sign in sign up
<<
Home , Dustin Lynch

SHOWTIME!The annual Country Concert brings big-name stars and tens of thousands of fans to rural Shelby County

BY MARGIE WUEBKER

ichael Barhorst never tired of standing near the covered stage in the natural amphitheater on his property in rural MShelby County, watching thousands of fans enjoy the Country Concert he organized every year. Fans came there to enjoy headliners, old favorites, and newcomers to the country music scene, to camp out and have fun with friends, and to share their love for the music with a massive crowd. “It is so rewarding,” Barhorst often remarked to friends and family, “to watch thousands of people take a shared emotional journey through the power of a song.” Barhorst, who died in March 2015 at the age of 77, instilled a passion for continuing his legacy in his wife, Mary Jo, and their five sons — Tony, Brian, Mark, Scott, and Paul — who have assumed the challenge. The family will once again roll out the welcome mat this month for popular recording artists and appreciative fans alike, as Country Concert ’19 takes place July 11 to 13 at Hickory Hill Lakes, their 500-acre complex located along State Route 66 near Fort Loramie. This marks the 39th year of the event. Headliners include Chris Stapleton, Kid Rock, Thomas Rhett, Gary Allan, Dustin Lynch, and the Roots and Boots trio featuring Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin, and Collin Raye. They are among 30 performers scheduled to appear during the weekend. The event, which drew folks from 47 states and seven countries

in 2018, began on a decidedly smaller scale at the picturesque CONCERT BARHORST/COUNTRY OF PAUL COURTESY PHOTOS campground that the Barhorsts established in 1971 in the midst of Pioneer Rural Electric Cooperative territory. They hosted an annual

24 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2019 Country music fans gather and camp at Hickory Hill Lakes near Fort Loramie each year for the Country Concert. party to celebrate their wedding anniversary and to show their appreciation for seasonal campers with local talent and tasty food. In July 1981, the couple expanded their party into a full-day concert featuring three performers: Louise Mandrell, R.C. Bannon, and Johnny Russell. The overwhelming response paved the way for further expansion to the current three-day format that consistently brings between 20,000 and 25,000 fans per day. Paul Barhorst, who serves as president of the family corporation, spent 10 years planning concerts with his parents. He and his brothers also had a hand in many of the site improvements over the years. Mike and Mary Jo Barhorst, who started “The planning never stops,” he says. “We already Country Concert in the Hills, display the have offers out for the lineup for the 40th anniversary award they received in Nashville in 2015 concert in 2020.” recognizing their work in promoting Barhorst says he won’t release those names until later this year, but fans can expect the same careful planning that country music over the decades. goes into the event every year. “Dad and Mom believed the concert should feature a mix of new performers, established stars, and country legends,” he says. “Each year, we ask fans to complete surveys listing who they want to see here, and we try very hard to act on those requests. We want to put on as big a show as possible.” Fans, many of whom have come for decades, fondly recall “newcomers” Reba McIntire, , , Luke Bryan, and Kenny Chesney serving as opening acts before they attained headliner status. Country legends such as and , Kenny Rogers, Conway Twitty, and Tom T. Hall have also graced the stage. Fifteen miles of all-weather roads facilitate movement in, out, and around Hickory Hill Lakes. A state-of-the-art sound

Kip Moore (left) will appear on opening night at the 2019 Country Concert, as part of his Room to Spare tour.

JULY 2019 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 25 Country Concert 2019 lineup July 11 Kid Rock Kip Moore tower and six jumbo screens ensure visitors don’t miss any of the action. When shows outgrew the original covered pavilion, the Barhorsts built a 109-foot-wide Aaron Lewis covered stage. Two more stages — the Saloon and the Home Grown Honky Tonk — have space for entertainment before each day’s show and between acts. The July 12 family has expanded parking facilities adjacent to the main stage several times, to accommodate the entertainers’ entourages. Chris Stapleton Gary Allan “In the early years, performers were lucky to have a bus,” Paul Barhorst says. Granger Smith (featuring “Now they come with 10 or 12 semis and six buses.” Earl Dibbles Jr.) Organizations like the Fort Loramie Fire Department, the Newport Sportsmen’s Club, the Jackson Center Boosters, the Red Cross, and Shelby County Relay for Life step up each year to handle various assignments. The Fort Loramie July 13 High School football and volleyball teams clean up the grounds throughout Thomas Rhett the weekend. In exchange, the Barhorsts make generous donations to those Dustin Lynch groups, in addition to supporting other area charities. Roots and Boots “It takes more than one person or one family to put on a concert,” Barhorst (featuring Sammy Kershaw, Aaron says. “It takes a community of people to make this happen. Dad and Mom took Tippin, and Collin Raye) a leap of faith when it came to starting this tradition. We like to say Dad is sitting Dylan Scott back and watching our efforts from the best seat in the house.” Ashley McBryde For more concert and ticket information, visit www.countryconcert.com.

26 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JULY 2019