PARIS, Ky. — Stepping Stone Farm was busy during day one of its two-day strawberry festival, the first of its kind at the farm. The owners were pleasantly surprised with the turn out.
Mother and daughter Janet and Angela Lipscomb were among those in attendance and had the opportunity to partake in an activity that they used to enjoy when Angela was a child.
“In the summer as a kid, we used to go out and go strawberry picking or apple picking, we’d go to the pumpkin patch,” said Angela. “So we are used to being out and about and doing things in the fields and stuff.”
Over time, it became difficult to find places to go strawberry picking.
“As I got older, all of the strawberry patches started closing and strawberries are probably my favorite fruit and there’s nothing better than a ripe, fresh strawberry,” said Angela.
Angela and her mother were excited when they learned that Stepping Stone Farm was hosting its first Kentucky Strawberry Festival, and they said that the overall experience was a positive one.
“I’m super pleased to see all of the activity,” said Janet. “I think it’s being well run. There are lots of people, easy to tell that they’re workers here because they have on the pink shirts if you have any questions. I think it’s great!”
Some of the activities included shopping at 30 craft or boutique vendors, a large playground for children, and strawberry picking. Because of the popularity of the event, the ‘U-Pick’ portion had to be closed down, which is a testament to the event’s success. It will remain closed on Sunday as well.
“When I got here this morning I started tearing up because this is just a dream and today… it’s just fantastic what is going on,” said Ally Vallandingham, one of the farm’s co-owners.
Vallandingham owns the farm along with her brother and sister-in-law.
“1790 is when our ancestors first settled here, actually right over the border in Harrison county,” said Vallandingham.
Last year was the first year that the farm was opened as an orchard.
Participating in its first strawberry festival to show their support is something that Angela was happy to do.
“I love the fact that this is a family-owned business that we can support instead of a big company or corporation, so putting money back into the local economy is fabulous,” said Angela.
Ultimately, getting to spend time with loved ones is what the family-oriented event is all about.
“I think it’s fun that we have been able to maintain a relationship and we still do things together,” said Janet about her daughter.
That is a sentiment that Angela also shares.
“Just being able to continue the things that are such bright spots from my childhood is a lot of fun,” said Angela.
This is a tradition that the Lipscombs are looking forward to continuing, and with the success of the festival, Vallandingham hopes to make this an annual event.
The festival will continue Sunday, May 28 starting at 12 p.m. It will include a jam competition with celebrity judges taste-testing the different jams that are entered. Among those who are judging will be Miss Kentucky. The competition begins at 1 p.m. and anyone interested in participating can enter all the way until the beginning of the competition.