WINNSBORO – “It was the best Ag + Art event we’ve had so far – great attendance, great weather and great Fairfield farms and artisans,” Brad Hoffman, one of the events co-directors, told The Voice.
“We had eight farms on tour and at least 30 artists and artisans creating and selling their work,” Hoffman said.
While most of the farms averaged a little over 300 visitors over the two day event, Christy Buchanan’s She Garden at The Painted Picket at the corner of Highways 321 and 34 boasted almost 500 visitors. She also made a sale to a folk art museum in New York City after someone affiliated with the museum stopped by The Painted Picket during the tour.
Artist Blue Sky also stopped by Hoffman’s Gypsy Wind Farm to observed artists at work there.
“It was really a great weekend,” Hoffman said. “A man saw our ad on Facebook and drove down for the weekend. He also emailed 30 friends in North Carolina who joined him.”
And the visitors didn’t just visit the farms in the countryside. Many stopped into the crowded Cornwallis Tea Room and other restaurants in Winnsboro and Ridgeway for lunch.
Terry Vickers, the other co-director of the event, said all of the farms and vendors who participated this year have already signed on for next year.
“I think it has caught fire in Fairfield. But the event,” Vickers said, “is not actually over.
“All these farmers and many of the artisans are selling their vegetables, frozen chickens, eggs and other items every Saturday morning at Winnsboro’s farmers market. It’s open every Saturday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. next to the town clock. See you there!”
