Debut Ag Festival On Tap
July 23, 2018
By DEREK BLYER
Daily News- Record 7/21/18
HARRISONBURG — The first Spirit of the Valley Festival aims to connect people to the region’s rich agricultural history through music, food, activities and games at a familiar location.
Hosted at On Sunny Slope Farm on Oct. 28 and billed as a “Valley-minded
mini-Americana Festival,” the idea came about as Sunny Slope owner Harry Jarrett Jr. sought a way to showcase the area’s rich agricultural roots in a fun way, while benefiting two nonprofit organizations dedicated to local history.
Known for its popularity as an event location, On Sunny Slope Farm also is the birthplace of the turkey industry in the Valley, where the Wampler family first settled in 1828, according to the event website. Early bird tickets, already on sale, are $ 35, and provide admission to musical performances.
“People are already buying them, and they will be limited,” said Jarrett, adding festival attendance will be capped at 2,000 to 3,000 people. Proceeds will benefit the Heritage Museum in Dayton, home of the Harrisonburg- Rockingham Historical Society, and The Farm Museum in the Shenandoah Valley in McGaheysville, created by the late J. L. Hopkins.
Jarrett said an event celebrating the Valley’s agricultural heritage continues a tradition begun by his grandfather, Charlie Wampler Jr., who hosted a festival for Rockingham County’s poultry industry over the years. “I thought, ‘It sure would be good to get this festival started again,’ and everything just came together,” Jarrett said. After speaking to Greg Tutwiler, a local DJ who has run area events, the process of finding bands began with a theme of Americana music fitting well with the fall festival.
Jarrett also wanted to bring an element of history into the fun. Toward that end, he began working with Penny Imeson, director of the Heritage Museum, and Mark Litchford, president of The Farm Museum in the Shenandoah Valley.
“People just don’t think about agriculture,” Litchford said. “It employs so many people, and I just don’t think people are aware of that sometimes.”
Litchford’s organization is still seeking a permanent location for the entire collection of Hopkins’ antique farm equipment, one that has proven to be quite the haul.
“[ Hopkins] started collecting antique farm equipment that would help benefit the school systems that existed here. He thought the best thing to do would
be to start a nonprofit,” said Litchford, who added that he and Jarrett talked the idea over with Imeson. “It was a joint venture after that.”
Already familiar with the location, Imeson said the whole concept was a perfect fit.
“He has had great events in the past, and is very interested in our community here,” she said. “It was very relevant to our fundraising “efforts, and I see this as a way to raise awareness overall for tourism in the region as well.”
Jarrett also worked with Brenda Black, Harrisonburg tourism manager, to secure vendors, including ciderists and breweries on the Shenandoah Spirits Trail. Along with local and regional brews, festivalgoers will be able to purchase barbecue chicken from vendors, learn about the agricultural history of the region, and listen to popular Americana- themed music. Jarrett said a contest will take place among area organizations that frequently sell their pit- cooked barbecue on weekends.
Music will go throughout the day, with a gospel hour hosted by Andrew McKnight starting off the day at 11 a. m. Other acts include Frank Sullivan & Dirty Kitchen, the Howlin’ Brothers and Town Mountain.
“We hope to bring awareness, and that we can have more events in the future with our roots here in the Valley,” Imeson said.
For more information, visit onsunnyslopefarm.com.
Contact Derek Blyer at 574-6265 or dblyer@dnronline.com
I thought, ‘It sure would be good to get this festival started again,’ and everything just came together.
- Harry Jarrett Jr., On Sunny Slope Farm owner
Daily News- Record 7/21/18
HARRISONBURG — The first Spirit of the Valley Festival aims to connect people to the region’s rich agricultural history through music, food, activities and games at a familiar location.
Hosted at On Sunny Slope Farm on Oct. 28 and billed as a “Valley-minded
mini-Americana Festival,” the idea came about as Sunny Slope owner Harry Jarrett Jr. sought a way to showcase the area’s rich agricultural roots in a fun way, while benefiting two nonprofit organizations dedicated to local history.
Known for its popularity as an event location, On Sunny Slope Farm also is the birthplace of the turkey industry in the Valley, where the Wampler family first settled in 1828, according to the event website. Early bird tickets, already on sale, are $ 35, and provide admission to musical performances.
“People are already buying them, and they will be limited,” said Jarrett, adding festival attendance will be capped at 2,000 to 3,000 people. Proceeds will benefit the Heritage Museum in Dayton, home of the Harrisonburg- Rockingham Historical Society, and The Farm Museum in the Shenandoah Valley in McGaheysville, created by the late J. L. Hopkins.
Jarrett said an event celebrating the Valley’s agricultural heritage continues a tradition begun by his grandfather, Charlie Wampler Jr., who hosted a festival for Rockingham County’s poultry industry over the years. “I thought, ‘It sure would be good to get this festival started again,’ and everything just came together,” Jarrett said. After speaking to Greg Tutwiler, a local DJ who has run area events, the process of finding bands began with a theme of Americana music fitting well with the fall festival.
Jarrett also wanted to bring an element of history into the fun. Toward that end, he began working with Penny Imeson, director of the Heritage Museum, and Mark Litchford, president of The Farm Museum in the Shenandoah Valley.
“People just don’t think about agriculture,” Litchford said. “It employs so many people, and I just don’t think people are aware of that sometimes.”
Litchford’s organization is still seeking a permanent location for the entire collection of Hopkins’ antique farm equipment, one that has proven to be quite the haul.
“[ Hopkins] started collecting antique farm equipment that would help benefit the school systems that existed here. He thought the best thing to do would
be to start a nonprofit,” said Litchford, who added that he and Jarrett talked the idea over with Imeson. “It was a joint venture after that.”
Already familiar with the location, Imeson said the whole concept was a perfect fit.
“He has had great events in the past, and is very interested in our community here,” she said. “It was very relevant to our fundraising “efforts, and I see this as a way to raise awareness overall for tourism in the region as well.”
Jarrett also worked with Brenda Black, Harrisonburg tourism manager, to secure vendors, including ciderists and breweries on the Shenandoah Spirits Trail. Along with local and regional brews, festivalgoers will be able to purchase barbecue chicken from vendors, learn about the agricultural history of the region, and listen to popular Americana- themed music. Jarrett said a contest will take place among area organizations that frequently sell their pit- cooked barbecue on weekends.
Music will go throughout the day, with a gospel hour hosted by Andrew McKnight starting off the day at 11 a. m. Other acts include Frank Sullivan & Dirty Kitchen, the Howlin’ Brothers and Town Mountain.
“We hope to bring awareness, and that we can have more events in the future with our roots here in the Valley,” Imeson said.
For more information, visit onsunnyslopefarm.com.
Contact Derek Blyer at 574-6265 or dblyer@dnronline.com
I thought, ‘It sure would be good to get this festival started again,’ and everything just came together.
- Harry Jarrett Jr., On Sunny Slope Farm owner
