By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

HARRRODSBURG, Ky. — The annual Fort Harrod Beef Festival is gearing up for its second year and will take place June 1-3 at the Old Fort Harrod State Park and the Mercer County Fairgrounds.

The three-day event brings together Mercer County, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, and local businesses and residents, to celebrate beef.

The festival got its start as a way to showcase the beef industry in and around Mercer County and to help show how the area as well as the state is transitioning from a tobacco-dominant agricultural market to the largest beef producing state east of the Mississippi.

LeMayne Ellis, a Mercer county veterinarian and co-chair of the event, said the festival was designed not only to celebrate beef in its many forms, but also to educate people on the importance of the cattle industry in Kentucky.

Festival coordinators have planned everything from cooking demonstrations to grill-off and roping competitions, along with some breed exhibits.

“I think we’ll have at least seven or eight breeds this year,” Ellis said. “There’ll be a lot of information about each particular breed and their characteristics.”

The center of attention at the Fairgrounds will be the second annual Grill-off where professional and amateur chefs will square-off to produce in categories that include the best beef brisket, backyard burgers, steaks and beef chili, with all beef provided by the Green River Cattle Company. The competition includes a youth division for those nine to 17 years old.

Adult competitors will automatically be entered in the People’s Choice Award competition, where fair visitors, after purchasing a $6 bracelet, may vote for their favorite recipe.

“With that bracelet you will be able to sample food all afternoon,” Ellis said. “I’m not saying you’ll be eating steak all afternoon, but there will be plenty of food for everybody.”

Dana Anderson, 4-H youth development extension agent in Mercer County and co-chair of the beef grill-off helps coordinate the contest and works with a committee that establishes guidelines for the competition.

“We provide all the beef to our competitors, we just ask for a minimal entry fee for each category,” she said. The winner in each group wins $150 but its more about bragging rights than anything.

All the beef is from Kentucky and it’s going to be a community festival with lots of food,” she said.

Anderson also said that the event gives attendees the chance to learn a few things as well as enjoy the good food.

“This is a way for locals to come out and learn about the beef industry. Seventy-five percent of households in the state enjoy beef and this is good for producers,” she said.

Other events highlighting the Festival include pageants, concerts and musical performances, a juried arts and craft show, a 5K race/walk, a herd dog exhibition, an antique and classic car cruise and professional chef demonstrations by Chefs Mark Williams of Brown-Forman, Allison Smith from the Kentucky Beef Council and Bob Perry, coordinator and consulting chef of the Food Systems Innovation Center in the UK College of Agriculture.

On Thursday May 31, a wine and cheese tasting, highlighting Kentucky wines and cheeses will be held at the Fort theatre from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets to the wine tasting are $50 per couple or $30 per individual. Dress is semi-formal.

“This year, I’m trying to push the Kentucky Proud movement and different aspects of that because of agriculture,” Ellis said.
“We’re showcasing two different local wineries, the first one being Mr. Andre Brousseau from Old Crow Inn in Danville (Chateau du Vieux Corbeau Winery) and the second being Ronnie Coulter from Springfield with Rolling Hills Vineyard.”

Cheese from Bluegrass Dairy and Food, as well as hors d’oeuvres such as beef sirloin tips will be served.

For more information, visit the Festival’s website www.fortharrodbe
effestival.org or contact the Mercer County Cooperative Extension office at 859-734-4378.

This farm news was published in the June 2, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.