is believed to have been derived from the meadows that abound near the Dan River which flows through the region.

For those looking for festival-style diversions, Meadows of Dan hosts an annual Folk Fair on the third Saturday in August and hundreds stream into the charming village for Pancake Days in October.

Rooted in its humble beginnings as a small farming commu nity, today Meadows of Dan is harvesting a new-found success as a mecca for local foods, crafts, and hospitality.

Somehow, in an age of technological advances and increas ingly busy lifestyles dictated by online event calendars and sched uled obligations, Meadows of Dan has maintained that small town sense of community. It’s an intersection where time-hon ored traditions and family values remind us of a simpler time. It’s a place where people—from families who have walked the hills for generations to new arrivals and visitors—can always find a welcoming spot for a glass of lemonade, a warm conversation, and the one-of-a-kind purchases that make the perfect gifts for the people we love—or for ourselves.

Photo by Kevin Hubbard

By Erica Stacy

Photo by Kevin Hubbard

Family connections

When, long-time resident Felecia Shelor was a little girl, weekends were spent alongside her grandmother selling the vegetables her grandmother grew at a roadside produce stand, “I can remember watching my grandmother chopping and measur ing and boiling, making the chow chow and other products that we would take to sell to passersby at Lovers Leap, an overlook on highway 58 on top of the mountain above Stuart.”

Today, Shelor continues her family’s legacy at her Meadows of Dan business, Poor Farmer’s Market. “We started as a small local produce market, and over time we’ve grown into a big country store. We sell a variety of products, but our primary focus remains local foods and local products. There’s just something special about serving goods that have been made or grown by the local hands right here in our community.”

Shelor also points out that times have changed the landscape of the community literally and figuratively. The shift to a more corporate economy and big retail operations over the past two or three decades has encouraged smaller local businesses to adopt new strategies.

One such strategy found Shelor opening a second business in 2018, the Concord Corner Store. The shop offers local arts and crafts, coffee, quilts, and a line of clothing. “People are hungry for what we have here. They love our authentic, genuine little town. That’s what keeps them coming back, and what drives us to get up and come to work every day. It’s love. Love of a way of life. Love of community and love of our customers.”

“We may not be able to compete when it comes to volume or deeply discounted merchandise, but we can offer something different. Something special. Something uniquely Meadows of Dan.”

For Shelor, that difference isn’t measured strictly by sales but by relationships. Relationships with growers and business part ners, locals and visitors. It’s a recipe for professional and commu nity success that fellow community member and business owner Janie Spence shares.

Food and friends

Janie Spence opened Jane’s Country Café nearly 10 years ago. “I’m 70 years old,” said Spence. “But I can’t let go of my connec tion to the local business community just yet. When I saw that the old Parkway Restaurant building was available, I knew this was something I wanted to do. It took a little while to build up the business, but since then we’ve had a steady customer base. We enjoy serving our local residents and those who just stop by during visits to our town or during an outing on the Parkway.”

Spence, who serves customers at the Meadows of Dan Market, began her career in retail and customer service when she was just 16 years old. And in her experience it all comes down to caring about people first. “Whether it’s in the market or in the restaurant, we want to offer what people want and need,” she said. “If a customer needs help getting merchandise to their car, finding directions to their next stop, or just a friendly conver sation, we take the time to make it happen. This community is special that way. Everyone just feels a responsibility to give back. You can recognize it in the number of service organizations and clubs that support the area. Even large towns don’t often have the number of involved people that you find in Meadows of Dan.”

Friends, not customers

Service offered friend to friend is definitely a staple in the small Southern town.“It’s like having friends come to visit your home every day,” said Tim Block, who along with his wife Julie owns and operates Villa Appalaccia Winery. “Guests stop by for a visit, and we get to introduce our beautiful location to them and pop open a bottle of wine to share. Everyone who stops by the winery is just a friend we haven’t yet met.”

Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway between milepost 170 and 171, Villa Appalaccia offers a taste of Tuscany in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors to the winery experience unique wines, crafted using an Italian process that takes a minimal approach to wine-making.

