Hay Now Podcast

In this episode, we sat down with Jim Owens (Town of Maggie Valley), Michelle Harris (Haywood Community College), and Sarah Worrell (Cataloochee Ski Area) to talk all things NC Smokies Ice Fest Weekend. Taking place January 26-28th, the NC Smokies Ice Festival is a weekend-long event across Haywood County that aims to pack all the joys of winter into 3 full days of fun. From ice skating to ice carving, this weekend-long event is guaranteed to make your heart melt – in the best way possible! To learn more and see a full schedule of events, check out: NCSmokiesIceFest.com

Join us as we chat with Lee White, the mastermind behind Geek Mountain, and discover the origins of his business and the exciting Smoky Mountain Geek Expo. Get ready to unleash your inner nerd!Learn more about the Smoky Mountain Geek Expo happening on October 21st, 2023. 

In this episode of Hay Now, we dive into the fascinating world of wildlife conservation as we sit down with Joe Yarkovich, a wildlife biologist for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, who shares his experiences and insights into protecting the park's diverse ecosystem. Tune in as we explore the challenges and triumphs of preserving nature's wonders.To learn more about our park visit: nps.gov/grsm

Join us on this episode of the Hay Now Podcast as we dive into the world of water sports and outdoor adventures! We had the pleasure of sitting down with Charles and Rebecca, of Pigeon River Outfitters in Canton, NC to learn about all the incredible experiences they offer from Memorial Day - Labor Day.  In this episode, we discuss the different water activities at Pigeon River Outfitters and how they can help you beat the summer heat. Whether you're a thrill-seeker or looking for a relaxing day on the water, Charles and Rebecca share their expert tips and insights on making the most of your river adventures.Hay Now, let's dive in!Learn more: pigeonriveroutfittersnc.com

In this episode, we sit down with the new Executive Director of the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority (HCTDA), Corrina Ruffieux, to talk about National Travel and Tourism Week (May 7-13, 2023) and our role in this industry.  The tourism industry plays a vital role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and generating revenue for local businesses in Haywood County.  To learn more about what we do at the HCTDA visit: haywoodtda.com or visitncsmokies.com

Located in the heart of Haywood County, Haywood Community College (HCC) is taking a bold step towards fostering outdoor recreation and attracting both locals and visitors to the area. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shelley White, President of HCC, to dive into the vision behind these new trails, the planning process, unique features of these trails and the anticipated benefits for the college community and the county as a whole.To learn more about HCC and their offerings, visit: haywood.edu

In this episode we explore the fascinating history of Haywood County through the lens of local historian, Alex McKay. From its humble beginnings as a rural agricultural community, Haywood County has undergone significant transformations over the years. One of the most significant forces in Haywood County's history has been tourism, which has had a profound impact on the area's economy, culture, and overall identity. From the development of the railroad to the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, tourism has played a key role in shaping the county's past and present.We hope that you'll learn something new in this podcast as we uncover the hidden gems and little-known stories of Haywood County's past, and discover how its history continues to influence and inspire its local residents and visitors today.

In this episode we sit down with Kendra Straub from the National Park Service to discuss everything you need to know about the new Park It Forward Program!The new parking tag program will allow visitors to continue enjoying the Great Smoky Mountains National Park while ensuring the park can continue to operate and stay well maintained. Just last year the park greeted over 14 million visitors, making it the most visited park in the nation! As numbers continue to increase, the Park It Forward Program will be a great way for everyone to experience the best of what the Smokies have to offer for generations to come. Learn more: go.nps.gov/GRSMfees

In this episode of the Hay Now Podcast, we sit down with Patrick O'Brien from the Ice Mill to talk about his involvement with the upcoming Maggie Valley Ice Festival.  Happening on January 28th from 3-8 p.m., this FREE and family-friendly event will feature LIVE ice carving demos, an ice slide, food trucks, art vendors and so much more! For more information, visit our Facebook event page. 

In this episode of the Hay Now Podcast, we sit down with owner of Pigeon River Mercantile, Lisa Conard, to talk about her humble business beginnings, holiday gift ideas and the ever growing shopping scene in Downtown Canton. Learn more about her shop at: pigeonrivermerc.com

In this episode we sat down with HART Theatre's Artistic Director, Candice Dickinson, to talk about about the History of HART,  how you can get involved and all the upcoming shows for their 2023 season! For more information on HART and to purchase tickets visit: harttheatre.org

Tune in to hear from Cataloochee Ski Area staff, Jasper Williams and Clay Gillespe talk about all things ski for this upcoming 2022-23 season, Cataloochee's elite snow making process, what to know before you go and the Kids Ski Free program.  Stay up-to-date with ski updates and purchase your passes at cataloochee.com. Want to learn more about Cataloochee's snowmaking process? Check out this video!

In this episode, we sit down with co-chair of our local chapter of The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Joyce Cooper to talk about all things Elk Fest! Elk Fest is a family-friendly event full of live music, local entertainment, craft vendors, educational demonstrations, plenty of activities for the kids, an RMEF Elk Calling Contest and so much more. Proceeds from the event go to help sustain the growing population of elk that were reintroduced to our area in 2001.  Come join us September 30 - October 1 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds! For more details visit: smokymtnelkfest.com

In this episode, we sit down with Morgan Beryl, Executive Director of the Haywood County Arts Council to talk about their fall events including the Haywood County Studio Tours, The Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Festival and more! We also learn about how we can get involved with the arts council's mission of bringing the community together to promote diverse artists, art education and innovation in art.

