High Country Magazine August/September 2017

Volume 13 • Issue 1 August/September 2017

TDAs - Promoting The High Country Boone • Watauga County • Blowing Rock • Banner Elk Beech Mountain • Sugar Mountain • Seven Devils

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BIGGEST UPSET EVER

A Really Big Family Farm Caddying At Linville in The 50s Hang Gliding at Grandfather

What It Means To Be A Mentor August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

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E L E VAT E YO U R L I V I N G Linville Ridge, a luxury country club community near Blowing Rock, boasts award-winning golf, tennis, sophisticated dining venues and social events to fill every calendar. With home opportunities ranging from cottages to custom estates, at The Ridge the possibilities are endless.

Models open daily | From $890,000 to over $4,000,000

linvilleridge.com | 828.898.5151 Home and community information, including pricing, included features, terms, availability and amenities, are subject to change, prior sale or withdrawal at any time without notice or obligation. Drawings, photographs, renderings, video, scale models, square footages, floor plans, elevations, features, colors and sizes are approximate for presentation purposes only and may vary from the homes as built. Home prices refer to the base price of the house and do not include options or premiums, unless otherwise indicated for a specific home. Nothing on our website should be construed as legal, accounting or tax advice. Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

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Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations.

August / September 2017 High Country Magazine All information is deemed accurate.

3

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August / September 2017

Featured artists: local, contemporary, and historical

Jason Drake

Phillip Moose

Robin Wellner

David Starbuck

Wes Waugh

Elliott Daingerfield

Karla Mann

Robert Broderson

George Snyder

Hermann Herzog

Paul DeMarrais Wiili Lita Gatlin

Egidio Antonaccio

Fred Sprock

Edward Szmyd

“Raging River” by Elliott Daingerfield oil on panel

“Watauga County Barn” by Jason Drake watercolor on paper Featured in the gallery’s upcoming August Show: “Horned Owl Chicks” by Karla Mann oil on panel

7539 Valley Blvd (Next to Food Lion) Blowing Rock NC, 28605 828.295.0041 www.blowingrockgalleries.com August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

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High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

Chestnut at Blowing Rock 364 Chestnut Drive Blowing Rock, North Carolina 28605

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Redefining luxury living, Chestnut at Blowing Rock features open and airy living spaces, natural finishes and towering windows designed to showcase breathtaking vistas of Moses Cone Memorial Park and Grandfather Mountain State Park.

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WHERE MAIN STREET AND LUXURY MEET. Chestnut at Blowing Rock features open and airy living spaces, natural finishes and towering windows designed to showcase breathtaking vistas.

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August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated.

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C O N T E N T S Tourism in the High Country Local tourism development authorities use a short-term lodging tax to promote the area as a destination and to fund tourism-related infrastructure projects such as the Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park.

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18 So You Want to be a Mentor?

Western Youth Network, a renowned nonprofit organization here in the High Country, offers community members plenty of opportunities to help offer youth in the area a supportive, encouraging and caring role

A Decade After David Beat Goliath Appalachian State University’s football team accomplished an earth-shaking victory over Michigan in 2007, shocking 109,218 fans in the Michigan Stadium.

A decade later, the effects are still prominent.

Faith and Farm Minded

50 68

A mere twelve years ago, the Wilkes family was what everyone would call average – average family size and living in an average house in an average neighborhood. However, that all changed when the family moved onto a 65acre-farm on Big Laurel Road.

Par! Caddying at Linville Resorts The golfing communities in Avery County were formed by the traditions and history of Linville. Thanks to these traditions, histories and golf culture, countless boys grew up learning the art of caddying in this renowned community.

on the cover Sam Dean – A photo that Sam

Dean took for the Watauga County TDA is this month’s cover picture.

Sam has been telling visual stories through his camera for over 20 years bringing his seasoned photojournalist eye to projects for his clients.

You can see his work at his website: samdeanphotography.com 8

High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

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ABOUT US

The first High Country Press newspaper was published on May 5, 2005, and the first issue of High Country Magazine went to press in fall 2005. In March of 2012 the newspaper made the transformation to an online newspaper at our new website: www.HCPress.com. Our new “webpaper” is still packed with information that we present and package in easy-to-read formats with visually appealing layouts.

Our magazine represents our shared love of our history, our landscape and our people. It celebrates our pioneers, our lifestyles, our differences and the remarkable advantages we enjoy living in the mountains. Our guiding principles are twofold: quality journalism makes a difference and customer care at every level is of the greatest importance.

Our offices are located in Boone, and our doors are always open to welcome visitors.

dry touches

Bed and bath linens from France, Italy, Switzerland and around the world, including ABYSS & HABIDECOR Giza 70 bath towels from Portugal. Presented by DEWOOLFSON, manufacturers of European-inspired down comforters, pillows and featherbeds.

© 2017 DEWOOLFSON Down Int’l., Inc. Photo courtesy Abyss & Habidecor

READER SERVICES

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Our magazine is a wonderful way for businesses to advertise to our readers. Our magazines tend to stay around for a long time, on coffee tables and bed stands, and shared with family and friends. To find out about advertising, call our offices at 828264-2262.

BACK ISSUES

Back issues of our magazines are available from our office for $5 per issue. Some issues are already sold out and are no longer available.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography and page reprints are available for purchase. For sizing, prices and usage terms, please call our office. Some photos may not be available and some restrictions may apply.

FREELANCE OPPORTUNITIES

Writers and photographers may send queries and samples to the editor at hcmag@highcountrypress.com.

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Contact us at:

High Country Press/Magazine P.O. Box 152 1600 Highway 105 Boone, NC 28607 www.hcpress.com info@highcountrypress.com 828-264-2262

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9452 NC Hwy. 105 S :: between Boone & Banner Elk 800.554.3696 dewoolfsonLinens.com August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

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FRO M T HE PUB L ISH ER

A Publication Of High Country Press Publications Editor & Publisher Ken Ketchie Art Director Debbie Carter Advertising Director Jeffrey Green Rivers Street - September, 1, 2007 • Photo by Ken Ketchie

Jesse Wood

Where were you?

Katie Benfield

W

here were you that day when ASU Football beat Michigan on Sept. 1, 2007?” As we started working on our story for the 10th anniversary of App State’s epic win over Michigan, that was the question that inevitably came up. Of course, the first comment was, “I can’t believe it’s already been 10 years.”

For me, I was driving around Boone that Saturday afternoon delivering magazines and visitor guides. Since the game wasn’t broadcast on any local channels – only folks with an obscure TV package could get the game and a few restaurants and bars did just that – I figured I’d just drop by a couple of those places to catch up on the action as I made my rounds.

Going into the game, ASU wasn’t given much of a chance against 5th ranked Michigan, so watching the game wasn’t my top priority. My first stop was at Geno’s on Hwy. 105. It was packed, and you couldn’t even get into the door. Everyone was cheering wildly, so that was encouraging. I got a glimpse of the score and ASU was winning!

That was unexpected! After a few more deliveries I came to the Library Pub and the same thing was happening: packed bar with everyone cheering!

This was starting to get exciting, so I figured I’d make my last stop at Murphy’s to catch the last quarter of the game. But when I got to Murphy’s their TV feed was having technical difficulties, which explains why the bar was empty. I panic – what to do.

I knew that the few bars with TV coverage were packed – so I decided to rush home and catch the ending of the game on my radio in my living room. What a fascinating experience that was, hearing those final plays from the voice of David Jackson . . . I’ll never forget it!

When I calmed down from screaming and jumping around, I suddenly started hearing folks cheering around the neighborhood with car horns blaring. And then it dawned on me, being the news guy, that I should get on down to the ASU campus to see what was happening.

I got there just as the goal post was leaving the stadium and folks were jumping into the Duck Pond along with the goal post. I followed the cheering crowd as they carried the goal post down Rivers Street, and then as the fans made their way through the ASU campus with hundreds of hands navigating the goal post around corners and up stairways. And the cheering never stopped! The goal post ended up at the Chancellor’s house with an impromptu rally in Peacock’s front yard. It was truly a moment that made it great to be a Mountaineer. And yes, it’s hard to believe that was 10 years ago, but sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday when you get into a conversation about where you were the day that college football’s greatest upset happened.

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High Country Magazine

Contributing Writers

August / September 2017

David Coulson Jan Todd Harris Prevost Contributing Photographers Jan Todd Tara Diamond

High Country Magazine is produced by the staff and contributors of High Country Press Publications, which serves Watauga and Avery counties of North Carolina

HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE P.O. Box 152, Boone, NC 28607 828-264-2262 Follow our magazine online where each issue is presented in a flip-through format. Check it out at:

HighCountryMagazine.com Reproduction or use in whole or part of the contents of this magazine without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Issues are FREE throughout the High Country. © 2017

by High Country Press. All Rights Reserved.

WE SUPPORT

SHOP LOCAL

August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

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Calendarof Events august 2017

12

Shagging at the Rock, The Blowing Rock, 828-295-7111

25-27

12

Art in the Park, Downtown Blowing Rock, 828-295-7851

Ashe County Little Theatre: “Church Basement Ladies”, Ashe Civic Center, 336-846-2787

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12

Wildcat Lake Music Festival, Holton Camp and Retreat Center, 844-465-7866

Live Music at 5506’ SkyBar: TBD, Beech Mountain Resort, 828-387-2011

26

12

Music at Linville Falls Winery: Clay Lunsford, Linville Falls, 828-765-1400

Music at Linville Falls Winery: TBD, Linville Falls, 828-765-1400

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12-13

Riders in the Sky: American’s Favorite Cowboys, Tweetsie Railroad, 828-264-9061

High Country Beer Fest, High Country Fairgrounds, hcbeerfest.com

26-27

Music at Linville Falls Winery: The Harris Brothers, Linville Falls, 828-765-1400

Railroad Heritage Weekend, Tweetsie Railroad, 828-264-9061

27

13-14

Amateur and Professional Camera Clinic, Grandfather Mountain, 828-733-2013

Music at Linville Falls Winery: Clay Lunsford, Linville Falls, 828-765-1400

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17

Concerts in the Park: Wolf Creek, Tate-Evans Park, Banner Elk, 828-898-8395

Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music: Clay Lunsford and Matthew Weaver, Harvest House, Boone, mountainhomemusic.com

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Concerts on the Lawn: Bluegrass Showcase, Jones House, Boone, 828-268-6280

30

Concert in the Courtyard: TBA, Bayou Smokehouse, 828-898-8952

18

Music on the Lawn: Soul Benefactor, The Best Cellar, Blowing Rock, r828-295-3466

31

Concerts in the Park: Clockworx, Tate-Evans Park, Banner Elk, 828-898-8395

18

Music in the Valle: Zoe & Cloyd, Valle Crucis Community Park, 828-963-9239

September 2017

18-26

Ensemble Stage Presents: “Art of Murder” Historic Banner Elk School, 828-414-1844

1

First Friday Art Crawl, Downtown Boone, 828-2686280

19

Art Ball, BRAHM, 828-295-9099

2

19

Live Music at 5506’ SkyBar: My New Favorites, Beech Mountain Resort, 828-387-2011

Live Music at 5506’ SkyBar: If Birds Could Fly, Beech Mountain Resort, 828-387-2011

2

Music at Linville Falls Winery: Johnson Brothers, Linville Falls, 828-765-1400

2

Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music: Dixie Dawn, Harvest House, Boone, mountainhomemusic.com

3

Downtown Boone Art Fair, Reckless Arts, 828-964-1732

13

25

Music in the Valle: Carolina Ramble Review, Valle Crucis Community Park, 828-963-9239

19

Music at Linville Falls Winery: Wayne Taylor, Linville Falls, 828-765-1400

19

Todd Summer Music: Worthless Son-in-Laws, Cook Memorial Park, 828-263-6173

19

Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music: Strictly Strings and The Green Grass Cloggers, Blowing Rock School, mountainhomemusic.com

3

20

Music at Linville Falls Winery: Shelby Rae Moore Band, Linville Falls, 828-765-1400

Music at Linville Falls Winery: Shelby Rae Moore Band, Linville Falls, 828-765-1400

5

Music in the Valle: Folk & Dagger, Valle Crucis Community Park, 828-963-9239

23

Concert in the Courtyard: The Original Whip Daddys, Bayou Smokehouse, 828-898-8952

6

24

Concerts in the Park: Mama’s Remedy, Tate-Evans Park, Banner Elk, 828-898-8395

Concert in the Courtyard: DC Collective, Bayou Smokehouse, 828-898-8952

9

25

Concerts on the Lawn: Touché with Mead Richter & Hank and Pattie, Jones House, Boone, 828-268-6280

Music at Linville Falls Winery: Bluegrass Blend, Linville Falls, 828-765-1400

9

KidFest at Grandfather Mountain, 828-733-2013

25

Music on the Lawn: Out of the Blue, The Best Cellar, Blowing Rock, 828-295-3466

10

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High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

Music at Linville Falls Winery: The Harris Brothers, Linville Falls, 828-765-1400

DON’T FORGET

EVENTS

10th Annual High Country Beer Fest

The High Country loves our Mountaineers, and craft beers. On August 26, the 10th Annual High Country Beer Fest will occur from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. This festival unites breweries and people from all over the nation in efforts to raise money for Fermentation Sciences Department at Appalachian State University, and various local nonprofits. This festival is 100 percent nonprofit event, which separates itself from other High Country Festivals.

There will be food and beer pairings, three live bands performing, 50+ beer vendors and educational seminars. This event is important because it stimulates the local economy and raises awareness of the craftsmanship behind brewing. If you are a beer enthusiast, then this festival is for you!

There are four types of admission tickets to choose from including designated driver. For more information visit: www.hcbeerfest.com.

AUG. 26

Noyes Capehart

Life on Canvas, A Retrospective August 2 - 26

Fall Shag Dance Social dancing is an ageless art where dancers of all ages can experience the joy of rhythm and beat together. On Saturday, September 20, the Boone Shag Club and ASU Department of Theater and Dance will host the 2nd Annual CommunityWide Fall Shag Dance. The event will take place on Appalachian State University’s campus at the Reich College of Education Building. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., and dancing will take place from 7 p.m.- 11 p.m. The Lucky Stripes band will play live music at the event. Tickets are available for $25, which includes dinner, alcohol and dance.

Tickets can be purchased through a check issued to the Boone Shag Club.

Event spokeswoman and dancing enthusiast Sandi Solomon states that she dreams of social dance bringing the community together in union through dance. This up-and-coming event is something that is fun for the whole family.

For more information, Call Susie Miller of the Boone Shag Club at 828-612-4327.

SEPT. 20

Artist Invitational, The Next 25 Years August 28 - October 26

Artist Gathering September 2, 4-6pm www.artcellaronline.com | 828-898-5175 | Hwy 184. Banner Elk August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

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echoes

Flying High at Grandfather Mountain F

or more than a decade in the first arrived in the High Country ‘70s and ‘80s, world-class in 1976 for the Masters of Hang hang gliders from across the globe Gliding tournament at Grandfadescended upon the High Country ther Mountain and ended up reto fly from the peaks of Grandfaturning for several more years as ther Mountain. The first to do so one of the team flyers. Burnett said was John Harris of Kitty Hawk. that back then, “Everybody knew Several decades ago, Harabout Grandfather Mountain. ris came to seek permission from Everybody knew it was a special Hugh Morton, owner of Grandfaplace when Mr. Morton opened ther Mountain, to launch his hang it up for flying. There was an inglider off the top of its peaks. surgence of pilots from all over the Morton agreed, and on July 13, country.”

1974, Harris achieved such a feat.

The group of flyers that were a Harris flew 1,500 feet and landed part of the Grandfather Mountain Some of the former Grandfather Mountain Flyers attended Jim Morton’s me- Flyers developed quite a camarasafely on a golf course.

Soon, Grandfather Mountain morial in late July. Seen with the house Masters of Hang Gliding trophy are derie with each other – one that was hosting the annual Masters Larry Flewelling, Jeff Burnett, Pete Knebel, Steve Coan, and Scott Buchanan. lasts to this day. “There is still a of Hang Gliding Championship unique bond between all of those and the U.S. Nationals in 1975. guys that were part of the original job one could have.”

Morton, always known as a great promoter, flyers.

It was a magical place,” Burnett said.

This era was the heyday of hang gliding hired his own team of hang gliding pilots. across the U.S. and perhaps the world. It most “I feel very fortunate to have been one of the These high flyers both promoted Grandfa- certainly was in the High Country, where folks handful of people that actually were considther Mountain at hang gliding competitions also took off from Seven Devils and Howard’s ered professional pilots and were paid to demacross North America and provided up-close Knob. onstrate at Grandfather Mountain … and at entertainment to guests at the local attraction Jeff Burnett, who lives in New Hampshire, meets from Canada to Mexico.” with exhibitions.

Both Burnett and Knebel praised Hugh As Randy Johnson wrote in his latest Morton for his generosity and vision. book, Grandfather Mountain: The His“Hugh Morton changed so many people’s tory and Guide to an Appalachian Icon, lives in hang gliding. He was a mentor to “For years, daring young men and eventuthe sport and one of the first to do it as a ally women would be snatched off Grandtourist attraction, and he means an awful father’s cliffs by violent, vertical elevator lot to the sport of hang gliding – worldshafts of air and disappear with a gasp wide. He was renowned figure in the hang from spectators.” gliding community,” Knebel said.

One of these hang gliders was Pete At the Masters of Hang Gliding ChamKnebel of Connecticut. In 1974, Knebel pionships, pilots performed “out and back” read about the sport in Sports Illustrated. tasks such as racing to a point up to 10 A year later, he was attending the first miles away from the Mile High Swinging hang gliding tournament on Grandfather Bridge and returning to the landing zone Mountain. By 1976, he was one of the at MacRae Meadows. “Goal tasks” might Hang Glider launches from Grandfather Mountain 15 or so Grandfather Mountain Flyers include racing to Morganton or Elizahired by Morton to perform hang gliding bethton, Tenn., and “open distance tasks” exhibitions. might be to see who can fly the farthest, “It was a very magical time. We’d get according to a 1983 news article about the up in the morning, call flight service and 8th annual championship. The prize-moncheck on the weather conditions and plan ey purse that year was $12,000. on where to fly, either at Grandfather The last Masters of Hang Gliding Mountain or Tater Hill,” Knebel explained.

Championship was in 1986, when tragedy “The whole thing with the exhibition flystruck. Stewart Smith, who was considers at Grandfather Mountain, we would be ered one of the top five hang gliders in the flying anyway, so if we were getting miniworld at the time and still holds the record mum wage, it didn’t matter. It was the best Hang Gliders lined up in McRae Meadows during tournament for longest flight from Grandfather at 113 14

High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

BLOWING ROCK ESTATE JEWELRY miles, died on the first day of the 11th annual championship. Smith apparently hit turbulence as he prepared to land at MacRae Meadows, according to a UPI news article.

Hang gliding demonstrations were banned atop Grandfather Mountain in 1987.

In 2001, a group of the old flyers at Grandfather Mountain got together for a reunion on the mountain. They received Hugh Morton’s blessing and spent one last weekend launching off the mountain. As one of the pilots wrote in a blog online, “It was like the old days.”

Featuring Distinctive Antique & Estate Pieces

Jim’s Memorial

This past July, some of the old Grandfather Mountain Flyers and friends and family, attended a celebration of life for Jim Morton, chairman of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation and son to Julia and the late Hugh Morton. Jim passed away on April 1 at the age of 65.

As Jim’s friend Kinney Baughman recounted in the April/May issue of High Country Magazine, Jim took to the sport right away as it was coming on to the scene in the ‘70s. As general manager of the mountain at the time, Jim was tasked with promoting the sport. One day in the fall of 1975, John Sears, one of the original Grandfather Mountain Flyers and a hang gliding mentor to Jim, said, “Today is the day, Jim. Let’s Go.” As Baughman wrote, “Jim described the flight as a ‘sled run.’ He jumped off the old launching pad built on the other side of the Swinging Bridge, put the ‘pea patch’ in his sights on the back side of the mountain and took a bee line to the landing area. Landing without incident, he packed up his hang glider and never flew again. He had achieved his goal.

Vintage Jim Morton.”

Coincidence or not, Jim’s celebration of life occurred during the same week that the Tater Hill Open was being held near Boone.

The Tater Hill Open is a paragliding and hang gliding competition that is dubbed the “most exciting free flight, solo, cross country competition on the East Cost.”

Speaking to Jim’s memorial, Knebel noted, “It was a touching and typically Jimmy Morton event, and everyone had a good time and saw a lot of people we hadn’t seen in a while, and every time I go up on Grandfather Mountain, I get emotional for that mountain is very special.”

Burnett was also good friends with Jim added, “He was a gracious, wonderful human being.”

By Jesse Wood

Diamonds, Colored Stones & Engagement Rings are our Specialty

167 SUNSET DRIVE in BLOWING ROCK (one half block off Main St) 828-295-4500

AppOrtho

August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

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New Profile Trail Parking Lot, Facilities Open To Public - Parks 4 Times the Vehicles

I

n the summer, the old The total length of the parking lot of the ProProfile Trail is now 3.6 file Trail at Grandfamiles from the new trailther Mountain State Park head to Calloway Gap, used to fill to capacity by where the Profile Trail 9 or 10 a.m. For peak holimeets the Grandfather days and fall leaf color seaTrail. The hike to Calloson, the parking situation way Peak is 4 miles (round was even worse. trip is 8 miles). The hike While not advocated to the swinging bridge is by rangers, at the busiest 5.6 miles (round trip is times dozens of cars ended 11.2 miles). As its nameup parked along side the sake suggests, the popushoulders of N.C. 105 lar Profile Trail yields the and at the BBQ restaurant face view of Grandfather nearby. Visitors then made Mountain. the perilous trek along the These improvements The new access parking lot can now accommodate 100 vehicles. highway to access the old represent the first facility trailhead. to be constructed in the 100-vehicle parking lot, restroom facility, This is no longer needed now that the trailhead and a paved, two-lane road off state park, which was founded in 2009 new access for the Profile Trail has opened of N.C. 105. when the Grandfather Mountain Stewardto the public. The new access, which acThe first phase featured a budget of ship Foundation, which owns the wildlife commodates four times the number of $1.4 million and was funded by the state’s attraction and swinging bridge, sold about vehicles, is located 0.3 miles south of the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. The sec- 2,600 acres to the State of North Carolina former trailhead. ond phase of improvements currently has a for $12 million.

“Everything is working out beauti- similar budget amount and is being funded The second phase of improvements will fully. Visitors seem very pleased with include an on-site park office, visitor the parking situation. They apprecicontact station and possibly a mainate the bathrooms, and the new trail tenance facility. It will also include an connection is working out really well,” extension of trail for an upper loop, so said Grandfather Mountain State Park that hikers don’t have to spend all day Supt. Sue McBean. hiking on the mountain.

The second day the new lot was Currently, the park office is located open, McBean said only four spaces in leased space in Foscoe, and the old were available. That’s been the busiest parking lot and trailhead will be closed day so far, although other weekends to the public and used for maintenance have been nearly as busy with less than and as emergency access.

10 parking spots open at various times Hikers should note that trash reduring the day. ceptacles will not be provided at the Restroom facility is open.

“Just about everyone has been really new trailhead. Black bears are comsupportive of the project and pleased with through the $2 billion Connect NC Public mon in the area, and this is an effort to the results,” McBean said. “It’s nice to feel Improvement Bond that voters approved prevent them from associating people with like we fulfilled a need with this project and in the 2016 primary. a food source, such as trash cans. This is a it’s nice to feel like it is so well received.”

The new trailhead for the Profile Trail pack it in, pack it out site. Remember to This construction project is part of adds an extra 3/4 of a mile. The new sec- never approach or feed wildlife. two phases of improvements to Grandfa- tion of trail is easy with rolling hills and The new parking lot and trail access is ther Mountain State Park. The first phase steps on the steeper sections of this seg- located at 4198 N.C. 105. For more inwas completed by Pilot Mountain-based ment. It passes through acidic coves with formation, contact the park office at 828Garanco Construction just in time for the rhododendron and rich coves with herba- 963-9522.

Fourth of July holiday, included the new ceous wildflowers.

By Jesse Wood 16

High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

17

Tourism Development Authorities Boone • Watauga County • Blowing Rock • Banner Elk • Beech Mountain Sugar Mountain • Seven Devils

By Jesse Wood

I

ther Mountain and plenty of more outdoor activities to keep all ages busy throughout the summer. Throw in fall leaf season, the festivals, App State football, choose-andcut Christmas trees, the ski resorts – and the region is a bonafide, year-round draw.

The two slowest months around here are March and April, when the ski sea-

tauga TDA a W Staff

ne T Boo DA

ing Rock T w D lo Staff

Wright Tilley, Executive Director Michelle Ligon, Director of PR

Board Members

Board Members

Bu 45 dge t: $1,651,3

Bu 00 dge t: $1,400,4

Matt Vincent, Chairman Tony Gray, Vice-Chair Lisa Martin Kim Rogers Jim Neustadt Brad Moretz Tina Houston

18

Staff

Wright Tilley, Executive Director Michelle Ligon, Director of PR

High Country Magazine

Lynne Mason Ann Peecook Lenny Cottom Sheri Moretz Jerry Lamonds Ron Coldiron Jessica Smith

August / September 2017

B

Rock, for example, was essentially founded on tourism. Its million-dollar views of the John’s River Gorge and cool summer weather have enticed off-the-mountain visitors since at least following Reconstruction. As a whole, the High Country has several state parks, the federal Blue Ridge Parkway, private attractions like Grandfa-

A

f not for the beautiful outdoors, the High Country would be hurting for more economic activity. In between Appalachian State University and medical, the leisure-travel tourism industry ranks second in terms of financial impact and drawing visitors to the region.

It’s been that way for decades. Blowing

Tracy Brown, Executive Director Amanda Lugenbell, Assistant Director Board Members Dean Bullis, Chair Lance Campbell Rob Dyer Doug Matheson Lorry Mulhern

Bu dget: $955,141

A ‘Win-Win’

for Visitors, Residents Alike son winds down and before the summer action revs up. As popular as the High Country is most of the year, tourism officials continue to figure out more ways to fill the void, such as promoting trout season and sports tournaments like the Boone Roundball Classic.

