Hennessey United got excellent marks for its Oct. 5 Wine & Chocolate Festival from vendors.

“Several sold out,” Festival Chairman Dagan Hardin said during the United board’s Oct. 24 meeting at Vernost Wine Co.

Even with the unseasonably hot weather that day, there were about 450 festival goers and 25 wine and chocolate vendors this year.

Hardin said he wanted a paid “Festival Five Team” to help set up, tear down tables and canopies and do more during the festival.

He will be the fifth member of that team, but will not be paid.

His team would also help vendors unload and reload their vehicles and assist them during the festival if they need more ice, etc.

Costs Going Up

To pay those four workers, Hardin proposed increasing the per-person ticket cost from $20 to $22 for wine and chocolate, but members agreed to $25.

Wine and Chocolate admission costs have included a wine glass since the festival started in 2011. Admission that first year was $5; was raised to $10 from 2012-2016; $15 in 2017, and $20 from 2018-19 and 2021-24. The festival was canceled in 2020 due to COVID.

In addition, Hardin proposed charging each vendor $10. Vendors have not been charged any fees since the festival started in 2011 and United has also provided each vendor with a table.

Chocolate-only festival goers have only been charged $5 since the start of the festival.

United started the Wine & Chocolate Festival in 2011 as “an event” to draw people into town, to help fund their other community projects and the needs of other local non-profit groups.

Other Fundraisers at Festival Discouraged

Board members said there were complaints during the festival about children who came across the street, and into the park, to sell chances for their ball team.

They agreed that outside fundraisers, other than the fire department’s steak sandwiches, will be discouraged at the next festival.

Another New Board Member

After accepting Kim Gritz’s resignation received last month, the board elected David Jones as a new member.

Gritz had served as the chocolate chairman for the past two years after going on the board in August 2023.

Jones is the fifth newly- elected board member in the past three months.

Lisa Voskuhl and Ashley Zielny were elected last month to two newly added board positions allowed by the board’s by-laws and Tracie Macy and Angie Bruner were elected in August after April resignations from Stacy Cline and Teresa Oliver (those votes were late because no meetings were held in May, June and July).

Kaden Mitchell, a United board member since he was an HHS junior in 2019, resigned from United in August and that seat hasn’t been filled yet.

Mitchell graduated from OSU this year and said he will still help on projects when possible.

Committee Reports

• Vice President Renee Curry reported that the downtown flowers in United pots were still in good shape since there hadn’t been a freeze. Curry, who is also the Beautification Committee chair, said one of the business owners was worried about her United plant, but it only needed water.

• Secretary Cathy Howard reported that HHS seniors in United’s Leadership Class will make trips to Oklahoma City Oct. 31 to the National Memorial Museum and on Nov. 7 to the state Capitol and the Oklahoma History Center. Howard, director of that program, said she appreciates Enel Green Power Energy’s continuing support. Enel has provided funding for the Leadership program from 2018-22 and again this year.

Next Meeting in January

Board members were reminded that they will not meet in November and December.

That’s when Hardin, who is the Lions Club’s board representative, asked for approval of a $250 donation to the Lions for their Mistletoe Magic event at Christmastime. His request was approved.

The board’s next meeting is Jan. 16, 2025, at Vernost Wine Co.

At the Meeting

Present at this month’s meeting were President Scott Hajek, Vice President Renee Curry, Secretary Cathy Howard and members Mayor Harold Shaw, Dagan Hardin, Brooklyn Harris, Lisa Voskuhl, Ashley Zielny and Barb Walter. Absent were Treasurer Tammy Hopkins, and members Tracie Macy, Angela Bruner and newly- elected David Jones.