In this episode, we sit down with outdoor industry and travel tourism photographer, Steve Yocom. Tune in to hear more about Steve's background, his connection to the county, some recommended easy hikes in the area for beginners, what you should know before you go out in the field and sustainable travel practices. 

In this episode, we sit down with Zeb Ross of the J Creek Cloggers to talk about his roots here in Haywood County, the styles of clogging you can see in many of his videos and what's happened since he became “The Legend Zeb Ross” on TikTok and other social media channels. 

Tune in to hear Becky Ramey and Terry Frady, promoters of Hillbilly Jam, talk about this year's event. Hillbilly Jam is a 2-day celebration of music, moonshine and mountain living happening July 22 & 23 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.For more information about Hillbilly Jam visit thehillbillyjam.com. 

Many folks know Folkmoot as an international folk festival that happens every July in Haywood County, but what many don't know is that they're more than just a festival. They also have a year-round cultural center, with a focus on programs and events that celebrate diversity, encourage cultural inclusion and honor worldwide cultural heritages. In this episode we sit down with Executive Director, Evan Hatch, to discuss the past and future of Folkmoot and learn more about SummerFest, FolkmootLive and more!For more information about how to get involved or to purchase tickets for upcoming events visit folkmoot.org. 

Tune in to hear from the founder of the Appalachian Adventure Company, Steven "Made in Maggie Valley" Reinhold to learn more about their upcoming content creators camp and his experiences guiding trips that stoke adventure in and around Haywood County. 

Tune in to hear from local food truck owners, Amy and Dan of Harvest Moon Crepes, Ben Hooper of Ben's Backdraft Barbecue and Hunter Wyman of Woof Street Bistro and their experiences serving up Haywood County.  From chicken fajita crepes to smoked brisket and alligator tacos, this episode will make you hungry for more! 

Tune in to hear Lauri SoJourner, Executive Director of Lake Logan and Jessi LeFiles, Director of Camp Henry talk about the upcoming Cold Mountain Music Festival happening on June 4th. The festival features top-notch musical talent, amazing local food & drink vendors, family-friendly activities and so much more! For more information on the festival go to coldmountainmusic.org.

From a hobby out of a garage in 2015, to moving into their first Brick and Mortar location in 2021, the origin of Axe and Awl Leatherworks is a story worth learning. Tune in to hear Spencer and Courtney Tetrault, owners of Axe and Awl Leatherworks tell their story of how their small business came to be and all the creative projects they have on the horizon. 

If you're at all interested in photography, this is a must-listen episode. The Sutton brothers talk with hosts Kyle Perrotti and Ashley Rice about their adventures behind the lens in the NC Smokies, including a shockingly strange bear encounter. Best of all, they offer some valuable advice to anyone hoping to get that once-in-a-lifetime stunning shot. 

In light of recent winter storms that hit the NC Smokies, the Hay Now Podcast decided to bring in News 13 Chief Meteorologist Jason Boyer, along with Visit NC Smokies' own Ashley Rice, to discuss the perils of forecasting winter weather in the mountains, as well why people who live in and visit Western North Carolina get so excited when it comes to snow.

The Hay Now Podcast brings in some star power for its sixth episode as Jerry Benson from Discovery Channel's hit show Moonshiners sits down alongside Dave Angel, owner and operator of Elevated Mountain Distilling Company, and host Kyle Perrotti. Listen to Benson and Angel discuss the history of moonshine, how the television show has changed the game and the differences between making likker in a distillery versus the backwoods. 

In this special episode, host Kyle Perrotti talks to his coworkers at the Tourism Development Authority about our role promoting this beautiful area. You'll also get to hear how each of us got here, some of the things we love about Haywood County and what developments folks can look forward to in the future. 

Not many folks have owned a business in downtown Waynesville as long as Patricia Miller, who was joined for this episode by her sister, Roseann. Listen to the dynamic duo as they recall their fond memories of Haywood County back to the 1970s and what they love so much about Affairs of the Heart, all with the great sense of humor that keeps their customers coming back. 

The leaves are gone, and it's ski season here in the NC Smokies. Chris Bates, manager of the Cataloochee Ski Area, joins the Hay Now Podcast to talk about how much snow to expect this winter, how things have changed in over two decades on the job and why the mountain is a thrill for skiers of all skill levels. He even takes a few moments to encourage our host to strap on the bindings, regardless of his unending clumsiness. 

It's only been months since catastrophic flooding ravaged the town of Canton and surrounding areas. But as with previous hardship, the residents stiffened their spines and overcame. Listen to Mayor Zeb Smathers and Kevin Sandefur, owner of BearWaters Brewery, one of the town's most popular attractions, as they explain what it was like on the night of the flood, what it took to recover and what's on the horizon for Papertown. 

In our first episode, Haywood County's own Tim Surrett and Darren Nicholson of the world-famous bluegrass band Balsam Range talk about a variety of topics, from their recent IBMA awards to the upcoming Art of Music Festival. You'll also hear about the musicians' influences, some of which may come as a surprise, as well as individual projects each have been working on. If you listen closely, you may even catch Darren slip in a shoutout to the woman of his dreams.