Orange County NC Website
9 <br /> <br /> <br />Orange County Local Fest is intended to be a local, grassroots festival that celebrates and <br />promotes Orange County’s commitment to its heritage, diversity, culture, sustainable living and <br />agriculture. The event is proposed to be held at the Blackwood Farm Park on Saturday, <br />September 29, 2018. <br /> <br />Revenue generated by the event is proposed to support the Breeze Farm Incubator. The <br />Breeze Farm provides a place for individuals who are interested in learning to farm, but may <br />not have access to the land or equipment required to start a farming business. The Breeze <br />Farm provides tools, infrastructure, and services as part of the lease agreement with these <br />individuals. These resources help to minimize the risk and capital investment needed to start a <br />small farm. Historically, the Breeze Farm generated approximately $30,000 in revenue by <br />hosting the annual Farm to Fork Event. That event has relocated to outside of Orange County, <br />resulting in a loss of revenue to the Breeze Farm. <br /> <br />The programming element of Local Fest is proposed to include music, agricultural and food <br />demonstrations, local artists, educational opportunities for children, and revenue generating <br />activities, food, and beverage sales. Music and dance stages will feature a diverse mix of local <br />musicians and artists. Examples of agricultural and food demonstrations include a <br />demonstration kitchen, sheep herding and shearing, molasses processing, fabric weaving and <br />dying, and quilting. The activities are expected to include pony rides, draft horse hayride tours, <br />a hollering contest, and a baking contest. The County will contract with musicians, vendors and <br />demonstrators using standard contract protocols, and artists will be juried by the Orange <br />County Arts Commission staff. The proposed programming model does not include areas or <br />booth rentals for nonprofit advocacy or political organizations. <br /> <br />The total expense budget for the event is expected to be approximately $50,000. These <br />expenses include payments for entertainment and event set up, rentals, advertisements and <br />publicity, and event signage and wayfinding. Staff expects that sufficient capacity will be <br />available in the FY2018-19 Article 46 sales tax fund to fully support these expenses. <br /> <br />Revenue will be generated through event sponsorships, food and beverage sales, and <br />charges for activities such as pony and hay rides. Event sponsorships would include <br />opportunities to sponsor specific event areas or to support the event in general. Sponsorship <br />opportunities will follow a tiered sponsorship level model. <br /> <br />Food and beverage sales will be generated by a local food truck rodeo and beer garden. The <br />County will collect revenue through rental fees and/or collect a percentage of sales at the <br />event. Up to $30,000 of revenue would be transferred to the Breeze Farm to support the <br />incubator and its educational programming. This financial support would replace the revenue <br />that had been generated by the Farm to Fork event. Any revenue generated in excess of <br />$30,000 would be applied to offset the cost of producing the event. The financial model does <br />not currently rely on a fee for general admission. <br /> <br />Travis Myren made the following PowerPoint presentation: <br /> <br />Framework for First Annual Orange County Local Fest <br />March 8, 2018 <br />Item 6 (b)