“Our wine-making techniques encourage the grapes to do the work, and we believe that the results speak for themselves,” said Block. “Our technique produces a slightly different wine each year. The taste profile reflects the grapes’ field experience. It’s not a formula that produces exactly the same wine, bottle by bottle. It’s more of an art form.”

Villa Appalaccia

Villa Appalaccia offers cheese and hummus plates daily with bread, fruit, olives, charcuterie, and local cheeses. Panini are available Wednesday through Saturday. Most Sundays, pizzas are cooked fresh in a wood-fired brick oven. Visitors can enjoy sampling the wines and pairings outside on the patio or inside the Villa.

Running the winery, from growing to pouring, is a family business that also includes the Block’s children and their families. “We have created a ‘go to’ destination. People looking to escape find something special here. Meadows of Dan is one of those rare places, a community of artists, people who make things or grow things with their own hands and hard work,” said Block.

Uniquely acquired

Leslie Shelor, a native of Meadows of Dan, owns Poppy’s on Concord Road. Her arts and crafts shop, which was named after a pet rabbit, features quality yarns and a section dedicated to alpaca products, as well as collectibles, vintage and handmade products, and books.

“For a long time, our little community saw a decline in local businesses, but there has been a shift in the economy,” said Leslie Shelor. “Today, nearly every building houses a business. It’s a friendly location, and while visitors do find special, one-of-akind products, they also find an uncommon level of service and customer appreciation.”

“Our shop caters to collectors and crafters of all ages and backgrounds. We have young folks who stop in because they love poetry books, and others who simply enjoy browsing with the hope of discovering something unusual,” Leslie Shelor said. “Our special community and unique finds keep people coming back.”

Shades of Lavender

According to Sandra Sarlinga, the number of repeat visitors clearly illustrates the value of the connections that the Meadows of Dan proprietors work so hard to establish. Sarlinga, who owns High Country Lavender along with her husband, enjoys it when visitors to the lavender farm return.

“Most of the sales in our shop come from repeat business,” she said. “People come. They experience the beauty of this place.

They may try a product or two. They discover the unexpected, and then they come back, perhaps even with friends. We want our visitors to experience our farm. To walk in the fields. To enjoy a picnic under a tree. To try some lavender lemonade. Our lavender farm, our shop, and our community offer visitors much more than retail. We offer an experience that you can’t find just anywhere.”

For parties who call in advance, Sarlinga tries to offer little touches to make their time at High Country Lavender even more special. “If a visitor would like to have a picnic on the farm, with a little bit of notice, she can help them customize the expe rience.” Sarlinga’s husband is a cheesemaker by trade, although he is not currently making cheese full-time, and the shop recently began carrying his homemade pimento cheese along with all the goods for an impromptu lavender farm picnic.

In addition to the picnic fare, the lavender shop offers a variety of lavender products like culinary lavender, sachets, and beautiful fragrant dried bouquets. In season, they also sell a vari ety of live lavender plants. This year, High Country Lavender also began hosting special workshops through garden clubs and local businesses to offer growing tips and answer questions related to the use of lavender.

“I’m living my dream,” she said. “It’s a joy to be a part of the visitor’s experiences, to answer questions, and to introduce them to not only the farm, but the community. Our businesses support one another. We make suggestions for additional spots of interest and partner on special projects. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed.”

The sweet taste of success

Since 1987, Nancy’s Candy Company has been a staple for visitors to Meadows of Dan, enticing customers with an array of chocolates and other candies. Gary and Jessica Sturm bought the business, which employs around 30 manufacturing and sales staff, from Nancy Galli, the original owner, just over eight years ago.

“We ship candies from coast to coast,” said Sturm. “We offer 50 varieties of fudge and 50 types of truffles in addition to fudge cups, chocolate covered pretzels, and other sweets. All of our candies are available for purchase in our candy shop on Jeb

High Country Lavender

Nancy’s Candy

Tickle from

Mr. & Mrs. Poor Farmer with “Tickle”

Moonshiners” recommends

barbecue

Stuart Highway, and they aren’t just for the kids—although to be honest, we do get a fair share of wide-eyed youngsters shopping with their families in our Meadows of Dan store.”

