NEWS

Apple Butter Stirrin’ goes on despite rain

Jennifer L. Manfrin
Correspondent

COSHOCTON - Members of Ridgewood High School FFA gathered in Historic Roscoe Village early Friday to begin preparing apple butter.

With the help of stirrers from Wholesome Valley Farm, the students organized the ingredients, though starting the fire in the rain proved to be difficult.

“It’s kinda cool. We enjoyed learning how to make it,” said Josey Lillibridge, Ridgewood High School senior and FFA treasurer who took turns with fellow FFA members stirring the apple butter they made.

The students cooked the apple butter over an open fire and offered samples for tasting and jars for sale during the first day of the 47th annual Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival in Roscoe Village.

Though the traditional fall treat is cooked over an open fire every year during the festival, this is the first year Ridgewood FFA members joined stirrers from Wholesome Valley Farm to make the recipe that gave the festival its name. From lighting the fire to cooking down the applesauce and cider to adding the apples, the new stirrers did what it took to make the favorite fall-time dish.

“We learned that it’s a long process to make apple butter, definitely not something you do in 30 minutes,” Josey said.

FFA volunteer Tony Hoffman said the students did a good job in spite of the rain and it being their first experience making apple butter.

“It’s all about the end result,” he said. “Once you taste it, the hard work is worth it.”

Though the first day of the annual three-day fest got off to a rainy and windy start, artisans lined the village, ready to show visitors how to make more than just apple butter.

Justin DePace of Lisbon, Ohio, owner of DePace IronWorks, is at the festival for the first time this year with his furnace and forge to showcase his iron craftsmanship.

“It’s a nice show,” DePace said. “I’m enjoying it. The people are very friendly — good people here.”

“Functional art” is what DePace calls the pieces he has for sale in his booth, but he also is a blacksmith by trade. Inspired by his grandfather, who was a stonemason from Italy, he calls himself an “old soul” when it comes to his craft.

“We are becoming a society where craftsmanship is disappearing. It’s a disposable society,” DePace said. “Shows like this are a tribute to the craftsmanship that built this country.”

In addition to DePace’s ironworks, weavers, candle makers, beekeepers, woodworkers, jewelry makers and more are on hand this weekend during the festival.

There also is plenty of live music, good food and beautiful crafts for visitors to enjoy, said Lynda Daniel, marketing and sales manager at Roscoe Village.

“We are pretty excited to see all the people here today and are certainly looking forward to the weekend,” she said.

In addition to a full lineup of activities, self-guided tours of seven living history buildings, discounted admission to the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum and canal boat rides will be available. Trolley rides to the canal boat landing will be offered Saturday and Sunday, leaving the Visitors Center at 12:40, 1:40, 2:40 and 3:40 p.m. each day.

Roscoe Village special events coordinator Jennifer Williams encourages visitors to plan to check out the festival Saturday and Sunday, because the forecast seems to be shaping up for the rest of the festivities.

“It’s looking nice for the rest of the weekend,” she said. “No rain Saturday or Sunday.”

Festival admission is $5, and ages 12 and younger and Roscoe Village members are free.

Saturday

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Invitational craft show

Main Stage

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Canal Royalty

11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.: Chestnut Ridge (bluegrass/gospel)

1 to 2 p.m.: The Wayfarers (mountain music)

2:15 to 3:15 p.m.: Barefoot McCoy (folk-rock/blues)

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: The Wayfarers

4:45 to 5:45 p.m.: Barefoot McCoy

North Stage

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Nicholas Family/Country Sunrise Special

Sunday

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Invitational craft show

Main Stage

10 to 10:45 a.m.: Lewis Pride Band (folk/bluegrass/gospel)

11 a.m. to noon: Two by Two (gospel/folk)

12:15 to 1 p.m.: Wildwood & Friends (traditional/folk)

1:15 to 1:45 p.m.: Canal Royalty

2 to 2:45 p.m.: Two by Two

3 to 3:45 p.m.: Lewis Pride Band

4 to 4:45 p.m.: Steve and Lisa Ball (Civil War music)

North Stage

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Nicholas Family/Country Sunrise Special