A granddad with a butcher’s hand, a grocery from 1970, and a burger that made a town famous—this is the flavor map behind B&N Food Market in Bagdad, Kentucky. We sit down with Buckshot and Ashley Warren to trace how a family store turned into a destination where the Newt Burger, 20‑hour brisket, and blue‑ribbon desserts pull travelers off I‑64 and locals back for seconds. The story runs on work ethic and love: fresh‑ground beef like Newt did it and sides that taste like home.

Buckshot learned the craft shoulder to shoulder with his grandfather, then refined it with a Texas road trip. Tips from pitmasters at spots like 2M Smokehouse sharpened technique without sanding off roots, leading to brisket that stands on its own and pinto beans brightened at the finish with diced tomatoes and cilantro. Ashley adds the connective tissue—community, storytelling, and a steady social presence whose “Not Bad For Bagdad” rallying cry now belongs to the guests who line up from across the globe. Along the way, the coon hunter’s cake and a new applesauce spice cake keep the dessert case stacked with recipes that read like family history.

There’s more than food here. During the pandemic, they served outside, remodeled the 1912 building back to its bones, and doubled down on hospitality without losing pace. Portions stay generous, prices stay fair, and the smoker never sleeps. Whether you come for ribs, pulled pork, bone‑in pork chops, or a slab of fish seasoned only with salt, the promise is the same: honest, scratch‑made comfort that respects the past and cooks for today. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves real barbecue, and leave a review to help more folks find their way to Bagdad, KY.

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🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Mason Warren.

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

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• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Some gaps are obvious once you’ve lived through them. Brady Wright, a combat Veteran turned ministry leader, describes the moment he realized why so many vets were cycling from hospital detox back to the street; there was no immediate bridge into stable, supportive housing. Together with event coordinator and fellow veteran Marla Kaiser, we walk through a three-step model that changes outcomes—clinical treatment with Fire Mission Ministries, six months of service-intensive transitional housing at the Veterans Village in Shelby County, and a guided transition into permanent homes.

You’ll hear how a small band of Vietnam veterans sparked the village with their own money and community grit, how Thursday dinners keep belonging alive, and why tiny homes become launchpads for benefits, healthcare, transportation, and credit repair. We unpack the meaning behind “Fire Mission,” a phrase borrowed from combat that now anchors a faith-forward, judgment-free approach: suppress the chaos—hunger, isolation, untreated PTSD, TBI, and addiction—so people can move again. The result is measurable: dozens of program graduates with many of them becoming homeowners within a year of completing the program, including one alumnus who now serves on the board.

If you care about veteran homelessness, addiction recovery, PTSD support, or community-led solutions, this story offers a blueprint. Want to help or refer a veteran? Visit firemissionministries.com and vroky.org, join a Thursday dinner, or follow VRO on Facebook for real-time needs and wins. If this conversation moved you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so more people find pathways that work.

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🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Mason Warren.

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

A flat map can’t explain why a roadside rock wall feels like a time machine. That’s where Ronald R. (Reggie) Van Stockum Jr. comes in. He’s a lawyer who practices environmental law, a biologist with a PhD, an author who writes like a traveler-poet, and a musician with a knack for rhythm on the page. Together we follow his Surrounding® philosophy — skip the pre-research, chase the blank spaces on the map, write while the feeling is fresh — and discover how Kentucky reveals itself when you’re willing to get lost on purpose.

We start with the ground truth: Kentucky wasn’t planed by glaciers. It’s an unglaciated landscape where Ordovician and Silurian rocks hold fossils you can spot in highway cuts between Shelbyville and Simpsonville. Reggie breaks down why Indiana’s plains are geologically young, how to read a cuesta at a glance, and where to look for crinoid stems and ancient sea life. The science flows into field craft as we wade into Clear Creek to talk Unionidae—fat muckets, washboards—and how learning species turns a casual paddle into a living museum. Geography becomes biography when Reggie traces the old routes: Old Harrod's Trace through Shelby County, Squire Boone’s detour that sparked Painted Stone, and the many ways patents, deeds, and local historians map stories back onto the land.

