Convening for the first time since its timely remodel, the Trigg County Country Ham Festival Committee unanimously passed a new fee structure for food and regular vendors Friday afternoon — creating streamlined costs, while officially waiving a 3% restaurant tax that was hard to monitor, and frankly was often skirted.
The discussion lengthy, the group eventually settled on a fee structure that will require all food vendors — regardless of location — pay $425, to include electric and water, and for all regular vendors to pay $150.
Respectively, this is up from “about $380” before the required restaurant tax, and $120 on all other spaces.
Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism Director and chair Beth Sumner confirmed that 45 of last year’s 200-plus vendors were food only — accounting for nearly 25% of the festival’s offerings.
In 2024, she said 15 total food vendors paid their restaurant tax — one chipping in as low as $21, or about $700 in sales — for an average of $105 per vendor. This means roughly 30 vendors either forgot or ignored the tax altogether, and served as a major miss on realized revenues.
Furthermore, in western Kentucky, Sumner said average booth rentals for other festivals ranges from $190 to $500, meaning that even with the booth rental raises, the Trigg County Country Ham Festival remains an “affordable, local” opportunity for entrepreneurs and established businesses, alike.
Are some spots more valuable than others during the three-day pig gig? According to Sumner and Cadiz Mayor Todd King: most certainly.
In other Country Ham Festival committee news:
+ In the group’s first election for officers, city administrator Amber Syester was elected as vice chair, and she will be promoted to chair in 2027. Trigg County Hospital’s Kara Allen was elected as this year’s secretary. Cerulean’s John Rayme Hopson was tabbed for treasurer.
+ Saturday’s main headliner has yet to be locked in, but Sumner again confirmed that Rewind will be the Friday night entertainment, and Saturday’s opener will be “Belles.” Her full name Kelli Rachel Belles, the up-and-coming country star out of Nashville will debut a new single in April, and her arrival in Trigg County is “greatly anticipated.”
Sumner said Brice Long’s schedule during mid-October didn’t align with the festival weekend, and that Trigg County alum and gifted musician Nate Woodall, along with News Edge’s Joshua Claussen and Bill Booth, has been instrumental in connecting with Tennessee talent.
+ Sumner also confirmed that, after a conversation with Syester and the city, overtime and salaries aren’t being charged to this year’s festival ledger — something that could give the committee “a real head start.”
+ With the Renaissance Stage condemned and recently demolished, Sumner said conversations needed to ramp up quickly regarding a new gathering location for smaller ancillary events throughout the weekend, including the growing Ham & Biscuit Eating Contest. King said he could not further discuss it at this time, but a “top secret mission” and an “anonymous constituent” remains interested in solving this problem. A good backup plan, Sumner and others said, could be the lots between H.B. Quinn’s Law Office and the Trigg County Justice Center.
+ A T-shirt design contest is still in the works. Sumner said to expect a detailed announcement early next week.
