Heritage festival works magic

Bethany J. Royer Sidney Daily News Originally published 8/30/12 PIQ ! " #hile the trans$or%ation o$ the Johnston &ar% on 'ardin Road %ay see% li(e %agi) $or the annual Pi*ua 'eritage &esti+al that runs ,ept. 1"3- the .or( behind the s)enes re*uires a lot o$ s.eat- %oney- and a )ooperati+e %other nature. /It0ll .or(-/ said e1e)uti+e trustee/general )hair%an o$ the $esti+al 2hu)( 3)4laughlin on .hat loo(s to be $a+orable .eather in )o%parison to last year0s su$$o)ating heat .a+e. /It .as ridi)ulous- it .as a %a5or"loss ridi)ulous- the .eather (illed us- but its .hat you %a(e o$ it./ ,u)h a positi+e outloo( pro+es to .or( in 3)4laughlin0s $a+or .ho .as ta)(ling .ith the sudden bad ne.s on an integral pie)e o$ %a)hinery used throughout the $esti+al0s three" day .ee(end e+ent o+er the 6abor 7ay holiday. ! tra)tor that is used to load and unload trailers- %o+e e+erything around during setup and brea(do.n- .as out o$ )o%%ission. /8hat is a %a5or do.n$all-/ said 3)4laughlin o$ the bro(en tra)tor- e1plaining ho. it also pulls a )art throughout the $esti+al grounds )olle)ting trash all day- e+ery day. #hile .or(ing on a plan B in ter%s o$ the tra)tor- 3)4laughlin spo(e on the %any other preparations )urrently under.ay $or the .ee(end that in)ludes the )ity being espe)ially in+ol+ed this year. /I$ it .asn0t $or the )ity- .ithout their donations o$ %an hours and e*uip%ent ... .e than( the%-/ said 3)4laughlin .ho stated that Brian Broo(hart .ith the ,treets and Par( 7epart%ent- /Is gold- he does anything .e as( hi% to and he (no.s .hat needs done./ !ssistan)e also )o%es in the $or% o$ the )ity $ire depart%ent0s pro+iding the 938 $or the rodeo- .ith other depart%ent )ity %an"hours dedi)ated to blea)her set"up- $en)es and %ore. /8hey probably spend e+ery bit o$ three days out there./ #hen as(ed about ho. %any +olunteers assist .ith the $esti+al- 3)4laughlin states- /It0s al.ays been said the $esti+al runs on a :100-000 budget .ith 2-000 +olunteers- that0s .hat I0+e al.ays heard./ 9%phasi;ing the i%possibility o$ )al)ulating 5ust ho. %any )ontribute to the yearly su))ess o$ the e+ent su)h as the 2ha%ber o$ 2o%%er)e ha+ing along the lines o$ <0 indi+iduals helping .ith their o.n $ood booth. 8he 30th annual 'eritage &esti+al .ill o$$er a pre"18<0s en)a%p%ent- one o$ the largest in the )ountry- .ith %ore than 300 %ountain %en- along .ith se+eral ne. non"pro$it $ood +endors ser+ing e+erything $ro% ho%e%ade goodies to traditional $a+orites. =ot to %ention the da;;ling array o$ entertain%ent .ith a nu%ber o$ a)ti+ities $or )hildren su)h as a pig s)ra%ble and petting ;oo.

8here .ill also be a )ar sho. along .ith displays- de%onstrations- a general store- arts and )ra$ts- and %u)h- %u)h %ore. /#e0ll ha+e the little pigs )he)(ed out and %a(e sure the (ids .ash their hands-/ said 3)4laughlin o$ any )on)erns $a%ilies %ay ha+e on the re)ent ,.ine &lu outbrea(s a)ross state".ide )ounty $airs. 8he $esti+al .ill see the return o$ the )li%bing .all and a ne. 10"$eet by 1>"$eet )orn"pit .ith so%e 18 in)hes o$ shelled )orn that (ids )an- /Just get in and ha+e a ball-/ said 3)4laughlin- .ith the high s)hool rodeo to be slightly di$$erent this year .ith the addition o$ pro$essional bull riders. 8he rodeo- 3)4laughlin stated- is not only a $esti+al $a+orite but uni*ue in that it o$$ers points to.ards s)holarships. /8his is a big deal thing- this is a)tually a )areer $or these (ids-/ said 3)4laughlin. /It0s so neat./ #hile attendees at the &esti+al .ill e1perien)e a .ell"oiled %a)hine- %a(e no %ista(e- it ta(es a lot o$ .or( and )o%es at a )ost- $ro% renting o$ land at the &ar% to Port"a"Johnsthere are e1penditures %any are una.are o$. /#e0re lu)(y to brea( e+en e+ery year-/ said 3)4laughlin .ho 5uggles t.o businesses .ith the %any aspe)ts o$ the $esti+al but says- /I learned a long ti%e ago- i$ you )an0t $i1 it- don0t .orry about it. I$ you )an0t )hange it- i$ you )an0t $i1 it- .hy .orry about it? It is .hat it is. @ou let it go./ 8he &esti+al has %any )ontributors and is $unded in part byA &ren)h Oil 3a)hinery 2o. &und- the Pi*ua 2o%%unity &oundation- 8op o$ Ohio R2B7 2oun)il- Paul 4. 7u(e &oundation- #al%art- the 6ungard 4rant- nity Ban(- #P8# Radio- the Pi*ua 2o%%unity &oundation and the Ohio !rts 2oun)il. &or %ore in$or%ation +isitA ....pi*uaheritage$esti+al.)o% or )all CD3<E <<8"8F>>.