The Sturms, who moved to the area to be close to family, fell in love with the idea of manufacturing candy as well as the area itself. But Gary says that it’s the people who make the invest ment worthwhile. “Everyone comes to work with a smile and a desire to make excellent candies for people to enjoy. Honestly, I think that may be part of what makes our sweets so special-the smiles and service that go into making them are the special ingredients that put us over the top.”

Keeping it real

Kayla Galecki and family opened Primitive Coffee almost a year ago. “We are the only coffee shop on the Blue Ridge Park way,” she explained. “I like to think that we help our customers create an experience. They can come buy a special drink to sip as they travel. When they look back on their drive, they remember the warm, relaxing feelings of enjoying the scenery, maybe alone, maybe with people they love. We are a part of that. It’s a good feeling.”

Primitive Coffee offers specialty baked goods and a small farm market featuring home grown meats and other products from their other business venture Primitive Farms. “Our mar ket carries seasonal items depending on what’s available locally. Right now that includes peanut butters, local trout, and other foods. We also carry the meats that we grow on our own farm.”

The Galeckis and family relocated to the region to try some thing different. “We had been living a traditional metropolitan lifestyle—constant hustle and bustle. We had a good friend pass away from cancer at only 26 years old. That experience prompted us to reevaluate—to really think about what we valued and how we wanted to spend our time,” said Galecki. “It’s a little funny, you know. We were looking to slow down, to be outside more, to put effort into something that we felt passionate about. And we’ve definitely done that. In many ways it’s much more work, but it’s different. It’s relational; we are always learning, and I think we’ve prioritized what matters.”

What have Kayla and her family learned since relocating to the area and opening their business? “We are grateful to the peo ple of this community,” she said. “Opening our shop has been a loving experience. People have helped us learn the ropes and have been generous with their time. This is the kind of place that you aren’t really sure exists anywhere except in the movies or on TV.

But then you learn places like this are real, and the authenticity of the experience keeps you coming back.”

Field to market

Ronald (Ronnie) and Joyce Greene, also known as Mr. and Mrs. Poor Farmer, offer their customers a true field-to-market experience at Poor Farmer’s Farm. Ronnie, who studied agricul ture at Virginia Tech, began his career supporting his family’s dairy farm. But he soon discovered a love for growing vegetables which he first sold in 1982 off the back of a wagon beside Mead ows of Dan Food Market. He called the little produce stand Poor Farmers Produce Market. In 1983, Ronnie and his son Jason built a shed on top of a truck bed from which they sold produce before eventually constructing the country store in 1985 that now serves as the hub of his operation.

“When I planned the building, I thought I would use it to store our cabbage harvest,” said Greene, “but we needed a retail storefront, so it was never actually used for the cabbage.”

Green has been offering up his home-grown fare, which includes not only cabbage, but potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, berries and “just about any kind of vegetable you might want” since the early 80’s.

In 1995, Joyce began making her own fudge on-site, and cus tomers who time their visit just right, can see the process firsthand. Last year, the retail shop also added a deli. But the store doesn’t just serve up products for sale. Customers who stop here also find a bit of home-grown, toe-tapping hospitality. Guests are invited to enjoy the rocking chair front porch. Sometimes that even includes an impromptu bluegrass concert. For years, the store held music events featuring names like Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe. Although the COVID pandemic has temporarily stalled such gatherings, Greene hopes the musicians will be able to return soon.

“Our business isn’t just about selling stuff,” he said. “It’s about building a good life. We work hard. The land gives back, and then we have a chance to share the bounty of that with our custom ers.”

From families that have called “the Mountain” home for generations to the new families that are learning about the area, the community of Meadows of Dan continues to harvest from the land and from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The small business owners in the community provide not only for their families, but for the community at large.

A Patrick County Tradition since 1987

It’s beginning to look a lot Christmas!like

By Kristin Hylton

Community has long been the warp thread in the fabric of Patrick County life, providing the strength and stability to support growth. Nearly since the beginning, celebrations and community gatherings have invigorated the population, and at no time of year has that been more true than the winter holiday season. Living a self-sustaining life in a truly agrarian society, early Patrick County residents, like generations of people before them, found themselves with more time for gathering outside of the homestead in the slower and darker months of the calendar, and many holiday traditions grew up in that season. Diving into the history of Patrick County will reveal the many ways that the people of our community have celebrated throughout the coun ty’s history and how those celebrations came into focus over the last fifty years and evolved as our county transitioned into what we know today.

