Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area

12/07/2025

12/07/2025

The Annual Appalachia Heritage Luncheon, a joint venture of Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio, will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025, from 11am-1:30pm in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. The Luncheon recognizes the outstanding people, places, and projects, that make the 32 county Appalachia region of Ohio such a rich cultural area. The event is sponsored by AEP Ohio , with additional support from Ohio SE Ohio Arts Council JobsOhio and Ohio Lottery

Honoree: Ohio Hills Health Center (OHHC) Bradfield
County: Belmont
Ohio Hills Health Center (OHHC) has developed critical healthcare resources for vulnerable populations throughout the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OMEGA) district. OHHC’s multiple centers provide region-wide access and accept all patients, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. OHHC has completed over $1.3 million in renovations of the Barnesville location housed in the historic Bradfield Building, ensuring that it continues to serve many generations to come.

OHHC has an impressive level of support from local partners and has had a tremendous impact on the community. The Barnesville location receives 15,000 patient visits annually, making it a major economic driver in the region. OHHC-Bradfield has become a cornerstone property within Barnesville’s beautiful historic district, which is welcoming a new generation of visitors while also enhancing the quality of life for residents every day.

Find out more and get tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-appalachia-heritage-luncheon-tickets-1640068010569?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/04/2025

The Annual Appalachia Heritage Luncheon, a joint venture of Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025, from 10:30 am - 1 pm in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. The Luncheon recognizes the outstanding people, places, and projects, that make the 32-county Appalachia region of Ohio such a rich cultural area. The event is sponsored by AEP Ohio , with additional support from Ohio SE, Ohio Arts Council, JobsOhio and Ohio Lottery.

Honoree: Steve Free Folk Music
County: Scioto

As a lifelong resident of Appalachia with Shawnee and Cherokee roots, Steve Free and his music embody the enduring spirit of the Southern Ohio hills. Steve Free is a singer-songwriter who has made a successful career for himself as a musician on both the national and international music scenes. Through it all, he has maintained a strong connection to his local community. Steve Free can be found at charitable events across the region. He is a frequent performer at Main Street Portsmouth In-Bloom fundraisers and at farmers’ markets. Through his original songwriting, Steve Free brings positive attention to the beauty and traditions of Appalachia and Scioto County. Steve Free has been the recipient of many well-deserved awards, including the 2008 Ohio Governor’s Award for Individual Artist. His life’s work is a tribute to Appalachia and what it means to be Appalachian.

Find out more and get tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-appalachia-heritage-luncheon-tickets-1640068010569?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/02/2025

The Annual Appalachia Heritage Luncheon, a joint venture of Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio, will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025, from 10:30 am- 1 pm in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. The Luncheon recognizes the outstanding people, places, and projects that make the 32-county Appalachia region of Ohio such a rich cultural area. The event is sponsored by AEP Ohio , with additional support from Ohio SE, Ohio Arts Council, JobsOhio and Ohio Lottery.

Honoree: Pike Heritage Museum
County: Pike

For 43 years, the Pike Heritage Museum has creatively showcased Pike County's heritage through unique projects. They have made outstanding progress in creating these projects, including the establishment of a memorial for fallen Pike County veterans and the creation of Pike Heritage Day, an annual celebration at the museum that brings together artists, storytellers, community members, and downtown businesses. The ongoing projects and successes of the museum would not have been possible without the leadership of the board, who recognize the tremendous responsibility and opportunity to educate and inspire more people about Pike County's unique history.

Find out more and get tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-appalachia-heritage-luncheon-tickets-1640068010569

12/02/2025

The Annual Appalachia Heritage Luncheon, a joint venture of Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio, will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025, from 11am-1:30pm in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. The Luncheon recognizes the outstanding people, places, and projects, that make the 32 county Appalachia region of Ohio such a rich cultural area. The event is sponsored by AEP Ohio , with additional support from Ohio SE Ohio Arts Council JobsOhio and Ohio Lottery

Honoree: Hidden Hills Orchard
County: Washington
Hidden Hills Orchard is a sustainable, community-centered orchard with cherry trees, peach trees, and 22 varieties of apple trees. They are known for their famous apple cider, which received first-place awards in 2004, 2013, and 2016 in the Ohio Apple Cider Contest. The farm property was originally used as a dairy farm, and in 1998, it was purchased and became established as an apple orchard.

Tom and Kathy Burch took over operations in 2011, expanding U-pick and adding more apple varieties. They are committed to operating a sustainable orchard and do so with solar panels, a drip irrigation system, pollinator habitat maintenance, and more. Tom and Kathy's son, Dan, and his wife, Katie, fell in love with the orchard and wanted a lifestyle that centered around getting to be together as a family. In March of 2021, they moved to the orchard and made it their full-time work. Hidden Hills Orchard is a wonderful example of a legacy farm that has adapted, implemented sustainable farming techniques, and connected to the community in meaningful ways.