“We are fortunate that we really are a four-season destination, although winter has been tough the last couple months,” said Wright Tilley, executive director of the Watauga County/Boone Tourism Development Authorities. “Still lots of destinations get almost no visitation during winter months. They have much more extended off-seasons or shoulder seasons.”

Using data from the N.C. Department of Commerce, Dr. Rebecca Tippett, in a presentation titled, Benefits & Challenges of Tourism in NC Communities, confirms that assessment. Tippett cited that visits to the mountain region from 2011 to 2015 were spread out relatively evenly between the seasons – 20 percent winter; 22 percent spring; 31 percent summer; and 28 percent fall. This is compared to the coast, which has a high visitation of 46 percent in the summer and low of 11 percent in the winter.

Watauga and Avery counties have several tourism development authorities (TDAs) that help to spur tourism in the region. A TDA essentially leverage taxes on

short-term lodging to primarily promote the region as a destination and also raise funds for tourism-related capital expenditures. Municipalities such as Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Boone, Seven Devils and Sugar Mountain all operate TDAs. Watauga County jointly operates a TDA with Boone.

In the early ‘80s, North Carolina began authorizing local governments to levy a 3 percent occupancy tax on stays at hotels, bed and breakfasts, cabins, condominiums and short-term rentals, including new age rental agencies like Airbnb and VRBO. This occupancy taxes isn’t applied to campgrounds, RV parks and religious or higher education facilities with beds.

In the late ‘90s, the N.C. General Assembly adopted a uniformed law across the state that pretty much required local TDAs to form in order to collect an occupancy tax, and years later local govern-

er Elk TD n n A Ba Staff

Mountain h c T ee Staff

ev en D ils TD v e

Bu dget: 259,146 $

S

B

Kate Gavenus, Director of Tourism & Economic Development Lauren Mills, Visitor Center Assistant Elena Kontinos, Seasonal Visitor Center Assistant

Staff Tammy Floyd, TDA Coordinator Board Members Jim Fitzpatrick, Chair Janet Anderson Sam Semple Nathan Paris Melanie Jochl

A

Bu dget: $150,500

DA

Nancy Owen, Director Board Members Mike Dunn, Chair Les Broussard Shannon Maness Ginger Hansen Tom McMurray

Mountain T r ga

DA

We are fortunate that we really are a four-season destination.

Su

Blessed with geography, the High Country’s number one draw is outdoor adventure. This couple enjoys the view from the top of Beech Mountain.

Board Members

Staff Debbie Powers, Town Manager Board Members Tom Gidley Anne Fontaine John E. Duncan

Bu dget: 376,954 $

Bu dget 05,000 : $1

Brian Barnes, Chair Judy Decker Carl Marquardt Calder Smoot Larry Watren

August / September 2017

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Occupancy Tax Revenues for High Country TDAs in the Past 1500000 Beech Mountain

1200000

Watauga County 900000

Boone

600000

Blowing Rock Seven Devils

300000 0

Sugar Mountain 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

estimated budget figures: revenues & appropriations Below are estimated budget figures (revenues & appropriations) for the 2017-18 fiscal year:

Boone TDA Revenues: Occupancy Tax Receipts: $1,300,000 Allocation from General Fund Balance: $100,000 Interest Earned: $400 Total: 1,400,400

Appropriations:

Contract Fee – WCTDA: $275,345 Marketing & Advertising: $607,722 Town of Boone – Tourism Related: $433,333 Professional Services: $4,000 High Country Advertising Co-Op: $5,000 TDA Board Priorities / Event Sponsorships: $55,000 Public Relations Services: $20,000

Watauga Co. TDA Blowing Rock TDA Revenues: Occupancy Tax Receipts: $1,376,000 Boone TDA: $275,345 Total: $1,651,345

Appropriations Administrative: $318,690 General Services: $18,000 Direct Tourism Promotion: $855,985 Tourism Infrastructure: $458,670

Total: $1,651,345

*Note the following is the actual budget for the fiscal-year ending June 2016

Revenues: Occupancy Tax Receipts: $940,868 Miscellaneous Revenues: $379 Investment Earnings: $253 Total: $941,500

Appropriations: Administrative: $178,414 Central Services: 18,458 Advertising, Marketing & PR: $344,313 Tourism Infrastructure: $251,923

Total: $793,108

Total: $1,400,400 ments were allowed to increase that 3 percent tax to 6 percent. In the High Country, all of the local TDAs levy the maximum 6 percent tax today.

“When we first went from 3 to 6 percent there was probably some push back.

When the county didn’t have a TDA and there were just the Town of Boone and Blowing Rock TDAs, county properties without the occupancy tax felt like they had a competitive advantage because they were a little cheaper,” Tilley said. “But everybody is used to it now.”

While critics of the “hotel tax” say its just another tax on a long list that folks have to pay, Tilley and his colleagues in the tourism industry argue that the dollars visitors spend in town actually keep taxes 20

High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

lower. The funds also offset the stress that extra visitors puts on local public services and infrastructure in town.

In 2016, tourism generated $9 million in overall local tax revenues for Watauga County – this doesn’t include the municipalities in Watauga County. Those $9 million in revenue represents a $390 tax savings to each resident, Tilley noted at a presentation before the Watauga County Board of Commissioners in February. “Everybody benefits really whether you are in a tourism-related business or not,” Tilley said.

Most recently, tourism directly provided more than 10,000 jobs in the High Country Region, which the N.C. Department of Commerce defines as Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes

Boone/Watauga County TDA: Executive Director Wright Tilley, PR Director Michelle Ligon

Blowing Rock TDA: Executive Director Tracy Brown, Asst. Director Amanda Lugenbell

Banner Elk TDA Director Nancy Owen

Seven Devils Town Manager Debbie Powers

Beech Mountain Director of Tourism Kate Gavenus

Sugar Mountain TDA Chair Jim Fitzpatrick

and Yancey counties. These figures are from the latest “Labor Market Overview” quarterly report for 2016’s 4th Quarter.

While Leisure & Hospitality Services is the third highest employment sector behind Education & Health Services (19,396) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (14,294), it is the lowest paying sector by a healthy margin with an average wage of $327 per week.

Already cited above, the study by Dr. Trippett, director of Carolina Demogra-

phy, noted that 2015 traveler spending generated $1.7 billion in state and local tax revenues, while providing 211,000 jobs and $5.2 billion in wages. Focusing on three tourism-centric towns – Blowing Rock, Nags Head and Oak Island – Trippett’s study noted that 53 percent of the town’s employment was in the Leisure & Hospitality sector in 2014.

“Lots of folks come up here, they want to escape the traffic, escape the heat, see snow in the winter and do things here they

can’t do back in the Piedmont or southern climes,” Tracy Brown, executive director of the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority, said. “Outdoor adventure is our biggest draw.”

Brown has been working in the tourism industry in Blowing Rock for the past 25 years. Arriving here for college, Brown started working at Appalachian Ski Mountain and later the Tweetsie theme-park attraction. He arrived at the TDA shortly after it formed in 2004. In his years at the

August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

21

BOONE / WATAUGA TDA DIRECTOR

Wright Tilley Working Over 25 Years In The Tourism Industry

W

22

High Country Magazine

Boone/Watauga TDA T

he Town of Boone and Watauga County governments have a joint operating agreement that’s been in place since 2010. Essentially, the Boone TDA contracts with the Watauga County TDA to share in administrative expenses and split marketing and advertising costs. The local governments do maintain separate accounts for tourism-related infrastructure projects.

Watauga County has focused on outdoor adventure such as the access areas along the Watauga and New rivers and the Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park on the edge of Boone. Watauga County TDA is currently focused on the Middle Fork Greenway, which will connect the Blue Ridge Parkway and Blowing Rock to Boone. For the upcoming fiscal year, the Town of 2017 OFFICIAL BOONE AREA Boone is using its TDA infrastructure funds for the VISITOR'S GUIDE Howard Street Improvement Project in downtown.

Photo by Sam Dean

right Tilley moved to the High Country in 2009 to begin working at the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority. With a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a master’s degree in recreation and tourism, both from the University of Florida, Tilley has since spent more than 25 years in the tourism and event management industries.

Prior to coming to Boone from Georgia, Tilley worked at the The Jekyll Island Authority Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission & Macon GA International Cherry Blossom Festival, RCS Productions Inc., and the Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism at the University of Florida.

“It is a pleasure to work at the Watauga County TDA. Boone and the Boone area is a beautiful destination to promote. We are blessed to be a four-season destination with so many activities, attractions, restaurants and shops,” Tilley said. “My favorite part of my job is working on the creative elements of our advertising campaigns and the marketing strategies that drive our advertising and media buys.”

Tilley noted that the biggest challenge is keeping up with the rapid pace of technology and the new marketing mediums that come with those changes. Gone are the days of just advertising on print, billboards, radio and TV. “Today’s consumer is often overwhelmed with so many messages that we have to be creative and strategic to hopefully get their attention,” Tilley said. “If we can get a visitor to come and experience this area, they will most likely be satisfied and return for future visits.”

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TDA, Brown said the biggest change he’s seen in the industry has been technology. “Years ago, people would book a hotel 30, 60, 90 days out,â€? Brown said. “Today, they will book a room 30 minutes out ‌ They are doing it on the fly, riding up the road and booking a room on their phone.â€?

Like Brown, Tilley has worked in the industry for years. Before moving to the High Country to run Watauga’s TDA, Tilley worked for the Jekyll Island Authority on the coast of Georgia. Asked about the changes affecting the tourism industry over the years, Tilley agreed about tech-

nology but also mentioned generational changes of the population. “The millennial generation is completely different from my generation ‌ This is going to impact us down the line.

They are interested in experiences. They are not interested in collecting stuff and big houses and all this. They want to have a comfortable life, but they want to experience a lot of different things. That being said, they are not the type to book the annual seven-day trip to the beach as soon as they checkout. They are going to want to go experience different places. That’s part

of why product development plays into that, too. They are going to have to have a reason to come back here [again].�

The individual TDAs in the High Country brought in anywhere from $100,000 to nearly $1.5 million in revenue from occupancy tax collections in 2016. Seven Devils, which has less than 100 tax-collecting units, took in about $100,000, while Boone and Watauga County, which has 200 combined tax-collecting entities (not units), both collected well over $1 million. Falling in between are Banner Elk, Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain and Blowing Rock.

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High Country Magazine

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BLOWING ROCK TDA DIRECTOR

Tracy Brown

T

25 Years in Tourism in Blowing Rock

racy Brown, executive director of the Blowing Rock TDA, has been working in the tourism industry in Blowing Rock for the past 25 years.

Arriving in the High Country from Burlington to attend Appalachian State in the ‘80s, Brown’s first taste of the industry was working for the Southeastern Ski Areas Association with Grady and Reba Moretz, owners of Appalachian Ski Mountain.

“I couldn’t have asked for better teachers,” Brown said. He later moved on to working public relations with Harry and Spencer Robbins at Tweetsie Railroad, another iconic family and attraction.

“I’ve had a unique and wonderful opportunity to learn from the real developers of tourism in this region,” Brown said. “To look back and know that I’ve been able to work with people like Hugh Morton, Peggy Sellars, Dick Trundy, Bill Hensley or Stanley Tanger reminds me of how blessed I’ve been here.”

Brown said it’s a “fun” business, the hospitality industry: “People on a leisure trip are looking to have fun, so half of our job is done by the time visitors get here. All we need to do is point them in the right direction.”

In sharing Blowing Rock with the rest of the world, Brown said he’s had the opportunity to meet some pretty fantastic people and see some incredible sights around the country.

“Many of my friends from back in Burlington say I have the best gig in the world and will ask ‘...and you get paid for that?’ I just tell them yup, but it is hard work having this much fun,” Brown said 24

High Country Magazine

For this fiscal year ’17Parking deck at BRAHM 18, local TDAs have the following budgets: Seven Devils ($105,000), Banner Elk ($150,500), Sugar Mountain ($259,146), Beech Mountain ($376,954), Blowing Rock ($955,141), Boone ($1,400,400) and Watauga County ($1,651,345).

Note that some of these budgets include TDA funds carried over or saved from previous budget cycles in addition to the projected amount of occupancy tax to be collected.

By law, proceeds from the occupancy tax must go toward tourism-related expenditures. At least twoLower parking deck near American Legion thirds of the occupancy tax collected must be spent on advertising and marketing the area; this line item, which also includes administration expenses, has funded collective media buys between various TDAs in the region and individual promotional campaigns such as Banner Elk’s recent Parking deck near American Legion brand overhaul: Escape.

Unwind. Indulge.

The Blowing Rock TDA Atlanta, for example, is was the funding mecha big regional feeder maranism for the unobtruket. Some of the major insive parking decks in state feeder markets for Blowing Rock. The TDA the TDAs are Charlotte, has contributed more the Piedmont and Raleigh. than $1 million toward Tilley said when it’s hot parking facilities and down the mountain, they’ll also the land that BRAHM sits on. The TDA also funded the advertise the cool summer electronic, information kiosks that operate 24 hours a day. weather in the mountains, and when the temperature has dropped low enough to make snow, Country. This, he noted, will be advantathey’ll advertise skiing conditions in the geous when the economy goes through winter. While the local TDAs will go in on another downturn, and people tighten national media buys, Tilley noted that the their wallets to visit places within a short Watauga/Boone TDA focuses on about drive.

TDAs are also allowed to spend the a 4-to-5-hour radius around the High

“Lots of folks come up here, they want to escape the traffic, escape the heat, see snow in the winter and do things here they can’t do back in the Piedmont or southern climes.

Outdoor adventure is our biggest draw.”

August / September 2017

Tracy Brown, executive director of the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority

Blowing Rock TDA he Blowing Rock TDA levies an occupancy tax on 924 rooms, according to Tracy Brown, executive director of the Blowing Rock TDA. This represents 536 rooms in 21 hotels; 100 condos for 185 rooms in Chetola Resort; 19 Airbnb units; and 8 vacation-rental companies managing 203 properties.

The Blowing Rock TDA’s infrastructure expenses include unobtrusive parking decks, streetscapes and digital kiosks that visitors can engage with to find information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The TDA also funded public Wi-Fi in Blowing Rock. The TDA funded the land that the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum sits on, and it continues to fund the Middle Fork Greenway. This past budget cycle includes a $75,000 line item to the greenway.

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High Country Magazine

25

Local TDAs ‘Tickled To Death’ To Collaborate W

hen someone visits the High Country, they don’t notice the boundaries of the municipalities, which Tourism Development Authorities operate within. No, they just want to have fun.

Visitors to the area rarely shop, play, dine and stay in one district. They might go shopping in downtown Boone, hit the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blowing Rock, sip some wine at the Grandfather Vineyards and Winery in Foscoe, and float along the Toe River with a craft beer from Blind Squirrel Brewery in Plumtree.

Because of this, all of the Tourism Development Authorities in the High Country must work together to make sure visitors enjoy their stay.

“We have to look at the bigger picture.

It’s not about competing with [the other towns]. It’s about how can we bring more people here because when we do that the rising tide floats all boats,” said Tracy Brown, executive director of the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority.

For example, Brown noted that when the Highland Games were held at Grandfather Mountain this past July, the Blowing Rock TDA was “tickled to death” to help promote the internationally-known event for Avery County, Linville and the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.

“We are not in Linville,” Brown said. “But we do sell a lot of hotel rooms and a lot of meals, and see a lot of kilts walking up and down Main Street on that Saturday and Sunday.”

Currently, the Middle Fork Greenway is being built. This 6.5-mile multi-use trail will connect Boone and Blowing Rock and also the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Watauga County, Boone and Blowing Rock have all given significant funds for this project.

TDAs also frequently collaborate on national media buys that would be too expensive for one small town to fund. These advertising spreads feature several of the coolest places to visit in the High Country – not just things to do in a single locale.

“Not only does it lower all of our costs,” Wright Tilley, executive director of the Boone/Watauga County TDAs, said, “but the consumer is like ‘Wow. Look at all of these places right here together.”

Banner Elk TDA T

he Banner Elk TDA has a budget of $150,500 for the 2017-18 fiscal year.

Like other TDAs in the High Country, two-thirds of that is for marketing and the other third is for tourism-related infrastructure.

The biggest capital expenditure in the past is brick sidewalks throughout downtown Banner Elk. Currently, Banner Elk TDA is allocating more funds to expand sidewalks beyond the caboose on Shawneehaw Avenue. The town’s greenway trail will also be modified.

The Banner Elk TDA opens grant application requests for individuals and organizations to help “put heads” in Banner Elk beds, according to TDA Director Nancy Owen. Funds have been given for Wildcat Lake improvements, the Ensemble Stage, the Summer Theatre at Lees-McRae College, the Woolly Worm Festival, the Cycle4Life Bike Park beside Banner Elk School and more.

Brick Sidewalks

Historic Banner Elk School

Ensemble Stage Company 26

High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

Cycle4Life Bike Park

New Artist Gallery

“Not only does it lower all of our costs but the consumer is like ‘Wow. Look at all of these places right here together.�

CARLTON GALLERY 1SZSP`ObW\U !#GSO`a

Wright Tilley, executive director of the Boone/Watauga County TDAs, on collective media buys. remaining 1/3 on tourism-related capital expenditures, although that’s not required.

How is a tourism-related capital expenditure defined? Well, Tilley said that the legislation was intentionally written to give local boards the opportunity to interpret what is tourism related in their communities: “It varies. The big thing on the coast is beach nourishment. Is that tourism related or not? I think it is because if the beach went away [so would tourists].�

TDAs in the High Country have spent the portion of tourism-related expenditures on smaller line items like Fourth of July fireworks, weekly summer movies and concerts, festival support and holiday decorations to major infrastructure projects like the sidewalks through Banner Elk, Otter Falls Park in Seven Devils, parking decks in downtown Blowing Rock, river access parks in rural Watauga County and Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park near Boone.

State law requires that the TDA board be comprised primarily of members that promote tourism and travel and those affiliated with organizations that collect the occupancy tax. Half must be in the business of promoting the region and one-third of the members must represent the hotels and short-term rental agencies.

While the local town council or county commission appoints its TDA board members, some boards also include an elected official such as Councilwoman Lynne Mason in Boone or Councilman Doug Matheson in Blowing Rock or other wellknown members of the community such Matt Vincent, owner of VPC Builders, on the Watauga County TDA. The Beech Mountain TDA board, for example, consists of Brian Barnes, general manager at Beech Mountain Club; Judy Decker, general manager at Pinnacle Inn Resort Rentals and Sales Inc.; Carl Marquardt, staff at The Accommodations Center and Beech Mountain Club; Calder Smoot, general manager at Four Seasons at Beech Mountain; and Larry Watren of White Wolf Lodge.

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Across the Banner Elk “What makes residents love Beech Mountain Country like Beech Mountain, Banner Elk, Foscoe valley, the Sugar Mountain also make visitors come here – Sometimes and Linville. “We’re easy to TDA board is comprised of Jim Fitzpatrick of Peak Real tourism goals are also goals for a great quality get to and centrally located to shopping, grocery stores Estate; Janet Anderson of of life for residents.” and restaurants,” Fitzpatrick Resort Real Estate & Rentsaid. “Sugar Mountain is the als; Sam Semple of Dereka’s – Kate Gavenus, Director of Tourism at Beech Mountain center of the universe.”

Sugar Mountain Ski AccomOne thread that runs modations; Nathan Paris, a “I firmly believe in a strong tourism through the TDAs in the High Country – resident of Sugar Mountain; and Melanie program,” Fitzpatrick said. “The longand likely elsewhere – is long-term planJochl of Sugar Mountain Resort. As you term plan is to continue to improve infraning. Whenever Kate Gavenus was hired can see, the boards primarily consist of structure on Sugar Mountain and to conon as the director of tourism and economrepresentatives of lodging companies and tinue to provide events that draw people ic development atop Beech Mountain less attractions. to Sugar Mountain.” than three years ago, one of her first tasks Fitzpatrick is the chair of the Sugar Fitzpatrick noted that people come to was writing a planning document, TDA Mountain TDA. He’s a broker/co-owner Sugar Mountain to hike, bike, ski at Sugar Goals (2015-2020). About a dozen items at Peak Real Estate, which developed the Mountain Resort, play golf and tennis, enare on the list and include completing a Reserve at Sugar Mountain, a community joy summer concerts, experience the elevawalking corridor across the commercial of condos with spectacular views of the tion above 5,000 feet and more. He touted district and linking the Beech Mountain surrounding High Country. He’s lived in Sugar Mountain’s location has centrally Bark Park and Beech Mountain Resort; the region for three decades, including 10 located to several other towns in the High extend pavement throughout the entire years on Sugar Mountain.

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Pinnacle Inn Resort has 242 units of which 160 are rental units

Beech Mountain TDA T

he Beech Mountain TDA has collected about $250,000 in occupancy tax from nearly 800 units the past couple years. While Beech Mountain is known for its mile-high elevation and ski resort, it’s also becoming known for weddings. Kate Gavenus, director of tourism and economic development, noted that the Overlook Barn helps to drive in hundreds of weekend visitors for a big wedding.

“We have such a good number of occupancy tax units. That does help us quite a bit,” Gavenus said. “The Overlook Barn, they’ve brought in a huge amount of [occupancy tax] revenue the last two year’s they’ve been up-andrunning. We’ve been getting a lot of wedding visits – not just ski season.”

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High Country Magazine

29

Buckeye Creek Road to increase tourism west of town; and create a 20/20 vision committee with younger people that aims for Beech Mountain, which has an average-aged population of nearly 60, to attract and retain a younger population.

“It was a really neat process,” Gavenus said of the latter line item. “What makes residents love Beech Mountain also make visitors come here – great hiking paths and trails and lakes to go fishing. You can go to Buckeye Lake and borrow a boat. Residents love them, and it also brings in visitors.

Sometimes tourism goals are also goals for a great quality of life for residents.”

This goes for the parking decks in

Blowing Rock, the Middle Fork Greenway trail linking Boone and Blowing Rock that is currently under construction, the pathways created from Sugar Mountain Resort ski slopes to other amenities and the Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park, for just a few examples. None of those examples happened right away. Some took years to establish but are paying dividends today.

Just outside of Boone on U.S. 421, the Rocky Knob Mountain Bike project came out of the inaugural Outdoor Recreation Summit in 2010, which the TDA hosted and continues to sponsor annually. The High Country was already known for its road cycling because of the Tour DuPont,

which featured high-profile European teams and elite domestic talent like Lance Armstrong and Greg LeMond racing to the top of Beech Mountain in the ‘90s. But surprisingly, the High Country had no legal mountain biking trails up until several years ago. Local bike shop owners used to send customers seeking mountain biking adventures off the mountain.

After learning of this, Tilley said the Watauga County TDA decided to prioritize this bike park project, and instead of spending that 1/3 of tourism-related capital expenditures each year, they parked that money aside for a couple years and leveraged those funds to obtain a $500,000 grant

Seven Devils...

From nature lovers to adrenaline junkies, there is a year-round calendar of events.

Seven Devils is located across the valley from, and within minutes of Grandfather Mountain. Our High Country lifestyle offers many attractions. Cast your lure for fishing that’s so grand you won’t have to exaggerate.

Ride a horse through lush forests or listen to mountain folk stories around a campfire. Local outfitters offer caving expeditions and rafting trips down nearby rivers.

Take a leisurely stroll and picnic on a mountaintop, hike challenging trails to majestic waterfalls or play a game of tennis on our courts. Join Seven Devils Resort Club and enjoy their club house and lake. If golf is your game, there are several public and private courses with varying degrees of challenge within just a few miles of Seven Devils. And, for adrenaline junkies, the longest snowtubing park and zipline course on the east coast is at Hawksnest, located right on Seven Devils.

Family entertainment is ever-present at the many local festivals, scenic attractions, live theater, craft fairs and outdoor concerts. Breathe in the fresh mountain air while cycling on the Blue Ridge Parkway or get behind the wheel and drive the quiet backroads to discover general stores, historic churches and local flea markets.

Explore nearby High Country mountains, lakes, streams, cliffs and trails all year long. Choose your season. How you enjoy them is up to you.

Over the years, the many small towns surrounding Seven Devils have become a shopping haven.

Stroll the eclectic and inviting shops and galleries in the the nearby area. Find great buys at our outlet stores and festivals. Join antique seekers who rub shoulders with craft lovers seeking out local pottery and art, some in working studios. Old time general stores carry sweets and wares that will take you back to forgotten times. At every turn in the road you will find reasons to fill your shopping bags with the distinctive signatures of the mountains.

Some, absolutely, come for the shopping.

That’s why some come for the seasons.

in the midst of it all!

Our area has become a destination for fine dining.

Accommodations for every taste... for a weekend or a season.

Our area has attracted some of the most eclectic and creative chefs in the country. From bistro food and fine dining to sidewalk cafes and barbeque joints, there’s plenty to try. Sample them all while you’re here. From traditional home cooking to Appalachian signature dishes, you won’t leave hungry!

From condos, to chalets, to mountain homes and log cabins, you will find private and comfortable lodgings suitable for a weekend getaway for two or a ski trip for several at Seven Devils. Here, sitting on the porch and enjoying the view is a way of life. Wise buyers, taking advantage of the mountain real estate boom, have been seeking out the area for years for investment and retirement. Seven Devils offers many opportunities and prime choices.

For a vacation, second home, a rental property or a lifetime commitment to the area, Seven Devils steps back in time as a peaceful place in history and forward in time to future growth. Visit our Website for a complete listing of our lodging partners.

That’s why some come for the food.

Some come to visit, while others come to stay!

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even Devils’ TDA budget for the upcoming year is $105,000. According to Seven Devils Town Manager Debbie Powers, the TDA collects occupancy tax from 93 units. TDA funds have been used to support the “The Hawk – 7K@7D” race, Music and Movie on the Lawn, annual SafetyFest, a town playground, town tennis and pickleball courts, holiday decorations and special donations to Grandfather Mountain State Park, Horn in the West, LMC Summer Theatre and the Special Olympics, among others.

Perhaps, the biggest project funded by the TDA is the Otter Falls Park, a 10-acre park with hiking trails and a small waterfall. To fund this park, TDA funds were leveraged to receive NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and The Conservation Fund grants.