The late sixties and early seventies saw the advent of many traditions that still thrive in Patrick County today. Visits from Santa, parades, tree lightings, and shopping specials, as well as programs like Christmas Cheer, are among the events our community valued then and now. Christmas Cheer, a commu nity effort to deliver quality gifts to families in financial crisis, was well established by the early seventies, and though called by different names, implemented by what was then the welfare department, and passing hands a few times over the years, it has now grown into a healthy organization that serves around 300 children each year. Outreach efforts such as Christmas Cheer are an integral part of helping create the community magic of the holiday season.

Another piece of Christmas magic that has been threaded through Patrick County’s recent history is, of course, Santa. An early mention of Santa visiting the area comes from the Bull Mountain Bugle in 1969, when the “jolly old fellow in the red and white suit” arrived to Blue Ridge Airport in Spencer and

Patrick County Christmas Parade in Stuart

was then piloted in a small J-3 airplane by Stuart’s own Tom Alexander to Stuart Municipal Airport. After circling in the air for several minutes, Santa and his pilot touched down on the east end of runway 030 to loud applause rising from the crowd. The Stuart fire truck was on hand to give Santa a lift to the Stuart Department Store, where he greeted families from around the county. A review of Patrick County’s newspaper records will reveal many heartwarming stories such as this visit by Santa in 1969, which “was received by many big smiles and a few croco dile tears.”

The Patrick County Jaycees can be credited with securing an annual visit from Santa by organizing the Christmas parade. The first Christmas parade in Stuart was held on December 3, 1960. The parade featured three high school bands, American Legion color guard, several pageant title holders, and a surprising six ty-eight floats, as the Jaycees expected around fifteen. According to The Enterprise coverage, Santa rode “a most attractive float with his sleigh and reindeer,” sponsored by the recently organized Jaycettes. In 1971, The Enterprise reported on a second Christ mas parade, saying, “one of the largest crowds to ever attend such an event in Stuart turned out to view the Christmas parade last Saturday morning.” The Patrick County Jaycees began hosting the annual Patrick County Christmas Parade in 1972 under the direction of Bill Pons and Bruce Griffith, and Jaycee records show the 1973 parade being called the “Second Annual Patrick County Christmas Parade.”

The Jaycees continued to organize and present the parade for many years, and in 2017 entrusted parade production to One

Family Productions under the leadership of Chris Prutting, who was an active Jaycee member as well as a charter member of One Family Productions. Since that time, the local non-profit has developed a strong parade planning committee and extended its impact by partnering with other organizations to enhance their celebrations of the holiday season.

As the annual Patrick County Christmas Parade celebrates its fiftieth year in 2022, it is inspiring to look at the other events that have grown up around and alongside the parade. The first weekend in December turns the Town of Stuart and surrounding areas into a magical space where the spirit of the season is felt all around. The town employees erect lighted snowflakes, light pole banners, and other decorations up and down the streets. Recently, the Stuart Park & Recreation Association organized a breath taking drive-through light show at Dehart Park in Stuart. The show began as a fundraiser but is staged to return as an annual community event that will flourish in the coming years. Both uptown and downtown Stuart merchants, as well as commercial businesses throughout the county, participate in window deco rating and special holiday shopping hours. The week leading up to parade day, the first Saturday in December, has been deemed “Hometown Christmas,” and includes an ever expanding list of activities.

Keeping with a long tradition of extended shopping hours in the commercial sector of the county, the Patrick County Cham ber of Commerce works with local businesses to promote local shopping. Chamber businesses around the county are included on a collectable shopping passport which is an easy go to guide

Grand Illumination of the Community Christmas Tree with One Family Productions

for finding the perfect gift. In addition, the Chamber facilitates the “Secret Santa Christmas Bonus” program, which awards a lump sum bonus to five randomly drawn residents and is funded by Patrick County’s own secret Santa.

