Commission pitches in $4,000 for electrical panels to help Peach Festival
KEYSER, W.Va. (WV News) — The Mineral County Commission has approved a donation of $4,000 to the West Virginia Peach Festival for an improvement at the Mineral County Fairgrounds.
Festival chair Barbie Hillenbrand said the improvements would not only help the Peach Festival but would also benefit any other event held at the fairgrounds through the year.
Hillenbrand spoke to the Mineral County Commissioners Jan. 28, asking for a donation toward placing electric panels in the food court area so the vendors do not have to rely on generators.
“It’s actually a lot safer; you won’t have the exhaust fumes, you won’t have the noise … and you get better quality food vendors,” she said.
Hillenbrand said she obtained an estimate for three panels from “a gentleman who said it’s going to run close to $7,000-$8,000.”
Commission president Roger Leatherman asked Hillenbrand if the new electrical panels would be permanent.
“If, for example, (Mineral County) Parks & Rec has the Frosty Fest again, this will be accessible to them?” He asked.
“Any other festival that goes in there will have access,” Hillenbrand confirmed, adding that she has been working with the Fort Ashby Volunteer Fire Department on the project, as they sponsor the annual fair and do much of the upkeep at the fairgrounds.
As for the money brought in by the Peach Festival, Hillenbrand explained that the festival makes enough money to cover its expenses.
“We’re not out to make money; most of the events we put on are fundraisers,” she said. “The pet show raises money for the animal shelter; the 5k run raises money for the food pantry; the Peachy Bakeoff also raises money for the food pantry.
“Everything we do, we want to give back to the community,” she said. “We’re not out to get rich. We do a lot for the community.”
Hillenbrand went on to explain that the 2025 West Virginia Peach Festival — the second one to be held at the Mineral County Fairgrounds — is expected to be even bigger and better.
“This year, it’s going to explode,” she said. “It’s going to be fantastic.”
Commissioner Charles “Dutch” Staggs made a motion to give the festival $4,000 toward the electrical panels, and Jason Whitlock seconded it. The motion passed 3-0.
County administrator Luke McKenzie then asked Hillenbrand if the $4,000 would be the total she’d be asking the commission to contribute to the festival, and she said she’d be “coming back again” to ask for a contribution to the festival itself.
“This is just for the electric to help with the festival and the fairgrounds,” she said, adding, “as you get more activities there, it’s really going to benefit everybody that goes there.”
The Peach Festival is scheduled for Aug. 1-3 this year.