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High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

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“We want them to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. That’s what we are aiming for.”

Banner Elk TDA Director Nancy Owen, speaking to the town’s “Escape, Unwind & Indulge” mantra from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. The funds were used to purchase the property, and thousands of volunteer hours from Boone Area Cyclists dramatically cut down on construction costs.

The 185-acre Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park opened in 2013, and today, the High Country is a top mountain biking destination in the Southeast. And it’s in

Streetlights

our own backyard!

“It was a great success, and there were a lot of people who didn’t think that it would do what it has done,” Tilley said. “The plus side of that is it’s a great benefit for the community as far as quality of life and economic development. It also has a tourism component as well, so it’s kind of a win-win.” t

Greenway Boardwalk

Sugar Mountain TDA T

he Sugar Mountain TDA has a budget of nearly $260,000 for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Of that amount, $225,000 comes from occupancy tax revenues. According to TDA Coordinator Tammy Floyd, Sugar Mountain has an estimated 100 units.

In recent years, the Sugar Mountain TDA has added overhead streetlights and extended its greenway for skiers and other visitors to the area to safely navigate the mountain. The next couple years, the TDA is focusing on enhancing tennis courts and continuing to offer great golfing opportunities and local events.

“The long-term plan is to continue to improve infrastructure on Sugar Mountain and to continue to provide events that draw people to Sugar Mountain,” TDA Chair Jim Fitzpatrick said.

Sugar Mountain Skiing

Sugar Mountain Tennis 32

High Country Magazine

Sugar Mountain Golf August / September 2017

No County Occupancy Tax for Avery

U

nlike neighboring Watauga County, Avery County doesn’t have a TDA and doesn’t collect an occupancy tax. Several municipalities in Avery County operate TDAs and collect a 6 percent occupancy tax such as Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Seven Devils and Sugar Mountain. These are more of your resort towns in Avery County.

While authorized by the N.C. General Assembly to do so, the smaller municipalities in Avery County such as Newland, Elk Park, Crossnore and others don’t have a TDA. Newland, for example, doesn’t have any big hotels and the one inn there only has about 15 rooms, according to Newland Town Manager Keith Hoilman. It just doesn’t make much sense for these municipalities to go through the trouble of managing a TDA. Avery County government also doesn’t operate a TDA or collect occupancy tax either, but it did at one time. In 2001, the N.C. General Assembly, at the request of Avery County Board of Commissioners, repealed the county’s authorization to levy a tax on short-term rentals. At the time, Avery County was levying a 3 percent tax and collected about $150,000 in ’98-99. One-third of those revenues came from Banner Elk, but it’s not clear if any of that revenue came from Beech Mountain rentals, too.

According a 2001 report from the N.C. General Assembly’s research division, “Therefore, the bill costs the county the ability to access up to approximately $150,000 per year should they choose to levy the tax. Current data suggests that approximately $47,000 of the $149,000 collected in 1998-99 was drawn from Banner Elk.” Kenny Poteat, who served on the Avery County Board of Commissioners for two decades, said that the board did away with the occupancy tax because of “politics as usual.”

“It was a certain group of commissioners that particular year who were in control. They had a three-vote margin and they decided, one of them was a motel owner, they decided to do away with it,” Poteat said. “I am pretty sure it was a 3-2 vote. It passed anyway to revoke that tax.”

Avery County’s constituency is historically at least 75 percent Republican, and I’ve been told all the commissioners have been Republican since the county was formed. The conservative ethos doesn’t jive with taxes. And the hotel tax, as the occupancy tax is sometimes called, was seen as just another damn tax on the people.

“What you say is correct,” Poteat said, “and that it would deter the amount of tourism and that type of thing. My personal opinion is that was foolish. Do you call Myrtle Beach and see what the tax is before you go?”

August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

33

STORY BY KATIE BENFIELD have to be sent to residential placements off the mountain and separated from their families. Also around this time, Governor Jim Hunt decided to create the Governor’s One-on-One mentoring program to increase volunteerism and decrease juvenile court involvement. This was Western Youth Network’s very first grant.

According to Grasinger, eventually the grant dissipated, but Western Youth Network worked through the cuts and continued program expansion to provide youth throughout the High Country with the services, support and encouragement that was, and still is, needed.

The Mentoring Program was the flagship program for Western Youth Network, but the organization has developed several different programs over the years in addition to the mentoring initiative.

There are two different kinds of mentorships through the Mentoring Program – Community-Based and In-School Mentoring. Along with this, Western Youth Network also has its After School Program, Summer Program and Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative.

In 2016, Western Youth Network’s Mentoring Program served 115 children with 39 children on the waiting list. Out

Photo by Tara Diamond

Photo by Tara Diamond

W

estern Youth Network has been renowned throughout the community for some time now, but what exactly is this nonprofit organization?

What is its purpose and what does it do?

“Western Youth Network serves the whole child,” Charlene Grasinger, Mentoring Program Coordinator of Western Youth Network, said. “We connect the entire community to allow youth the opportunity to grow and explore their passions.”

Western Youth Network began in 1985 when a group of local citizens decided there needed to be more preventative services for youth so that kids didn’t

34

In 2016, Western Youth Network had 93 community-based mentoring clients and 22 in-school mentoring clients that H i g h received C o u n t services ry Mag a z i n ethe Mentoring August / September through Program.2017

Youth of any and all kinds are involved in the programs through Western Youth Network.

“With middle school being an awkward time, but a most crucial time socially, we do a lot of team building games,” Maggie Clay, After School/Summer Program Coordinator, said, “so the youth are able to connect with their peers and increase their social skills.” of the 115 matches, 26 wrapped up their relationships, 54% of these matches were together over a year and 85% of the matches reported that their relationship was successful, a high success rate that is above national standards.

Western Youth Network hopes to continuously increase these numbers and percentages with the help of the community.

An increase in these numbers means an in-

crease in community involvement and an increase in the amount of youth that are being helped and supported in a way that will impact them for the rest of their lives.

When Stress Becomes More Than Just Stress

At times throughout Western Youth Network’s history, children and teens involved in its programs have gotten the un-

earned reputation of being “bad kids.”

“As a society, we really need to get over this notion of the ‘bad kid’,” Jennifer Warren, Executive Director of Western Youth Network, said. “There are kids that have been in bad circumstances that lead to behaviors that are less than desirable.”

Toxic stress can be understood as something that happens when a child continuously experiences a stressful situation

In 2016, the Summer Program served 36 children in the High Country, resulting in 700 healthy snacks given, 5,000 transported miles and 4,250 hours of physical activity.

August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

35

Left to Right: Maggie Clay, Madison Miller (Counselor in Training), Molly Campell (Intern), Lauren Camacho, John Marion (Intern), Kiersten Kleene, Jonah Yates (Counselor in Training); The staff of Western Youth Network strive toward creating a safe and nurturing environment for all the youth involved in the programs, while also taking the time to have fun with them and provide an enjoyable atmosphere. ing and they might act out,” Warren without the guidance, support and said. “All those things that we usuhelp of a caregiver. ally chalk up to ‘bad behavior’ or “Stress is stress. Stress becomes the child being a ‘bad kid’ are most toxic when it is repeated and there likely just manifestations of toxic isn’t a caregiver there to help the stress.’” child through it,” Warren said. “It’s Warren is correct in stating just being in this constant state of that, as a society, we need to get anxiety – maybe it’s due to a natural past the idea and mindset of what disaster or due to the uncertainty of a ‘bad kid’ is. where your food is going to come “All the kids need somebody,” from. Anything that keeps the child Butch Butler, a mentor through in an elevated state and keeps going Western Youth Network for going – that’s when it becomes toxic.” on almost five years, said. “People This notion of toxic stress can The Western Youth Network Center is where the After School occur from any kind of adverse situ- Program, Summer Program and mentoring services operate through. need to realize that none of these kids are ‘bad kids.’ They are just in ation, whether it’s lack of food, dosome tough situations.” mestic or sexual violence or abuse, Research shows that negative parents who have mental illnesses, behaviors result from a child expesubstance abuse, natural disasters or riencing something without someanything that makes the child live one there to help them through it. in uncertainty, a heightened state of “Things have happened to kids anxiety or with a feeling of being that they can’t control,” Warren unloved and unsupported. It can said, “and them acting out and bebe defined as any situation that inhaving these ways makes sense with volves abuse, neglect or household what they have been through.” dysfunction without the nurturance According to Butler, when he and support of a stable caregiver. was matched with his mentee who “It’s experiencing troubling was seven years old at the time, the events or a series of troubling child had already experienced mulevents, and a key defining factor is The staff at Western Youth Network constantly tries to improve the tiple traumatic events. the absence of a nurturing caregivprograms through the organization while also working on providing “I hear them talk about traumater,” Warren said. services for as many youth in the community as possible. ic events and what the odds are of According to Warren, the rethese events causing the children to search states that being a victim of toxic stress can actually rewire the child’s brain. In turn, this resort to substance abuse and crime,” Butler said, “and at seven years old, my mentee had already seen a lot.” makes them more impulsive and unable to use rational thought.

Studies have shown that children who experience adverse child“It serves to explain the kind of behaviors that we see in kids.

Academically, they might have trouble sitting still or concentrat- hood experiences and toxic stress are more likely to have social, 36

High Country Magazine

August / September 2017

emotional and cognitive impairment, adoption of health-risk behaviors, disease, disability, social problems and even early death.

“Some of these kids, you know, they don’t know what they’re going home to,” Hanes Boren, Member of the Advisory Board for Western Youth Network, said.

“When you talk to some of these kids, and you listen to what they’ve been through, it brings tears to your eyes.”

That is what makes Western Youth Network so important for youth.

“We get a wide range of at-risk to mainstream kids, but all go through different struggles daily. We are a trauma-informed organization, and with how empathetic our staff is towards these kids, I believe that is why the programs change so many lives,” Maggie Clay, After School/Summer Program Coordinator for Western Youth Network, said. “Our staff is so strong at collaborating to work towards the positive growth in these kids.”

Western Youth Network, through the Mentoring Program, as well as the After School, Summer and Substance Abuse Programs, strives to help assist, support and encourage those children who may not have the role models or support systems in other aspects of their lives to decrease the negative effects of toxic stress that children can often experience.

“Mentors can do so much to reverse the impacts of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress,” Warren said. “We want to get kids as early as possible and give them what they need so that they don’t get into a bad position. Kids need caring adults and a safe place to be able to overcome toxic stress and to be able to reach their potential. Western Youth Network provides that for kids.”

Jennifer Warren, Executive Director of Western Youth Network, feels it is necessary for society as a whole to get past this notion of the “bad kid.”

Charlene Grasinger, Mentoring Program Coordinator, works with staff to continue to meet the needs of every youth involved with Western Youth Network.

Prevention is Key

Because toxic stress can result in substance abuse, Western Youth Network has a Prevention Program through which it, along with other community-based organizations, uses the 3 “A’s” approach: awareness, advocacy and action.

Western Youth Network has numerous partnerships in the community with law enforcement, mental health practitioners, academic sectors, health departments and so many more in order to extend a hand in the Prevention Program to help work in a “I wanted to work with those youth that had been labeled the trouble makers, had academic failures, went home to an empty house because their parents had to work or that kid that just needed someone to show them love and affection,” Grasinger said.

August / September 2017

High Country Magazine

37

Western Youth Network

history

• 1985 (February) – Watauga Youth Network (WYN) is formed. Gayle Comb is the first Executive Director and Marion Durham is the first Board Chair.

• 1985 (May) – WYN, housed at New River Mental Health, receives the Governor’s One-on-One Grant to rund the first “Friends” Program – a mentoring program for court ordered youth.

• 1987 – WYN’s second program, “The Youth Resource Center” (After School located on Old Bristol Road is added along with the WYN Summer Program to serve at-risk and court-involved youth.

• 1989 – Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Program (YSAP) is established as a county-wide substance abuse prevention program for Watauga County youth.

• 1989 – WYN offices move from New River Mental Health to a storefront on Howard St. • 1990 – The Board of Directors begin an intensive $300,000 campaign to renovate and occupy the Old Junaluska School (Originally built in 1960 as Watauga County’s segregated school).

• 2006 – Jennifer Warren becomes Executive Director.

• 2009 – WYN loses the Governor’s One-on-One, and Support our Students grants, which results in the loss of over $125,000.

• 2010 – WYN loses the Safe and Drug Free Schools grant, which was over $100,000.

• 2012 – WYN hires a Director of Development.

• 2014 – The WYN Legacy Fund was established by an anonymous donor.

• 2014 – The WYN Mentoring Program expands to Avery County.

• 2014 – WYN begins remodeling the Junaluska property with grant funding provided by The Clabough Foundation and The Glass Foundation.

• 2014 – WYN hosts inaugural Wish Upon a Star Gala at Blowing Rock Country Club.

• 2015 – WYN celebrated 30th Anniversary.

• 2015 – WYN pilots a school-based mentoring program.

Western Youth Network

future

• WYN anticipates expanding services to elementary and high school populations as well as continuing to expand our programs to other counties.

• Implement a counseling program as well as an integrated wellness initiative.

• Explore a snow day program.

• Implement a vocational exploration component to our programs.

• Create more opportunities for evening and weekend activities for youth.

• Create a post-secondary education scholarship fund.

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High Country Magazine

2011–2012: $466,476 2012–2013: $414,492 2013–2014: $563,990 2014–2015: $583,503 August / September 2017

proactive manner and prevent substance abuse by youth.

Through these partnerships and cooperations, the access and availability of alcohol and drugs is severely decreased for youth in our community. Along with this, the attitudes and perceptions of alcohol and drugs in the community are constantly being changed in order to decrease the likelihood that a youth will become involved with this substance abuse.

These implemented strategies have been proven to succeed in decreasing substance abuse both with youth and adults within the community, as well as constantly improving the overall environment that comes with being proactive and preventative in regards to substance abuse.

Western Youth Network uses the Prevention Program to constantly encourage and support youth in the community to make healthy and well-informed decisions while also improving the family, school and community environments that will reinforce these ideas of substance abuse.

A Crucial Time for Impact

Every weekday during the academic year from 3:00-6:00 p.m., Western Youth Network offers a safe and nurturing space for youth through its After School Program.

Starting in early September, youth are picked up and transported from their schools to the Western Youth Network Center at 2:30 p.m. where they stay until they are either picked up or transported to their homes.

“Transportation is a big key with our program because we are able to serve those who do not have the funds, or whatever the situation is, to be involved in the activities that Western Youth Network provides,” Maggie Clay, After School/Summer Program Coordinator, said.

The After School Program not only offers students in Watauga County the chance to receive extra help through tutoring, but it also provides every student with the opportunity to interact and build relationships with peers both from their own schools and other schools throughout the county. Along with this, youth involved in the program are able to receive access to healthy food and physical activity.

In 2016, 4,025 snacks were served to children in the After School Program with 8,000 hours of physical activity and 2,000 hours of tutoring. Those numbers made an incredible and tangible difference in the lives of 75 kids throughout 2016, resulting in an improvement in behaviors, self-esteem, academics and relationships.

“The After School Program is a safe environment for youth after school during that crucial time period of 3:00-5:00 p.m.,” Clay said. “We provide a ton of consistency in their

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The Summer Program works toward keeping youth in the community active and healthy through various activities, such as hiking, rafting, tubing, kayaking and visiting places such as Wildcat Lake.

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High Country Magazine

lives with homework and helping give them all the tools to success.”

When youth arrive at Western Youth Network for the After School Program, it’s usually around 3:30 p.m. They spend the next 30 minutes utilizing free time before an hour of homework and tutoring.

Once that is over, a structured activity is then set into motion.

“With middle school being an awkward time, but most crucial time socially, we do a lot of team building games,” Clay said, “so the youth are able to connect with their peers and increase their social skills.”

Clay stated that the After School Program keeps in contact with teachers and guidance counselors, other agencies involved with the youth and with the parents in order to ensure that everyone at Western Youth Network can work towards meeting the child’s needs.

Along with this, the After School Program also provides a tennis program with the USTA, Art at the Turchin Center, Music Therapy at ASU, a meal with the Hunger and Health Coalition at the Western Watauga Library, Yoga from a staff member at Neighborhood Yoga, volunteer opportunities and so much more as resources for the youth involved.

Western Youth Network also has a Summer Program, a Monday-Thursday summer day camp, through which youth can experience the High Country in a different way.

Each youth involved in the summer camp is encouraged to challenge him or herself

August / September 2017

through adventurous activities while also interacting with peers their own age and from a variety of different schools.

The Summer Program lasts six weeks; the first week of summer camp was spent having a film documentary week at Appalachian State University with the Sociology and Film Departments to help the kids learn production and technological skills.

There is also the opportunity for campers to go to Buffalo Cove in Deep Gap for four days to learn primitive survival skills, according to Clay.

When this retreat is over, campers return for the remaining five weeks. A day at the summer camp begins at 8 a.m., with the group leaving for its adventure around 9:00 and then returning to Western Youth Network Center around 3:00 p.m.

“Summer camp is so crucial to these kids because we provide a safe and therapeutic environment,” Clay said, “ and give

From left to right: Maggie Clay, Pat Armendariz, Meredith McDonough and Kiersten Kleene

Once a year, the youth involved in the Summer Program take a trip to Sandi Solomon’s house where she has a park for all the children to play in. The park has multiple activities, including a volleyball court, a basketball court, horseshoes and fishing and swimming.

Solomon says, “I think the Summer Program is a fantastic thing. It gives the kids somewhere to go. They have each other, and they always seem to have a great time with one another.

The kids are really appreciative. They get to know each other and talk about things.” them opportunities that they normally would not have in their daily lives to reach their full potential.”

Once a year, the youth involved in the Summer Program take a trip to Sandi Solomon’s house where she has a park for all the children to play in. The park has multiple activities, including a volleyball court, a basketball court, horseshoes and fishing and swimming.

Solomon, a big-hearted, generous and loving community member, has been involved with Western Youth Network for ten years, providing support and helping the

organization out where and when she can.

“I think the Summer Program is a fantastic thing. It gives the kids somewhere to go,” Solomon said. “They have each other, and they always seem to have a great time with one another.”

During the youths’ visit to Solomon’s house, the group plays what Solomon referred to as a color war. Upon arrival, youth choose from red or blue bandanas.

The color they get designates which team they are on. They play all sorts of games, such as tug-of-war against one another.

“The kids are really appreciative, and

they have a great time,” Solomon said.

“They get to know each other and talk about things.”

Since her involvement with Western Youth Network through inviting the Summer Program youth to visit her park, Solomon’s work with the organization has expanded.

“She now underwrites the cost for our Summer Program participants to see a live play at the Lees-McRae College and also get a backstage tour,” Jennifer Warren, Executive Director of Western Youth Network, said. “She also loves to give dance demon-

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The end of the Summer Program Talent Show through Western Youth Network took place on Thursday, July 27, allowed youth involved with the organization to show off their skills and feel good about the things that they can do. Photos by Ken Ketchie strations for our participants each year.”

With the involvement of Sandi Solomon and other community members and staff at Western Youth Network, the Summer Program continues to strive towards its goals year after year.

The Summer Program works toward keeping youth in the community active and healthy and continues to push them outside of their comfort zone through activities such as hiking, tubing, kayaking, rafting and visiting places like Wildcat Lake and Alpine Tower.

“The effect I always see with our adventures is it builds leaders, confidence, social skills and creativity,” Clay said.

“Western Youth Network is like a family to these kids and they push themselves during our adventures and see sides of themselves that they didn’t know existed because they were never given the opportunity.”

In 2016, 4,250 hours of physical activity kept children in our community active and interactive with one another and staff at Western Youth Network through the Summer Program.

The After School Program accepts any 6th-8th graders and the Summer Program accepts rising 6th to rising 9th graders.

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High Country Magazine

The Summer Program has a maximum capacity of 35 youth.

“Programs through Western Youth Network are so important for youth because we combine our passion and creative side with offering opportunities and a safe environment,” Clay said. “Being mindful of the fact that middle school is a crucial time for students both socially and developmentally, I am honored to be a part of the safe and enriching environment that Western Youth Network provides.”

Western Youth Network provides this safe and enriching environment not only through the After School and Summer Programs, but also through the wide-ranging and in-depth mentoring programs that the organization uses to continue to impact the lives of youth in our community.

What is a Mentor?

Charlene Grasinger, Mentoring Program Coordinator, had a background in education when she came upon Western Youth Network nestled right here in the mountains of Boone.

“My background is in education, and I love working with youth,” Grasinger said. “I wanted to work with those youth

August / September 2017

that were labeled the trouble makers, had academic failures, went home to an empty house because their parents had to work or that kid that just needed someone to show them love and affection.”

Western Youth Network provided Grasinger with just that opportunity.

“Not only was I able to work with these kids, but I was assigned a job that assured I was providing those kids with the greatest resource of all – a loving, consistent friend,” Grasinger said.

Grasinger is currently the Mentoring Program Coordinator, meaning that not only is she a loving, consistent friend to a youth within the community (as a mentor herself), but she also helps people within the community extend that same care to other youth throughout the High Country.

Becoming a mentor through Western Youth Network is no small commitment.

Being a mentor includes spending time with a child, your mentee, that is matched with you for 2 hours a week for an entire year.

This may sound like a lot of time spent mentoring, but it never actually feels that way. Mentoring a local youth is a joyful, fun and exciting experience, as you are able to provide an at-risk youth with the

BLAIR FRALEY sales store “Programs through Western Youth Network are so important for youth because we combine our passion and creative side with offering opportunities and a safe environment,” Clay said. kind of support and encouragement that they need. The benefits that come from this commitment are astounding.

“Mentoring is one of the few practices that is research and evidence-based that shows reduction in the effects of adverse childhood experiences, decreased poverty and increased academic achievements,” Grasinger said. “By providing a youth with a positive, caring and consistent adult, the youth are able to navigate challenging situations and find more resources for success because they have a role model to show them the way and to talk to about those challenges.”

According to Grasinger, there are two sides to the mentoring program. On one side, there are the volunteers. This is the area of the program where Western Youth Network recruits, trains and prepares volunteers to be matched with a youth in the community. The other contains the youth.

“Youth can be referred to our program from almost any outside source,” Grasinger said. “Generally, those sources are school affiliated – teachers, counselors and social workers – but we also have a lot of other referral agencies like DSS, Juvenile Justice and other health agencies.”

However, with this being said, a referral for a youth to be a part of the Western Youth Network mentoring program can be made by anyone, as long as there is parental permission.

Once a referral is made, Western Youth Network will then make a home visit to meet with parents to sign paperwork and to interview the child to get a better understanding of that youth’s personality and interests. After this is done, Western Youth Net-

Blair Fraley Sales Store, the largest thrift store in the High Country, is the place to find gently used clothing, jewelry, household goods, children’s clothing, and books.

Donations are accepted daily, and pick-ups can be arranged within a 100-mile radius.

Stop by and see us today!

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The After School and Summer Programs keep youth in the community active and healthy, while also promoting good social skills and peer supports.

August / September 2017

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cusing on activities that coinwork works hard at finding cide with the youth’s interest, the perfect mentor to match and the organization also emwith the youth. phasizes that activities should “We don’t have a formula be inexpensive or free. Befor matching them, but we ing a mentor shouldn’t cost base it off of the interviews money. and interactions with youth Some things that mentors and volunteers,” Grasinger often do with their mentsaid. ees involve hiking, playing To become a mentor, one games, doing crafts, kayaksimply has to be 18 years of ing, bowling, horseback ridage or older and have a clean ing and so much more. The record, including limited mopossibilities are endless, and tor vehicle accidents. They they vary based on what each are required to fill out an mentor’s youth is interested application, which is availVolunteering for Western Youth Network isn’t just about getting in those service in, as well as the age of each able on the Western Youth hours or becoming more involved in the community. Volunteering with this mentee.

Network website, come in organization is truly changing a life. Photo by Tara Diamond Youth involved in the for a brief interview, have a mentoring program can range reference check, pass a backtor out to meet the youth and the youth’s from anywhere between 6 ground check and attend a family. This is when the process transfers and 17 years of age. mentor training.

“It’s really any kind of kid that you can “The training did not take much time from Western Youth Network to the menat all,” Butler said. “It was incredibly ben- tor. The mentor will set up time and dates, imagine,” Jennifer Warren, Executive Dieficial, and they gave us a lot of informa- in accordance with when his or her mentee rector of Western Youth Network, said. “We have kids from all walks of life, all ages, all tion and you leave with a list of things you is available, for the next year.

The options for activities that a mentor circumstances. It’s really any kid that needs can do together.”

Whenever the perfect match is in mind, can do with his or her youth are broad. a little extra support to get them where they Western Youth Network will take the men- Western Youth Network recommends fo- need to be.”

W

A SWEET Way to Raise Money

estern Youth Network, in conjunction with the will provide guests with a beautiful and inspiring perSonny Sweet Scholarship Fund, will be present- formance of patriotic songs.

“It is a group of home-schooled children who are ing “A Sweet High Country Salute” at the Harvest going to perform patriotic songs,” Brudzinski said.

House on Thursday, August 24.

“The Harvest House is a great venue for entertain- “They dress in costumes and everything, and they are ment,” George Brudzinski, Treasurer for the Sonny a really great group.”

The event will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 9 p.m., Sweet Scholarship Fund, said. “It’s an incredible and all benefits from the event will go to the Sonny venue for this event.”

The event will feature Tim Decker, a performance Sweet Scholarship Fund, which works toward raising speed painter who will demonstrate his impressive money to send youth to Western Youth Network’s and awe-inspiring speed-painting skills, and a fast- Summer Program for free.

“Many children in the community cannot afford to paced auction of his paintings from the night.

“Decker is a nationally acclaimed speed-painter, pay to attend the Western Youth Network Summer and he is going to paint three murals for us on stage,” Program,” Brudzinski said. “The scholarship fund alBrudzinski said. “He paints them in about 2-3 min- lows the less-fortunate children the opportunity to utes, and then when he is done, we are going to auc- enjoy all of the events at Western Youth Network for tion them off.”

