Rural Hill Piper WinterNewsletter 2018 Rural Hill Where History Springs Alive P.O. Box 1009 Huntersville, NC 28070 4431 Neck Road Huntersville, NC 28078 704-875-3113 www.ruralhill.com office@ruralhill.com Facilitated in cooperation with Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Jeff s Corner Spring has sprung and we are ready for warmer weather here on the farm! With our Spring Food Truck Rally and the 25th Anniversary of the Loch Norman Highland Games just around the corner, Rural Hill is a flurry of activity! 2018 was off to a cold, cold start with our First Footin on New Year s Day. It was so cold, we moved our time of fellowship and stone soup inside! Thankfully, our dinner events and Bridal Show were mostly indoors. We welcomed many new faces Spring Food Truck Rally and vendors this season, and we are April 6 thrilled to build new relationships. Mark Your Calendars! Loch Norman Highland Games April 21 & 22 NC Brewers and Music Festival May 11 & 12 Warrior Dash June 2 Spring promises sunshine and warm breezes, and we have a full calendar of fun planned. I hope to see you on the farm!
! n o s a e S y r a s r e v i n n A h t 25 Tickets are on sale now for the 2018 Loch Norman Highland Games! It s our 25th Anniversary, and we re pulling out all the stops. The Lord Lyon will be here with us to help us celebrate! Get your tickets now and save over pricing at the gate! Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2018 - Page 2
Around the Farm HPD at Rural Hill Don't be alarmed if you see the Huntersville Police Department around Rural Hill! Our friends at Huntersville PD are using our woods for some tactical training. We LOVE the HPD, and they're big supporters of Rural Hill! The Reelin' Rogues! From nearby Asheville, The Reelin Rogues are a new high-energy Celtic music group that will ensure your toes are a- tapping. The Reelin Rogues bring a fresh take to traditional Celtic music by melding vocals & percussion with arrangements inspired by old school punk-rock & traditional folk. Recently featured on our Facebook Live feed, you can catch The Reelin Rogues at the Rural Hill Spring Food Rally and the Loch Norman Highland Games. Historic Rural Hill Piper - WInter 2018 - Page 3
Give the Gift of a Field Trip to Local Schools We are excited to announce the launch of an end of year giving drive in order to fund a new educational initiative to benefit area schools. The educational fund aims to offer field trips to Rural Hill at absolutely zero cost to the school by waiving the field trip fee and also reimbursing the school for transportation costs for students. The goal is to offer this program to 10 area schools in 2018. As you may know, we hosts field trips at a deep discount for area schools, but have noticed a decline in public school attendance due to a lack of available public funds for field trips. We believe that field trips are a vital part of the educational experience for students, and that a good field trip will have a lasting impact beyond just that day. Almost everyone you meet can remember a field trip from their childhood, and we don t want to see our local students deprived of that experience. Based on county data, it costs a school roughly $500 per grade level of 100 students to bus students to a field trip. Little to no county or state funding is allotted to funding field trips for local schools, which leaves the financial burden to already strapped schools and parents. Rural Hill s educational programs are multi-disciplinary and expose students to history first hand, giving students a broad and unique hands-on learning experience. Interested individuals can donate through Rural Hill s donation platform, choosing to give one time, or have a recurring donation. Those interested in donating over $500, or to sponsor a school are encouraged to email Jeff Fissel at jeff@ruralhill.com to discuss options. Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2018 - Page 4
Scenes from Winter First Footin We set the year off on the right foot with our annual Scottish New Year event. The cold may have moved our Stone Soup and fellowship time inside, but a great time was had everyone. And we are set for luck and fortune in 2018! Thank you for everything! - Kevin D. via Facebook Burns Night Supper Burns Night Suppers are held around the world in celebration of Poet Robert Burns birthday on January 25th. The tradition started in July of 1801 when his friends met at his old home to celebrate the 5th year since his passing. A traditional Burns Night consists of haggis being piped in, a three course meal, several drams of whisky and performances honoring Burns great works. La-tea-da's Catering & Events provided delicious food for our event and the night was hosted by Charlotte personality James K. Flynn, shown above performing the Ode to Haggis! Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2018 - Page 5
