Sponsor of the Year 2003

Minton's Music and Pawn

Minton's Music and Pawn has become a gathering place for many music enthusiasts in Wilkes County. A local radio station, WKBC, realized the opportunity to expand a popular weekly radio segment and began broadcasting the Friday morning show, "Hometown Opry," live each week at Minton's Music and Pawn. Radio listeners are encouraged to come to Minton's Music and Pawn each week to enjoy the live performances and be a part of the live broadcast. Jerry Minton and Mike Palmer invited the Festival Planning Committee to make the official announcement of the inception of the Carolina in the Fall festival during one of these live broadcasts.

As the festival planning process continued, the Festival Director began to inquire of various supporters for financial support. Minton's Music and Pawn was proud to become an official Carolina in the Fall Sponsor. Although festival contribution levels guaranteed specific benefits for sponsors, Jerry Minton and Mike Palmer (owners) asked for nothing in exchange for the sponsorship. Instead, they were happy to be a part of a beginning festival and the opportunities it would provide for local people to have another outlet through which to enjoy music. The generous donation of Minton's Music and Pawn truly set an example for other local businesses to follow.

Minton's Music and Pawn is a wonderful Sponsor for Carolina in the Fall. The financial contributions, daily verbal contacts, as well as volunteer manpower enabled the very first festival to be successful. If all sponsors were as generous and accommodating as Minton's Music and Pawn, then instant success would be guaranteed.