Ales for Acres is a fundraiser in support of local farms and local food to be held at the Winding Creek Brewery located at 322 E. Mills St. in Columbus on Friday, Sept. 23.

Local food truck, Mountain View BBQ, will be serving their famous barbecue and feature special menu items from Bradley Farms of Saluda.

Attendees can wash down some local flavor with one of Winding Creek’s newest brews made in house including Heather Ale and Sadie’s Pale Ale.

The event opens to the public at 5 p.m. with live music by Eric Cangdon beginning at 7 p.m. Cangdon’s musical style ranges from  blues to bluegrass fingerpicking.

The night will also be punctuated by lawn and bar games such as cornhole, badminton, giant jenga, bocce, kubb, and more.

There is no entry price for the fundraiser and is open to any and all who support local farmers and local food.

The event ends at 11 p.m. but Winding Creek’s manager, Ken Potter, says their support of local farmers is year round. “We are really excited to host this event. We have worked with GRO since before our opening day to incorporate local grains and produce into our operation. Farmers are key to the way we live here in Polk and we are glad to host an event to celebrate all their hard work.”

GRO will be fundraising throughout the night to help support various projects. Four different program areas will be presented to attendees and they will choose which to support with donations. Tallies will be kept all night and a winning team declared by the end of the evening.

All donations will support the program areas to which they were donated and the operation of GRO. An example of one of GRO’s program areas includes the Tractor Access Program which provides support to new farmers and seasoned farmers by providing the use of a tractor when one is needed.

“Farming is hard enough with weather, pests, and everything else. We want to provide a safeguard for farmers that if their equipment fails at critical times, like planting or harvest, they have a backup with us.” said GRO’s executive director, Patrick McLendon.

GRO will also offer the tractor to new and beginning farmers, for use in the Grow Food Where People Live program and more.

A major new program will be announced the night of the fundraiser.  For more information about the organization and the event, visit www.growrural.org

– article submitted by Patrick McLendon