Along with this, there will be wine and beer from Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Peabody’s and The Peddler, water donated from Ingles and soft drinks from Coca-Cola Bottling here in Boone. Guests will also receive a taste of 6 High Country favorite restaurants – BBQ, Burgers and A Partnership with Brews, Casa Rustica, Pepper’s, Red Onion, Makoto’s and The Peddler.

Ashe County’s “Generation Excellent”

the summer.”

Sonny Sweet, co-founder of Blood Sweat and Gears, has been a prominent community member that has provided generous help to multiple charities and organizations throughout his time in the High Country. Not only has he served the community, but he also served in the U.S. Army for thirty years and ten months.

In 2013 Sweet was diagnosed with lung cancer and, according to Brudzinski, he was given only 6 months to live. Fortunately, Sweet is in his 48th month right now. He wanted to leave a lasting legacy that would continue to help the youth of the High Country, and so he partnered with Western Youth Network to do just that.

“The Summer Program scholarship actually began in 2016, and this past year, they provided 4 scholarships to less-fortunate youth to attend the summer camp,” Brudzinski said.

Tickets for the upcoming event are $55 per person, $100 for a couple and $400 for a table of 8. They are available online at www.SweetSalute.EventBrite. com or by mailing a check to WYN-SSSF, P.O. Box 3753, Boone, NC 28607. Seating is limited to 250 guests.

Sonny Sweet Scholarship Fund western youth network

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The In-School Mentoring Program is slightly different than the Community-Based Mentoring Program explained above.

The In-School Mentoring, also known as Lunch Buddies, has fewer requirements for those volunteering. It requires a commitment of one year, but instead of hanging out with a youth in the community for two hours a week, you’re only required to meet with the youth at school for lunch once a week.

“The biggest reason we began this program was to reach more youth,” Grasinger said. “Many people who want to volunteer have limited time available but they eat lunch every day, so this program gives them the opportunity to eat lunch with a specific kid and build a relationship with them in the hopes of impacting People can become involved with Western Youth Network in a variety of different ways, including their success.” donating and providing financial assistance, as well as supporting the youth in any way that they can.

While the Community-Based Mentoring is geared toward all kids “If you are going to be a volunteer, perhaps one of the most important jobs in ages 6-17, the Lunch Buddies Program being able to honor that commitment society. Building and supporting healthy caters more towards the elementary age through tough times and busy times is and strong children will more than likely group because, according to Grasinger, incredibly important. The first thing you result in a society that has less poverty, less studies show that this age group is where have to do is commit to the program and homelessness and fewer social issues, inIn-School Mentoring can have the most commit to the child you’re working with,” cluding domestic violence. success.

“We can make a huge change in kids’ Warren said.

“The Lunch Buddies program increasWhy is this commitment so important, lives simply by being there and having that es academic performances, reduces tru- though? companionship,” Warren said. ancy and helps the youth to make better That’s why commitment is so impor“You should really evaluate yourself bedecisions with peers and daily pressures,” fore you decide to do the mentoring pro- tant. Committing to the required time – a Grasinger said. gram. You don’t want to take on too much year – and the required hours per week In 2016, there were 93 community- responsibility if you don’t have time,” Alex and per month, each mentor is providing based clients served and 22 in-school cli- Powell, Mentor through Western Youth a safe space, a reliable source and companents served through Western Youth Net- Network, said, “because it won’t work out ionship, becoming a trusted role model for work. Over the last year, these numbers for you, and it will just end up hurting you each and every one of the kids that need have risen. this program. and the kid in the long run.”

However, the number of clients that are “We all have the time to spare, it’s Committing to spending time with a still waiting to be matched with the perfect child for two hours every week, or eight just about making it work,” Butch Butler, mentor is constantly rising, and the need hours per month, is important due to the Mentor for Western Youth Network, said. for volunteers is increasing every day. fact that you are creating a reliable and “I never have to struggle to find time to consistent resource for the child when hang out with my mentee because I want A Fulfilling Experience they might not have that in any other facet to. It’s just about finding the right schedulVolunteering for Western Youth Net- of their lives. ing. You get so much back from it.” work isn’t just about getting in those serWith that being said, it may be surpris“Consistency builds trust. Once trust is vice hours or trying to be involved more in built, you get to start to build other goals,” ing to find that those who volunteer with the community. Volunteering with this or- Warren said.

Western Youth Network tend to find they ganization, especially through the MentorGrasinger shared this same opinion, as benefit from the partnership as much as ing Program, is truly changing a life. You commitment to a young person is key to the child that they are mentoring. are providing a child who is in need of a making a difference in that child’s life.

“It is truly a life changing experience role model and support system with the re“Take your commitment very seriously for both mentor and mentee,” Grasinger sources, encouragement and care that they because if you find life getting too busy said. “It is one of the most rewarding excan’t or won’t receive elsewhere. and you don’t make time for your youth periences that you can be a part of. You get The biggest thing about volunteering or you bail on them,” Grasinger said, “it to watch someone grow and change before with Western Youth Network, specifically becomes super detrimental to their success your eyes.” as a mentor, is the commitment that it re- in many different forms.”

Warren has had the same experiences quires.

Influencing and supporting children is when it comes to seeing volunteers benefit August / September 2017

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One of the important aspects of the Mentoring Program is recruiting people to become mentors, as well as educating individuals in the community about what Western Youth Network does as an organization. In late July, Hanes Boren and Jim Street hosted an event that 84 men attended. The social gave the attendees an opportunity to get an overview of the WYN program and introduce the men to the concept of mentoring. There is a big need for male mentors at WYN. from this mentor/mentee relationship.

“Volunteers always say to us, ‘I got more out of it than the kid did. I didn’t go in with that intention, but I got so much out of it’,” Warren said. “It’s the opportunity to feel fulfilled as a person and to have a lot of fun and get so much out of it while helping a child in the community that really needs it.”

Butler, who has been volunteering with multiple organizations and charities for a

good while now, stated that he has never found an organization that better works with and for individual people.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of charities that gave me the good feeling that this is a wonderful thing for society in general,” Butler said, “but I’ve never found another volunteer experience like this one where I’ve realized that I’ve made a difference in one specific person’s life.”

Children who have mentors have been

Helping Out in Other Ways

W

hile being a mentor is a wonderful thing to do in order to have a positive influence on a youth in the community, not everyone can do it, whether that is due to time constraints or some other factor.

However, regardless of this, there are other ways to get involved and help support local youth through Western Youth Network.

Because Western Youth Network is a nonprofit organization, it relies on funding from grants, fundraisers and private donations in order to operate to the best of its ability and provide the needs of each child that is involved.

“We’re constantly trying to find ways to get more donors and grant funding so that we can serve more youth,” Charlene Grasinger, Mentoring Program Coordinator of Western Youth Network, said.

Community members can donate a one-time gift or a monthly gift.

• $140 provides 1 month of after school for 1 child • $300 provides 5 months of mentoring for 1 child • $625 provides 5 weeks of summer camp for 1 child • $1500 provides 1 month of transportation for ALL youth It is also possible to donate to the Western Youth Network Legacy Fund, which is the endowment fund for the organization.

Donating to this fund ensures stability and security for the organization, allowing it to continue to strive toward providing a safe, nurturing, caring and supportive set of programs for youth.

Numerous community members are involved with funding 46

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August / September 2017

proven to have better school attendance and academic performance, more positive attitudes and interactions with family members and other peers and increased positive self-esteem.

“This is a very giving community, and there are a lot of needs,” Hanes Boren, member of the Advisory Board for Western Youth Network, said. “There is a great need in the community, both for boys and for girls, that need positive role models.”

and donating money to Western Youth Network and the programs that it implements. For example, Blood Sweat and Gears donated the Sonny Sweet Honorary Grant of a generous $20,000 to the organization in co-founder Sonny Sweet’s name.

“Sonny is an amazing member of our community and has given so much to Western Youth Network,” said Grasinger. “To honor his life of service, he has set up the Sonny Sweet Scholarship Fund that specifically raises money for Summer Program Scholarships.”

Because of the Sonny Sweet Scholarship Fund, established in 2015, four youth can attend the summer camp for free each year.

Anyone can become a Donor for the Scholarship Fund through which they will help local youth build a brighter future.

Along with the Sonny Sweet Scholarship Fund, community members can get involved in funding and donating toward Western Youth Network’s programs through the Festival of the Trees, which takes place in November 30 – December 3 at Chetola Resort. The Festival of the Trees directly benefits Western Youth Network by providing beautiful decorated and themed wreaths and trees that are up for auction. Everyone can come and bid on their favorites; donations are welcome in place of admission price.

Whether you’re donating ten dollars or thousands of dollars, any donation to either the Scholarship Fund, the Festival of the Trees or the organization in general is appreciated by Western Youth Network, along with any volunteer work or involvement in the organization.

Donations can be sent to Western Youth Network at 155 Wyn Way, Boone, NC 28607 with checks made out to Western Youth Network, and there are also ways to donate through the online website as well.

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No Friend Like a Mentor

Butch Butler had retired from work in the beautiful High Country that all residents call home, and he found that he had a good amount of time on his hands – time that he didn’t know what to do with.

However, one day, his wife suggested he check out Western Youth Network and see what the program was all about.

“I didn’t really know anything about it, so I went and talked to them,” Butler said, “and I was just sold on what a wonderful program it was and the benefits that the kids get from it.”

Butler, having raised a couple of kids who are now in their thirties, thought he could provide some insight for a youth within the community that needed that strong and dependable support system.

“Most of the kids in the Western Youth Network programs don’t have a good and

Butch Butler has been a mentor through Western Youth Network for almost five years now.

Alex Powell, mentor through Western Youth Network, worked with his mentee to set goals that would result in improved elf-esteem and confidence.

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supportive home environment, and that’s a big disadvantage,” Butler said. “I love Western Youth Network so much because it helps these kids overcome any challenges they might be facing. They are helping them defeat what might be a tough outlook.”

When Butler was matched with his mentee, the first couple of meetings were a little bit awkward and uncomfortable, as his mentee was shy and would answer all questions and statements with “uh-huh.”

This isn’t out of the ordinary though, and it’s quite common for the first meetings to be a little awkward and uncomfortable as both mentor and youth are trying to get to know each other and figure one another out.

“I was unsure when it started out because the young man was seven when we matched and he was very withdrawn and introverted,” Butler said. “After a couple of visits though, he really opened up, and now we have a great relationship and we do a lot of fun things together.”

Some of the stuff that Butler and his youth do, just like other mentors and their mentees can do, range from fishing to bowling to skiing to just hanging out with one another and talking about anything that the youth is comfortable with discussing.

“I took my mentee snow skiing, and he loved it. Most of the kids haven’t had these opportunities before,” Butler said. “We go snow skiing at Beech Mountain because they’ve been generous enough to cover the costs for Western Youth Network’s mentoring program.”

However, while mentoring is a blast for both mentor and mentee, its impacts reach much further than the surface. Youth who are involved in the mentoring program benefit so much from spending time with their mentors.

“I’ve been able to watch him learn and grow and change,” Butler said.

One of the ways this has happened is through Butler’s mentee’s changing opinion in regards to school and education.

When the two were first matched, Butler’s

August / September 2017

mentee had no interest in school, complaining about having to attend and not seeing the point at all.

“When my mentee would say he doesn’t want to go to school but then would mention that he wants to build houses or work on cars,” Butler said, “I made sure that he was aware that he needs school for those things, like geometry and computer classes. I just try to open his eyes to the real world.”

Now, about four and a half years later, Butler’s mentee is more open to school and the benefits that come with getting an education.

Along with this, Butler also influences his mentee in other aspects of life, such as introducing him to healthier eating.

“I’ve found that if he helps cook the food, he will eat it,” Butler said. “If he helps me prepare vegetables, he will eat them.”

Overall, Butler has focused on just providing his mentee with a positive role model who is there to support, encourage, advise and spend time with him.

“I think it’s mostly about just being there for them and listening to them and for them to know that there is a person that cares about them and if they need something, they can reach out,” Butler said. “A lot of the time, these kids’ parents are working or out of the home most of the day, and the kids crave an additional adult person that they know they can rely on.”

In Butler’s case, his mentee definitely just needed an extra male role model that was going to provide him with guidance, support and encouragement, which is exactly what most of the kids within Western Youth Network’s Mentoring Program need.

“He’s a really fantastic kid, and it’s been such an extremely positive experience for me,” Butler said. “I really enjoy the time I get to spend with my mentee, and I’m always amazed at his perspective of the world.”

Butler knew from the start that the match between him and his mentee was a good one, maybe even a perfect one at that. Western Youth Network compares

Mentoring is one of the most fulfilling opportunities in the High Country, both for mentors and their mentees.

Western Youth Network provides plenty of suggestions for things that mentors can do with their mentees, such as crafts and horseback riding. mentors with the youth that are on the waiting list to receive a mentor and they match the two in regards to likes and dislikes, according to Butler.

“We’ve never had a problem figuring out stuff to do together,” Butler said, “and it’s about spending time together and getting to know each other and being able to talk about things.”

Regardless of what Butler and his mentee do, the two of them are constantly benefitting from this mentor/mentee relationship, as both are continuously learning from one another and experiencing things.

“No question I learn from him all the time,” Butler said. “Western Youth Network is the most fulfilling and wonderful organization that I’ve come across because they really make a huge difference in these kids’ lives.”

Alex Powell, a Mentor with Western Youth Network, shared the same sentiments as Butler when it came to mentoring a youth from the High Country.

“It’s a great experience, and you get that fulfilling feeling like you’re doing some good,” Powell said.

Powell got involved with Western Youth Network after his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, chose the organization as the charity that it wanted to donate money to. When his term of serving as president for the fraternity was over, Powell had a lot of free time and wanted to learn more about what exactly it was that Western Youth Network did.

“We just loved what they stood for, and I wanted to understand what was really going on with the mentoring program,” Powell said. “I had never done anything like that before, and I’ve had so many mentors in my life, and I just thought it would be a good opportunity to see what that was like and to give back.”

Powell was matched with a mentee that was small for his age. As a freshman, and entering into the trying times of high

school, his mentee needed a lot of support, encouragement and companionship.

“I was trying to help him as much as he was helping me. We had a lot in common, so it was really easy for us to hang out and go places and do things together,” Powell said.

Because Powell’s mentee was small for his age, one of the goals he wanted to work on was being fit and building up self-confidence. The two of them, because they both had similar interests and were very active, were able to lift weights and work out together in order to make Powell’s mentee feel better about himself and more confident.

“Western Youth Network serves the whole child.

We connect the entire community to allow youth the opportunity to grow and explore their passions.”

Charlene Grasinger,

Mentoring Program Coordinator of Western Youth Network “Our goal was to kind of set up a workout plan. My passion is fitness, and he wanted to be in shape and stay active and get better self-confidence,” Powell said. “I taught him how to lift weights safely, and we went hiking and played basketball. He was an active kid and I was an active person.”

Along with being active and gaining selfconfidence, the mentor and mentee worked on raising the youth’s grades in school. His grades had begun slipping, so whenever Powell would be heading to the library, he’d take his mentee along with him.

“If I was going to the library, I’d bring him along once a week, and we would just organize some things for him to use,”

Powell said. “If he had any questions about anything, I would help him out that way.”

As a mentor, Powell and Butler alike want to help the youth out in any way that they can whenever the need arises.

“These kids have problems just like you and I do,” Powell said. “They’re not juvenile or threatening or anything like that.

They’re just maybe a little bit lost and need a little bit of direction. They’re sometimes lonely too, and they just need somebody to support them.”

People within our home can make a bigger impact than they know on the youth that are growing up around all of us.

Western Youth Network is striving towards creating positive experiences, strong support systems and reliable role models for all of the kids that need these things, but the organization needs the help from people in our community who have the time, energy and ability to positively influence, encourage and support youth who are in dire need of these programs.

The Mentoring Program through Western Youth Network creates a more in-depth mentor/mentee relationship for both the mentor and the youth. Children succeed more in various aspects of their lives when they have positive, reliable and encouraging adult presences and support systems.

Offering a child help and support during a difficult situation, whether that is in regards to academic performances, familial difficulties or his or her own self-esteem issues and traumatic experiences, can result in lifelong positive impacts. The Mentoring Program through Western Youth Network can, and does, bring about these effects more easily than one might think.

Mentoring a child provides them with companionship, a dependable support system, an encouraging and advising resource and, last but not least, a friend.

“As one of our mentees put it,” Grasinger said, “you never know a true friend until you’ve had a mentor.”t

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The Day College Football Changed Appalachian State’s 34-32 Upset of Michigan

BY DAVID COULSON

L

ike the rings of a mighty redwood, the approach of each fall reminds Appalachian State football followers that another year has passed since its earthshaking 34-32 victory over Michigan.

Whether you prefer David toppling Goliath, or Jack taking an axe to one large beanstalk, it was an upset of gigantic proportions that is still being talked about a decade later and probably will be for generations to come.

“It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years,” said wide receiver Coco Hillary, one of many heroes for the Mountaineers on that sun-splashed afternoon from Sept. 1, 2007. “I don’t feel any older.”

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Jerry Moore has witnessed some monumental things in a college football career that began over 60 years ago as a player at Baylor. But nothing prepared him for what transpired at Michigan Stadium before 109,218 fans in the place they call the Big House.

“It seems like it just happened yesterday,” said Moore, now in his fifth year of retirement after directing App State for 24 years as head coach. “The national championships are what you play for, but beating Michigan almost seemed like another championship.”

For this review, High Country Magazine painstakingly reached out to coaches, play-

August / September 2017

ers, team personnel and fans (both those who there and those who watched, or listened to the game from other places).

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THE OFFER

Photo by Troy Tuttle

Michigan can blame ESPN programmers for its day of infamy, referred to by Maize and Blue fans as “The Horror” to this day. The Mountaineers were originally scheduled to open the 2007 season with a return trip to LSU when the network negotiated a deal for the Bayou Tigers to start their schedule with a nationally televised contest at Mississippi State.

Michigan, meanwhile, was searching for a 12th-game opponent just six months before the Labor Day weekend opener. The Wolverines — the all-time winningest team in NCAA football history — were one of only four FBS programs who had never scheduled a game with any school from the FCS ranks, along with Notre Dame, USC and Washington.

But desperate times called for desperate meaDexter Jackson silenced the Big House crowd for the first time on App States third offensive snap. The sures. ESPN had set up a game in 2006 between Southern Conference 200-meter sprint champion raced past defenders on this 68-yard TD pass play.

Michigan and Vanderbilt, but the beleaguered Commodores cancelled the rematch for 2007.

Ironically, Vanderbilt was led by former Furman coach Bobby Johnson, who was trying to rebuild the VU program.

A college football list-serv revealed to then-ASU sports information director Mike Flynn that Michigan was in need of an opponent. Flynn passed the information along to associate athletic director Jay Sutton, who was in charge with scheduling and Sutton contacted the Wolverine athletic department.

Michigan had considered a trip to Hawaii before turning down the Rainbow Warriors and made an offer for Appalachian to come to Ann Arbor instead.

“I told Jay that no matter what it took, let’s play them,” Moore said.

AP Photo/Duane Burleson There were some negotiating snags along the way, but eventually the two sides agreed that ASU Armanti Edwards went airborne on a quarterback draw in the second quarter to give the Mountaineers would be paid a guarantee of $400,000 to play the a stunning 28-14 lead — their largest advantage of the game — late in the second period. game.

Two little-known factors played into Michigan’s interest. Moore was a close friend of Wolverine coach Lloyd Carr from their years as assistant coaches and American Football Coaches Association conventions and the Mountaineers were twotime defending FCS national champions.

“They wouldn’t have scheduled this game if we hadn’t won those championships,” Moore said, sitting in his office on App State’s NFL pro day workouts in the spring of 2007.

The cancellation of the LSU game was rescheduled for Aug. 30, 2008. By the time cancellation fees and guarantees were paid out, Appalachian had pocketed a cool $1 million from the various deals.

THE PRELUDE

The most iconic picture of the Appalachian State-Michigan game was Mark Campbell’s shot of Corey Lynch’s block of Jason Gingell’s field goal attempt on the final play of the game, lifting the Mountaineers to a 34-32 victory at Michigan Stadium.

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Three celebrated Michigan starters, running back Mike Hart, offensive tackle Jake Long and quarterback Chad Henne made headlines when they passed up the NFL draft to return for their redshirt senior seasons. They said they agreed to

come back together so they could take aim at the BCS national championship.

Hart was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s preseason college football preview issue and Long was viewed as the top overall prospect for the 2008 NFL draft.

Henne, like Hart, was expected to break most of Michigan’s career records for his position and was seen as a future pro football starter.

There was plenty of talent circulating through the rest of the Wolverine roster. But ASU had its share of skill as well. Eventually, 18 players from the two teams that battled that day were drafted by NFL teams, while many others played in the Canadian Football League and for various Arena League squads.

Having played competitive games against Kansas and LSU in 2005 and North Carolina State in 2006, the Mountaineers went into practice with a mindset to win.

“The LSU game was the warmup to the Michigan game,” App State receiver Dexter Jackson said. “They were not expecting small guys from a small town — a small team — to compete with them.”

Moore and his staff had already worked at instilling confidence into this talented, experienced squad.

“We never went into any game not thinking we had a chance to win,” Moore said.

Trying to practice on Thursday, just two days before game day, the Mountaineers were thwarted by heavy rain, thunder and lightning, waiting for an hour before Moore cancelled practice.

The next day, when the team arrived at Michigan Stadium, Moore had his team take a long look at the 107,000 empty seats that surrounded them, letting them know that the major difference between their own Kidd Brewer Stadium and the largest athletic field in America was “just more concrete.”

Senior safety Corey Lynch reminded his teammates that once they got out on the field, it would 11-on-11, just like any other game.

Linebacker Pierre Banks noticed a solitary figure, sitting and watching them practice that afternoon from the far sideline. Staring them down with an intimidating glare was Mike Hart.

SILENCING THE CROWD

The opening two-and-a-half minutes of the game were pretty much what most people expected. Michigan took the opening kickoff and marched 66 yards in six plays, with Mike Hart crashing into the end zone untouched from four yards out for the first score.

But the anticipation of a Wolverine blowout lasted only 96 seconds before Jackson stunned the crowd.

Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Running back Kevin Richardson playfully quieted the crowd as he celebrated Appalachian State’s 34-32 win over Michigan. Richardson rushed for 88 yards to help the Mountaineers work time off the clock.

On Appalachian’s third play from scrimmage, Jackson delayed his slant route long enough for T.J. Corman to run a pick and Armanti Edwards hit the Southern Conference 200-meter sprint champion in stride. Jackson sped past several defenders and raced for a 68-yard touchdown, placing a finger to his lips to silence the Big House crowd.

“You just scored a touchdown in the Big House,” fellow receiver Hans Batichon told Jackson when they returned to the sidelines.

“I knew it was big, scoring a touchdown,” Jackson said. “Everybody started to believe.”

THE BLITZ

While the Mountaineer offense had set a tone with Jackson’s long touchdown sprint, the Appalachian defense got its momentum boost a short time later when Henne dropped back to pass after signaling an audible on a third and long.

Pierre Banks disguised his intentions before perfectly timing a blitz off the left edge of the Michigan line.

“It was a perfect call,” Banks said. “The basic key is to relax. You try to look like you always look. I learned quickly not to move on his first cadence.”

Speeding in from Henne’s weak side, Banks had a free shot at the highly-lauded passer. Banks also began to realize just how much bigger that Henne was than him.

“As I kept getting closer, he kept getting bigger and bigger,” Banks explained.

Banks unleashed his best shot on Henne and sacked him for a drive-ending loss, but Banks got the worst of the encounter.

“My body hurt for the rest of the game.

THE RED ZONE

One of the major preparation points for the Mountaineers was converting red zone opportunities into points. It was one of the main lessons that ASU had learned from its 24-0 loss at LSU when missed chances cost the team a chance for a 14-14 tie, heading to the fourth quarter.

While the players were working harder than ever for their Big Ten opponent, so was the coaching staff.

“We normally started preparing a couple of weeks early (for season-opening games),” Moore said. “We started preparing for Michigan as soon as the game was announced.”

ASU players and coaches paid special attention to the two games Michigan had lost to close out the 2006 campaign, defeats to Ohio State and USC. Both schools had spread out the Wolverine defense and shredded it.

The Mountaineers also noticed that the Michigan offense, despite its many weapons, ran a series of basic, easy-to-read plays and formations. That allowed the ASU defense to know what was coming before the ball was even snapped for much of the game.

“It was just Big Ten smash-mouth football,” said Lynch.

ASU’s offense received a similar lecture.

“The coaches told us in our Thursday meetings that we must take advantage of all of our opportunities,” Jackson said.

The key was to emphasize Appalachian’s strength — its speed — and to attack Michigan’s weakness in pass coverage.

“I knew our (receiver group) had a speed advantage,” Jackson said. “Our game plan was designed to take advantage of our strength.”

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Probably no other subject in the rich history of Appala- OTHER BOOKS OF NOTE ON APP STATE-MICHIGAN chian State has garnered as much attention as the Sept. 1, McFarland also published an update of its popular book 2007 football upset of Michigan. In the 10 years since this College Football’s Most Memorable Games (Fred Eisenhamstunner, writers are still trying to make sense of what many mer and Eric B. Sondheimer) in 2010 that included a chapbelieve to be the greatest upset in college football history. ter, titled Bringing Down the House, on the ASU-Michigan The latest book to explore the topic is Appalachian upset. This book includes a cover photo of offensive lineState Silences the Big House, published by McFarland & man John Holt celebrating on the field, afterwards.

Company, Inc. from nearby Jefferson, N.C. and written Austin Murphy, a well-respected senior writer at

by David J. Marmins and Steven K. Feit. The authors con- Sports Illustrated, wrote the SI cover story on the Mouncentrate on telling the stories of many of the ASU players, taineer-Wolverine contest in 2007. He was so captivated coaches and team personnel. Among the book’s strengths by this upset that he included a section on it in his college are individual chapters on Jerry Moore, Pierre Banks, Hans football book Saturday Rules (Harper and Collins) when it Batichon, John Holt, Corey Lynch, Armanti Edwards, Je- was republished as a paperback in 2008. rome Touchstone, Nic Cardwell and Julian Rauch.

