‘Taste of Clark County’ raises $17K for FTD ‘22
Through platefuls of cheese squares, free beer and wine samples, sausage trays and cupcakes, more than $17,000 was raised Monday evening to help build the fund needed to operate the 2022 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days near Loyal.
Rustic Occasions was the host for the “Taste of Clark County” event, as it and nearby Roehl Acres gears up to welcome tens of thousands of people to the area next July 12-14.
Twelve local food and spirit vendors volunteered their time and products for the “Taste of Clark County” event, with approximately 320 tickets sold at $20 each. Topping off the night was an auction of items donated by businesses throughout the county.
Fresh off their attendance at last week’s 2021 Farm Technology Days in Eau Claire County, Clark County Executive Committee members were hustling in the Rustic Occasions barn on Monday evening to pass out food items to the hundreds in attendance.
Clark County FTD Chairman Chuck Rueth said the numbers expected on Monday grew quickly, and extra food was procured that day to make sure everyone was fed. The vendors who were on hand were Schmitty’s on Main from Neillsville, Maple Dude from the Granton area, Nasonville Dairy, Munson Bridge Winery of Withee, River Country Hot Stuff Pizza of Greenwood, Sand Creek Brewery of Black River Falls, Cal’s Rock Dam Resort, Apple Valley Bar & Grill of Neillsville, Marieke Gouda of Thorp, Nolechek’s Meats of Thorp, Sweet Retreats of Loyal, and Speakeasy Saloon of Neillsville.
Pat Lindner of Greenwood was one of the event organizers. She said the idea came up as the executive committee was searching for a unique fundraiser to support the $1.6 million show budget. With all the food and drink products made in Clark County, Lindner said the “Taste of Clark County” event had its start.
“We all agreed it would be a neat thing,” she said. “It just worked out really well.”
Initial expectations were for approximately 200 guests, but ticket sales leading up to Monday were stronger than anticipated. By Monday afternoon, the call was made to bring in more eats.
“Our biggest concern was we were going to run out of food,” Lindner said.”This was just a lot more than what we were expecting. We were all just in awe at the size of the crowd. I think everybody went home feeling really good about it.”
The vendors, too, were excited to get their names and products in front of so many local people.
“They were just really, really good about it,” Lindner said of the vendors’ involvement. “They were just thrilled with it.”
Rueth said the “Taste of Clark County” event was a shot in the arm for the ongoing fundraising work that is needed to cover the county’s share of hosting next year’s Farm Technology Days.
Tent City and the farm equipment demonstration areas will be on the Roehl Acres property owned by Dennis and Susan Roehl, and Rustic Occasions, owned by Doug and Kim Roehl, will host other parts of the events.
Rueth said farm field equipment demonstrations will be brought back after a several-year absence from FTD shows. The executive committee is also planning a large music event for the middle night of the show, and is in the process of booking an act.
