MORELS & MICROBREWS RECEIVES MISSOURI TOURISM PATHFINDER AWARD
October 13, 2022
MORELS & MICROBREWS RECEIVES MISSOURI TOURISM PATHFINDER AWARD
Fulton, Missouri - Garry Vaught, president of Fulton's Brick District Merchant Association accepted the Missouri Division of Tourism's Pathfinder Award on behalf of the Morels & Microbrews committee on Wednesday, October 5 in St. Louis, during the Missouri Governor's Conference on Tourism. He accepted the award from Stephen Foutes, Director of the Missouri Division of Tourism.
The Pathfinder Award recognizes an event or organization that successfully develops a niche tourism market. Vaught has been instrumental in Morels & Microbrews since its inception.
Renee Graham, director of tourism for Callaway County nominated Vaught and Morels & Microbrews because of its unique qualities. "While there are a couple of other morel festivals in the U.S., there doesn't appear to be any other festival that combines morels, with microbrews and music" said Graham.
Graham states the event reaches several niche markets including craft beer enthusiasts, morel lovers and foragers, foodies in general, homebrewers, live music fans, multigenerational travelers and visitors who appreciate rural heritage.
Vaught, co-owner of Beks, and local attorney Tom Riley first came up with the idea of a morel event in 2011. The first festival was held in 2012 with about 300 attendees, 64 lbs. of morels, 10 breweries and around 7 volunteers The 2022 festival had about 3,000 attendees, 450 lbs. of morels, 20 breweries and 50 volunteers.
The fleeting nature of the morel season has always been the primary challenge of the festival. "We've had some years where we held our breath wondering if we could get enough morels to make it happen, but we've worked hard to develop relationships with the foraging community, and thankfully Mother Nature has mostly cooperated, too," said Vaught.
The event is the Brick District's primary fundraiser and proceeds are reinvested in the Brick District and its community of local merchants. "Morels and Microbrews was just a crazy idea we had that has, to our great fortune, become an event that brings folks from all over to experience what the Brick District has to offer, and provides the funds to continue to make improvements," says Vaught.
Video about the award: https://stateofmissouri.app.box.com/.../file/1037284329729.
Fulton, Missouri - Garry Vaught, president of Fulton's Brick District Merchant Association accepted the Missouri Division of Tourism's Pathfinder Award on behalf of the Morels & Microbrews committee on Wednesday, October 5 in St. Louis, during the Missouri Governor's Conference on Tourism. He accepted the award from Stephen Foutes, Director of the Missouri Division of Tourism.
The Pathfinder Award recognizes an event or organization that successfully develops a niche tourism market. Vaught has been instrumental in Morels & Microbrews since its inception.
Renee Graham, director of tourism for Callaway County nominated Vaught and Morels & Microbrews because of its unique qualities. "While there are a couple of other morel festivals in the U.S., there doesn't appear to be any other festival that combines morels, with microbrews and music" said Graham.
Graham states the event reaches several niche markets including craft beer enthusiasts, morel lovers and foragers, foodies in general, homebrewers, live music fans, multigenerational travelers and visitors who appreciate rural heritage.
Vaught, co-owner of Beks, and local attorney Tom Riley first came up with the idea of a morel event in 2011. The first festival was held in 2012 with about 300 attendees, 64 lbs. of morels, 10 breweries and around 7 volunteers The 2022 festival had about 3,000 attendees, 450 lbs. of morels, 20 breweries and 50 volunteers.
The fleeting nature of the morel season has always been the primary challenge of the festival. "We've had some years where we held our breath wondering if we could get enough morels to make it happen, but we've worked hard to develop relationships with the foraging community, and thankfully Mother Nature has mostly cooperated, too," said Vaught.
The event is the Brick District's primary fundraiser and proceeds are reinvested in the Brick District and its community of local merchants. "Morels and Microbrews was just a crazy idea we had that has, to our great fortune, become an event that brings folks from all over to experience what the Brick District has to offer, and provides the funds to continue to make improvements," says Vaught.
Video about the award: https://stateofmissouri.app.box.com/.../file/1037284329729.
Contact:
Renee Graham
info@visitfulton.com