Hometown Christmas culminates with the Grand Illumi nation of the Christmas tree at the Patrick County Courthouse on Friday evening and Mistletoe Market and annual Christmas Parade on Saturday. Members of the community choose and cut a live tree donated by Ayers-Kreh Christmas Tree farm on Ayers Orchard Road in Stuart, transport the tree to Main Street, and work with Town of Stuart employees to raise and decorate the tree. On Friday evening, One Family Productions hosts the Grand Illumination ceremony. Main Street businesses participate by offering hot cocoa, scavenger hunts, and even s’mores. The cer emony itself includes an invocation and music, and residents and visitors gather around the historic wrought iron fence outside the aged courthouse to witness the event. As the sky darkens, the Grand Marshal of the annual Patrick County Christmas Parade lights up the tree while holiday music plays softly in the background. The Enterprise cites that old records indicate the Community Christmas Tree was a staple in Stuart consistently from 1948 until 1963, and was brought back in 1983. Since that time it has been hosted by the RJR Patrick Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, the Town of Stuart, and now by a partnership between the town and One Family Productions.

Mistletoe Market has been a part of Patrick County’s holiday tradition for thirteen years, and has grown each year. Farm

ers, artists, crafters, musicians, and others gather at the Stuart Farmers’ Market on Chestnut Street on Saturday morning before the parade to mingle with shoppers and display their holiday wares, making the Mistletoe Market a fantastic kick off to the holiday shopping season. In order to more efficiently serve the many people who visit Stuart the first Saturday in December, the Town of Stuart has added a trolley loop between the uptown and downtown celebrations, which has served both to reduce traffic in town and add an extra layer of sparkle and magic to the day. The trolley can be seen circuiting the town throughout the day and was also a feature of the parade in 2021.

Stuart is the county seat and is fairly central, and therefore hosts many of Patrick County’s holiday festivities, but events can be found in every corner of the county through the season. From Critz to Meadows of Dan, the spirit of the season is captured in each community.

The Reynolds Homestead has been a point of gathering and celebration, specifically for the Critz and Patrick Springs areas, since its dedication in 1970. In 1975, the newly restored and dedicated historic preservation property held its first Victorian Christmas event to recreate the holiday festivities that would have been common when the Reynolds children were growing up at what was known as Rock Spring Plantation. The first Vic torian Christmas celebration included caroling by the Home stead Singers, horse-drawn wagon rides, creation of a winter feeding tree for birds, Bell Ringers of Old Salem performances, a reading of “A Christmas Carol,” bagpipe music, and a Yule log

Reynolds Homestead Victorian Christmas

ceremony. The Enterprise interviewed Reynolds Homestead staff in advance of the event. “Ornaments used during the Victorian era included nuts, hard candies, cookies, knitted or crocheted ornaments, popcorn garlands, paper ornaments, and small toys,“ [Connie] Kreh [wife of caretaker Richard Kreh, resident of the historic home, and coordinator of many early programs] said. “The decorated tree will be taken the following day to R. J. Reyn olds-Patrick County Memorial Hospital. [Victorian Christmas] will be a community project, and the program will be presented through the help of volunteers.”

Over the years, the Reynolds Homestead staff has kept this tradition alive and continues to host Victorian Christmas. The nearly month-long celebration generally kicks off with a day of adorning the historic home with garlands, wreaths, and other era-appropriate decor. During the month of December, student groups come to the Community Engagement Center to enjoy plays, movies, and crafts and the staff organizes a Holiday Arts & Crafts Show, where local crafters, artisans, and other hand makers can display and sell their handiwork. In 2021, this show attracted nearly 300 people. The Victorian Christmas Open House is a day of merrymaking in memory of the people who once lived at Rock Spring as well as in honor of Connie Kreh’s original vision. It features historic tours and interpretations of fered to the public as well as crafts for children and adults. Often, the Reynolds Homestead program coordinators will offer holiday themed art and craft workshops throughout the season. In the past these have included: barn quilt square painting, table runner weaving, and ornament making.

