Extol October-November 2017 | Page 56

50 FACES OF HARVEST HOMECOMING “It brings so much money into downtown New Albany, which does so much for small local businesses. And then so many people who haven’t been around here can see what’s coming up over here – restaurants, places they may want to come back and visit – or they might see somewhere for sale and want to start a new business over here.” SUMMER SIEG Corydon “Harvest means community to me, it means fellowship with local residents and “I’ve been going to Harvest Homecoming for 35 years. I just love the community environment and the tradition that surrounds it. The atmosphere is just great.” vendors and it means ringing in the fall season. I started helping my grandfather sell pins when I was only four years old. … Right now, we have between 200 and 300 volunteers, and with the festival expanding and adding events, we’d really like to increase that number. … We are an organization that is all about being inclusive. We want people from (all walks of life, ages and beliefs). That’s what’s going to make Harvest Homecoming stronger going into the next several years and will allow the festival to be around for another 50 years” ANDY DUGGINS New Albany HALEY MATHENY Vice President of Volunteerism “I’ve been going to Harvest Homecoming on and off for 10 years. I love the food. The apple dumplings with vanilla ice cream are the best. ” RICK BYNUM Jeffersonville “I’ve been going to Harvest Homecoming for 20 years. I love the people.” TONI THOMPSON Louisville 54 EXTOL • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017