Find out more and get tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-appalachia-heritage-luncheon-tickets-1640068010569?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/01/2025

The Annual Appalachia Heritage Luncheon, a joint venture of Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio, will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025, from 10:30 am - 1:30pm in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. The Luncheon recognizes the outstanding people, places, and projects, that make the 32 county Appalachia region of Ohio such a rich cultural area. The event is sponsored by AEP Ohio, with additional support from Ohio SE, Ohio Arts Council JobsOhio and the Ohio Lottery.

Honoree: Old Burying Ground Restoration
County: Highland

The Old Burying Ground Restoration Project was born out of John King and Scott Anderson’s interest in local history, preservation, and community renewal, as well as their desire to honor those buried in the historic cemetery. With some burials dating back to over 200 years ago, weather, neglect, and vandals degraded the cemetery. The Old Burying Ground Restoration Project is restoring Greenfield's original cemetery to renew community interest in the area’s history. Local schools now bring students to the cemetery to learn about people, place, and community, adding to the authenticity of the town's historic district. The project has encouraged volunteering, provided families seeking their ancestral history with a resource map, and provided a space for re-enactments that share the stories of Greenfield’s past. The project demonstrates a responsibility to preserve and protect, learn from history, and build the future.

More information and tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-appalachia-heritage-luncheon-tickets-1640068010569?aff=oddtdtcreator

11/27/2025

The Annual Appalachia Heritage Luncheon, a joint venture of Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio, will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025, from 10:30 am - 1:30pm in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. The Luncheon recognizes the outstanding people, places, and projects that make the 32-county Appalachia region of Ohio such a rich cultural area. The event is sponsored by AEP Ohio, with additional support from Ohio SE, Ohio Arts Council, JobsOhio, and the Ohio Lottery.

Honoree: Belpre Farmers Castle Museum: Underground Railroad Exhibit
County: Washington

The Underground Railroad exhibit at the Belpre Farmers Castle Museum honors the stories of freedom seekers who passed through Washington County, Ohio, and the brave abolitionists who aided them. The project was developed as part of the museum’s mission to protect and interpret the region’s abolitionist history, foster community awareness, and encourage intergenerational storytelling. It has also boosted heritage tourism, drawing visitors to Belpre and supporting the local economy.

Get more information and buy tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../2025-appalachia-heritage...

11/24/2025

The Annual Appalachia Heritage Luncheon, a joint venture of Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio, will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025, from 10:30 am-1:30pm in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. The Luncheon recognizes the outstanding people, places, and projects that make the 32-county Appalachia region of Ohio such a rich cultural area. The event is sponsored by AEP Ohio, with additional support from Ohio SE, Ohio Arts Council JobsOhio, and Ohio Lottery.

Honoree: Sam Miller, Development Director - Buckeye Hills Regional Council
County: Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, & Washington

As Development Director at Buckeye Hills Regional Council, Sam Miller is dedicated to improving the quality of life across Appalachian Ohio. Sam has approached every initiative with a consistent focus on honoring the region's cultural identity while building its economic future. Her work has been carried out through years of engagement with local leaders, nonprofits, and residents, ensuring community voices shape development efforts. Sam has established Appalachian Ohio as a place where collaboration is the norm, not the exception.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-appalachia-heritage-luncheon-tickets-1640068010569?aff=oddtdtcreator

11/15/2025

Join Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio as we celebrate artcoz | artist colony of zanesville on December 16, 2025 at the 14th annual Appalachia Heritage Lunch, where we’ll bestow eight certificates of honor. This event recognizes the impact of Appalachians who are actively contributing to the success of their region and all of Ohio.

In 2004, bronze sculptor Alan Cottrill helped establish an artist colony in downtown Zanesville to enrich student arts programs and revitalize the downtown area. In the late 2000s, public schools were cutting arts programs, and students turned to the downtown artist colony for visual and performing arts lessons, which continue to this day. Buildings that had long been in decline were renovated and inhabited by art studios and galleries. The Artist Colony of Zanesville hosts a monthly First Friday Art Walk, which increases downtown foot traffic and generates business for local restaurants, artisans, and other establishments. The previously awarded Y-Bridge Arts Festival was created by the early organizers and artisans and continues to this day, drawing 2000+ people one weekend a month during the summer.

To this day, the Artist Colony of Zanesville’s efforts in art education and awareness continue to enrich the lives of local artists and community members.

Get more information and buy tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-appalachia-heritage-luncheon-tickets-1640068010569

09/20/2025

Nominations are now open for the 12th Annual Appalachia Heritage Luncheon!

For more than a decade, Heritage Ohio and Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area have gathered with legislators in downtown Columbus to recognize Appalachians who are actively contributing to the success of their region and all of Ohio.

We need your help in identifying success stories in your region of Appalachia. Please use the form below to nominate individuals or entities who are actively demonstrating advocacy for preserving Appalachian history, heritage, culture, traditions or natural resources.

12/18/2024

Tomorrow evening we will have the one and only…
STEVE ZARATE @ 6pm
Come enjoy half priced wings and live music with us!
(Dine in only for 1/2 priced wings)