Greenup’s Old Fashion Days to Host Soc and Sam Sandy River Run
By Chris Erwin
The 48th Annual Greenup Old Fashion Days will be held Oct.3-5 this year, and while it will be a great place to get out and enjoy the beginning of fall, it will also host a canoe race in honor of two of my closest friends. I’m speaking of Soc Clay and Sam Piatt.
I have it on good authority that both Soc and Sam will be at the Raccoon Bridge (Jeremy Gullett Memorial Bridge) on Ky. 2 to kick off the race. This will be about six miles down the Little Sandy River to the boat ramp at the mouth of the Ohio River. Winners will be presented ribbons on the main stage for Old Fashion Days.
Each canoe will hold only two people. Life jackets are required. I hear it’s shaping up to be pretty competitive. The registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the race will kick off at 9 a.m. There is a $20.00 dollar entry fee for each canoe. All proceeds will go to the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Northeast.
The race is celebrating 100 years of outdoor journalism by Soc Clay and Sam Piatt. While I’m sure I don’t need to tell you who these two are, it’s not often I get to brag about the two guys that have been my friends, tutors and mentors.
For the last 50 years, Sam Piatt has poured out his passion for the outdoors on the pages of newspapers, magazines and other publications. He has graced us with his life, along with his family’s and his friends’ as they have all been the subject of his many stories, which have enriched our own understanding of the outdoors. He has taken us along on fishing, hunting and on family trips. Through his words we experienced what many of us never have time to do on our own.
His outdoor column has been required reading around my circle of friends for more years that I can recall. He has kept us aware of any new opportunities and changes in the law that the Department of Fish and Wildlife want us to know.
Now what can I say about Soc Clay that hasn’t already been said? His photographs were the first things that hooked me on this guy’s work. There are few people that have ever captured the outdoors like Clay has done. His photographs and stories have been in every major outdoor publication in America. Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Cabela’s Outdoor Journal, Heartland USA, just to name a few. I could use all the space I have left in this article just listing the publications Clay has been a part of.
I could go on and on about what Sam and Soc have done, but instead I’d like to tell you about what kind of men they are. Words like kind, loyal, true to their word, describe their personalities but more than that they have been good friends. They have fought in the best interest of the outdoors in an environment of ever shrinking wildlife habitat.
If you have never met Soc and Sam, come on out to canoe race. If you don’t want to be part of the race, be part of the gang that will watch the finish line. We will be looking forward to seeing you all there.
I would also invite you to come on out Friday on Main Street and watch one of the best bands to every come from our area: The Whipps!
Old Fashions Days will run from the Oct 3-5 with live music and entertainment each day. Thursday is Gospel music featuring Darrell Luster. Saturday Kyle Fields will perform following the parade and the Talent Show. You don’t have to be old fashioned to enjoy Old Fashion Days.
Be the first to comment