ASHLAND – Just days after the end of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton made an impromptu stop at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn.
After making a campaign stop in Youngstown Saturday, Secretary Clinton made stops in the Cleveland area before travelling to Columbus for another stop Sunday. En route, Clinton and her entourage made a quick pit stop at the longtime Ashland business, located on U.S. 250, just east of I-71. Joining Hillary were former Ohio governor and current U.S. Senate candidate Ted Strickland and vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton.
Jim Bird and Betsy Sheets, Vice Chair and Chair of the Wayne County Democratic Party, along with Bird’s wife Inez and Linda Houston, had just left the Ashland County Democratic Party’s picnic at Honey Haven Farm and were headed back to Wooster when they noticed two buses and a lot of black SUVs parked in the lot at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn.
“We kind of assumed somebody interesting was going to be in there,” Sheets said.
Bird said they saw the signs on the vehicles and realized they were Clinton’s campaign buses.
“And we thought, ‘You don’t suppose they’re actually still in there,’” Bird said.
A police car had blocked the main entrance to Grandpa’s Cheesebarn so Bird pulled through the parking lot of Perkins and parked behind the restaurant.
As the group walked toward Grandpa’s Cheesebarn, they could see the Secret Service were keeping people from entering the business and had herded them to the side so Clinton and her group could safely get to their buses.
“It was fortunate that we got there kind of late. We were kind of on the outskirts of where people were lined up,” Bird said. “We were like 10 feet from the bus. You couldn’t any closer to the buses and where she was going to get in.”
Kaine and Strickland left Grandpa’s Cheesebarn first and made their way through the gathered crowd. Hillary was the last to leave the store and greet the crowd.
“I’m 6-3 so it’s kind or easy for me to see over the crowd,” Bird said.
Bird caught Clinton’s attention and introduced Sheets as the chair of the Wayne County Democratic Party.
“She said, ‘That’s wonderful. We need everybody doing all that you can,’ and then she moved down the line and got on the bus,” Sheets said.
After Clinton and Sheets spoke, the former Secretary of State suggested a group photo, which Bird happily snapped.
Bird said the Secret Service agent told him it was unplanned stop. “They just wanted to get something,” he said. Clinton’s choice: a turtle milkshake.
Both Bird and Sheets said they were a little starstruck after getting to meet the Democratic presidential nominee, but were very impressed with her.
“She was very friendly, relaxed and normal. The pressure of the convention is gone now,” Bird said.
Sheets said she went home and sent the photo to everyone she could think of.
“I sent it to my kids and said, ‘Be nice to your momma. She knows people,” Sheets said with a laugh. “We’ve got a Central Committee meeting coming up in our county this Wednesday so that will be a fun story to tell.”
Sheets said she is excited to have the chance to vote for a woman for president.
“I don’ think I have entirely absorbed that yet,” Sheets said.
