Cooperative Living February 2018 - 14

CoverStory | Story and Photos by John B. Bruce, Contributing Writer
The Highland
S
oon to mark its 60th anniversary, the
Highland Maple Festival has grown
exponentially in attracting people to
Highland County, " Virginia's Sweet Spot. "
The event today multiplies by many
times Highland County's tiny population
during the second and third weekends in
March. This year's festival is set for March
10-11 and 17-18.
The Highland Maple Festival began in
1958 when an Ohio surgical-supply salesman
visited the county's longtime physician, the
late Dr. Thaine Billingsley, according to
The New History of Highland County,
Virginia. The salesman asked Billingsley
why Highland maple syrup sold for only $5
a gallon, nearly 40 percent less than in
Ohio. " Demand is low, " Billingsley replied.
The salesman suggested Highland needed
to host an event similar to the Geauga County
Maple Festival in a rural community about
30 miles east of Cleveland.
Billingsley, then president of the Highland
County Chamber of Commerce, along with
county agent Austin Shepherd, decided
to give the idea a try. They marshaled
forces to organize Highland's first
maple festival in only a few weeks.
Shepherd served on the chamber's
executive committee and was a member
of the Monterey Lions Club. Today, the
Lions and the county's five Ruritan
clubs provide most of the volunteer
workforce, which the chamber
coordinates as festival sponsor.
More than 600 people, twice
the number expected, turned
out in cold and dismal weather
to the first, very lightly promoted
festival and were treated to an open
house at George Hevener's sugar
camp west of Monterey.
Determined to keep the festival
Back Creek Farms makes rye-whiskey-barrelinfused
maple syrup and heats things up with
Back Creek Farms' chili pepper flavor.
12 | Cooperative Living | February 2018
rolling, Billingsley, Marvin Eagle, Joseph
Pritchard and Melvin Puffenbarger later
traveled to Ohio to learn about the Geauga
festival and bring their knowledge back to
Highland. They visited another maple
festival in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, on
their return trip.
ANNUAL
MARCH EVENT
Maple Festival
VIRGINIA'S SWEETEST CELEBRATION
Thanks to their planning and the work of
many others, the Highland Maple Festival now
attracts roughly 150 vendors and tens of
thousands of visitors to what is now one of
the top events of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic.
Highland High and Elementary schools in
Monterey are festival focal points for artsand-crafts,
plus food sales. The schools also
serve as good launching points for exploring
the maple orchards and camps throughout
the county.
'This event is one of the
commonwealth's most
unique events, and it
deserves to be among the
ranks of the cardinal, the
dogwood, and the
foxhound as an official
Virginia symbol,'
said Del. 'Dickie' Bell.
Money raised by civic organizations returns
to the community through scholarships,
contributions to the volunteer rescue squad,
fire departments and civic organizations.
Highland County is served by BARC and
Shenandoah Valley electric cooperatives.
www.co-opliving.com
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living February 2018

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