Van Stockum's Surrounding® series of books, which he terms "Journey Logs," unlocks that way of seeing. Surrounding® Mammoth Cave celebrates everything you missed on the way to the marquee attraction. Surrounding® The Kentucky River follows the three forks and the towns tucked into them. Surrounding® Fort Knox balloons into a 700-plus-page love letter to overlooked places. We talk about the essays that went viral for shining a kind light on Gravel Switch, Brandenburg, and the “Pillars of Hercules” in Estill County, and we preview his next deep dive: Surrounding® Bardstown by chasing the wild, rugged Salt River drainage across the Eden Shale belt. Along the way, we share why Grove Hill Cemetery functions like a pre-Internet social network, how small venues can hold big music nights, and why meeting local historians can change your route—and your mind.

If you’re hungry for Kentucky travel that’s more than a checklist, this conversation offers a toolkit: read the rocks, follow the drainages, ask better questions, and honor the people who keep the stories. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves back roads, and leave a review with the most surprising place

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🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Mason Warren.

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

A roadside crash. A child on the spectrum overwhelmed by noise and confusion. One pair of headphones, a set of picture cards, and a dinosaur-weighted plush turn panic into calm. That pivot—from chaos to connection—is the heart of our conversation with Aaron and Ashlea Garofola, the co-founders of The Backwards Backpack, a grassroots nonprofit outfitting first responders, schools, and families with sensory bags that work in real time.

We dig into how the idea was born from a devastating ER moment and grew into a county-wide network where every EMS vehicle and fire truck carries tools designed for autistic kids under stress. You’ll hear exactly what goes into each backpack—noise-canceling headphones, an LCD writing tablet, visual communication cards, fidgets, chewables, snacks, water, and a four-pound weighted animal—and why these items follow evidence-based principles from occupational therapy and crisis communication. The Garofolas share powerful field stories, including a scene where a child pointed to “scared” and self-regulated once the environment quieted and choices made sense. It’s practical, repeatable, and deeply humane.

We also get tactical about safety and support at home: applying for Medicaid waivers, selecting safety beds and locks, using alarms and cameras to prevent elopement, and understanding the heightened risks around water. If you’re navigating early signs, we cover the realities of diagnosis waitlists, why to call early, and how to document regression or communication changes. From Shelby County to surrounding districts, we map the path to scale—low overhead, local sponsors, school integrations, and partnerships with multi-county agencies and foster care services—so other communities can adopt the model.

Join us to learn how a simple bag can change outcomes for autistic kids, reduce trauma on scene, and give families a toolkit they can trust. Subscribe, share with someone who needs this, and leave a review to help more counties gear up with Backwards Backpacks.

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🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Mason Warren.

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Want the kind of day that smells like sweet corn, tastes like warm apple cider donuts, and ends with muddy boots and full hearts? We sit down with Gabriella Gallrein of Gallrein Farms to explore how a third-generation family operation became one of Kentucky’s most beloved agritourism destinations without losing its roots.

The story starts decades ago, with a move from Louisville to Shelbyville, when dairy days gave way to greenhouses, u-pick strawberries, and a market famous for peaches-and-cream sweet corn. Gabriella walks us through the seasonal rhythm: spring blooms and starter plants, summer’s overflowing produce stands, and a sunflower and corn festival designed to get families outdoors among acres of color. Then comes fall—the big one—with hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, jump pillows, barrel trains, a haunted house, and those donuts people line up for. We talk practical tips too: weekend vs. weekday timing, what’s open when, and how the cafe turns farm-fresh tomatoes and lettuce into pressed paninis and homemade sides worth the trip.

Beyond the fun, there’s real scale and innovation. Gallrein farms 1,200 acres, supplies local restaurants and select farmers markets, and recently installed solar panels with help from the USDA REAP program to cut costs and reduce energy use. Gabriella also shares her path from Navy aviator to farm leader, why community tables beat standard seating, and how the event pavilion hosts company picnics and large gatherings with ease. If you’re looking for Shelby County attractions, Kentucky agritourism, sunflower fields, pumpkin patches, or the best sweet corn around, this conversation maps your perfect visit.

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves a good farm day, and leave a review to help more people find Kentucky’s hidden wonders.

Send us a text

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Mason Warren.

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Judge Dan Ison and Debbie Holloway Ison share their journey through Kentucky's horse country, from thoroughbred racing dreams to quarter horse breeding and equine therapy programs. Their 36-year marriage has united their complementary passions for horses while building careers in public service, professional speaking, and community development.

