Roy Exum: A Festival That Exploded

  • Sunday, October 11, 2015
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum

In the 44 years Patsy Goodlet taught school, she learned a whole lot about the world around her. Thirty of those years were at East Lake Elementary, an inner-city school where she felt a deep mission to help children. Then there were 14 more years in Walker County where, believe it or not, those kids were just as thirsty to learn.

Now she wants to teach her neighbors a thing or two. Her original idea was to recognize the promising writers and book authors of the area in a one-day festival at the Goodlet family’s gorgeous 160-acre farm in Rock Springs.

She’s eager to bring a renaissance to readers of all ages “because none of us ever stops learning.”

The more she kicked around the idea with her husband Cliff and his brother Jack (think pot roast at his Park Place Restaurant in Fort Oglethorpe), the whole idea began to snowball and it was strange how the right things seemed to happen at the right time. Suddenly the Chattanooga Zoo promised to bring some animals as a highlight to the petting zoo. Civil War encampment buffs said, sure, they would fire a cannon, and since then it hasn’t stopped.

“We’ve always enjoyed the farm and love sharing it. We have had a number of weddings here and some memorable family events, but what if we could share it with a lot of people for a very good reason?” she asked the Goodlet crowd. And suddenly a very good reason appeared.

A family friend, Audrey Hale, was diagnosed with stage-four cancer and called to see if she could take some pictures with her family at the beautiful farm. Patsy – called ‘Poddy’ by those who adore her – immediately agreed, but the request triggered the idea to use the event as a fundraiser for the much-acclaimed Mary Ellen Locher Foundation. They could also heighten breast cancer awareness.

When the idea was kindled to raise money for such a great cause, the “literary art festival” exploded into so much more and next Saturday the Goodlet Farm Festival will offer more acts than a three-ring circus. The festival will begin at 11 a.m. at the farm, which is at 331 Straight Gut Road in Rock Springs, and a number of craft vendors and food specialists will be on hand.

Phil Stacey, the Lee College sensation who just starred on American Idol, will kick the day off at 11 a.m. and a balloon release – pink preferred – in honor or memories of cancer victims, will be at 11:30 as the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Pep Band warms up the crowd. Then about 25 authors have agreed to do readings of their works and tell stories in the “Writer’s Barn.”

Throughout the day there will be music galore with Paul Smith’s Sky High Band, Rhyme & Reason, and Summer Shyvonne. Kelsey Cate and others set to appear. The highlight will be the beloved James Rogers who, as the closing act, will introduce a scholarship recipient sponsored by the Mary Ellen Locher Foundation. Proceeds from the festival will enable more scholarships for the foundation.

Tickets are available for $10 per person (children under 12 free) and, in her glowing way, ‘Poddy’ is assuring those coming it will not rain. “Our entire family is tremendously excited about it. It is going to be loads of fun, mixing literary readings with music and food, all for a great cause,” she said.

There will be adequate signage, but those coming from Chattanooga should take Highway 27 South into Rock Spring, taking a right on Kay Conley Road and, after a tenth-of-a mile, take a slight right on Old Highway 27 and go 456 feet to Old LaFayette Road. After a tenth of a mile, Straight Gut Road will be on your left.

Guests who want to participate in the balloon release should bring pink balloons already filled with helium and those wishing to enjoy the music are asked to bring their favorite portable chairs.

This one is going to be a hoot.

royexum@aol.com

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