The Buckhannon Upshur Camera Club was pleased, once again, to participate with a photography exhibit at the Maple Syrup Festival in Pickens.

Debbie Morgan of the festival committee made a report to the camera club at their recent meeting.  Debbie stated that the two-year lapse in the festival coupled with amazing Saturday weather resulted in a record crowd of an estimated 3000 folks attending in the tiny burg of Pickens.  They sold 1700 pancake meals! The festival started in 1985 and the expectations at that time were a crowd of 300.  Richter’s Maplehouse is located in the area and it was an original suggestion of theirs to start the festival. 

The camera club exhibit was organized by co-chairs Anthony Ovies and Gary McCoy who both enjoyed the festival and reported attendees from numerous locations who had traveled to the festival.  The camera club exhibit was busy every minute. The exhibit consisted of 79 entries from 14 photographers.  Club member Dawn Ovies was a key organizer for the exhibit.

Anthony Ovies reported that there were 1000 votes cast for the People’s Choice award. That means there were well over 1000 people who viewed the exhibit as all do not choose to cast a vote.

Gary McCoy and Debbie Morgan presented the People’s Choice ribbon and a quart of syrup from Richter’s Maplehouse to Sandi Miller whose photo, Barbour Cabin, received the greatest number of votes. 

BUCC was pleased to make a donation of $100 to the historical group in Pickens for the Maple Syrup Festival and thanks all the festival-goers who were able to stop by the exhibit.