• Judge Dan Ison has served as Shelby County Judge Executive for 10 years after 30 years in corporate America
• Debbie has been a professional coach and speaker for 25 years, now focusing on training speakers and women's events
• Debbie rescued her first horse at age 12 when she convinced a farm owner not to put down a paint draft horse
• Judge Ison's childhood dream of owning racehorses was motivated by a teacher telling him it would never happen
• The Isons met at a Derby Festival board meeting almost 40 years ago
• Debbie breeds quarter horses with championship bloodlines for reining competitions
• Judge Ison has owned approximately 15 racehorses throughout his career
• Debbie conducts "Join Up" demonstrations at Horse Sensing to help recovery patients through equine therapy
• Judge Ison rescued two horses including Player, who remained his confidant for 30 years
• Throughout his corporate career, Judge Eisen worked with celebrities including Dolly Parton and John Wayne

To learn more about ShelbyKY Tourism and to start planning a visit, head to visitshelbyky.com.

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🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Mason Warren.

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

We explore Cornerstone Christian Academy with Advancement Director Annette Hill, discovering how this 42-year-old institution is shaping the future leaders of Shelby County through faith-based education and community involvement.

• Cornerstone Christian Academy is a non-denominational pre-K through 12th grade school with approximately 330 students
• The school offers a unique Greek language program instead of traditional foreign languages, benefiting students pursuing ministry, missions, archaeology, and medical fields
• New flexible scheduling allows secondary students more choices, including specialized courses in pre-law and forensics
• 90% of graduates remain in Shelby County, contributing to the local community as leaders
• The Fall Festival on September 12th (6-9pm) will feature vendors, games, hay rides, a senior cake decorating competition, and more
• Half of the festival proceeds support the Cornerstone Fund while the other half helps fund the senior class trip
• The school focuses on developing character, moral compass, and values alongside academic excellence

For more information about Cornerstone Christian Academy or to inquire about enrollment, call 502-633-4070.

Send us a text

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Mason Warren.

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.

Mulberry Orchard celebrates its 15th season as a Shelby County treasure with 8,000 fruit trees and a commitment to authentic farm experiences. Fifth-generation farmer Amanda Gajdzik shares how her family transformed traditional farming operations into a thriving agritourism destination that educates visitors about where their food comes from.

• Mulberry Orchard started in 2010 with 2,500 trees and has grown to 8,000 trees, primarily peaches and apples
• The farm features produce from over 20 Kentucky Proud farms selling meats, honey, jellies, and local products
• Their commercial kitchen offers a full lunch menu featuring farm-fresh ingredients
• Educational elements include playground equipment made from repurposed farm machinery with informative signage
• Annual events include a Peach Festival (July), Sunflower Festival with butterfly releases, and fall activities
• The farm employs about 30 people, including seasonal workers and teenagers gaining valuable work experience
• Real farm-fresh peaches arrive by early July and are tree-ripened—completely different from store-bought peaches
• Corn maze and other fall activities begin in September, including a special soybean maze for younger children
• Mulberry Orchard previously hosted two Luke Bryan Farm Tour concerts, bringing 14-15,000 visitors to the farm

Come visit Mulberry Orchard in the Cropper area of Shelby County and experience fresh, local produce directly from our family farm!

Learn more about Mulberry Orchard at https://www.mulberryorchardky.com/.

Send us a text

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is presented by ShelbyKY Tourism.

🥃 Plan a visit to Your Bourbon Destination® at www.visitshelbyky.com. Located in the heart of central Kentucky and less than an hour from Louisville and Lexington, ShelbyKY is the perfect Kentucky getaway. Complete with two great distilleries, action-packed outdoor adventures, and the best vacation rentals near Louisville, put ShelbyKY at the top of your list when planning a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® trip, romantic couples retreat, or a whole-family vacation.

🎙️ Kentucky Hidden Wonders is hosted by Janette Marson and Mason Warren and edited by Mason Warren.

📲 Follow Kentucky Hidden Wonders:

• facebook.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders
• instagram.com/kentuckyhiddenwonders/
• youtube.com/@KentuckyHiddenWonders

© ShelbyKY Tourism, All Rights Reserved.