In other parts of the county, holiday traditions are just as strong. The community of Meadows of Dan, a holiday shopping hotspot in Patrick County, has hosted its own Christmas parade

for over a decade. The event is sponsored by the Meadows of Dan Community Association and was first planned by Trinity Goad and the late Brenda Quesenberry. This fun and inclusive parade sets the stage for Patrick County’s holiday festivities and attracts more than two hundred spectators each year. Held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the parade is free to enter, averages around forty entries, and features various farm equipment, classic vehi cles, horses, four wheelers, and more. Each year’s grand marshal for the Meadows of Dan parade is chosen by the Community Association committee from a pool of nominees, and is a resident whose contributions have helped Meadows of Dan develop into the thriving and vibrant community that we now know. Mead ows of Dan Community Association residing president Trinity Goad spoke about the parade, saying, “I really think our little parade stands out because we are just a small town with big heart and soul. It’s always wonderful to see our neighbors come out to be in the parade and to see all their families that are home for Thanksgiving, it’s like a family reunion. I have been an active part of Meadows of Dan for the last 29 years; this is my home, so I want to see it flourish and grow. If I can help in doing that by organizing the Christmas Parade…then I am happy to do my part.”

“We are just a small town with a big heart and soul.” These words spoken by a longtime community member echo the sen timent of many who dedicate their time and energy to organize and create the community magic of the holiday season in Patrick County. The events spotlighted here are only a sampling of every thing this county has to offer. From family days at the Christmas tree farm to hot cocoa at one of the many cafes, church cantatas and live nativities to Santa visits at local merchants, the holiday season in Patrick County has something for everyone.

One of the floats at the Meadows of Dan Christmas Parade

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Old-Fashioned Family Fun.

Hours: Tuesday- Friday 7:45-5:15

Saturday 8:00-3:00

Closed Sunday & Monday

Enjoy the peaceful relaxation only nature will bring. You are encouraged to enjoy swimming, fishing, horseshoes, playgrounds, and the game room during your stay. Feature events for our campers include movie nights, paint parties, and our popular Halloween weekends. Please call to reserve your site!

County & Attractions Map

VISITOR CENTERS AND VISITOR INFORMATION

Patrick County Visitors Center

126 N. Main Street, Stuart, VA 276-693-2005

www.visitpatrickcounty.org

Blue Ridge Visitors Center - MP 177.7

2577 J.E.B. Stuart Highway Meadows of Dan, VA 276-694-6012

www.patrickchamber.com

PATRICK COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

334 Patrick Avenue, Stuart, VA 276-694-6012

www.patrickchamber.com

ARARAT INFORMATION KIOSK

Laurel Hill JEB Stuart’s Birthplace

1091 Ararat Highway, Ararat, VA 276-694-6012

www.patrickchamber.com

COUNTY PARKS

P1 Dan River Park

P2 DeHart Park

P3 Fred Clifton Park

P4 I.C. DeHart Park

P5 Mountain Top Park

P6 Patrick Springs Park

ATTRACTIONS

1 Angel Overlook

2 Ararat Thunder Raceway

3 Barnard’s Farm and Country Store

4 Bluemont Presbyterian Church

5 Chateau Morrisette Winery (Floyd)

6 Cockram‘s Mill Complex

7 Deer Run Campground

8 Doe Run Farm, Ararat

9 Dominion Valley Park

10 Fairy Stone State Park

11 Fred Clifton Park

12 FloydFest

13 Gordon Trent Golf Club

14 Groundhog Mountain Overlook

15 Hollow History Center

16 Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge

17 Kibler Valley River Run

18 Laurel Hill J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace

19 Lover’s Leap Scenic Overlook

20 Mabry Mill (Floyd)

21 Mayberry Presbyterian Church

22 Mayberry Trading Post

LOVE SIGNS

L1 Stuart, near DeHart Park

L2 Blue Ridge Visitors Center

L3 I.C. DeHart Park

L4 Nancy’s Candy

L5 Stanburn Winery

23 Meadows of Dan Visitor Center

24 Nancy’s Candy Company

25 Patrick County Chamber of Commerce and Creative Arts Center

26 Patrick County Historical Museum/ Library

27 Patrick County Tourism Visitors Center

28 Philpott Lake

29 Primland Resort

30 Reynolds Homestead

31 Rocky Knob Recreation Area

32 Slate Mountain Presbyterian Church (Floyd)

33 Spirithaven Farm

34 Stanburn Winery

35 Tin Pen Alley

36 Villa Appalaccia Winery

37 Virginia Motorsports Museum

38 Wayside Park

39 Willis Gap Community Center

40 Wood Brothers Racing Museum

L6 Uptown Suites of Stuart

L7 Wayside Park (during events)