Sports Illustrated published the impressive College Foot“It was a good story that looked like it could be turned ball Book in 2008, just in time to include some nice Appalainto something,” Marmins said of his attraction to the proj- chian tidbits. Like most of the coffee table classics from SI, ect. “The best part for me was getting to know these guys.” this book is choked full of great photos and is supplemented The biographies, interspersed between the description by great writing. ASU’s Jackson is among the players wearof the game, give an in-depth look into what brought these ing football helmets on the slickly designed cover and the nine individuals to this special moment. There are also Mountaineers (with the famous cover photo of Jackson) are shorter glimpses into some of the other cast of characters. mentioned as one of the decade dynasties the 2000s and Even though this writer had a particularly strong bond the App-Michigan showdown as one of its epic games. You with many of the members of the 2007 Mountaineers, I might even find a picture of Moore from his Baylor playwas impressed with the reporting that brought out as- ing days, if you look hard enough. For the true fan, this is pects of these players that I hadn’t known before, particu- a masterpiece. larly about their lives before arriving at App State.

Lynch had already established himself as an AllFeit said the project took more than two years.

American safety before the App-Michigan contest, but “What a wonderful story that was,” Felt said. “It really his game-saving block of a Wolverine field goal propelled took a whole team. They all had something to prove.” him to national attention and on to a seven-year NFL caStrengths of the book are the pictures of the players reer. Mike Yorkey told more of Lynch’s story in a chapter of from their younger days. A baby photo of Touchstone, the 2013 book Playing with Purpose (Barbour Publishing). being held by his dad, and a football card of a young Ed- This piece not only tells Lynch’s s side of his most famous wards stand out. There are diagrams of significant plays moment, but also delves into his childhood, his life as an that were designed by Feit’s wife, Tammie, that add an- NFL player, with an emphasis on his personal faith. other strong element to the book. The research notes and In 2008, Dick Brown wrote a biography of Moore called the epilogue that about where the subjects of the book King of the Mountain that was self-published by db ink and are now is also compelling. distributed by John F. Blair. While there are some interestAbout the only criticism is that this tome could have ing moments and good background, there are also some benefitted from better editing. I put the blame for this curious choices made by the author. One head-scratcher is more on the publisher than the writers, who are outsiders a fictional press conference that Brown depicted from the looking to bring a fresh touch to the story.

1995 season before the playoff loss to Stephen F. Austin.

There are a number of factual errors in the backstories Another uneven publication is The Road to Ann Arbor that McFarland could have avoided by getting an insider’s (published in 2007 by Canada Hockey LLC). Edited by Mike eye to look things over before the book was published.

Bynum, this is a book that was hurried to the market to But, all-in-all, this is a work that adds to the lexicon. take advantage of the interest in the sudden interest of It is probably the most comprehensive work yet on the App State. The pictures are nice and there is a anthology game and is one that Mountaineers fans and most college of the 2005 and 2006 seasons, along with some stories football enthusiasts would love to add to their libraries on the App-Michigan game, but this reads more like a … unless you are a Michigan diehard.

Reader’s Digest 54 High Country Magazine August / September 2017 condensed book than a labor of love.

The Mountaineers scored touchdowns on four of their six first-half possessions, including all three trips to the red zone. Edwards found Batichon and Jackson for nine and 20-yard TD connections to give App State a 21-14 lead with less than 10 minutes left in the first half.

“Our goal was to get into space,” said Jackson. “We knew we couldn’t ground it and pound it against Michigan. We weren’t going to take a knife to a gun fight.”

On ASU’s next drive, Jackson appeared to score again on a nifty reverse, but was ruled to have stepped out of bounds at the five. But Edwards eventually scored from six yards out on a well-designed quarterback draw.

Stunningly, ASU outscored Michigan 28-7 during a 24-minute stretch of the first half to take total control of the game.

THE REVERSED FUMBLE RECOVERY

A biggest obstacle that underdog teams encounter when they travel to college football’s iconic venues is sometimes-questionable officiating. Let’s be honest, even if it is just a subconscious reaction, referees do not want to get on the wrong side of coaches they work with on a regular basis and Big Ten officials were used for this matchup.

After Appalachian took a 21-14 lead on Edwards’ second TD connection to Jackson, the Wolverines suffered another setback when Richard Sears fumbled on Julian Rauch’s ensuing kickoff. From the press box it looked like a clear fumble and, on the field, the officials quickly ruled that ASU’s Chase Laws had recovered at the Michigan 18.

With the Wolverine defense visibly gassed from trying to battle the fast-paced Appalachian spread and struggling to stop the Mountaineers in the red zone, it seemed only inevitable that App State was ready to strike for additional points.

As Edwards quickly moved his offense into formation and Appalachian awaited the snap, play was whistled dead for a video review of the call. Football rules specify that there has to be totally conclusive evidence to overrule a decision on the field, but the Big Ten replay official negated the fumble, saying that Sears’ knee had touched the ground before he lost the ball — despite no evidence to back up that change.

App State stopped Michigan later on a fourth-down gamble in Mountaineer territory as Lynch pounded Henne on a perfectly-timed, safety blitz to force an incompletion. ASU quickly scored on Edwards’ Superman-like touchdown leap, but the poor officiating decision on the fumble gave the Mountaineers just a 28-14 lead when it could have easily been 35-14.

Only a late field goal allowed the Wolverines to exit the field with an 11-point, 2817 deficit. When they ran back to the locker room, it was to a chorus of boos from the Michigan Stadium crowd.

ADVERSITY

Moore predicted in the Mountaineers’ halftime locker room that his team would get Michigan’s best shot in the second half. His assessment was right on the mark.

Even though the Wolverines made adjustments to slow down the potent App State offense, the Mountaineers also proved to be their own worst enemy with one of their worst quarters in the whole season when the teams returned for the third period.

Edwards, who had been a perfect 7-of-7 passing in the first half, fired an interception on the second play of the third quarter at the Mountaineer 40 and Michigan quickly turned the mistake and Jason Gingell drilled a 42yard field goal to cut ASU’s lead to 28-20.

The Mountaineers responded with another fine drive, taking the ball 64 yards in 11 plays, but a wide-open Brian Quick — playing his first college game — dropped a wide-open pass at the goal line and ASU was forced to settle for Rauch’s 31-yard kick to increase the advantage to 31-20.

Appalachian coach Jerry Moore listened to his coaching staff in the press box give advice during this pensive moment of the game. Photo by Keith Cline Michigan faltered again when Hart’s replacement, Brandon Minor, was stripped of the ball by middle linebacker Jacque Roman and Banks recovered at the Wolverine 28.

But the Mountaineers failed to pick up a first down and Rauch was called in for a 46-yard field goal.

Having already left four crucial points on the field, App State squandered three more

¤KF

when Rauch’s kick clanked off the right upright. Rauch said he was in a foul mood as he left the field.

“I didn’t know if I would get another chance to kick in the game,” the senior specialist explained. “But it relaxed me. I knew if I got another chance, I wouldn’t miss again.”

Things got worse for the Mountaineers on their next possession when Edwards scrambled

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out of trouble, but was stripped of the ball by All-American linebacker Shawn Crable. John Thompson of the Wolverines pounced on the loose pigskin at the ASU 31 to initiate a sixplay drive that ended with Hart’s leap into the end zone from four yards out.

Trying to trim Appalachian’s lead to a field goal, Henne was confused as the Mountaineers feinted a blitz on the ensuing two-point conversion try. Hence stumbled after the snap, dropped the ball and was quickly swarmed by defenders, well short of the goal line.

The big scoreboard at one end of Michigan Stadium read App State 31, Michigan 26 as the fourth quarter began.

THE INTERCEPTION

Few people knew it at the time, but Edwards had re-injured a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder (suffered originally on a Jsutin Wozeah tackle at ASU’s last scrimmage of camp) on the fumble-causing hit. Suddenly, Edwards’ passes lacked the precision they had shown earlier in the game. After stumbling through a three-and-out early in the fourth quarter, a short Neil Young punt, the 14-yard return by Sears and long-snapper Russell Wilson’s 15-yard face mask penalty pushed Michigan to the ASU 34.

Quiet for so much of the game, the crowd grew loud as the Wolverines looked poised to recapture the lead. But all of Appalachian’s preparation came back into play.

After grinding out a first down to the App State 20, a false-start penalty forced Michigan into passing mode with the first-and-15 situation. The play call from Wolverine offensive coordinator Mike DeBord was a waggle pass — a play that had been utilized by the Mountaineer offense effectively for years.

Hence faked a handoff and bootlegged to the right side, with the blitzing Banks in

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hot pursuit. Throwing across his body to try to hit wide receiver Matthews, Henne passed into the teeth of the ASU secondary.

Several App defenders were verbally calling out the play as Henne rolled out and safety Leonard Love read the call perfectly.

Love jumped the route, dashed to the ball and intercepted it at the ASU 15. Love was one block removed from an 85-yard touchdown return when Henne forced him out of bounds near midfield.

Ironically, Love had been featured in a story in the Michigan game program that day, a piece that highlighted his relationship with Wolverine starting safety Jamar Adams.

The two players met as Little League baseball teammates and played together in the same secondary at Charlotte’s Butler High School, Both had also attended Michigan’s summer football camp as prep players.

It was one of the most important plays of the contest and it was turned in by a player who wasn’t even a normal starter. The only reason Love was on the field was because normal starter Titus Howard had been suspended for a game for violating team rules.

“I was just trying to play my best for my teammates and I knew they had confidence in me,” said Love, who turned in probably the greatest game of his Mountaineer career that afternoon. “I told myself not to be the reason we lose.”

Appalachian’s offense couldn’t take advantage of its great field position on its own 41 as Edwards continued to struggle, but the defense had stopped one more Michigan salvo as time continued to evaporate off the fourth-quarter clock.

THE RUN

One Michigan player who definitely did not overlook, or under-prepare for Appala-

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

BY DAVID COULSON

I

n my role as an adjunct professor in the Appalachian State University Communication Department, one of the lessons I am constantly trying to teach to the next generation of journalists is to expect the unexpected.

“You never know when you will be covering the most important story of your life,” I lecture them many times every semester.

I have learned that lesson twice in a long and interesting writing career that has taken me around the U.S. and the world — visiting 44 states and nine foreign countries in a 40-year professional career.

As a young writer, an international story came my way when a 6.7 earthquake hit the San Joaquin Valley farm town of Coalinga, California where I lived and worked in on May 2, 1983.

I witnessed a different type of temblor on Sept. 1, 2007 in Ann Arbor, Michigan when App State pulled off one of the greatest upsets in college football history, stunning No. 5-ranked Michigan 34-32 before 109,218 fans at historic Michigan Stadium.

A month away from the 10th anniversary of that earthshaking game, people are still trying to make sense of it.

Volumes have been written about this iconic game — from newspaper and magazine articles, sports columns, website blogs and books — but there is still plenty of more stones to turn over to make sense of this seemingly senseless outcome.

While I have remembered in vivid detail many of the games I have covered over the years, the events and the aftermath of the first Appalachian-Michigan game are indelibly stamped on my brain.

In reflection, here are some personal moments worth remembering:

ANTICIPATING AN UPSET

for the final play. With the crush of other photographers out of the way, he had the perfect position for what was about to happen.

When Corey Lynch knifed through the Wolverine offensive line, Campbell’s well-timed camera click caught the Mountaineer game-saver as the ball hit Lynch’s chest.

“I didn’t know until I got back to my hotel room and started looking at my photos what I had,” Campbell explained.

“I remember (Appalachian) being very confident,” said Campbell. “I wasn’t that surprised that (the Mountaineers) won. Having covered them before (in the previous national championship games), I knew how good they were.”

Ironically, Campbell — a longtime photographer for the Delaware athletic department — and I were the only two media members who covered both of those opening-weekend FCS games. We met up again in Chattanooga, Tennessee in December when App State met Delaware for the national championship.

The Mountaineers were once again playing a team wearing those historical winged helmets. ASU completed its third consecutive national title with a dominating 49-21 victory over the Blue Hens.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

THE BIG HOUSE

After living in Watauga County and covering Appalachian State for a variety of publications for 15 years, I took a job as the executive director of college football with The Sports Network, an international sports news service that was based in the Philadelphia suburbs. My main role was to run the national awards and official top-25 poll for the Football Championship Subdivision.

I could have chosen to be in any college football stadium in America on Sept. 1, 2007, but something told me that Michigan Stadium, the Big House, was the place to be that Saturday. It was on my personal bucket list and I didn’t know if I would ever have such a good reason for being there again.

All spring and summer, people tried to tell me what a rout the Michigan contest would be, while I countered that Michigan would be surprised at how well App State would match up with the Wolverines because of the Mountaineers’ speed. I warned everyone that I could that we would be watching a competitive game.

During the run-up to the Michigan showdown, this writer told anyone who would listen that Appalachian had the talent — and grit — to challenge the Wolverines. But probably no one anticipated the way the Mountaineers would dominate these Big Ten blue bloods.

As the end of the first half drew near, another writer pulled up a chair next to me in the center of the Michigan Stadium press box. Someone had told best-selling author (Tuesdays With Morrie) and Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom that I was the leading authority in the country on FCS. Like me, Albom was already getting the idea that we were watching history and he wanted to somehow put the moment into perspective.

“What is the biggest upset in FCS history?” Albom asked.

I quickly pulled the 10-3 victory over Arkansas in 1992

by The Citadel out of the memory vault, explaining that the loss had caused Razorback coach Jack Crowe to lose his job the next day.

Both of us agreed that nothing close to what Appalachian was constructing had ever happened before.

THE PHOTO

Outside of the photograph of Dexter Jackson, which graced the cover of the Sept. 10, 2007 edition of Sports Illustrated and has since found its way into several books, no image is as well remembered as Mark Campbell’s classic capture of the moment Corey Lynch ended Michigan’s hopes with his blocked kick.

The Campbell picture has been used in books and lives on in the infinity of the World Wide Web on several websites, including this writer’s College Sports Journal. It is also blown up and plastered on several of the walls on the floors of the Appalachian State Athletic Center in Kidd Brewer Stadium.

This classic photo, which has even found its way into a fine art book, like many award-winning shots proved to be part talent and part luck.

“In reality, I got that shot because I was lazy,” Campbell admitted.

Like most of the photographers and media members in the floor of the stadium for the final minutes of the game, Campbell was near the Appalachian State end zone to record Julian Rauch’s historic field goal. Anticipating an ASU victory with just seconds remaining, he was thinking of capturing a wild, post-game celebration.

“It was a very hot day, with the sun beating down,” Campbell remembered of the 90-degree afternoon. “It was so hot, I decided I was not going to run down the field again (when Michigan’s Mario Manningham grabbed a 46-yard pass at the ASU 20 with six seconds left).”

Instead, Campbell set up on the App State sideline

balance and tumble to the turf as the Wolverine runner scooted past him and into the end zone.

For the first time since the opening quarter, Michigan led the game, 32-31, with only 4:36 left, but the Wolverines failed on another two-point conversion attempt when Minor slipped and fell, trying to cut against the grain of the ASU defense.

THE FIRST BLOCKED KICK

the way before falling to the ground.

After dropping a crucial touchdown pass in the third quarter, Quick recovered to make one of the biggest plays of the game.

Most of the battle wasn’t fun for Tharrington either. Tharrington had the inevitable task of facing Long for four quarters and managed just one tackle. At times, it was like a Sumo wrestler was matched against During one demoralizing stretch, Tharrington asked left defensive end Tony Robertson to switch sides of the line with him. Robertson faced Long for one play and told Tharrington he was going back to his normal position.

Edwards didn’t crack under pressure very often, but on ASU’s next play from scrimmage, the 19-year-old passer had a moment of indecision. Looking off the secondary with a quick glance to the left, Edwards ONE FINAL DRIVE zeroed in on Courman, who was running a With one more chance to pull off an upshort pattern to the right side. set, it was Appalachian that seemed to relax, As Edwards prepared to unleash his pass, while Michigan faltered. Looking again like he caught sight of former Avery County High the unit that had shredded the Wolverine School star Josh Johnson breaking free on a fly defense in the first half, Appalachian needed Photo by Keith Cline pattern in front of the Wolverine sideline. Ed- just 71 seconds to strike its fatal blows to Brian Quick — playing in his first college game — wards’ throw sailed past Courman and into the UM by moving 69 yards in only six plays. dropped a sure-fire touchdown pass in the third Starting at the ASU 26 with 1:37 to play, hands of Michigan’s Brandent Englemon for Edwards scrambled to the sideline for 18 quarter, but recovered to help Appalachian State stay what looked like a backbreaking interception.

The Mountaineer defense again arose to yards to the 44. in striking range with the first of two blocked field Trying the set up a double pass from Edthe occasion and stopped the Wolverines to goals the Mountaineers used to save their victory. force Gingell into a 43-yard field goal attempt. wards to a motioning Hillary — who had chian was Hart. Hart rushed for an incredible At this point, one of the most widely dis- battled Edwards for the back-up quarterback 188 yards and scored three touchdowns. But cussed plays of the contest occurred. position in fall camp a year earlier — blockhe spent much of the game on the sidelines As Gingell put his left foot to the ball, it ing breakdowns prevented Hillary from after receiving a series of brutal hits from the shanked in a low trajectory towards the line. launching a pass to an open Josh Johnson in likes of Banks and Love.

The result was a blocked kick that switched the end zone.

“I buried my face mask into Hart’s hip in the momentum of the game back to ASU. The play lost four yards and officials the first quarter,” Banks remembered. “He Some players believed Garry Tharrington missed a late hit by Michigan after Hillary spent more time riding that stationary bike may have gotten a piece of the kick at the was forced out of bounds. than he did on the field the rest of the game.”

Courman caught a sideline pass from line. But when Quick leaped high to deflect it But despite a thigh and hip injury that with his left hand and it knuckled the rest of Edwards on the next play, made a brilliant Hart confirmed in the post-game press conference, he was back in the lineup when Photo by Troy Tuttle Michigan embarked on a key, fourth-quarter series. Slashing through the right side of the App defense behind the blocks of Long and Adam Kraus, Hart broke several tackles and raced into the secondary on the Wolverines’ longest play of the afternoon.

Hart scampered near the Michigan sideline before executing a brilliant cut against the grain and speeding towards the end zone on the other side of the field.

Woazeah was the last defender between Hart and the goal line and immediately began to assess a untenable situation.

“I was worried that, if I tackled him, Michigan would run out more of the clock before they scored,” Wozeah said. “I was trying to force him out of bounds to stop the clock. I over-analyzed things on that play.”

Instead, Hart froze Woazeah with anLinebacker Cam Speer and offensive tackle Kerry Brown were among those celebrating the other lethal move, a eye-popping hesitation end of the ASU-Michigan game. Moments earlier, Brown was kneeling in prayer juke that caused the cornerback to lose his next to the Mountaineer bench, afraid to watch the final play of the game.

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WRIGLEY FIELD LOVES THE MOUNTAINEERS

Thirteen days after the Appalachian-Michigan game, I flew to Chicago the evening before covering a football game between Illinois State and Northern Iowa on Saturday. A friend took me to the Wrigleyville neighborhood for what he guaranteed were the best hot dogs in the Windy City.

While we enjoying chill dogs with cheese, a radio in the restaurant announced the news that the Chicago Cubs had clinched the National League Central Division title.

We decided to walk a couple of blocks to Wrigley Field to see how the Cubbie fans were celebrating.

It was a chaotic scene, complete with Chicago policemen on horseback trying to clear the streets of pedestrians. Wearing a game-worn Appalachian State road jersey with the No. 31 affixed to it, I was quickly surrounded by some of these crazy fans.

“Appalachian State, Appalachian State, Pierre Banks,” a group of college students yelled at me as they approached. After receiving high-fives and fist-bumps from them, they explained that they were Northwestern students who had a distinct dislike for the Wolverines and had celebrated ASU’s win nearly two weeks before.

These diehard Big Ten supporters not only knew Banks had led all players with 12 tackles and added a sack and a fumble recovery, they also remembered his uniform number.

MEMBERS OF AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB

A couple of years ago I was covering a regular-season NFL game between the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Redskins at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte when I sat down next to an unfamiliar writer for a press box lunch.

As we began to talk, I learned this writer had played college football at Colgate. He was an FCS guy and we quickly began to trade stories about longtime Raiders’ coach Dick Biddle.

When he finally told me his name, I found out I was in the presence of the esteemed Austin Murphy, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and the author of several books.

Murphy, though he wasn’t at Michigan Stadium that day, was the writer tasked with turning that magical moment in Ann Arbor into golden prose.

“I was pulling into the parking lot at Cal-Berkley to cover the Cal-Tennessee game that afternoon when I got a frantic call from my editor,” Murphy explained in warcorrespondent fashion.

“Have you heard what happened?” the editor asked Murphy excitedly.

Murphy claimed ignorance, but was quickly shocked to learn of Appalachian’s unfathomable victory over Michigan.

“I need you to go home and start working the phones,” the editor ordered.

The nationally-televised Cal-Tennessee contest had become an afterthought on this stunning Saturday and didn’t receive more than a couple of photos in the next week’s edition of SI. Murphy and I bonded like old, war veterans as we traded battle stories.

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the hands of the talented Mr. Edwards.

Jackson said he was arguing for Moore and offensive coordinator Scott Satterfield to call his number again on the reverse.

Satterfield said he would have suggested a run to make sure the ball was in the middle of the field if the Mountaineers didn’t score.

Rauch, meanwhile, sipped water before heading onto the field for the most important kick of his career.

“I was hoping we didn’t score a touchdown, because I wanted a shot at redemption,” Rauch said. “Missing the earlier kick probably helped me mentally.”

THE KICK

Julian Rauch exuded confidence as he prepared to kick the winning, 24-yard field goal out of the hold of Hunter Stewart before 109,218 screaming fans at Michigan Stadium with just 30 seconds remaining.

Corey Rycroft was among those providing protection for Rauch. Photo by Keith Cline juke towards the sideline to avoid Adams and took the ball for 20 yards before finally scooting out of bounds at the Wolverine 40 for a first down with 1:15 left.

Batichon broke free inside after a clearout by Jackson for a six-yard gain on the next Edwards’ pass completion and with the clocking ticking down, Jackson grabbed a sideline aerial and lunged for five yards and a first down at the Michigan 29 with 50 seconds remaining.

On the App State sideline, Rauch knew that the Mountaineers were now within his range for a field goal and began to focus in on his task with laser-like concentration. A few seconds later, he wondered if he would be needed for more than an extra point.

With the Michigan defense breathing fumes, Appalachian lined up with five receivers, with trips to the left. Hillary took a spot in the slot on the trips side.

“I wasn’t even suppose to be on the field,” Hillary admitted. “I snuck on for T.J. Courman.”

Feeling pressure to the left side, Edwards picked up enough of a block from left tackle Mario Acitelli to sprint out of the pocket.

On the move, Edwards discovered Hillary alone near the left hash of the field, where Hillary had brushed past a defender, middle linebacker John Thompson, who appeared to be more concerned with Batichon near the App sideline.

Edwards’ soft, feathery toss sailed high and slightly behind his target, but Hillary left his feet to snare it at the Wolverine 22.

“I was suppose to be irrelevant on that play,” Hillary said. “The play is called spacing and you are suppose to sit in your zone.

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I caught the ball with my fingertips. Thank God for gloves.”

Hillary sprinted down the field, split a pair of tacklers and secured the ball from several defenders trying to pry it loose before being stopped at the five with 30 seconds to go. Michigan called time out to save some precious seconds for its offense.

THE DECISION

With a first and goal, Moore had a big decision to make — run another play from scrimmage and try to score a touchdown, or send on the field goal unit immediately.

Offensive line coach Shawn Elliot boisterously lobbied for Moore to give the App State offense one chance to score what would have almost certainly a game-clinching touchdown.

“One play, one play, one play,” Elliot shouted.

Elliot received support from running back Kevin Richardson, ASU’s TD machine near the goal line, Jackson and reserve quarterback Trey Elder, who gestured for the offense to throw a pass. But Moore called for the field goal team.

“There was never any doubt in my mind that we should kick on first down,” Moore said. “We were out of time outs and if we had something go wrong like a bad, or bobbled snap, we still had time to try a kick (on the next down). Making a decision like that is just a feel thing.”

So what would the play call have been, if the Mountaineers had taken one more shot at the end zone?

“Probably some sort of option,” said Moore. In other words, put the ballgame in

August / September 2017

Rauch, who had kicked four game-winners as a prep player to help his Ashebrook High School team win the North Carolina 2002 3-A championship, said he felt no nerves as he jogged back on the field.

“I was nervous on the opening kickoff. but I got over it after that,” said Rauch. “I made the tackle on the first play and thought I’d broken my neck. Fortunately, it was just a stinger and it quit hurting in a little while.”

Twice in his college career, Rauch had been asked to send a game to overtime with a field goal, but had failed. A 54-yard boot at Western Carolina in 2004 was straight down the middle, but sailed inches beneath the crossbar. Furman’s All-American linebacker Willie Freeman had gotten a fingertip on a 41-yard Rauch effort, forcing the kick to fall short in a regular-season loss in 2005.

Kicking from 24 yards out, this crucial field goal attempt was more manageable.

Rauch’s road roommate Russell Wilson provided a perfect snap, as he usually did in his Mountaineer career and reserve quarterback Hunter Stewart caught the ball cleanly, spun the laces away from Rauch’s target and tilted the ball at the precise angle.

But as Rauch eyed the ball and swung his powerful right leg, he sensed pressure from the right side of the line. Engelmon broke loose and took an awkward, sideways dive at the kick. Rauch lifted his head slightly (usually a no-no for kickers) and knuckled the ball quickly through the center of the uprights.

“You can sense when there is pressure,” said Rauch, who had gotten used to having kicks blocked by Lynch and Jerome Touchstone on a daily basis in practice. “Getting all of those kicks blocked only made us better when it got to game day. It wasn’t a pretty kick, but I didn’t care.”

In the stands, Moore’s wife Margaret — A veteran of many football highs and lows through the years — tried to calm the excitement of the bride of strength coach Jeff Dill-

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man. “Twenty-six seconds is a long time,” Mrs. Moore explained.

