Bow Creek Farm & Cattle Co. will be the first of six farms to host Luke Bryan and his special guests for this year’s farm tour. This is the 15th year that the country music star is raising money for scholarships that will be awarded to farmers who are pursuing a degree at a college near the farm tour stops.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, the five-time Entertainer of the Year will perform alongside Conner Smith, Tucker Wetmore, Peach Pickers with Rodney Clawson, and DJ Rock at the farm at 769 Ridge Road, Grantville.
Concertgoers may bring a factory-sealed plastic bottle of water, a sign the size of a half sheet of poster board or smaller, and a blanket or chair for seating in the designated areas, which are not situated directly at the stage.
Amy Hess of Bow Creek Farm & Cattle Co. said, “I guess, as far as concertgoers coming, just to remember that you’re coming onto a working farm. … All the parking’s in fields. There could be holes. There could be ruts. And we obviously would ask that everyone respect the fields. All of the grass hay that’s in them is going to be cut again and fed to cattle. So any kind of trash or garbage is going to end up in the cattle feed. And also, I guess I would just hope that they would respect our neighbors as well.”
Concertgoers should expect the roads surrounding the farm to be congested on their commute to the concert and should plan accordingly. Concertgoers should consider carpooling to reduce traffic congestion and to drink responsibly at the event.
The farm fields, which are located towards the front of the property as concertgoers drive in the farm lane, will open for parking at 2 p.m. Entry will start at 5 p.m. for the concert, which will start at 6 p.m. No re-entry is permitted. Times for the rain-or-shine event are subject to change.
As of the writing of this article, farm tour VIP experience tickets were sold out, but general admission tickets were still available. Tickets cost $68 in advance or $80 at the entrance. With the purchase of tickets, parking passes are $10 in advance or $20 at the entrance. A service fee and sales tax are added to the total.
Bayer is the presenting sponsor for this year’s farm tour. The international enterprise has local ties through its Myerstown manufacturing facility. The enterprise expanded this facility after 75 years in late 2022.
Citi and Fendt are also sponsoring this year’s farm tour.
Meet the farmers
Rob and Amy Hess of Bow Creek Farm & Cattle Co. spoke with LebTown about how they got hooked up with the son of a peanut farmer-turned-country music star and what it takes to prepare a farm field for a concert.
“I received a call from someone who said they were looking for a farm in the area, and they asked if we would be interested. And at that point, I said we would be interested, but I knew they were touring a lot of other farms,” said Rob Hess about being contacted by Dennis Freeman. “And then, after a few weeks, they came back, and I guess they liked this site because it was all grass; they didn’t have to destroy crops to do anything.”
Rob said it’s his understanding that Luke Bryan’s crew sometimes reaches out to law enforcement agencies to help identify larger farms in the area. The crew contacts the owners of prospective farms to gauge their interest before making a selection and finalizing the agreement.
When Bow Creek Farm was selected as the venue for the first stop of this year’s farm tour, the original agreement was that the Hess family would mow one week before the concert. After a discussion with Bryan’s crew, Rob said the final agreement is that their family will mow two to three weeks before the concert and bail the hay.
Bryan’s crew will handle all other logistical preparations, which include bringing a stage and equipment, concessions, and portable toilets to the farm for the concert. Also, part of the final agreement is that the crew will return to the farm on the day after the concert to pick up trash and anything else that is left behind.
“They seem to be a well-oiled machine. … You’ve done more of the talking with them about logistics and things like that,” Amy said to Rob, “but they seem to really know what they’re doing.”
Although the Hess family is somewhat removed from the event planning, Rob said he knows Bryan’s crew has contacted local law enforcement, fire company, and school district in preparation for the event.
Regarding the family’s impressions of the event itself, Rob said, “We weren’t too familiar with it. But it seems like a good event in recognition of farmers. And it’s our understanding that a large portion of the proceeds go for agricultural scholarships for students studying different facets of agriculture. So, I think it’s a good cause in that respect.”
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