Bob Evans Farm
By: Jarrod E. Stephens
After a weekend of nearly perfect weather, thousands of festivalgoers can now sit and reflect upon what many witnessed as a simpler and more wholesome way of life. The 53rd annual Bob Evans Farm Festival just concluded in Rio Grande, Ohio and gave a glimpse how that a small endeavor can grow into something that is lasting.
Farm or harvest festivals are a tradition that has been around for centuries. Of course, one of the most famous harvest festivals is Thanksgiving which is actually a national holiday. It was a time of sharing God’s blessings and bounty with those around and it has carried on for centuries. Perhaps the most well-known fall festival in our region is indeed the Bob Evans Farm Festival.
Bob Evans was born on May 30, 1918, but the Evans family had been in Ohio since 1839. Bob married his wife Jewell in 1944, but it wasn’t until after Bob returned from WWII that he began creating his world-famous sausage. The success of his work became first evident in 1946 when he and Jewell opened a diner called The Steak House in Gallipolis, Ohio. The restaurant was near a busy roadway and truck stop so there was a steady stream of truckers and travelers who learned to love the food they served.
Amongst the menu items was sausage. Bob decided to make his sausage using better cuts of meat to create a superior taste. He served his sausage at his store and soon began selling it to a broader market by delivering it to other stores. It was an instant hit. Bob expanded the business and began to hire his first employees.
In 1951 they bought what is now known as the Homestead where the annual farm festival takes place. The Evans family grew over the years. Bob and Jewell had six children who also began helping with the sausage business. The demand for the sausage led to opening of a store called The Sausage Shop which was located right on the farm. The sausage shop was the precursor to what we know as Bob Evans restaurants. A true American legacy was born on that Ohio farm, and it continues to be a hotspot for fall fun each year. The Bob Evans Restaurants are now located in 18 states.
In 1971 the first ever Bob Evans Farm Festival was held on the farm. It is now in its 51st year and continues to entertain visitors and keep people coming back to the Homestead. The draw is simply amazing. Music, food and entertainment that is wholesome and good can be enjoyed each time you visit.
Although the festival is over, you can still visit the Bob Evans Farm and many other festivals and farms throughout our region. Bob Evans certainly couldn’t have ever known what a phenomenon his festival would become, but it all came because of the hard work and determination. Slow down and put the phone down to enjoy a glimpse of simplicity as you support your local farmers and enjoy the farm festivals which may indeed become the next big thing.
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