THE CATCH

Time and the patience of the fans were both running out for Michigan. Rauch’s kick left 26 seconds and Minor’s 15-yard kickoff return to the Wolverine 34 extinguished five more ticks. When Henne forced a high pass to Matthews that Woazeah defended successfully at the ASU 45, six more seconds disappeared.

Future NFL star Manningham had been held to two catches for 20 yards, due to the suffocating coverage of Woazeah and Touchstone. But he finally awoke to speed past Woazeah on a double move and hauled in a 46-yard strike from Henne.

Woazeah was fortunate to have played such a strong game. He said he had fallen hard on his hip on an earlier pass to Manningham that he had broken up in the first half.

“I bruised my hip and had a cortisone shot at halftime to numb the pain,” Woazeah said.

Woazeah laid on the field in agony after suffering the injury, telling a concerned Lynch “I think I busted my hip.”

Lynch used words of encouragement to keep Woazeah in the game.

“You have to get up,” Lynch lectured.

“You’re the best cornerback in the country.”

Lynch said his pep talk to Wozeah was essential. “We didn’t have anyone else who was going to play as well as Justin.”

After Manningham’s clutch catch, Woazeah said he “was devastated.”

But a surge of peace washed over the Liberian-born cornerback as he headed for the sidelines and began to pray.

“I expected Corey to do something, just like he did in practice every day.”

IN THE STANDS, PART ONE

An obnoxious Michigan fan had tormented Boone native and Mountaineer fan T.J. Corum for much of the afternoon. But this Wolverine supporter saved some of his rudest remarks for this point of the game.

“I really appreciate you coming up here, but it is time for you to go home.”

LYNCH TO THE RESCUE

From the beginning of his Appalachian football career, Lynch had earned a welldeserved reputation for making big plays, so much so that teammates nicknamed him the Ball Hog. While some players like offensive

Corey Lynch was on the cover for a profile in USA Today’s Sports Weekly the week following Appalachian State’s set of Michigan. The Mountaineers received unprecedented media attention following the shocking result at Michigan Stadium.

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tackle Kerry Brown and Woazeah knelt and prayed for a miracle, Moore said a group of players near him on the sideline were voicing opinions that one of the Mountaineer special teams performers would block another kick.

“They watched guys like Lynch and Touchstone and Quick do it every day in practice,” Moore explained.

Some days in practice were pretty frustrating for Rauch. “If we didn’t do everything perfect, it would get blocked,” Rauch explained. “Corey had the natural ability to get that explosive first step.”

So when Gingell took the field for a potential, game-winning 37-yard field goal attempt, Rauch was confident in the outcome.

“I didn’t think he was a strong kicker,” Rauch noted of Michigan’s first-year kicker.

“I remember him not hitting (the ball) well.”

Rauch paid a lot of attention to the opposing team kickers. “You always want to out-perform your competition.”

In film study for the Michigan game, coaches and players on the kick block team noticed that one of the Wolverine linemen could be baited into stepping out to block the outside rusher, instead of honoring his assignment to block his man. This created a gap that Lynch and Touchstone thought they could exploit at the right time.

“Touchstone and I had seen a weakness, studying special teams film with (defensive coordinator) John Wiley the night before,” Lynch explained.

Lynch had pulled off a similar strategy right before halftime at a key moment of the Furman game. Lynch blocked the kick, scooped up the loose ball and scampered for a touchdown that changed the momentum of the game. Appalachian went on to win, 40-7.

“Corey asked me to switch places with him before that final kick at Michigan,” Banks said. “Even if I had gotten through that gap, I don’t think I could have blocked it. Corey was the master of that.”

Crable, worried about the speedy Touchstone coming off the edge, slanted down to double team him, leaving the gap open for Lynch, just as anticipated.

“The key to blocking kicks is that first millisecond when the ball is snapped,” said Lynch, who went on to star as a special teams ace in the NFL. Lynch fired off the line, slowed momentarily to make sure he was in position and blocked Ginger’s effort with his chest.

Lynch then grabbed the ball one-handed and raced for the end zone as time ran out on the Wolverines.

Lynch had been cramping severely since the third quarter. On a hot and sunny day, as

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he tried to punctuate the win with a touchdown, Lynch was caught by the freshest player on the field, Gingell, near the five-yard line.

“I’ve never been more exhausted,” Lynch said. “I couldn’t have played another down.”

Brian Quick was the first App State player to reach Lynch, diving on his weary teammate, who had landed near the Michigan sideline.

Before Lynch knew it, most of his teammates had joined Quick in this human dog pile.

Lynch worried he would be suffocated by his teammates and needed medical assistance to make it back to the ASU locker room.

Banks, meanwhile sought out particular Wolverine players as he ran towards the celebration. In particular, Banks made sure to remind Hart which team had won the game.

ONCE AGAIN, SILENCE

For those watching these events play out from the field, the reaction of the crowd was one of the eeriest experience of a lifetime as the massive crowd went from screaming about an expected win to stone silent in a moment of time. Outside of a tiny group of around 3,000 ASU fans, located in the far reaches of one end zone and those celebrating on the field, the Big House had gone completely quiet as Lynch ran to the far end of the gridiron.

lot to make sure he wouldn’t lose the television signal.

Last year before the App-Tennessee game, Church revealed in an interview with ESPN what happened at the end of the game.

“I was in gym shorts and flip-flops,” Church remembered. “The last thing I thought was they were going to block the field goal. I kind of blacked out. I came off the bus, lost the flip-flops in front of the bus door, came off, no-shirt, no flips-flops, screaming at the top of my lungs.”

“The lunch crowd, wondering who is on the bus, that’s me, running around the parking lot, acting like an idiot.”

As fate would have it, Church and his band performed in Ann Arbor the night after the ASU upset. He bravely took the stage wearing a Mountaineer football jersey.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

T.J. Corum couldn’t resist retaliating against his Michigan antagonist after the block.

“I really appreciate you inviting us up here today,” Corum said.

In a hospital room in Virginia, Appalachian alumnus and rabid Mountaineer fan Nathan King nervously awaited the birth of his second daughter and kept tabs on the events in Ann Arbor the best he could.

Unable to get DirecTV, King — a sportswriter in his own right — and family members followed updates on the brewing upset on ESPN. “When it was reported that Corey Lynch blocked the kick, the cheers disturbed others on the (hospital) floor,” King said.

Now just short of her 10th birthday, Emily King takes pride in telling people that her birthday was “the best day of Daddy’s life.

THE BUDDING COUNTRY STAR

BIG TEN NETWORK

IN THE STANDS, PART TWO

For Appalachian State graduate Eric Church, keeping tabs of the game took some special preparation as the budding country music star and his band were on their way to their next concert. Church fortunately had a satellite dish on his tour bus, but decided to stop in an Applebees restaurant parking

Due to contract disputes with ESPN over television-rights fees, the Big Ten took a revolutionary step in 2007 to start its own television network. This daunting task included less-than-robust interest from cable TV outlets and satellite providers.

Only the late addition of DirecTV to the

subscriber list kept the launch of the network from being a complete disaster when the cameras first when live on Aug. 29, 2007, giving the fledgling network about 20 million prospective viewers. But everything changed two days later when BTN broadcast its first game, Appalachian State at Michigan.

“What a way to start a network,” BTN studio host Dave Revson proclaimed afterwards to the television audience.

The Big Ten Network went from about 16 million subscribers on its launch to 30 million in about a year, with Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany and others giving much of the credit to Appalachian’s historic upset. It now has over 90 million subscribers.

THE LIBRARY

Only a few local venues had access to DirecTV for the game and one of the most popular sites proved to be a restaurant and bar known as The Library. So many patrons flooded the building that the local fire marshall decreed that no one else could enter the facility.

CELEBRATION TIME IN BOONE

The town of Boone went absolutely nuts after the game. Students climbed the locked fences at Kidd Brewer Stadium and took down one of the two goal posts on the field.

Screaming “block that kick, block that kick” as they started an impromptu parade around campus, they eventually dumped their prized trophy in the front yard of the chancellor, Dr. Kenneth Peacock.

Cars honked their horns for hours as they tooled around town. Business marquees along all of the major roads displayed messages to honor the accomplishment.

When ASU’s team busses made the twohour trek from the Tri-Cities Airport in Tennessee back to Boone, the closer they got to campus, the more people that lined Highway 105. Several thousand strong as the team turned on to Stadium Drive, it took 45 more minutes for the busses to reach Owens Field House, a block away.

“I felt like a rock star feels that night,” Rauch said.

NATIONAL NEWS

ESPN analysts had castigated Michigan for scheduling the game. The irascible Kirk Herbstreit, a former Ohio State quarterback had actually brought maize and blue cupcakes to the set of GameDay to illustrate the expected mismatch.

Herbstreit was in a foul mood after the Mountaineers won, perhaps choking on one of those cupcakes.

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Meanwhile, At Home ...

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“Nobody ever heard of Appalachian,” Herbstreit fumed. “Worse loss imaginable for a BCS team.”

Herbstreit’s sidekick, ex-coach Lou Holtz, had gotten his head coaching start at William Mary and more knowledge of FCS programs.

“It was no fluke,” Holtz said. “Appalachian State just flat out got after them and got after them good.”

Holtz also had an interesting opinion on the following week’s opponent at the Big House. “I hope (Oregon) isn’t as good as Appalachian State.”

Former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Doug Flutie said App State should be elevated to FBS and Michigan should be relegated to FCS. A fan on the national FCS message board, Any Given Saturday, had an even better sugges-

tion. “App needs to stop scheduling these cupcake games and actually play some real teams.”

Fans at Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State, watching the final moments of the ASU-Michigan game on stadium scoreboards and television monitors, erupted in bigger cheers for the Mountaineers than they had for their own teams victories that day.

App State received so many media requests that it set up an unprecedented press conference for the next day. Mountaineer players such as Jackson and Lynch ended up as cover boys on national publications in the days that followed.

A week later, a tour group from Nebraska was on a bus trip to Winston-Salem for a game between the Cornhuskers and Wake Forest when they decided to take a detour to Boone. Stopping at Kidd Brewer Stadium, they were thrilled when former Nebraska

offensive coordinator Moore stopped by to chat with these fans This was one of many groups of fans over the next few weeks who suddenly felt the urge to make a pilgrimage to the Rock.

THE FOOTBALL

One of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the game is what happened to the football that was used on the final play of the game?

After Lynch was tackled near the five-yard line by Gingell, the pigskin bounced off a megaphone, rolled past a Wolverine male cheerleader and disappeared.

“I’ve been trying to figure out what happened to the ball ever since,” said John Welch, who was ASU’s equipment manager at the time and now serves as an assistant athletic director, in charge of operations.

“That would have been a nice artifact to put

2017 App State Football PrevieW

Since Jerry Moore began serving as the coach of the Appalachian State football, the Mountaineers have looked forward to those rare chances to play Power-5 conference teams as opportunity games.

Last year, an opening-night encounter at No. 9-ranked Tennessee appeared to be just that, with ASU leading 13-3 at halftime and the Mountaineers driving for a potential game-winning field goal try in the final seconds of regulation.

But poor clock management ruined App State’s hopes of a victory in the fourth quarter — after a missed extra point and field goal earlier had cost the team four crucial points — and the Mountaineers eventually lost in overtime when the Volunteers scored a fluke touchdown by recovering a fumble in the end zone to win 20-13.

So close to its most major upset since the victory over Michigan in 2007 and unable to hang close with Miami in another game at home later in the season, Appalachian was left to wait another year for its next opportunity game.

That will come on Sept. 2 at 6:15 p.m. when the Mountaineers travel to Georgia for another chance to beat one of the elite teams in college football. The Bulldogs are ranked 13th in the Associated Press preseason poll, extending a streak in the top-25 initial rankings that began in 2005.

But after that 2007 win over Michigan and last year’s performance at Tennessee, Appalachian will not be sneaking up on Georgia.

As Moore said following that win in Ann Arbor, Michigan 10 years ago, “Guys, the bullseye just got a lot bigger.”

Unlike 10 years ago, when the Mountaineers focused on the Michigan game from the time it was announced, current coach Scott Satterfield said at the Sun Belt Football Media Day last month that his squad won’t start focusing on Georgia until the week of the opening game.

“Our guys have done a tremendous job of trying to stay in the moment,” Satterfield explained. “During August camp, we’re focused on camp and getting better as a football team.

We really don’t talk about any opponents we have to play. And then the week leading up to Georgia, obviously every talk that we have will be on Georgia and then that’s it.”

There will also be the resumption of the series with Wake Forest for the first time since 2001, with the added caveat of the Demon Deacons coming to Kidd Brewer Stadium for the first time with the Sept. 23 contest.

“We’ve never had them in Boone so this is going to be awesome to get them up on the mountain.” said Satterfield, who remembers leading the Mountaineers to a win over Wake Forest as the quarterback to open the 1995 season — the first of 12 consecutive victories that year. “We hope that at the end of the season that what we have done, that our work has been good enough to compete for that championship and hopefully we have a championship.”

Among other games on an intriguing schedule include a contest with transitioning FBS opponent Coastal Carolina — a memorable FCS rival in the past — in Boone on Oct. 21, a rematch of the 2006 FCS national championship at UMass on Oct. 28, and the annual Thursday66

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night shootout with arch-rival Georgia Southern at home on Nov. 9.

There will also be an interesting matchup on Nov. 25 at Georgia State when Satterfield will match wits with new Panthers coach Shawn Elliot. Elliot and Satterfield walked on at ASU in 1991 and were co-captains of the 1995 Mountaineer team before serving on Moore’s staff for many years.

Coming off back-to-back Camellia Bowl wins and last season’s Sun Belt co-championship, the Mountaineers are heavy favorites to win big again. And rightfully so.

With four-year starters like linebackers Eric Boogs and Devin Stringer, safety A.J. Howard and cornerback Clifton Duck — the Sun Belt 2016 freshman of the year — anchoring the defense, along with offensive stalwarts like veteran quarterback Taylor Lamb, running back and Sun Belt offensive player of the year Jalin Moore and receiver Shaedon Meadors returning, Appalachian is again loaded with talent.

“I just think with the nucleus we’ve got coming back, we do have an opportunity to compete at a high level (in the Sun Belt) and we’re excited about it,” Satterfield said. “We have a great slate of games starting with Georgia, starting the season off in between the hedges, that will be fun. I’m excited about that game.”

2017 Appalachian State Football Schedule Sept. 2 at Georgia 6:15 p.m. ESPN Sept. 9 vs Savannah State 3:30 p.m. ESPN3 Sept. 16 at Texas State 7 p.m. ESPN3 Sept. 23 vs Wake Forest TBA Oct. 7 vs New Mexico State TBA Oct. 14 at Idaho 5 p.m.

Oct. 21 vs Coastal Carolina TBA Oct. 28 at Massachusetts 3:30 pm.

Nov. 4 at Louisiana-Monroe 3 p.m.

Nov. 9 vs Georgia Southern 7:30 p.m. ESPNU Nov. 25 at Georgia State TBA Dec. 2 vs Louisiana-Lafayette TBA

Photo by David Mayo/App State Athletics

in a trophy case someplace.”

Considering that Michigan field personnel treated the game balls with almost Brinks Security-type protection during the contest, it likely ended up being quickly whisked away.

BIGGEST UPSET EVER?

Some time after it was reported that the App State win over was the first-ever by an FCS opponent over a top-25-ranked FBS opponent, a website called FootballGeography. com tried to dispute the claim. Football historian Andrew McKillop presented evidence that the first loss by a Associated Press-ranked team had occurred in 1983 when Penn State — ranked 20th by Associated Press — stumbled to its surprising 14-3, season-opening defeat against Cincinnati.

The problem with this assessment is that In Ann Arbor, Mich., Mayo and his daughters, began DAVE MAYO’S BLOCK PICTURE Cincinnati was not a true I-AA program (as Surely enough, to make the 12-hour drive to Michigan their day tailgating with nearly 1,000 App fans and memthe subdivision was called from 1979-2005) in worthwhile, Dave Mayo snapped this photo of Mountaineer bers of the Yosef Club. As the Mayos entered the Big House, 1983. The Bearcats were in the midst of litigation with the NCAA after the college governsafety Corey Lynch in mid-flight as he dashed the hopes of they, like many, were struck by the sheer enormity of college ing body abruptly removed Cincinnati’s I-A the Michigan faithful with his game-ending blocked field football’s biggest stadium. certification just months before the 1982 camMayo snapped pics throughout and when the game goal that Saturday ten years ago. paign, with both an appeal and a lawsuit.

Mayo attended the game with his daughters, Kaitlin came down to the wire, Mayo readied his telephoto lens The non-conference Bearcats didn’t change and captured the game’s decisive moment on film forever. and Whitney, who also went to ASU at the time. scholarship levels and played a I-A schedule in Both sisters agreed that being students at ASU during “It was surreal,” said Dave, upon returning to the High 1983 and eventually won their case against the Country from The Big House 10 years ago. “We were kind of the school’s biggest moment in the national spotlight is NCAA to return to the I-A ranks in 1984. Even something they will always remember. in awe. We just beat Michigan!” if the NCAA technically considered Cincinnati “Later we can look back and say we were there when Mayo, a Boone resident and an ‘83 graduate of ASU, is a a I-AA squad during those years, there is aldedicated Mountaineers fan and travels to most of the team’s it happened,” said Whitney. “This is something we can tell ways a transition period involved with moves. our kids about.” away games each year.

The only I-AA school on the Bearcats’ schedule was Cornell, which had moved down By almost every measure, Cincinnati was in truth a I-A team when to the lower subdivision in 1982 with the rest of the Ivy League. De- it beat Penn State and as big of a shock that it was that the Bearcats spite that stunning win in Happy Valley, UC went only 3-6-1 the rest beat the powerful Nittany Lions, it was more like a Group of Five of the season. win over a Power Five conference than a I-AA victory.

The Bearcats had another shot at a top-20 team on Oct. 22, 1983 By 1984, Cincinnati was officially back in the good graces of the against No. 8 Miami (Florida), losing 17-7 to the Hurricanes. UC archaic NCAA as a full-fledged I-A program. closed out the season with a 14-10 setback against another Miami, App State’s victory over Michigan, meanwhile, served as motithe university located in Ohio. vation for other FCS teams. In the past 10 years, James Madison knocked off No. 15 Virginia Tech (21-16 in 2010), Eastern Washington defeated Oregon State in 2013 and Washington, and North Dakota State toppled Kansas State and Iowa.

SO WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN

It is well known that the Appalachian upset of Michigan caused student applications to the campus to skyrocket and fundraising efforts to soar. The victory jump-started an effort to expand Kidd Brewer Stadium and build a new press box and athletic support facility that opened with a game against McNeese State in 2009.

It also led for the push to take ASU’s football program to the FBS level and a move to the Sun Belt Conference in 2014.

“We didn’t expect to win, but we didn’t have anything to lose,” said Dexter Jackson. “We didn’t have any pressure on us.”

“It was one of the milestone moments,” Pierre Banks said, “not just for the football program, but for the entire university.” t David Coulson, who is starting his 25th year covering the Mountaineers, is Executive Editor for College Sports Journal and an Adjunct Professor at ASU. Readers can look for a book that goes more in depth on the upset this fall.

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Bees, Bytes, and Babies STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAN TODD

T

hings are buzzing around the Faith Mountain Farm, in more ways than one. The Wilkes family has gathered to celebrate the birthdays of two children and a grandparent, and the small living room is wall-to-wall people: James and Shannon Wilkes, their eight children, ranging in age from 5 to 26, plus two of the children’s spouses and a baby, two sets of grandparents, a couple of aunts and some cousins. James makes a quick announcement, “Just to let everyone know, the yard is full of bees.

Sulli has set out some honey, so the bees are pretty excited right now. Everyone be careful.”

This news is received matter-offactly by the immediate family, who are accustomed to a bevy of bees from the many hives of their beekeeping father and brother. Some of the other party guests, however, announce their intentions to stay inside until the bees settle

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down a bit.

Meanwhile, birthday gifts are opened, with each card read aloud. “Happy Birthday” is sung, and two beautifully decorated cakes (one “regular” and one “gluten-free”) are cut and shared. A curtain is hung across the door in the adjacent room, and pulled back to reveal ten year old Zion, ready to perform a magic show. Sisters Lilian (age 11) and Vivian (age 5) follow with a dance routine, delighting the audience.

It has been a full day for the Wilkes family, with some rising as early as 5:30am to head to the Watauga County Farmers Market in Boone, about a 45minute drive from their farm in Creston.

For the past twelve years, the farm has rented space at the market to sell honey, fresh eggs, baked goods, vegetables, and other products. James is almost always in attendance at the market, along with some of the children.

James Wilkes wears many hats in addition to his role as husband and father.

He is a professor and Chair of the Computer Science department at Appalachian State University, farmer and beekeeper, cofounder of HiveTracks internet application for beekeepers, and one of the key initiators of the BeeInformed.org research site monitoring honeybee health and activity.

He and Shannon have raised a brood of entrepreneurially minded children, who have branched off in businesses ranging from beekeeping, to baking, cake making, and notecard creating, all falling under the umbrella (and Farmers Market sales tent) of Faith Mountain Farm.

As part of their education, the children have been encouraged to earn their own money by raising or producing goods to sell at the market. The children have all been home-schooled, and working at the market has helped developed their communication and math skills, as well as customer service and business basics.

Farm Living

Twelve years ago, the Wilkes were an average sized family in an average sized house, living in an average neighborhood

in Boone. “We decided that we wanted to live in a different environment, one where the kids could learn, play outside, and develop responsibility. We’ve always loved nature, and wanted to raise animals and grow vegetables.”

James had been hunting with friends in the Creston area, and mentioned that they were looking for a farm. Someone knew about a place on Big Laurel Road, a farmhouse on about 65 acres of land, with five acres cleared and the rest wooded. “I called the property owner that night,” recalled James. He and Shannon drove out to look at the property, and invited his father, Bob, to take a look as well.

Bob laughed. “The farmhouse was about 75 years old. I walked in house and saw a trough running through the kitchen, with cold water trickling down from a spring. That’s how the people kept their food cold, with water from the spring.”

The farmhouse was not large, just three bedrooms upstairs, and a single bath, kitchen, dining and small living room on the main floor. Still, James and Shannon felt like they could make it work for their growing family. “We took a wall out to open up the kitchen and dining area, updated some

of the electrical, refinished the floors and painted. We added insulation, because there was none!” James said. “Then we moved in.” At the time, the Wilkes had just adopted baby Lillian, and Shannon was pregnant with their sixth child, Zion.

In their home, there is no air-conditioning, and the heat source is a woodstove and fireplace. “We’ve realized that we can live very simply,” reflected James.

“There is just one bath, and it also serves as the laundry room and the closet. None of the bedrooms have closets. So a lot of sharing of space goes on. We have a rule that if you’re in the shower, you can’t lock

The whole gang - L to R - Shannon, Vivian (age 5), James, Sulli (age 19), Victoria and her husband Galen Wilkes, Oliver (age 8), Lillian (age 12), Israel (age 15), Zion (age 11), Margaret and her husband Hudson.

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When a beekeeper checks a hive, he locates the Queen bee to make sure she is healthy and active. The queen bee (near center) is larger than the other bees, and is the sole egg layer in a hive. She can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day. the door, because chances are, someone else will be in there brushing teeth or putting clothes in the dryer.”

The name of the farm was an easy choice for Shannon. “I knew immediately that we should call our new home “Faith Mountain Farm.” It took a lot of faith for us to move out here.”

Neither James nor Shannon had ever lived on a farm. “We grew up in Eden, North Carolina,” she said. “Just regular neighborhood homes.”

James likes to joke that Shannon came from the “Country Club” side of the tracks in Eden, and he came from the “other side of the tracks.” He and Shannon have known each other since the fifth grade, but didn’t date until they were in college, he at Appalachian State, and Shannon at the University of North Carolina.

“James was really annoying in high school,” Shannon mused. “We had all of our classes together, and he would always blow the grade curve on tests. He’d come up with things that the teachers hadn’t even thought about, and they’d give him, like, ten points extra credit.”

James’s father was a math teacher and school principal, and James was a rather gifted student. He went to ASU with the intention of becoming a math teacher like his father, but emerged with a degree in computer science. He and Shannon married soon after college graduation, and then lived in Durham while James earned his masters degree and PhD from Sulli pulls a rack of bees out of the “super,” a box which houses several racks of bees. Bees build honeycombs on the racks.

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James has written about many adventures with the farm tractor on his blog, filled with stories about beekeeping and living on the farm.

Duke University. Like many ASU alumni, James longed to return to the mountains, and was lucky enough to land a job as a professor at Appalachian.

In addition to being an educator, James followed in his father’s footsteps in other ways as well. He explained, “In 1964, a year before I was born, Dad bought a package of bees from the Sears and Roebuck catalogue. When the bees arrived, he became a beekeeper. Dad is a naturalist and a horticulturist, and he planted a lot of seeds in my head and heart when I was a kid.

Growing up, we’d go on hikes, and he’d identify the plants and birds and teach us about nature. That goes along with a lot of the things we do out here.”

When James and Shannon moved their family to the farm, James’s father presented James with a couple of beehives. They planted a garden and purchased a flock of chickens. The Wilkes began renting space at the Farmer’s Market. “It was really for something for us to do as a family,” he recalled. “We try to be good stewards. God made the land to be productive, and raising the crops has meaning and purpose.

Our presence at the market gives us an outlet to sell the extra that we can’t use as a family.”

James & Bob Wilkes: James has followed in his father’s footsteps in many ways, as a beekeeper, educator, and man of faith.

wife, Victoria, live near Meat Camp with their baby daughter Elanor.

Margaret remembers moving to the farm as a young teenager. “I was 13 at the time, and thought it was really cool to be moving to a farm. I had my own room at our house in Boone, but when we moved to the farm, the house was much smaller, but we had more space, outside! So my focus shifted from my room to the outdoors, where there was so much to explore.”

She continued, “We started raising animals a couple of months after moving to the farm. We bought some chickens, and I started my own egg business. It was a great way to learn responsibility. If I wanted to sell eggs, I had to take care of the chickens.

I had no choice! I had to feed them. I saved up my egg money and bought my own iPod, which was the “new cool thing,” and that really developed the entrepreneurial spirit in me.”