Argentinian Wine Dinner On February 24 Rural Hill hosted an Argentinian style feast cooked over hot coals by nationally recognized chef and award winning author Dan Huntley. Huntley specializes in bringing Southern and global food traditions such as pig pickings, oyster roasts, and Lowcountry shrimp boils to crowds around the region. The featured winery for the evening was Bodega Familia Schroder. From Patagonia, Familia Schroeder is located in San Patricio del Chañar Valley in Argentina. This is a new winemaking area in the country and the world. The evening was a benefit for Historic Rural Hill and we appreciate the support of all who came out for the dinner and fun. Thank you so much for your support! Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2018 - Page 6
Sip and Seek Bridal Show We had a great time at the Sip and Seek Bridal Show earlier in March! Couples and vendors met while enjoying complimentary wine, food, and door prizes. More than 30 of the area s top vendors attended and brides-to-be toured our beautiful Cutural Center and farm grounds. Check out the gorgeous display The Flower Diva did for us on the arbor leading to the show! Come Join Us At Miss May s Tea Sunday, August 12, 2018 2-4 pm May Davidson Cultural Center Please Save The Date Rural Hill Auxiliary s Sixth Annual Fundraiser Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2018 - Page 7
The Historic Rural Hill Cultural Center continues to grow in its popularity for weddings, rehearsal dinners, and other special occasions and retreats. The rustic atmosphere of the venue offers a unique combination of vast outdoor spaces and inviting indoor comforts. The 2,000 square foot May Davidson Hall accommodates up to 200 guests for cocktail style receptions and there are options to expand the space and guest capacity with the covered patio and tent annex. The decorative and functional finishings include aptly appointed restrooms, a generous catering kitchen, pleasing architecture of soaring barn-style rafters with ironwork chandeliers, a barn door opening to the west end covered patio (perfect for admiring the sunset), four sets of French doors leading to the wraparound brick walkway, and turn-key audio/visual amenities. Don t miss securing the date for your special occasion at the Historic Rural Hill Cultural Center. Contact us to schedule a personal tour. Call (704) 875-3113 or email us at office@ruralhill.com. Some photos courtesy of Thirteenth Moon Photography LLC, Samantha Laffoon Photography, and Andrea Anderson Photography Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2018 - Page 8
Support Historic Rural Hill The money you donate to Historic Rural Hill goes to a variety of things that keep a 265-acre and 250 year old farm operating, including the preservation and restoration of historic buildings, and our educational programming. Through your generosity we are able to keep history alive for current and future generations. All donations are greatly appreciated and tax deductible. Visit online for easy, secure giving. Give online at www.ruralhill.com Volunteer at Historic Rural Hill Historic Rural Hill s events exist because of the generous and enthusiastic support of volunteers. For more information on volunteering, please contact us at (704) 875-3113 or email office@ruralhill.com. Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2018 - Page 9
Board of Directors Robert G. McIntosh, Chair Jim Puckett, Vice Chair Brent Lewis, Treasurer Sam Fuller Maurice D. McIntosh Beth Eakes Martina John Cherry Henry Mummaw Danny Phillips Brandy Larrick Wendy Watts John Nabors Staff Jeff Fissel, Executive Director Zac Vinson, Education Director Jessica Bustamante, Controller Freddie Brown, Farm Manager Eric Ferguson, Farm Manager Carolyn Campbell, Administrative Assistant Mission An educational organization that provides for recognizing, celebrating and preserving the rich heritage of Rural Hill. Celebrating more than 250 years in history Rural Hill is located at 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties Ford Road) in Huntersville, 28078. The former homestead of Major John and Violet Davidson, the 265 acre site is maintained and promoted by Historic Rural Hill Inc. and features annual events such as the Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games, the Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze, the Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials, and the NC Brewers and Music Festival. Historic Rural Hill Inc. is a non-profit organization supported through membership and donations, and with proceeds from its events utilized for the preservation of Historic Rural Hill and its education efforts. For more information on events or for financial support accepted securely online, please visit www.ruralhill.com Tina Brown Photo Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2018 - Page 10