L8 FloydFest site (during events)

L9 Front Porch Fest site (during events)

T8

T9

T10

T11

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It’s happening in Patrick County

8 Fall Farm Festival

SEPTEMBER

Mon. Market Mondays

5 - 7pm at Fairy Stone State Park

Fri. Stuart Farmers’ Market 8am - Noon every Friday

Fri Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 6pm every Friday

Sun Reynolds Homestead Home Tours Every Sunday from 1 - 4pm

Sat Music at the Villa Villa Appalaccia

13-17 Patrick County Agricultural Fair Tuesday-Saturday at Stuart Rotary

17 The Ararat Ruritan Club Jackpot Bingo Ararat Ruritan Club at 6pm

24-30 Doe Run Sunflower Maze

Sun - Fri 1- 7pm, Sat 10am - 8pm

27 Willis Gap Golden Oldies Willis Gap Community Center at 6pm

OCTOBER

Fri. Stuart Farmers’ Market 8am - Noon every Friday

Fri Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 6:00pm every Friday

Sun Reynolds Homestead Home Tours Every Sunday from 1 - 4pm

Sat Music at the Villa Villa Appalaccia

1-31 Doe Run Sunflower Maze

Sun - Fri 1- 7pm, Sat 10am - 8pm

1-2 JEB Stuart Birthplace Annual Civil War Encampment Laurel Hill, Ararat

8 October Fest Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department

Batts Blooming Blessings Farm 9am - 4pm

15 The Ararat Ruritan Club Jackpot Bingo Ararat Ruritan Club at 6pm

15 PCMA 20th Anniversary Opry Show 6pm at the Stuart Rotary Building

16 & 23 Pancake Days Meadows of Dan Community Center

22 Apple Dumpling Festival Downtown Stuart from 10am - 4pm

22 Apple Dumpling 5k Downtown Stuart at 8am

25 Willis Gap Golden Oldies Willis Gap Community Center at 6pm

31 Spooktacular Uptown Stuart from 5:30pm - 8pm

NOVEMBER

Fri. Stuart Farmers’ Market 8am - Noon every Friday

Fri Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 6:00pm every Friday

1-5 Doe Run Sunflower Maze Sun - Fri 1- 7 pm, Sat 10 am - 8 pm

12 The Ararat Ruritan Club Jackpot Bingo Ararat Ruritan Club at 6pm

12 Patrick County Music Association 6pm at the Stuart Rotary Building

26 Meadows of Dan Christmas Parade 3pm

29 Willis Gap Golden Oldies Willis Gap Community Center at 6pm

DECEMBER

Fri Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 6:00pm every Friday

2 Grand Illumination on Main Street Uptown Stuart from 6pm - 9pm

3 Mistletoe Market

Stuart Farmers’ Market from 10am - 1pm

3 Patrick County Christmas Parade Stuart 2pm

10 The Ararat Ruritan Club Jackpot Bingo Ararat Ruritan Club at 6pm

10-18 DeHart Park Festival of Lights DeHart Park in Stuart

10 Patrick County Music Association 6pm at the Stuart Rotary Building

JANUARY

Fri Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 6:00pm every Friday

1 First Day Hike

Fairy Stone State Park

31 Willis Gap Golden Oldies Willis Gap Community Center at 6pm

FEBRUARY

Fri Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 6:00pm every Friday

28 Willis Gap Golden Oldies

Willis Gap Community Center at 6pm

MARCH

Fri Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam 6:00pm every Friday

Fri Moonshine Hollow Hike Fairy Stone State Park at 10am

28 Willis Gap Golden Oldies Willis Gap Community Center at 6pm

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