The farm evolved, and not every venture was successful. Margaret said, “We did try goats one time. We were going to milk them, but we never could get milk from those goats. We had a mama goat that had twin kids, and I helped deliver them, which was a great experience. At that time, we had a field of sunflowers that we were selling at the market for a dollar a stem. The goats got loose and ate the entire field sunflowers, every single one! That was pretty much the end of our goat raising experience.”

Prior to moving to the farm, Margaret had already been baking and selling her cakes and cookies at her dad’s office. Once they had space at the Farmer’s Market, Margaret expanded her baking business to offer cinnamon buns and muffins at the Market. As Margaret grew older, she took a cake decorating class and began “Little Red Hen Bakery.”

“I did my first wedding cake at age 16!

Growth of an Empire

Over the years, James added many more beehives to the farm, and the family also raised goats, pigs, Christmas trees, and, of course, more children! At one time, all ten of the Wilkes family lived at the farm. Now Margaret, the oldest, is married to Hudson Barry and they are expecting their first child. Margaret and Hudson live in the Wilkes’ original home in Boone, which had housed renters for several years. Second-oldest Galen and his

The Wilkes sell fresh eggs at the market. The kids take turn being responsible for feeding and taking care of the chickens, moving into different farm roles as they get older.

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“

We decided that we wanted to live in a different environment, one where the kids could learn, play outside, and develop responsibility. We’ve always loved nature, and wanted to raise animals and grow vegetables.”

I had this girl call me, bless her heart, and she had tried one of my cakes at a party. She asked me to bake her wedding cake. I told her I’d never done a wedding cake before, but I’d be glad to try. She decided to give me the chance.

I think my mom was more nervous than I was!

So word spread and that’s become a big part of my business. Then I started doing gluten-free and allergy friendly recipes, and that has really taken off.”

As Margaret moved to cake decorating, her brothers began to take over the baking business. Galen (age 21) and his wife, Victoria, bake muffins, cinnamon rolls, and granola for Bohemia Coffee Shop in West Jefferson, and Camp Coffee Roasters in Blowing Rock, where Galen works as a manager. “We’ve also baked desserts on occasion for several restaurants, including Casa Rustica and Coyote Kitchen,” said Galen.

Galen describes roles on the farm as “fluid.” For awhile, he served as the farm manager. “With my work in management at the coffeehouse, I had skills that translated to the farm, from inventory management, to order processing and scheduling deliveries.” Now as he takes over the retail baking business, he plans to start his own company, still operating under the Faith Mountain Farm brand.

“Growing up, we had the opportunity to do a lot of things that most ten or eleven year olds don’t get to do,” Galen said. “A lot of who I am today is a result of the experiences that I had working on the farm. For instance, I raised pork, and learned a lot about running a business.”

Israel (age 15) does the bulk of the baking for the market. He usually gets an early start on his day, getting up to start his schoolwork or his baking. Israel said, “I like working the 72

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Sunflowers provide nectar for the bees (hives in the background), and are then sold by the stem at the Farmer’s Market.

Zion displays eggs gathered on a summer morning.

Muffins lined up to cool, ready to wrap for the next day’s market sales.

market, interacting with a bunch of people. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of our schooling, making change, and customer service.â&#x20AC;? Zion (age 12) bakes all of the gluten-free items for market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to take turns using the kitchen,â&#x20AC;? said Zion.

James has turned over most of the beekeeping tasks to Sullivan (age 19). He currently manages about 150 hives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m considered a â&#x20AC;&#x153;sidelinerâ&#x20AC;? in the beekeeping business,â&#x20AC;? Sulli explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s someone who works with bees part-time. A commercial beekeeper works full time, and has more than five hundred hives.â&#x20AC;?

Summertime is the busiest time for Sulli. The bees spend the winter months at a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farm in Statesville. Once they return to the mountains, Sulli distributes hives all over the area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In a normal day, I might get a super ready, inspect hives, extract honey, and move hives to different locations,â&#x20AC;? he explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A super is a box, with about eight to ten frames.

Bees build their honeycomb on the frames.â&#x20AC;?

The flavor of the honey is determined by the plants that a bee colony draws nectar from. This region is know for its sourwood honey, considered one of the rarest and best varieties of honey in the world. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sourwood is a type of tree, and there is a band of these trees where the Blue Ridge Mountains start to rise up. My goal is fifty hives in sourwood this season,â&#x20AC;? said Sulli. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always looking for new bee yards, places to put the hives. Once the hives are placed, I monitor them until the honey is ready to harvest.â&#x20AC;?

In addition to the hives owned by the family, the farm offers a program called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Backyard Beehives,â&#x20AC;? which gives the public the opportunity to either purchase, lease, or simply sponsor some hives. This allows others to learn about beekeeping and try it out for themselves, or just provide a yard for Faith Mountain Farm to maintain hives, in exchange for honey.

Sulli monitors the hives that are off-site by using scales, which he can check remotely to determine

Israel prepares cinnamon rolls, a favorite of his customers at the weekly Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market.

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James offers tastes of honey to customers at the market, allowing them to sample the difference between varieties.

The Sourwood honey variety is known all over the world, and is harvested primarily in this region. the weight and readiness of the hives. “I can see how the weight of the hive changes, to know when the comb is being filled with honey.”

Bees Meet Technology

Remote monitoring of hive scales is just one way that technology has made the tasks of the beekeeper easier. James’s involvement in beekeeping, combined with his role as Computer Science professor, opened doors much, much bigger.

James said, “I was standing in front of a bee hive one day when my academic and technology world collided with beekeeping. It occurred to me that I could use technology in beekeeping, and it could really help me,” he revealed. “Working with bees is a lot about observation. You’re looking at the bees, what the queen is doing, how healthy they are, and you compare that to how they were doing the last time you checked. I started thinking how helpful it would be to have a handheld device to use, as I was checking the hives, that gave me information about that particular hive, and then gave me suggestions as to what I might need to do.”

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He continued, “I met a man named Mark Henson, who happened to live in the same town as me. He was a beekeeper,

he was a software engineer, and he happened to have a similar idea. So we joined forces, and the innovation of HiveTracks. com came out of that. We try to replicate what happens in the bee yard in the digital world. This helps beekeepers know their bees better.”

One feature of HiveTracks is a map tool that shows beekeepers the 2 mile radius where there bees forage, so they’ll know what conditions they might be exposed to. HiveTrack users can also connect with other beekeepers, accessing tools to make bees healthier, and contributing to solutions to the problems that honeybees are encountering.

HiveTracks, founded in 2010, has grown to serve over 23,000 subscribers in 152 countries. Every other year, beekeepers from all over the world gather at a conference called “Apimondia” to learn best practices, network with other beekeepers, and be exposed to new tools and research. James first attended this conference in Kiev in 2013, and then was invited to speak at a session in South Korea in Homemade granola is a popular product sold at 2015. He has been invited to speak again the Farmer’s Market and at area coffee shops. this year in Istanbul, and Sulli will attend

August / September 2017

Bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of our food supply.

The work that James Wilkes is doing via HiveTracks.com and BeeInformed.com is helping beekeepers around the world monitor their bee population and share best practices for keeping bees healthy. the conference with his father.

Another large scale project, involving James in his role as professor, is BeeInformed.org, a collaboration of efforts from leading research labs and universities, including Appalachian State. James was involved in the start-up of this effort, which was supported initially by a $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and has transitioned to a non-profit organization to work with beekeepers to better understand how to keep healthier bees.

BeeInformed is a survey based service, with data collected on a yearly basis. The data is compiled and analyzed at the vanEngelsdorp Honeybee Epidemiology Lab at the University of Maryland, then shared with the industry.

“Bees are responsible for pollinating onethird of our food supply,” James elaborated, “so their health is important to all of us.”

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Israel chats with a customer who is buying some pastries at the Watauga County Farmers Market. Interacting with customers, making change, and managing inventory at the market serve as a part of the Wilkes childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education. the bee population around the globe, and efforts such as BeeInformed are beginning to make a positive difference in improving the fate of the bees. James and his team at A.S.U. built and manage the computing infrastructure for this project.

Eight is Enough?

While his academic and beekeeping advocacy pursuits certainly keep James busy, his primary focus is his faith and his family. Whether they are holding hands to ask a blessing on the food prior to a meal, or working side-by-side at the Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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Margaret Wilkes Barry baked her first wedding cake at the early age of 16. She began the Little Red Hen Bakery, operating under the Faith Mountain Farm business

August / September 2017

Market, or sitting in the stands cheering on the A.S.U. Mountaineers, James and his family are spending time together.

Evidence of James and Shannonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faith is even apparent in the names of the children. Some of the kids, including Margaret, Sullivan, Lillian, and Vivian, were named in honor of family members or friends. Galenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique name has a unique story. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After Margaret, the oldest was born, we had a baby, Micah, that died in the womb at thirty-seven weeks,â&#x20AC;? Shannon shared. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He had a condition called a Vein of Galen aneurysm, something that develops in a fetus. We named our next child Galen, after him.â&#x20AC;?

James said that the loss of Micah had a profound impact on them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We realized that children cannot be taken for granted, and we then decided that we wanted how ever many children the Lord wanted to give us.â&#x20AC;?

Shannon had some difficulties with her pregnancies, and the birth of Israel was symbolic of a deliverance for their family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were doing a lot of Bible reading with the kids, studying the book of Exodus at that time, and of course Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deliverance of Israel is a theme throughout,â&#x20AC;? said Shannon.

The next two sons got their names from Psalm 128. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That passage became very meaningful to our family. It mentions Israel, Zion, and says that your children will be like olive shoots. So we named our next boys Zion and Oliver.â&#x20AC;?

Oliver, manning the cash box, takes pride in his ability to help customers and provide the correct change for orders.

Of course, even olive shoots get tangled up sometimes. Galen was quick to admit,”We don’t get along ALL of the time. Sulli and I butt heads frequently, and the different kids get on each other’s nerves.” After all, there is a lot of sharing of space in the Wilkes’ home.

“Unlike a lot of kids, we didn’t grow

Dinner is most often served “buffet style” where everyone helps their own plates from the center bar in the kitchen. The kitchen table is no longer big enough to hold the entire family, as Galen and Margaret have each added spouses and a new generation is emerging! up with personal space. We didn’t have our own rooms. We had our own shelves, where we could put our Legos and stuff. So we never felt entitled to personal space,” Galen continued. “We spent a lot of time outdoors, and that gave us space.”

Just like in any family, there have been areas of trial and error, moments of joy

and pain. In examining his family, James says he believes that his family has found a way of living that gives them purpose. “In our case, it is a love for learning, a love for creation, a love for nature, a love for children, and a love for family, all under a giant arch of a love for God, where we choose to live. It’s a fun place to be.” t

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TOP ROW: Doug Childress, Bob Nance, Fred Easley, Jimmy MacKay, David Forbes, Larry MacKay, Red Easley, Boyd Rayfield, Sam Bayner, Floyd Gragg, Unknown, William Gragg, Fred Reed, Carroll Daniels, Bobby Twiggs, and Unknown

Linville’s

Caddyshack

BY HARRIS PREVOST

T

his year marks the 125th anniversary of Linville Resorts. The fabric of Avery County’s golfing communities, as well as many other golf communities, was woven by the rich history and timeless traditions established by Linville. Linville also shaped the lives of generations of local school boys who grew up caddying at the famed Donald Rossdesigned golf course.

There were no work opportunities for 78

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young boys growing up in Avery County back then. “It was just expected that we would be caddies,” said Larry Sudderth.

Just about every boy growing up in Linville caddied, and many from surrounding communities.

Sid Yoder echoed Sudderth’s remarks.

“If you lived in Linville, it was understood you would caddy to buy clothes and help your parents. “ Tommy Burleson came from Newland.

August / September 2017

“We all hitch-hiked to the golf course. Everyone knew us back then, and it was easy to get a ride,” he said. “Linville is where I learned to play. I was on our high school ‘s first golf team. “ Being a caddy enabled young boys to help their families make ends meet. Paul Hughes, 87, started caddying in the early days of World War II. “Only small boys were left, plus some older men from World War I,” he said. “Everyone else was in-

Linville Golf Course Caddies From The Mid 1950s

BOTTOM ROW: Steve Gouda (Pro), Bud Marshall, Boyd Coffey, Ted Hughes, Paul Blalock, Andy Yoder, Harry Marshall, Jack Cooke, Paul Hughes, Bruce Blalock, Ray Watson, George Cooke, Richard Ferry, Bobby Banner, Unknown, Charles Garland, Phillip Yoder (Caddy Master) volved in the war. In the early 40s, I made Some Linville members even provided the munity leaders, a basketball all-American $37.50 one season. I saved it to buy two means for their long-time caddies to go and NBA star , an Atlantic Coast Conferpair of corduroy pants, two flannel shirts, to college. Linville caddies grew up to be ence head football coach, and several bea leather jacket, a pair of shoes, and still teachers, ministers, golf course superinten- came golf professionals. dents, business people, political and comThe script for the cult hit movie, “Cadhad a little left. dyshack,” released in 1980 “My father didn’t have and still popular with newer to buy any clothes for me generations, was written by after I started caddying, “ three former caddies. They Hughes remembered. “! remembered the characters was pleased as punch about and events from their teenthat. I made $1.35 a round age caddying days and wove and gave the caddy master them into the plot for the 10 cents. “ Hughes, who movie. The movie’s stars worked security at Linville were some of Hollywood’s for 37 years, caddied into favorite funny men: Chevy the early 1960s to suppleChase, Rodney Dangerment his income. field, Ted Knight and Bill David Forbes, who cadMurray! Brought together, died from 1953-1961, used they were a recipe for a his caddy money to buy wild ride. None of Murschool clothes from Sears ray’s lines were scripted-& Roebuck for himself and they were all improvised. for his brothers and sisters.

Linville had its share of He also bought a milk cow and seven tons of coal. Caddyshack painting by noted artist and Linville member David Thompson Caddyshack-type characAugust / September 2017

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This picture was taken during the Carolina Open in 1935 featuring a caddy in overalls holding the pin ters, and they had plenty of mischievous said, ‘Not really. I brush my teeth with it up the balls. Aggie would tell me where to stand and hit them right at me. I didn’t fun, but the two stories took completely every day.”’

George Cooke, retired greenskeeper have to move much. I got 75 cents for different paths.

Hugh MacRae, 92, said, “The caddy at Linville, and his brother David, current shagging a bag.

“Later, I was able to caddy for her. It master at the time was Jake Hartley, brother greenskeeper, were both caddies. George of Joe Hartley, founder of the Singing On began in 1946 at age 10. He was too young was a wonderful experience. She was reThe Mountain. I remember the caddy fee at to caddy at first so he shagged balls, mostly ally good. We stayed friends, visited often that time being 65 cents with 10 cents go- for Aggie Morton, who was around 18 at and talked about the early days.

“In those days, the war was ing to the caddy master. Caddies winding down and older people only carried single then.” were out of work. The older men I remember Andy Yoder in were the first picked to caddy. particular. “Andy was a wonderNot many people were playing ful mountain man. He limped golf then, but caddying for those some and his hands shook from who did play kept me clothed a medical condition, but he was and gave me money for school. a great caddy, a true profesI was one of nine kids. We had sional. Ralph Googe was a real no money; times were hard. Becharacter. He had a humpback ing able to caddy at Linville was and he made moonshine, bnt the a lifesaver for us. revenuers never bothered him.

“In later years when the Stuart Dickson, 88, remembered economy picked up and play Googe. “He caddied for my faThis is an old photo of the ladies playing golf on hole #9 increased, there were times Linther, and my father thought the of the Tanglewood Course built in 1895 at the site of today’s ville would come and get us out world of him. He was small, but Linville course and abandoned in 1934. of school early to caddy.” he would carry 36 holes. He Phillip Yoder followed Hartwas also bad to drink. One day after a round , my father told Googe to the time. Aggie later won the Carolinas ley as caddy master. Larry Sudderth recome over sometime for a drink. He came Golf Association women’s championship membered him as having a gruff voice. “If over one day, but my father wasn’t there. four times, and she founded Grandfather a golfer complained about you,” Sudderth said, “you didn’t get out for a week or two.

He told my sister her father promised him Golf & Country Club.

“There were no range balls then,” If you did a really good job, a golfer would a drink, so she poured him one and he downed it. My sister commented that it Cooke said. “The player supplied the balls request you. “ was too much to drink at one time. Googe and caddies acted as the target and picked When Gene Stout, head golf profession80

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FRONT ROW: Wayne Holden, Joe Sturgill, Sid Yoder. SECOND ROW: Abe Thompson, Stanley Greene, Paul Hughes, Carroll Gragg, Larry Jones. THIRD ROW: Roy Childress, Carlos Johnson, Mike Hughes, Big Doc Gray, Doran Robbins. TOP ROW: Carroll Forbes, Larry Forbes, Bruce Blalock, David Forbes, Sid Gragg, *** David Forbes and Paul Hughes are pictured the 1950s picture. al at Augusta National, became Linville’s pro (in Augusta’s offseason), he brought his assistant Bob Kletcke with him. Bob later became head pro at Augusta and was Grandfather Golf & Country Club’s first pro.

“When I first met Phillip Yoder,” Bob said, “he asked me what my given name was. He asked where I worked and next, he asked where I was from. I told him Chicago. He responded, ‘Is that a very big place?’ Phillip was a super-duper guy.

“I made sandwiches and bought candy

and crackers for the players, but the caddies ate most of the candy. We operated the concession out of the club storage area of the clubhouse. “ Sid Yoder said of his father, “He had over 100 caddies that he had to maintain control over. He was a man of few words, but you knew what was expected. You did what he said, or you got sent home for a week or two. He went with those who were there the most and who he could depend on. He did favor the Linville boys be-

cause he was friends with their fathers.”

On weekends, caddies came from as far as 30 miles away. Men who worked in the mills caddied on weekends to help make ends meet for their families. They made more money caddying for a day than they did working in the mill for a day.

The caddies were not formally trained.

Joe Sturgill said, “We had to learn on our own, but we helped each other. The players helped, too. They knew if we were learning.”

Sid Yoder was the son of Phillip Yoder, who was the Caddy Master at Linville in the 50’s. He brought along to the photo shoot the powder horn his uncle Andy Yoder had during his caddying days.

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Paul Hughes remembered, “We all started out nothing and we became good caddies.

If we didn’t get good, we didn’t make any money.”

Tommy Taylor, legendary math teacher for over 40 years at Avery High School and current general manager of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, said that Yoder in general would put the Linville boys out first, then the Newland boys, then Crossnore and finally Cranberry and Elk Park.

“We had a lot of families represented among the caddies,” Taylor said. “We had the Taylors, the Forbes, Calverts, Yoders, Graggs, Sudderths, Blalocks, Ollis’s, Arnetts, Owens and Vances. Then there were the Grays: David (Big Doc), Ralph (Little Doc) Billy Joe Patton is pictured lining up a put on the 18th green in late 1950’s at the Linville and Raymond (Middle Doc).”

Golf Course. Patton almost won the Masters and was one of America’s best and beloved Taylor caddied from 1958 to 1971. He amateur golfers. He often visited Linville for “dogfight” golfing competitions. was 10 years old starting out, so his first could keep the flies and gnats away. The shrubbery now separatjob was shagging balls. He stood out on the practice range and picked up balls as they were being hit by his ing the tee from the parking lot was not there during the cadplayer. Turns out, other players were hitting balls, too, so he had dyshack days.

The caddies were usually a mixture of teenage boys and older to dodge a lot of balls heading his way! By his time, the caddy fee men. To pass time waiting “to get called out” of the caddy lot, the cadincreased to $3 single/$5 double with two or three-dollar tips.

Linville’s caddyshack was located about 50 yards behind and dies threw horseshoes, practiced putting, played poker or “pitched to the right of the first tee. The site is now part of the paved park- to the line.” A line was drawn in the dirt and the person whose coin ing lot. It was an open-ended building large enough to provide was pitched closest to the line got the other players’ coins.

Andy Yoder whittled a putter out of a laurel branch so the shelter for about 40-50 Caddies. guys could putt to a couple of holes in the dirt. Claude Arnett, At times, the caddies built a fire in the caddy lot so the smoke

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one of the older men, was the best at horse shoes even though he threw frisbee style.

Harry Marshall ran the poker games.

He made more money playing poker than caddying. Marshall later was hired to be caddy master at Grandfather Golf & Country Club. Newland native and Georgia Tech football coach Paul Johnson caddied for Marshall at Grandfather and during tournaments, at Linville. Paul Hughes said that when teenage boys had a lot of idle time, there would be some â&#x20AC;&#x153;battles,â&#x20AC;? or fights. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was just boys pickinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at each other,â&#x20AC;? Hughes said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take much pickinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Some of the older caddies enjoyed their liquor, and they knew which players carried liquor in their golf bags. When the players werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t watching, they helped themselves.

According to Lewie Blalock, Martin Franklin from Pineola also made moonshine and brought it to the course in quart jars. He hid them in a spring box near the clubhouse. Water lilies covered them. One day, Lewieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother moved Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whiskey around inside the spring box and when Martin reached in to get some, he couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find any. Martin panicked and went ballistic, all to the enjoyment of the other caddies.

Sid Yoder remembers one time when Martin was caddying. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s man missed a shot on the third hole and in a fit of anger, threw his club into the creek. Martin started throwing his other clubs into the creek and the player yelled, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Martin what are you doing?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and Martin said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just trying to help.â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Almost all the boys learned to play golf while caddying at Linville. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We got to play free after 5 PM,â&#x20AC;? Joe Sturgill said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I learned to play by watching the good players like John Pottle, Billy Joe Patton and Dale Morey (both Walker Cup players for U.S.).

We would play up to six in a group. We had four clubs between us. We played what club was thrown our way. It could be a five iron from 70 yards. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Sturgill held the course record at Grandfather Golf & Country Club, a 66 from the back tees, for years.

Caddies could also play Linville when the season was over. Way back, cattle grazed on the closed course. The club hosted a caddy tournament at the end of the season, which was mid-October.

The perennial winner of the tournament was Wade Johnson from Linville, who later turned pro. David Forbes said Johnson was the best to ever come out of Linville. Other caddies who became professionals were Jerry Blalock, Sam Foster and Floyd Gragg.

Players and caddies developed special relationships over time, and the caddies were

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This year marks the 125th anniversary of Linville Resorts. Director of Golf, Tom Dale says of the course, “Everyone enjoys playing our Ross classic because of its simplicity, its rich history, and its many challenges.” very supportive of their players. Bill Williamson, former NCAA Champion from UNC and US Amateur runner up, remembers one of his best rounds at Linville. “I had made seven birdies and my caddy was so excited. Then I birdied 16 and 17, and when I made a birdie putt on 18, he yelled, ‘There he goes again!’ Our caddies were mountain folks, and they were really great.”

One of the highlights for the caddies was the renowned Wednesday afternoon dogfights. Great players came from all around to get in the high-stakes games.

Players usually included the sheriffs from Mitchell and Avery counties--Sam Googe and Tarry Garland. Billy Joe Patton, who almost won the 1954 Masters golf tournament (lost by one to Ben Hogan and Sam Snead), “won everything” according to Sturgill.

Sturgill added, “Aggie played in the dog fights and hit from the men’s tees. She could flat out play. So could Sheriff Googe.

Chi Chi Rodriguez was up visiting a friend and Googe beat him three days straight.”

Sturgill remembers his first time out as a caddy. “I was eight years old and I was called out to caddy for Diddy Wright. He had this big staff bag and when he saw me, he went back to his car and got a small bag.

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High Country Magazine

We alternated. I carried his bag one hole and he carried it the next. I caddied for him a lot over the years and when I graduated from high school, he gave me $500. “ Some players weren’t so fun. Larry Sudderth remembers Admiral Glover.

“Nobody wanted to caddy for him. Caddies hid when his name was called. He didn’t give tips. He didn’t have a ball retriever. When he hit balls in the creek, I had to go in and get them. I was his ball retriever!”

A story about a long day on the links has a couple of versions. David Forbes remembers this one. A foursome of ladies teed off at 8:30 AM and by the third hole, let a foursome through. By four o’clock, they had reached the 15th hole and they let the same foursome through again. By the time they got in, one lady asked her caddy, David Thompson, if he was tired.

He responded, “No ma’am, just homesick!” One day, Forbes carried for 36 holes, then went out in a foursome for nine more holes. He and Big Doc Gray each carried double. After a few holes, Doc had to go milk his cows, so Forbes finished the nine holes carrying four bags.

On another occasion, Forbes and Gaither Braswell were carrying for four

August / September 2017

women. Braswell was hard of hearing. After the third hole, one of the ladies asked him, “Where’s the ladies’ tee?” Braswell said, “I don’t know, but the men pee behind that cucumber tree. “ Carolos Oates, a Linville resident from Memphis, misses the caddy experience.

“There was nothing like having a caddy here. They grew up learning everything about the course. They were invaluable.

Just look at the relationship between the pros and their caddies at the US Open and The Masters.”

In 1974, Yoder retired and Bud Winebarger became caddy master. The winds of change were already blowing, and the time was fast approaching for the demise of Linville’s caddy program.

The advent of the golf cart eventually led to the end of caddying at Linville. At first, the club required each group with a cart to have a forecaddy. Later, that requirement was dropped, and by the late 1970s, the caddyshack was vacant.

