2025 Workshop Agenda

Friday, October 3

9 a.m. to noon — Free Time

Kick back and relax at the Jesse Stuart Lodge, take a walk on one of the Park trails, or visit the JSF Bookstore at 4440 13^th Street in Ashland where you can get started on your holiday shopping).

Noon — Lunch on your own at the Jesse Stuart Lodge

1:30 p.m. — A Hike on the Jesse Stuart Nature Preserve

Join Zach Taylor for a trip to the Jesse Stuart Nature Preserve (JSNP). The preserve consists of 714 acres, which were originally part of Stuart’s farm. Zach will lead a hike to Seaton Ridge, a part of JSNP inaccessible by car. There you’ll explore Stuart’s world and visit such sites as “Old Opp’s Cabin,” made famous in Stuart’s The Good Sprit of Laurel Ridge. Meet Zach in the Lobby at 1:30 p.m. Wear shoes suitable for hiking.

5 p.m. — Dinner on your own at the Jesse Stuart Lodge

7 p.m. — Announcements & Awards

7:30 p.m. — Adventures with Jesse Stuart presented by Allen Englebright, a longtime Stuart scholar and collector. Allen is a teacher, author, and historian.

8:30 p.m. — Reception hosted by Greenbo Lake State Resort State Park

9:30 p.m. — Goodnight!

Book Evaluations ~ David Palmore, America’s foremost expert on Stuart collectible books and memorabilia, will be available throughout the Jesse Stuart Weekend to evaluate your Stuart First Editions, etc., and sign copies of God’s Oddling.

Saturday, October 4

9 a.m. — Tours

W-Hollow Tour ~ JSF Associate Member Terry Diamond will guide an informative (and fun!) bus tour of the land that inspired Stuart’s literary creations. Meet Terry in the lobby at 8:45 am. Bus seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. JSW attendees have priority for seating.

Fern Valley Trail ~ For those not going on the bus tour, Mason Campbell, of the GLSRP staff, will lead an interpretive hike on this one-mile trail. Wear shoes suitable for hiking.

Noon — Lunch on your own at the Jesse Stuart Lodge

2 to 4:30 p.m. — Bus Trip to the Taylor Home

JSF Associate Member Bud Vanzant will guide a bus tour to see the home where Jesse Stuart boarded in The Thread That Runs So True.  See the route he walked to bring books to his students at the site of the former Winston High School, and where he got lost in a snowstorm and slept in a fodder shock.  Join Bud in the Lobby at 1:50 pm.   Bus seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  JSW attendees have priority for seating.

5 p.m. — Associate Member Jane Richards and her nephew Colin Richards will make a presentation on their Greenup County ancestors.  Short talk accompanied by music.

5:30 p.m. — Dinner on your own at the Jesse Stuart Lodge

7:30 p.m. — Jean Ritchie: Damsel with a Dulcimer

Kentucky Humanities Chautauqua performer Rachel Lee Rogers will portray the traditional musician, songwriter, poet, commercial performer, recording artist, author, and composer Jean Ritchie, known as the “Mother of Folk.”

9:30 p.m. — Goodbye and see you at Jesse Stuart Weekend 2026!