CRESTVIEW — Common Ground Community Garden hosted its first Garden Party on Saturday.

The event featured tours of the garden, information on becoming a member, several children's activities and a farm-to-table meal.

The party featured food donations from several Crestview and Laurel Hill chefs and farms to offer attendees a freshly prepared meal.

Raffle tickets were also sold for several prizes; winners will be announced during the Triple B Cookoff on March 25.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Party highlights community garden

CRESTVIEW—The Triple B festival traditionally focuses on pitmasters and barbecue, but that’s just one aspect of the annual event. Attendees can also visit vendor booths and listen to live music.

The second “B” in Triple B has traditionally stood for “bluegrass,” but 2017 has brought a branding change. The word has been replaced with “bands,” though the change wasn’t part of a larger marketing push, according to Crestview Area Chamber President Valerie Lott.

LURING MORE BANDS

“Bluegrass was just something we decided to venture away from,” Lott said. “One of the bands still has a bluegrass sound, though, so we’re not completely ditching it.”

The shift reflects that artists from other genres can participate in the festival, which is exactly what attendees will notice this year.

The Triple B will feature three bands — New Earth Army; Luke Langford and the 331 South Band; and Continuum.

New Earth Army, based in Destin, blends various musical genres into their performance, encompassing funk, jazz, blues and jam rock. Their set will kick off the Triple B, taking the stage at 10 a.m.

Langford and his band from Freeport will follow with a set beginning at about 12:30 p.m. The five-piece band is country at heart and makes it known in their high-energy set.

The event concludes with Destin-based Continuum, scheduled to perform at 3 p.m. The band is self-described as “electronic soulk,” which their Facebook page says is a blending of folk and soul genres. The group also mixes elements of indie rock and pop rock into their set list.

“There are all these festivals in the south part of the county with great bands and we wanted to lure some of that to the north end in Crestview,” Lott said.

The bands will perform under the awning at Old Spanish Trail Park thanks to equipment and parts donated from community sponsors, according to Lott.

WHERE THE MONEY GOES

Approximately 75 vendors have registered for Triple B, and Lott expects about 20 more to register this week leading up to the event.

An official vendor list has not been released but will encompass a wide range of categories including jewelry makers, craft soap designers, vehicle sales representatives, artists and much more, according to Lott.

There will also be food and beverage vendors aside from the approximately 30 barbecue competitors.

In years past, vendors split into various categories and this determined the registration fee. In an effort to streamline the process, vendors have been lumped into a single registration category and charged a $95 booth fee.

Money collected from these fees is recycled by the chamber and used for future marketing, promotions and events.

The annual event attracts about 10,000 attendees, according to Lott, who said she expects similar numbers this year.

The event will be held at Old Spanish Trail Park this year, as opposed to previous years when it was held in downtown’s Main Street district.

The chamber made this change to accommodate a higher number of barbecue vendors and their equipment needs.

WHAT: The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s 13^th Annual Triple B Cookoff

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 25

WHERE: Old Spanish Trail Park, Crestview

ONLINE: www.crestviewchamber.com/tripleb

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B brings new mix of music

CRESTVIEW—The Triple B festival is returning to Crestview for the 13th consecutive year and will highlight new features blended with old traditions.

The event’s experience begins the moment car doors open as the smell of barbecue fills the air, a scent certain to be even stronger in 2017.

Triple B has partnered with the Kansas City Barbeque Society to become an officially sanctioned event on the group’s competitive circuit. During a sanctioned event, competitors can earn points to qualify them for the national competition held annually in Kansas City.

“We have a guy coming from Arizona, from Ohio, from North Carolina,” Crestview Area Chamber President Valerie Lott said. The chamber is the organization behind the Triple B.

The increase of barbecue vendors, expected to be about 30, demanded a shift in venue. Previously, the festival has been held in downtown’s Main Street area but with more participants comes more equipment.

The rigs and trailers used by some of the individuals on the competitive circuit would also be too cumbersome for downtown, according to Lott. This year, the Triple B takes place at Old Spanish Trail to accommodate the event’s growth.

While KCBS members will compete for a national award, local pitmasters and cooks will still be featured in a separate area, Lott added.