Joe Sturgill reflected about his caddy days. “Those were the good times. You learned a lot of stuff at the caddyshack, and you made a lot of friends, too. “ And the friendships of the caddy brotherhood continue 50, 60 and 70 years later. t

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PLACES TO DINE THIS SUMMER

RESTAURANT GUIDE

Canyons

Blowing Rock. Located just off of the scenic, winding highway 321 in Blowing Rock, this historic restaurant and bar is well known all over the High Country for its spectacular and breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, its scrumptious southwestern choices and unique takes on classic American food or dishes. All dishes on the menu are freshly prepared in house with the finest ingre-

dients available. Canyons in Blowing Rock regularly offers a wide variety of seasonally fresh items, so ask about the fantastic nightly specials in addition to the daily menu selections. Every Sunday, enjoy a delicious brunch accompanied by live jazz music. Canyons also offers a diverse selection of domestic and imported wines and a large selection of beers chosen to complement the items on the menu. Just ask a member of the friendly staff for a recommendation, or try something new. n 828-295-7661. www.CanyonsBR.com. See ad on page 88

EAT CROW EAT PIE

EAT CAKE

EAT PIE

EAT CAKE EAT PIE EAT CAKE

Delicious Sandwiches

CASA RUSTICA

BOONE. Conveniently located right off of Highway 105, Casa Rustica offers some of the finest Northern Italian-American cuisine in the High Country accentuated by a cozy, fireside atmosphere. Dishes on the menu from the crisp salads to the scrumptious pastas are adapted from old family recipes that have been handed down for generations. The chefs

FAIRWAY CAFE & VENUE

(Served on our homemade bread)

Homestyle Southern Cooking with a modern, seasonal slant

1JFT t $BLFT Shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pie 4UFBL "MF 1JF $IJDLFO 1PU 1JF English Specialties

$BUFSJOH

Serving Dinner Twice Monthly Call or Check our Website for Dates & Menu

828.963.8228

Open Monday - Saturday: 11:30am - 9:00pm Sunday: 11:30am - 3:00pm

142 S. Water St.|Boone NC 28607 828-865-5000|www.propermeal.com

RESPECTABLE. CORRECT. GENUINE 86

High Country Magazine

www.eatcrownc.com

'BCVMPVT #SJUJTI $IFG 0XOFS

Dominic& Meryle Geraghty

Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 am-4 pm Serving Lunch until 3:00 9872 Hwy. 105 S. in Foscoe

August / September 2017

The High Countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premier Steak & Seafood Restaurant Serving Daily from 5pm Brunch 10am-2pm Friday, Saturday & Sunday 4IBXOFFIBX "WF 4PVUI t #BOOFS &ML t TUPOFXBMMTSFTUBVSBOU DPN

PLACES TO DINE THIS SUMMER and owners at Casa Rustica are also committed to offering local beef in their cuisine and proudly offer homestyle meals made with love and meticulous care. Casa Rustica’s extensive wine list is updated every 30 days to include interesting vintages and new organics for guests to try. Enjoy live jazz every Thursday night and classical guitar every Sunday. The restaurant also features a full bar and fantastic drink selections to delight even the pickiest patron. n 828-262-5128. www.casarustica1981.com. See ad on page 88

Six Pence

Restaurant & Pub A Taste of England here in Blowing Rock

CHESTNUT GRILLE AT GREEN PARK INN BLOWING ROCK. Taking local and sustainable to new heights, the Chestnut Grille restaurant maintains its own 1/3 acre garden on site, which supplies the kitchen with a variety of fresh vegetables and herbs throughout the summer and fall seasons. We offer contemporary American fare that’s unique, yet familiar, in a warm, and casual setting. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free guests will find the menu, and our chef very accommodating. We offer an extensive and thoughtful wine list along with a selection of seasonal and local craft beers.

Located just inside the Green Park Inn. Listed on the National Historic Register. Patio dining is offered seasonally.

Live piano music in our lobby Friday and Saturday nights, year round, and live music on the Veranda, seasonally. n 828-414-9230. www.greenparkinn.com. See ad on page 89

Featuring British & American Fare

Inside Our Dining Room or Outside on our Beautiful Patio

Dining: Sunday - Thursday , 11:30 am - 10:30 pm Friday and Saturday until Midnight

C.R. Catering boone. C.R. Catering Co. is Casa Rustica Restaurant’s sister company. We are pleased to offer the High Country’s finest gourmet catering for events on and off site. We provide fresh, distinctive food and quality service for each and every event. We are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions, and regularly prepare vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan meals. North Carolina’s freshest seafood and the finest locally grown vegetables appear regularly on our custom designed catering menus. Want a family favorite included in your menu? No problem! We can customize any item for your special event. Need the perfect space to accommodate your catering needs? We can serve 25 to 150 guests on-site with ease. Give us a call. n 828-406-7721. www.CRCateringCo.com. See ad on page 88

DIVIDE TAVERN & RESTAURANT

BLOWING ROCK. Located in the lobby of the Historic Green Park Inn, the Divide Tavern sits directly astride the Eastern Continental Divide. Long a gathering place for Captains of Industry, Heads of State, and celebrities from authors

Full Bar (open until 2am)

20 Beers on Draught focused on Imports and Micro Brews

Courteous and Friendly Staff

828.295.3155 } } 1121 Main Street, Blowing Rock, N.C. August / September 2017

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to actors, the Tavern offers unique pub fare, as well as chef designed pub classics. Experience a less formal dining alternative while still enjoying delicious fare, all set in the ambiance of a bygone era. Local, craft and draft beers, seasonal and specialty cocktails offer guests a tempting twist alongside classic cocktails. We also offer an impressive selection of wine by the glass, or the bottle. Enjoy live Sunday music on the veranda (seasonally) and live piano in the lobby Friday and Saturday nights, year round. n 825-414.9230. www.greenparkinn.com. See ad on page 89

EAT CROW

E N J O Y L O C A L Q U A L I T Y, F L AV O R & F R E S H N E S S Since 1981 we have pledged an ongoing commitment to serve local farm fresh foods and support our beloved community. We are honored to call the High Country our home.

www.CRCateringCo.com | 828.406.7721 www.CasaRustica1981.com | 828.262.5128

The Eseeola Lodge

FAIRWAY CAFE & VENUE

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High Country Magazine

BANNER ELK. Eat Crow is a wonderful little cafe specializing in fresh baked, delicious goods including a large variety of baked pies and cakes.

These delectables are offered by the slice, or you have the option to order a whole one to take home and enjoy. We also offer fresh made sandwiches at lunch time that can not be compared to any other “sandwich shop” in the area. Since we know life can be very hectic, for your convenience we prepare whole meals and fresh soups daily that are ready for you to take home and heat up for your family. These entrees vary daily. We are always creating something delicious!

All sandwiches are served on farmhouse or whole wheat bread. Choices of sides include fresh fruit, firecracker coleslaw or chips. We are open Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and are located near Foscoe on Hwy. 105 between Boone and Banner Elk. n 828-963-8228. See ad on page 86

linville. Guests enjoy breakfast and dinner daily as part of their accommodations package, but all High Country visitors are welcome to enjoy the finest cuisine. Spend a leisurely morning with us, or grab a quick bite on your way out for the day. Either way, an outstanding breakfast awaits you each August / September 2017

morning in our dining room. For the evening meal, select your choice of seven meticulously prepared entrees crafted by Chef Patrick Maisonhaute at the helm of your culinary experience. The menu changes daily, and also offers an extraordinary seafood buffet every Thursday evening with seatings at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Reservations are required, and gentlemen are required to wear a coat for the evening meal. n 800-742-6717. www.eseeola.com. See ad on page 93

We offer more than just accommodations…

Come dine with us!

fairway cafe & venue boone. Not just for golfers! The Fairway café is located at the Boone Golf Course with a beautiful view of the course with an inside dining room or outdoor patio seating. The public is welcome to come enjoy the local fare.

The menu is extensive with an array of salad selections, a half of dozen sandwich choices, hot dogs anyway you like them and hamburgers from the classic to the fancy. The spacious indoor area features a beautiful 32 foot handcrafted maple bar. Our venue is also perfect for any of life’s memorable moments. Ideal for cocktail parties, fundraisers, wedding events and anniversary parties.

The Fairway Venue features clean miniFAIRWAY mal lines, stunning CAFE & floor-to-ceiling winVENUE dows, and views of the beautiful North Carolina Mountains.

We have full ABC permits and can seat about 100 inside and roughly 40 on the outside patio. Looking to accommodate even more? A tent can be set up if needed. Come check us out! n 828-264-0233. www.CRCateringCo.com. See ad on page 88

F.A.R.M. CAFÉ boone. In May 2012, F.A.R.M. Cafe opened its doors with our mission to build a healthy and inclusive community by providing high quality & delicious meals produced from local sources, served in a restaurant where

& Chestnut Grille

Divide Tavern

Thursday - Sunday evenings from 6pm - 9pm Reservations recommended.

Serving food & drinks seven nights a week!

Opens at 5pm

WE ARE PROUD AND EXCITED TO INTRODUCE NEW MENU SELECTIONS AND PREPARATIONS: From the Grille…

RIB EYE

FRIED CHICKEN

SHRIMP & GRITS

Sweet tea brined and buttermilk battered chicken breast, mashed Yukon potatoes, pan gravy

Herb sauteed shrimp over a bed of cheddar grits, lemon-butter pan sauce, bacon crumble

From the Tavern…

Watauga County grown Cascade hops-rubbed & grilled rib eye, bourbonpeppercorn demi-glaze

THE CUBAN SANDWICH

MAC-N-CHICKEN

FISH & CHIPS

Roast pork, ham, Swiss

Macaroni pasta, house cheese sauce, roasted chicken, bacon & sriracha

Batter-fried cod, house cut chips, tartar sauce, lemon & malt vinegar

cheese, house pickles, and mustard on ciabatta bread

www.greenparkinn.com 828.414.9230 9329 Valley Boulevard, Blowing Rock

Follow us on social media!

Facebook.com/GreenParkInn Instagram & Twitter: @thegreenparkinn

August / September 2017

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everybody eats, regardless of means.

Our meals are nutritious and delicious!

Some meals include items with meat, some are vegetarian and/or vegan.

Our menu changes daily and is served by our volunteers and staff. F.A.R.M. Cafe tries to have something for everybody each day, so we also always have gluten free and dairy free items.

Feed All Regardless of Means Our daily menu can REAL. GOOD. FOOD. be viewed at www. farmcafe.org/menu or on Facebook or Twitter. We are located in beautiful Downtown Boone. n 828-386.1000. www.farmcafe.org. See ad on page 92

Gamekeeper Blowing Rock. You havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully experienced the region until youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve dined at The Gamekeeper. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a true gourmet restaurant, with the perfect blend of upscale elegance and simple mountain charm. The Gamekeeper is famous for Southern favorites - ultimate in comfort food - prepared with creativity and originality, offered through an evolving seasonal menu that blends the traditional with the exotic, satisfying both the meat lover and the vegetarian.

Housed in a 1950s stone cottage, The Gamekeeper is an upscale restaurant that offers an eclectic mix of Southern foods and mountain cuisine, offering a selection of unique meat dishes including mountain trout, buffalo rib eye, ostrich, duck and beef tenderloin. The friendly staff literally waits on you hand and foot, assuring that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll leave happy and satisfied. The restaurant is located off Shulls Mill Road near Yonahlossee Resort. n 828-963-7400. www.Gamekeeper-NC.com. See ad on page 926

ANNUAL BRIDAL SHOWCASE

/PWFNCFS r QN 'BDJMJUZ 5PVST 5PQ 7FOEPST JO UIF )JHI $PVOUSZ Door Prizes, and more!

BREATHTAKING MOUNTAIN VIEWS AWARD WINNING RESTAURANT | RELAXING SPA

THE INN AT CRESTWOOD RESTAURANT & SPA 3236 Shulls Mill Road, Boone NC 28607 828.963.6646 | www.crestwoodnc.com

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The INN AT CRESTWOOD BOONE. Here at The Inn at Crestwood Restaurant and Spa, fresh is always in season! To maintain the freshest cuisine, our eclectic menu is updated seasonally by our talented chef. Our goal is to create southern inspired dishes and an unforgettable atmosphere.

Enjoy the highest quality food and

August / September 2017

beverages, while admiring one of the most spectacular views in North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s High Country. The bar opens at 4pm, with dinner service beginning at 5:30 pm every Wednesday-Sunday.

Please call 828963-6646 for reservations. n (828) 963-6646. www.crestwoodnc.com. See ad onthis page

THE LOCAL BOONE. a place to enjoy a fresh meal, crafted in-house from local High Country ingredients. Serving traditional southern favorites, she-crab soup and shrimp & grits, as well as grass-fed beef burgers, specialty sandwiches, unique tacos, wood-fired flatbreads & pizzas, quinoa bowls, steaks, seafood and plenty of gluten-free and vegan choices. The Local also features 20 taps, serving mostly local and regional beers, as well as national favorites.

At The Local you can enjoy drinks & appetizers while relaxing on comfortable leather couches in the lounge, play a game of billiards, or watch your favorite sports event on large flat screen TVs. The Local is also the place to be for Live music performances on Friday and Saturday nights. Experience Local. Open Daily 11am. Sunday Brunch 11am-4pm. n 828-266-2179. www.TheLocalBoone.com. See ad on page 93

Proper BOONE. Located in an old jailhouse build in the late 1800s, Proper offers a charming atmosphere both inside and out. Featuring one of the best brunches in the High Country, guests can enjoy freshly made desserts, locally-sourced ingredients and southern comfort cuisine. Collard greens, sweet potato casserole and homemade meatloaf are only a few of the wonderfully comfortable foods one can enjoy at Proper. n 828-865-5000. www.propermeal.com. See ad on page 86

Red Onion Café Boone. Established in 1985 as one of the classic restaurants in Boone NC, the Red Onion Café opens daily at 11am and serves continuously to hungry guests well into the evening. The Red Onion Café has created its niche in the High Country for more than 30 years by offering customers a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere and an extensive menu at affordable prices. The café has something for every member of the family, including burgers, sandwiches, wraps, pizza, pasta, fish, steak and delicious homemade desserts.

Look for weekly dinner specials and the kid’s menu items as well. The Red Onion Café also offers several of the region’s top beer and wines to compliment any meal as well as friendly staff on hand to assist with your choices from the extensive menu. The outside patio is perfect for a comfort-

able outdoor lunch or for a cozy dinner on warm evenings. n 828-264-5470. www.theredonioncafe.com. See ad on page 92

LOUISIANA PURCHASE FOOD & SPIRITS BANNER ELK. Louisiana Purchase has been Banner Elk’s premier restaurant and wine bar since 1984. Made to order elegance. Chef owner Patrick Bagbey’s menu evolves with the changing seasons, and will always include all the favorites. All ABC permits and the largest wine list in the area. Open Monday to Sunday 5:30 p.m. until…

Reservations suggested. n 828-963-5087 or 828-898-5656. www.louisianapurchasefoodandspirits.com.

See ad on this page

six pub

pence

Blowing rock.

In 2001 Six Pence opened in Blowing Rock, North Carolina and has been a Blowing Rock staple for visitors and residents alike ever since. Known all

over the High Country for establishing itself as a fine example of British fare, the friendly staff, delicious food and extensive beer and wine selection make this local watering hole a local favorite. From traditional British favorites like Shepherd’s Pie and fish and chips to Americanstyle burgers, Restaurant & Pub house made soups and salads, this eatery and bar alleviates everyone’s hunger pains and provides a unique dining experience right on beautiful Main Street. Who knew that one could find such exceptional British cuisine in the heart of the High Country? The pub now proudly features a new patio so guests can choose to sit outside and enjoy their meals and enjoy the beautiful views of Main Street.

Or step inside to the air conditioned interior to beat the heat this summer season. n 828-295-3155. www.sixpencepub. com. See ad on page 87

Six Pence

IT’S TIME FOR GOOD TASTES. Louisiana Purchase. Always Fresh. Always Delicious.

IN THE HEART OF BANNER ELK SERVING DINNER:

Tuesday – Saturday, Opening at 6:00 p.m.

RESERVATIONS REQUESTED: 828/ 963-5087 or 828/ 898-5656 Wine Spectator’s Best Of Award Of Excellence 1996 through 2016

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WE’RE SERIOUS ABOUT GOOD GRUB A A A FO UR D IA MO ND R ATING SINCE 20 07

restaurant

bar

& CATERED EVENTS

O U T D O O R D I N I N G • B A R / L O U N G E • C AT E R I N G • P R I VAT E F U N C T I O N S BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA (8 2 8) 9 6 3 -74 0 0 R E S E R VAT I O N S R E CO M M E N D E D

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CASUAL SOPHISTICATION

Feed All Regardless of Means REAL. GOOD. FOOD. CAJUN CHICKEN FETTUCINI • PESTO • CHICKEN FAJITAS WRAP SOUTHWESTERN WRAP • CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD • LASAGNA LOW COUNTRY SALMON • CHICKEN PESTO PIZZA TUSCAN RED PEPPER CHICKEN BOURBON GLAZED CENTER CUT RIBEYE ARTICHOKE DIP WITH TOASTED GARLIC FRENCH BREAD SOUP & QUICHE OF THE DAY...

Outdoor Covered Patio Dining 227 HARDIN STREET IN BOONE

We have Wi-Fi!

828/264.5470 redonionboone.com

SERVING LUNCH & DINNER 92

High Country Magazine

SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

August / September 2017

“Wall Street Journal Says It’s a ‘Must-Stop’ ”

Trip Advisor Review

The F.A.R.M. Cafe is revolutionary and delicious!

Yelp Review

617 W. King St., Boone 828.386.1000 Monday - Friday 11:00 am until 2:00 pm www.farmcafe.org

STONEWALLS BANNER ELK. The High Countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier steak and seafood house since 1985. Enjoy your favorite steaks, prime rib, chicken or baby back rib entrĂŠe or choose from the extensive seafood selection or daily specials. Serving daily from 5:00 p.m. in a casual, familyfriendly dining atmosphere. Also serving Brunch 10am-2pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

All ABC permits. n 828-898-5550. www. stonewallsresturant. com. See ad on page 86

A World of Flavors, Close to Home.

vidalia Boone. Centrally located on King Street in downtown Boone, Vidalia is a casual, upscale restaurant featuring â&#x20AC;&#x153;creative American cuisine.â&#x20AC;? Featuring creative menu items for lunch and dinner, it offers daily specials, various events, wine tastings and special nights.

Famous menu items include the apple and gorgonzola salad, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and mushroom ravioli, with finishing choices like stone ground grits and cheddar mac nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cheese.

All of these choices come to you from the culinary mind of Chef Samuel Ratchford, who also owns the restaurant with his wife Alyce. Taking pride in the local community, the restaurant is proud to offer various local ingredients and choices to patrons who are looking to try local fare. Vidalia holds all ABC permits and has an extensive wine list which routinely features over 60 different wines which can be expertly paired with meals by the staff, a large selection of craft beers, martinis, whiskeys, scotches and cordials. Vidaliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu changes twice a year to keep it seasonal and practices farm-to-table food, using local vendors as much as possible. n 828-263-9176. www.vidaliaofboone.com. See ad on page 90

Y

ou donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to travel far to send your taste buds on a splendid journey.

From traditional favorites to temptations for the more adventurous palate, our menu selection is rivaled only the array of our wines. Ĺ&#x2DC; (VHHROD FRP

August / September 2017

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ADV E R T I S E R S I N D E X Please patronize the advertisers in High Country Magazine, and when you purchase from them, please be sure to mention that you saw their ad in our pages. Thank them for their support of this publication by giving them yours! Without their support, this magazine would not be possible. To all of our advertisers, a most sincere thank you.

All Area Codes are 828 unless noted.

ADVERTISER

PHONE

PAGE

ADVERTISER

PHONE

PAGE

A Cleaner World............................................... 265-1888........................... 41

Graystone Eye...............................................888.626.2020........................ 20

Appalachian Blind & Closet Co........................ 264-1395........................... 85

High Country Timberframe & Gallery................ 264-8971........................... 63

Appalachian Home Care................................... 963-8233........................... 82

Inn at Crestwood.............................................. 963-6646........................... 90

AppOrtho......................................................... 386-2663........................... 15

Linville Falls Winery......................................... 765-1400........................... 23

Art Cellar......................................................... 898-5175 �������������������������� 13

Linville Ridge................................................... 898-5151............................. 2

Ashe County Arts Council............................. 336-846-2787........................ 82

Local, The........................................................ 266-2179........................... 93

Banner Elk Realty............................................. 260-1550........................... 40

Lodges at Eagle Nest........................................ 771-9343........................... 33

Blair Fraley Sales Store.................................... 733-4228........................... 43

Louisiana Purchase................................. 963-5087 & 898-5656................. 91

Blowing Rock Estate Jewelry............................ 295-4500........................... 15

Mast General Store .....................................866-FOR-MAST ���������������������� 11

Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery................ 295-0041............................. 5

Monkees of Blowing Rock................................ 295-0708........................... 17

Blue Ridge Propane.......................................... 733-3603........................... 77

Mountain Land............................................. 800-849-9225 ����������������������� 75

Boone Mall...................................................... 264-7286........................... 56

Mountain Tile................................................... 265-0472 �������������������������� 61

BRAHM............................................................ 295-9099........................... 56

Mountaineer Landscaping................................ 733-3726 �������������������������� 39

Canyons.......................................................... 295-7661 ������������������������� 88

Piedmont Federal Bank..................................... 264-5244............................. 1

Carlton Gallery................................................. 963-4288 �������������������������� 27

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty...........877.425.6001.......................... 3

Carolina West Wireless................................. 800-235-5007 . ..................... 27

Proper Southern Food...................................... 865-5000........................... 86

Casa Rustica.................................................... 262-5128 �������������������������� 88

Red Onion Café................................................ 264-5470........................... 92

Chestnut at Blowing Rock................................. 964-5438............................. 7

Shoppes at Farmers Hardware.......................... 264-8801........................... 83

Chestnut Grille at Green Park Inn...................... 414-9230........................... 89

Six Pence......................................................... 295-3155........................... 87

Christmas in Blowing Rock............................... 295-9696........................... 83

Southern Highland Craft Guild.......................... 295-7938........................... 75

Consignment Cottage Warehouse..................... 733-8148........................... 73

Steve Lambert.................................................. 266-1836.... Inside Back Cover

Dande Lion...................................................... 898-3566........................... 59

Stone Cavern................................................... 963-8453 ���������������������������� 6

DeWoolfson Down ...................................... 800-833-3696 ������������������������ 9

Stonewall's Restaurant...................................... 898-5550........................... 86

Dianne Davant & Associates . .......................... 898-9887 ��Inside Front Cover

Studio Sculpture Garden & Gallery................... 765-6626........................... 59

Doe Ridge Pottery............................................ 264-1127........................... 40

Sugar Mountain Resort................................ 800-SUGAR-MT....................... 95

Eat Crow.......................................................... 963-8228........................... 86

Sweetgrass...................................................... 771-9344........................... 47

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Tanner-Doncaster Outlet................................... 295-4200........................... 29

Eseeola Lodge.................................................. 733-4311........................... 93

Tatum Galleries & Interiors............................... 963-6466 �������������������������� 31

F.A.R.M. Café.................................................. 386-1000........................... 92

Tri-Cities Airport........................................... 423-325-6000........................ 55

Florence Thomas Art School........................ 336-846-3827........................ 76

Vidalia Restaurant............................................ 263-9176........................... 90

Gamekeeper..................................................... 963-7400 ������������������������� 92

Village Jewelers............................................... 264-6559........................... 25

Grandfather Vineyard & Winery......................... 963-2400........................... 31

Watsonatta Western Wear................................. 264-4540............................. 4

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2017

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Parting Shot...

By

Todd Bush

Dozens of Jim Morton’s friends and family members attended a celebration of life at MacRae Meadows on beloved Grandfather Mountain. Jim passed away on April 1.

L

Bluegrass in the Meadow for Jim Morton

ive music, a 10-foot ladder and a mountain. Let’s do something reckless.

For a Jim Morton party, that’s par for the course. As family and friends huddled together for a group photo, whooping an enthusiastic “Hey, Jim!” to the heavens above, instruments tuned on a stage, burgers sizzled on a grill—and a line of photographers queued up to a precarious perch atop said ladder, nestled in the off-level grass of MacRae Meadows.

For those in the photo, those who knew the late Jim Morton best, it was impossible not to smile.

“As many folks were, I was accustomed to seeing Jim hang out of some pretty reckless places for group photos,” said Catherine Morton, Jim’s sister and organizer of a bluegrass celebration of her brother’s life, held Saturday, July 29, at Grandfather Mountain’s MacRae Meadows.

Jim passed away April 1, 2017, due to complications following a heart attack. The son of the late Hugh Morton, founder of Grandfather Mountain, Jim was chairman of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, founder of the annual Woolly Worm Festival, a conservationist, trailblazer, photographer and visionary. He was also a bluegrass buff.

“Jim grew up in the ’60s and ’70s,” Catherine said, “and as he got older, he started to gravitate toward Americana, and then he got to be good friends with Merle and Doc Watson. And that’s what sealed the deal.”

Through bluegrass, Jim forged many a friendship and memory, becoming a regular at MerleFest and even inviting Doc to join him while building Grandfather’s iconic Profile Trail. Doc happily obliged.

And so did several bluegrass luminaries who donated their time and talent to celebrate Jim’s life this past July.

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brought the music, and a couple hundred of Jim’s closest friends and family members gathered to celebrate, catch up and reminisce under the peaks of Grandfather Mountain.

“He’d have been having a good time,” Catherine said. “He had a habit of throwing parties like this, just getting a good band and inviting all his friends to come over.”

Hope Harvey agrees.

“It was a gathering of people whose common bond was Jim,” said Harvey, a powerhouse vocalist, High Country musician and dear friend to Jim. “It was the type of celebration that they could have enjoyed with him. It was outdoors in the place he loved most.

There were hamburgers and hot dogs, and there was bluegrass music. It was the kind of situation where people who hadn’t seen each other in a long time, some even for 30 years, got to get together.”

And for Harvey, Jim had one last trick up his sleeve.

“It’s one of those things,” she said. “Jim always wanted me to sing with Charles Welch, one of those ‘shoulda, woulda, couldas’ that I just never did. But that day, I introduced myself to Charles and told him that, and he said, ‘Well, you’re going to sing with me today.’ And later, Tim Stafford (from Blue Highway) says, ‘Come up and sing one,’ and I’m like, ‘Huh? You’re messing with me.’ It’s something I think Jim would’ve really appreciated and enjoyed.”

And with a Carolina blue sky, gentle breeze and temperatures in the low 70s, Catherine knew something special was in the air.

“That day, when I first walked up to the venue in the meadow and looked at the view and set-up, I saw the temperatures and felt the breeze, and I just knew Jim was there, no question,” she said.

“It was the way Jim would’ve wanted us to do it,” Harvey said. “Hamburgers, family and fun—and not staying out too late past his bedtime.”

By Frank Ruggiero

August / September 2017

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