As we head toward fall and Thanksgiving, Geauga County Tourism has a lot to be thankful for at the conclusion of another Hometown Hoe-down.
Cars streamed into the parking lot of the Middlefield Market on Nauvoo Rd. lured by the tempting smell of Blazin’ Bills BBQ wafting from the grills. Guests anxiously jumped right into routine as many were repeat attendees and bellied up to the Brew Saloon to get a frosty brew from the Burton-Middlefield Rotary “bar-keeps.” Whiskey Courage was already on stage with a great line up of Southern country/rock tunes, and tables of exciting auction items lured the guests in.
An antique wagon filled with wrapped wine bottles tempted the curious wine drinkers, and the “cow plop” grid was just waiting for names to fill it. Everywhere you looked there was something engaging going on September 27 as the 6th Annual Hometown Hoe-Down got underway!
A full buffet dinner featured ribs and chicken from Blazin’ Bills, baked beans from Farmers’ Grill, cole slaw from Mary Yoder’s Amish Kitchen, squash from Rustic Rewind, rolls from Amish Home Craft & Bakery and Nauvoo Family Market, apple fritters from Maggie’s Donuts, ice cream from the Huntsburg Dari-Whip, and cider from Patterson Fruit Farm.
If that wasn’t filling enough, guests had the opportunity to bid on 12 pies baked and donated by area bakers. “This year’s selections ranged from apple to rhubarb, nutty pumpkin to hickory nut,” said Lynda Nemeth, Geauga Tourism Director and event coordinator.
Line dance instruction with Mary Kozelka was next on the agenda for anyone wishing to warm up the dance floor and learn some basic moves. The basic steps then carried through for some of the songs the band played through the night.
Soon it was time for the “Cow Plop Drop.” With all the squares on the grid sold many guests moved outside to cheer on the cow, who apparently was the only attendee who did not read the program. This Guernsey heifer was way more interested in getting petted than “making a plop.”
“There are just some things even I can’t control,” Nemeth joked after giving the cow about an hour to do her job. The alternate plan if the cow didn’t “plop” was to take the 25 numbers and put them in a basket and draw a number. A young child from the audience did just that and pulled #20, Lucy Miller, as the grand prize winner of a huge gift basket full of merchandise and Geauga County Gift Certificates valued over $350.
As the silent and Chinese auctions were wrapped up, lively competitions ramped up at the north end of the pavilion. The kids in attendance tried their hand at pumpkin bowling, while the adults competed for prizes in a hay bale tossing competition. As the band began to slow down the pace, and guests slowly began to trickle out, calls of “See you next year” resonated through the parking lot.
This annual fundraiser is always about putting money into the budget for those extra projects that otherwise would not be able to be done. This year’s money will be used toward the Feasibility Study that will be used to attract a hotel to build in Geauga County, to rebuild the Geauga County tourism award winning website that so many rely on, and of course special market projects to increase the economic impact of our businesses through tourism!
All of this was accomplished with support from our Presenting Sponsor Great Lakes Cheese, proud manufacturer of Adams Reserve Cheddar; activity sponsors Gwen Carlson CPA, End of the Commons General Store, Hastings Dairy, Huntsburg Pumpkin Festival, Ohio Wine Producers; local restaurants, Geauga County Tourism Members, Middlefield Market and about 300 guests.
CLICK HERE to see more photos from the 2014 Hometown Hoedown.
To these people we say thank you! For ongoing Geauga County information visit the website or visit Geauga Co. Tourism on Facebook.
Photos are courtesy of Stacey Rauch, Kim Breyerly and Lynda Nemeth.
