Letter to the editor: Fan Fair organizer thanks some supporters

Fan Fair 2012 was a great success and I have been blessed to be able to witness such a display of teamwork and sacrifice by so many different individuals and business owners in order to achieve what many thought was not possible. Months of planning, organizing, mailing, calling, begging, and borrowing paid off for me when I overheard representatives from WKYT Channel 27 in Lexington commenting to each other about how impressive our community is and how nice it must be to live in such a welcoming place. Representatives from the Kentucky Speedway have also expressed how impressed they are with all that our small town accomplished in comparison with other communities they have worked with. The goal of Fan Fair was to give potential tourists a taste of what Owen County has to offer, and I’d say the Owen County community shined.
The community shined in my eyes as well. Epoch Fellowship volunteered to run the shuttle service. The DJ Heroes volunteered their services nearly all week and provided great music for our event and the PA system for our pageant and artists. The Inflatable Fun Factory worked hard all week to provide entertainment for the kids and although they didn’t make any money, they sweated with us because they love Owen County. We received financial support from businesses like Larry Tackett’s Menswear, Southern States, and North Park, who never even asked for recognition they just wanted to jump in to help. People’s Bank, Farmer’s Bank, Golden Triangle Realty, Serenity Woods Cottage, Ragtime Bed Barn and Breakfast, Owen Electric, Owen County Extension Services, Farm House Grill, Triple H Trading Post, Countryside Bakery and Deli, New’s Café and Antiques, New Liberty Belle, Sweet Owen Country Store, Elk Creek Vineyards, Four Season’s Landscaping, Sunshine Grow Shop, Crossroads Ford, Farm Bureau, Petals on the Square, and so many other businesses invested in our mission and stepped up to participate in any way they could.
Froggy 95.9 in Vevay, Ind. worked out an ad exchange that got us 100 free radio ads plus a live interview. Crossroads Ford in Frankfort and Kentucky Farm Bureau made our pace car and shuttle service possible.
Joining the Owen County Visioneers (a group of like-minded volunteers whose goal is to promote tourism in Owen County and encourage residents to shop locally) and the Owen County Chamber of Commerce has literally changed my life. Working alongside people like Joy Morgan, Judy Hetterman, Holly Bowling, Dawn Davis, Casey Ellis, Pat Beverly, Ron Reimer, Frank Downing, Dave Morgan, Hines Riley, Dave Jones ... (the list goes on and on) has inspired me to want to do more and push harder.
I’ve always loved Owen County and most all the people in it but over the past year I have seen more selflessness, community, hard work, commitment, and wisdom than I ever imagined. Learning about the history of this town and what it takes to make the things that I take for granted possible has been an enlightening experience. It’s obvious to me that God has blessed this community because of the forefathers, and I believe he will continue to pour out his blessings based on the faithfulness that I have seen in our current leaders. I’m grateful to be a part and want to help in any way possible.
 
Shanna Osborne
Owenton