ASHLAND — Wanna buy a rain barrel and support stormwater education at the same time? Starting June 18, you’re in luck.
The fifth annual Rain Beat on Main Street, sponsored by Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District, will feature 26 unique rain barrels designed by area businesses and artists.
The event is meant to raise awareness and money for stormwater education. Brightly colored rain barrels will be on display from June 18-25 in Loudonville’s Central Park and again from June 26 to July 1 at Freer Field during Balloonfest. The barrels will end their tour in Corner Park in Ashland from July 2-8.
An online auction will run concurrently for each rain barrel. The auction opens Tuesday. Here is the link.
“It’s so fun to look back on all of the rain barrels that have been created over the past five years,” said Jane Houin, Ashland SWCD director.
She said the event started in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. That year, there were 10 rain barrels and the organization raised just north of $2,000 toward stormwater education.
The event has grown each year, and has led to additional funding for stormwater education programs. Last year, the event raked in $5,700. Last fall, SWCD sponsored a workshop on cover crops and gardens to prevent erosion during winter months. Another such workshop is scheduled for later this year.
Houin said proceeds from Rain Beat on Main Street has also developed programs for schools, stormwater management learning and community engagement game. There has been a variety of educational events on precipitation monitoring, ice river spotting, rain garden workshops and multiple rain barrel workshops.
Below is a list of rain barrel sponsors and artists.
- Ashland Pheasants Forever Chapter 442 with artist Tom Oakley
- Ashland Wooster Drive-In with artist Shelbi Kencsan
- Brethren Care Village with artists from Brethren Care Village
- The Burkhalter Family with artist David Vaughn
- Centerra Cooperative with artist Evelyn Brockway
- Chad’s Collision & Auto Repair with artist Markie Carter
- Charles River Lab with two barrels with employee artists
- Chicory Witch with artist Hop Abel
- Donley Ford with artist Rachel Justice
- Fin Feather Fur Outfitters with artist Jennifer Pollen
- Flashes Trash & Sanitation LLC with artist Amanda Kencsan
- Forbes Farmstead Market with artist Hailey Spreng
- Ida’s Dairy with artist Emily Spreng
- Laughery Land Surveying with artist Grace Carl
- Loudonville Equity with artist Hannah Endslow
- Loudonville Lions Club with artist Grace Ringler
- Packaging Corporation of America with artist Kelly Mallory
- Rooks Bros Farms with artist Kyle Ackerman
- Shakley Mechanical with artist Eliza Osborne
- Shrivers Pharmacy with artist Donna Sutherland
- Simonson Construction Services, Inc. with artist Tanner Frazier
- Stake’s IGA with artist Julia England
- Stakes Shortstop with artist Chloe Matz
- Sutton Bank with artist Colleen Carl Miller
- Ralph & Betty Jo Tomassi in memory of Steve Stuart with artist LeAnne Stadler
“We have so many talented local artists that have once again just blown us away with their talent and creativity as this year’s barrels start to come in to our office,” Houin said.