“We didn’t want to lose that local, backyard element of the festival,” Lott said. “It’s also there for those local people that just want to be able to find someplace they can go to after the festival ends. A local place isn’t going anywhere when the event ends, so people can still seek them out.”

This also means that the People’s Choice award will continue in 2017. This award will be presented to a local pitmaster, not on the professional circuit, receiving the most votes. Tickets for the competition will cost $1 and allow people to sample a participating barbecue vendor for a sample. Attendees can then vote for their favorite.

Partnering with KCBS has also allowed the Triple B to lure regional pitmasters that they were unable to secure in previous years because of scheduling conflicts. Lott explained that last year another Panhandle event, sponsored by KCBS, drew some barbecue cooks rather than Triple B.

“These were things we didn’t even think about in the past,” Lott said.

A new venue and new city laws also raised other questions about how the event would be run. Previously, the event was free to attend thanks in part to the nature of its location. Now, with a controlled venue site, the chamber had the option to charge an admission fee — an option the group declined.

“How could we charge for it?” Lott said. “Our mission is to provide the community with events that everyone can attend” and charging for entrance could discourage or hinder some attendees.

The chamber also faced the question of alcohol. New city laws permit events such as the Triple B to sell alcohol if they receive the proper permitting. Again, the decision was made to stick with tradition.

“Our interest is having family-friendly events and while you can certainly have alcohol and be family-friendly, it just isn’t the image of the chamber,” Lott said.

WHAT: The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s 13^th Annual Triple B Cookoff

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 25

WHERE: Old Spanish Trail Park, Crestview

ONLINE: www.crestviewchamber.com/tripleb

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B becomes official barbecue event

BAKER — The Old Spanish Trail Rodeo is returning to Baker for the 28^th year and plans to bring family-friendly entertainment in addition to traditional rodeo events.

The rodeo — April 7-8 at the Barnhill Arena, 5503 Highway 4 — is the largest fundraiser for the Baker Area Recreation Association. BARA runs the Barnhill Arena and other amenities focused on an equestrian lifestyle.

The rodeo will feature over 200 riders from across the southeast United States performing events such as roping, barrel racing, bull riding and bulldogging.

The event, part of the National Cowboy Pro Rodeo Association circuit, allows participants to compete for a spot in the regional finals — and a purse exceeding $50,000.

The rodeo will include two groups known as the Hurricane Hookers and the All-American Cowgirl Chicks.

The Hurricane Hookers pit three riders against Mexican fighting bulls, according to BARA President Mark Todd. These bulls are aggressive and take aim to whatever is in front of them, he added. The riders will compete for over $2,000 in prize money.

The All-American Cowgirl Chicks are a Texas group of experienced riders who perform trick riding and stunts.

“They do everything at a very high rate and high pace,” Todd said.

The Cowgirl Chicks will also host a meet-and-greet from noon to 2 p.m. April 8 at the Ace Hardware, 702 N. Ferdon Blvd.

The rodeo aims to engage children by offering two scramble events each night for different age groups. Children aged 5 to 8 get their chance to catch chickens in the main arena while those aged 9 to 12 can catch pigs.

For the sixth year, the rodeo has collaborated with Baker School to encourage youth reading with a program called “Reading for the Rodeo” for kindergartners through fifth-graders. Students reading a set number of books independently receive a voucher for entry, popcorn and a drink. Over 225 students received a voucher last year, according to Todd.

Attendees on Saturday, April 8, can wear pink to support breast cancer awareness. Each year, BARA donates $1,000 to a local breast cancer awareness chapter.

The event’s organizer said there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

“We want people to go away enjoying it as a family event that was more than just a traditional rodeo,” Todd said.

Admission gates open 5 p.m. April 7 and 8, with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Todd encourages people to arrive early as seating is first-come, first-serve and some have to view from a standing-room-only area.

Adult tickets cost $12 in advance and $15 at the gate. Children 5 to 12 pay $7 in advance and $10 at the gate. Children under 5 get in free.

