Farm to Table event an education gem 

By William Evans

The Greenup Beacon

“It’s a win-win all the way around.” That’s how Bud Matheny describes the Farm to Table Dinner event at Imel’s Greenhouse on July 17.

Matheny, along with Kenny Imel of Imel’s Greenhouse, head up this “win-win” event which looks to bring the community together to support the Greenup County 4H, local youth members of the Future Farmers of America and The McConnell House. In addition, the event also aims to show support for local farmers whose produce are served at the event.

Matheny is no stranger to volunteering his time and efforts to support the area. The Air Force veteran and his wife Marlena helped to build houses in Greenup County through Habitat For Humanity, he served as president of The Heritage Arts, Science, and Tourism Center at the historic McConnell House for seven terms and has now been involved with the Greenup County Farm to Table program for a few years now.

“They say a body in motion tends to stay in motion,” Matheny joked, “and I intend on going on a while longer.”

Matheny has been staying in motion lately with the Farm to Table program. The idea was formed in 2019 by Imel, at the time the Greenup County Farm Bureau President.

“Kenny Imel has such enthusiasm,” Matheny said, “there’s just no way you don’t join him.”

Matheny did just that. He joined up with Imel and partnered with organizations like 4H, FAA, Sweet Pea Gardens, The Greenup Old Tractor and Equipment Club, and others to put together the first Farm to Table Dinner in 2019. It was held at the McConnel House.

“People came from all over the state,” Matheny said about the success of the 2019 event. The success, along with enthusiasm from those involved, led Matheny and Imel to plan a follow up event for the next year.

Of course, 2020 brought its unique brand of difficulties and caused the 2020 event to be cancelled. But, the Farm to Table concept was not completely lost for the year.

“To keep things active, we did farm baskets,” Matheny said. “We had a breakfast basket, a snack basket; six or seven different varieties.” Customers could order baskets and pick them up while maintaining social distancing and following the guidelines at that time.

“It was a good opportunity to hold our place on this,” Matheny said of the baskets and how they kept the program’s momentum going while things were shutdown. “It held our place until this year, until we can do something more significant.”

The time for that “something more significant” is July 17 with the second edition of the Farm to Table Dinner. This year’s event will be held at Imel’s Greenhouse where two new greenhouses were recently built and will house the dinner.

But the event is much more than a dinner.

“It’s not just a dinner, it’s a show,” Matheny said. “We’re going to have music. We’re going to have somebody doing chainsaw carvings. We’re going to have an auction.”

The event looks to already be a success before it even starts. Matheny estimates that $15,000 has already been raised through sponsorships and ticket sales.

“It’s going to be a huge event at a beautiful venue,” Matheny said. The venue will be adorned with painted hay bails, which Matheny’s son will travel from Florida to paint.

At the root of everything for Matheny is how the event ultimately impacts the youth involved.

“I think the exciting thing for me is, this is helping the kids. The kids are out there right now,” Matheny said as we sat at the McConnel house two days prior to the event. “They’re stringing beans and cutting up vegetables; it’s good to have them involved. And it’s going to help the kids. Those that might not be able to afford 4H camp, FFA camp, some of the livestock programs, helping with pens. We’re going to make significant donations to them.”

In short, Matheny says, “It gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling working for it and it should give you a warm, fuzzy feeling buying a ticket and coming out.”

Those wanting to learn more can search Greenup County Farm to Table on facebook to find its official page and see the latest news and events from the program. Imel’s Greenhouse is located on Route 1 and can be contacted by calling (606) 473-1708.