Today we’d like to introduce you to Lana Wilt.
Hi Lana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My parents, Sam and Sue Ferguson were farmers. They grew strawberries and corn. Back in 1980 they held a three day event with a handful of crafters and entertainment at their market.. one of their crafters asked them if they ever thought about starting a craft show in the woods located on the property, low and behold Shaker Woods Festival came into existence in 1981. Trees were cut out and pathways were formed. They only started out with 60 crackers and today head has grown into 230. I started to work hand-in-hand with my parents in 1999. In 2012 I took over the family business.. Shaker Woods festival has been nationally recognized by National Geographic and Travelocity. Last year we also held the number one spot in Sunshine Artist Magazine, being rated as the nations top craft show. I thank my parents and my husband Rob for the success of the show and feel very blessed by our wonderful Artisans crafters and concessioners. Without all of them, we would not be where we are today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The main struggle we have is dealing with the weather. You never know what mother nature will bring you. Although our crafters, artisans and concessioners are in wood structures, wind, and lightning can be very dangerous under a canopy of trees. Clean up after a hard winter takes months for us to prepare the grounds.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Shaker Woods Festival runs three weekends in August. However, it takes months to prepare. New artisans and crafters are chosen each year, which we have a jury process to do so. We also lineup entertainment, for we have three stages of entertainment. Bus companies are notified to bring in tours. As I mentioned before the months of hard work to maintain the grounds. I take pride in making sure the woods are beautifully manicured before guests arrive. I also tend to seven gardens that are situated throughout the woods.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shakerwoods.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shakerwoods/