Advanced tickets can be purchased at these locations:

• Baker Parts and Supply
• Gator Cafe
• Days Tire
• Baker Feed and Country Store
• Tractor Supply
• Blackman Country Store
• Farm World (Laurel Hill)
• Taco Town (Baker)
• Baker Farm Center
• Ace Hardware (Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Bluewater Bay, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville)
• Samuel’s Roadhouse
• Azteca Mexican Restaurant
• Horse Around Feed and Tack (Mossy Head)
• Wooten Lumber
• Pic N Sav (Baker)
• Coastal Bank and Trust (1139 Industrial Drive in north Crestview)

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Old Spanish Trail Rodeo gears up for 28th year

Editor’s Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on nonprofit organizations that improve North Okaloosa County residents’ quality of life.

CRESTVIEW — Colorful rows of cabbage, kale, swiss chard and carrot tops line a patch of land nestled downtown between Main Street and Ferdon Boulevard.

Common Ground Community Garden, as the name suggests, serves as an area to unite people of all gardening backgrounds. Since January 2013, the space has allowed residents to rent a garden bed and grow as they please using organic practices.

THE CROP LAYOUT

“Gardening together is fun and provides support for people of all gardening levels,” said Cathy Ward, director of the non-profit organization that operates Common Ground.

The garden has 36 plots measuring 4 feet in width and 12 feet in length. There’s also a pair of plots raised to waist level for people who have difficulty bending or stooping.

While most occupied plots are filled with vegetables, fruits and herbs, others are lined with ornamental flowers. One unoccupied plot houses nitrogen-rich plants intended to fertilize the soil; others sit waiting for a gardener to rent them.

Cutting through the middle of the two sections of plots are several rows of community-grown crops. These vegetables are maintained by everyone in the garden and, thus, available to be picked by anyone contributing to their growth.

“There’s almost always something available for members to take home,” Ward said, speaking of the row crops.

RESOURCES FOR NOVICES

Common Ground members and the garden’s website offer less-experienced gardeners resources on growing their own food.

Several members are master gardeners or have years of experience. Workdays are 9 a.m. to noon each Tuesday — new members or learners are encouraged to attend.

Tending one’s garden isn’t limited to Tuesday mornings. Plot owners can visit the garden at their leisure and keep whatever they grow, although it’s recommended to do so at least two or three times each week during the growing season.

Not sure when the growing season is for Crestview? Common Ground’s website, www.crestviewcommunitygarden.org, offers calendar and climate resources to aid new gardeners.

Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the website details average dates for freezes, a 10-day forecast and current radar.

Information for neighboring areas such as Destin, Laurel Hill, Escambia Farms, Niceville and several others is also available on the site.

With a readied plot and knowledge of area weather, planting is the next step.

The website breaks down monthly plans to use as guidelines for growers. During March, for example, begin planting melons, squash or cucumbers inside to prepare for an outside transplant. Certain leafy greens and peas can also be planted directly in the plot during this time.

The site also offers tips and advice for gardeners during each month. Additionally, links to information on several common fruits and vegetables can be found.

Similar information is available on the Common Ground Facebook page, one of the organization’s most active means of communication, according to Ward.

LESSONS IN THE GARDEN

Another chief goal of the garden is to serve as a place for outdoor mentorship to youth, Ward said.

She encourages parents, guardians and educators to bring children to the garden and teach them about the practice, or conduct other learning in a green environment.

“We want to see more kids coming in here and learning,” she said.

Interested parties can rent a plot for $50 per year and the money is recycled back into the garden for electricity, water and supplies.

Alternatively, individuals with financial need can exchange work in the garden for a rental plot.

“Most people also don’t realize you can purchase seeds using EBT,” Ward said. Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, is a form of welfare subsidy used for purchasing food.

That means anyone can become more self-sufficient — and that’s the point.  

“We don’t want lack of funds to prevent anyone from having a part in the garden,” Ward said. 

Common Ground Community Garden is located at 157 S. Main St., adjacent to the Ferdon Boulevard overpass, in Crestview.

Visit www.crestviewcommunitygarden.org for more information on the garden.

Interested residents may visit the garden during a Tuesday workday, 9 a.m. to noon, to explore the grounds and speak with members.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: A garden for everyone