CELEBRATING THE ENERGY OF YOUR COMMUNITY KENTUCKY 2020 FIRED UP Building bourbon barrels TIMBER Forestry industry helps grow the state SEPTEMBER 2020 • KENTUCKYLIVING.COM WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 26% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THROUGH 2020* You may not realize it, but your home is sitting on a free and renewable supply of energy. A WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system taps into the stored solar energy in your own backyard to provide savings of up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. That’s money in the bank and a smart investment in your family’s comfort. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn how to tap into your buried treasure. 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GEOPRO (270) 384-6418 HM00626 (270) 247-7530 (859) 887-5751 HM01716 M02951 HM02675 visit waterfurnace.com WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. ©2020 WaterFurnace International, Inc. *26% through 2020 and 22% through 2021 WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 26% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THROUGH 2020* SEPTEMBER 2020 VOL 74 • NO 9 36 16 You may not realize it, but your home is sitting on a free and renewable supply of energy. A WaterFurnace DEPARTMENTS KENTUCKY CULTURE geothermal comfort system taps into the stored solar energy in your own backyard to provide savings of up Fired Up: Bourbon 4 KENTUCKYLIVING.COM 41 WORTH THE TRIP to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. That’s money in the bank and a smart investment in your family’s 16 Barrel Secrets Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort comfort. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn how to tap into your buried treasure. 5 YOUR COOPERATIVE Bourbon is booming in Kentucky—but what would bourbon COMMUNITY 46 EVENTS CALENDAR be without the barrels? Learn how barrels are made and Kentucky’s “Best” 47 TRAVEL MARKETPLACE Bardstown Danville Gray Lexington Maysville Paducah why they’re so important to this state staple. 6 COMMONWEALTHS Win a Trip for Four Brown’s Htg, A/C Feistritzer Htg Moses Drilling, LLC Engineered Jefferson Htg & A/C AAA Htg Co Equine coffee table book, & Plbg & A/C (Loops, drilling, grouting) Htg & Air (270) 443-1765 48 UNIQUELY KENTUCKY GEOPRO Owen Electric communicator (502) 348-5468 (859) 236-0850 (606) 523-1215 GEOPRO (606) 759-7030 HM03359 The Mother Goose Inn receives Touchstone Energy HM02566 M02584 Glasgow (859) 231-0505 HM03260 Richmond HM05043 2020 Best in Kentucky award, forestry series and 49 KENTUCKY EATS Bardstown Dry Ridge HVAC Services, Inc. Mt. 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Kentucky’s HM04474 HM03448 12 CO-OPS CARE Frankfort GEOPRO Christopher & 52 GARDEN GURU Columbia Phillips & Sons (859) 252-0403 Mayfield Smith Htg & Clg 36 Forestry Industry Opening doors, removing Butterfly bait Wall Htg & Clg, Inc. HM04474 obstacles (502) 695-5115 Adams Htg A/C Inc. GEOPRO Kentucky’s forestry industry contributed $13.1 billion to 53 SMART HEALTH (270) 384-6418 HM00626 (270) 247-7530 (859) 887-5751 13 SAFETY MOMENT Toxic stress HM01716 M02951 HM02675 the state’s economy in 2019—yes, that’s billion with a B. Stay safe on the farm Read about the industry’s statewide impact. 55 KENTUCKY 14 CUTTING COSTS MARKETPLACE How to winterize your manufactured home 56 SNAP SHOT ON THE COVER While this photo was taken pre-pandemic, 15 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 57 KENTUCKY KIDS Cumberland Falls remains one of the best day trips in Kentucky— Helping businesses succeed 58 BYRON CRAWFORD’S KENTUCKY visit waterfurnace.com you said so yourselves! See this winner and all the others on 30A LOCAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE NEWS Chasing waterfalls WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace page 24. Photo: Kentucky Department of Parks International, Inc. ©2020 WaterFurnace International, Inc. *26% through 2020 and 22% through 2021 WWW.KENTUCKYLIVING.COM • SEPTEMBER 2020 3 Let’s get outside I’m excited. This is absolutely a Best-packed issue—with over 130 highlighted places. Most of our Best in Kentucky winners (page 24) are outdoors venues, where Archives and much more content on our website! there’s more room to safely social dis- tance from crowds, breathe in fresh air CONNECT and get some fall exercise. This can help us all feel a bit normal 2020 BEST IN KENTUCKY during the pandemic, if we do so Watch the 2020 Best in carefully, while we support Kentucky Kentucky awards show businesses. Though our live show at the Kentucky While our trees provide us with respite, State Fair was canceled—we hope to be Kentucky’s well-managed forestry industry back in 2021—you can still watch a show helps fuel our economy (page 36). For an dedicated to our winners on Facebook, intriguing read, learn how bourbon barrels YouTube and KentuckyLiving.com. Plus, are made (page 16). find out how to connect with the winners There’s also a healthy dose of energy in a listing on our website. information: how electric co-ops adapted SHARE this year’s annual meetings during the pandemic (page HOLIDAY SHOUT OUT 10); how to stay safe while farming Tell us about your traditions and handmade gifts (page 13); and how What holiday traditions do you, your family and friends have for the December holidays? to winterize your Tell us why your holiday tradition is special to you and how long you have been celebrat- manufactured ing it. Do you make your own gifts to give out? Tell us about those, too, and you may see your tradition or gift in the December issue. If we use your submission, we’ll send you home (page 14). $50. Enter at KentuckyLiving.com under “Contests” through September 30, 2020. Stay safe and strong. HARRIS WADE WATCH FEEL THE HEAT Get a blazing, behind- ANITA TRAVIS RICHTER, EDITOR the-scenes look Thanks to our friends at Kelvin Contact Us Cooperage, we can take you behind • Questions, comments, letter to the scenes of the barrel char- the editor ring process with videos from the • Subscription cooperage. Get a taste of the fiery • Advertising and editorial calendar • Submit story ideas photos on page 16, then see the • Freelancer inquiries videos on our website. Submit & Share www.KentuckyLiving.com Kentucky Living, P.O. Box 32170, ENTER Louisville, KY 40232. Submission should include your name, address, phone numbers, email address and name of GET THE DETAILS electric co-op. Win a trip for four in Glasgow Join us on Enter for a chance to win a trip for four to spend two nights in Glasgow! From Mammoth Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest Cave Adventures to Fox Hollow Golf Course, there’s something the whole family will love. Social icon Rounded square Turn to page 47 for details, then enter at KentuckyLiving.com by October 15, 2020. Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our Brand Guidelines. 4 KENTUCKY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020 YOUR COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY EDITORIAL EDITOR Anita Travis Richter MANAGING EDITOR Shannon Brock COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE COORDINATOR Mary Lyons COOPERATIVE OUTREACH DIRECTOR Mary Beth Dennis COPY EDITOR Madelynn Coldiron CONTRIBUTORS Byron Crawford • Sarah Fritschner Debra Gibson Isaacs • Pat Keegan • Shelly Nold Brian Orms • Joel Sams • Dave Shuffett Kentucky’s “Best” Brad Thiessen • Penny Woods Celebrate and support the businesses that make ADVERTISING ADVERTISING MANAGER Renee Williams our state great ADVERTISING SALES REP. Monica Pickerill ADVERTISING SALES REP. Cynthia Whelan ADVERTISING SALES REP. John Witt PRODUCTION SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katy Hurt GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kacey Harmeling GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jessica Hawkins MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST Wade Harris his year, I have been KENTUCKY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES losing track of days.