This Thursday, the men and women who worked at local factories will have a picnic near Ironton.
John Winters, who spent 43 years as at Armco and retired as a maintenance inspector, starred as the Armco Friends Picnic in 2002 and has expanded it to include those who worked at other plants.
“It started as a cookout at my farm for a crew I used to work with,” Winters said. “It went so well, we just opened it up for all Armco people, Ironton Coke and Ironton Iron people.”
He sets up a cast iron put and cooks somewhere between 25 and 40 pounds of ham and beans for all those who show up.
Winters said calls it an opportunity for all these workers to hang out, eat and talk with people you haven’t seen in years.
“We cook over the fire and people bring desserts and things, which isn’t necessary, and all they have to do is bring their favorite soft drink and a fold up chair,” he said. “Everything else is provided.”
The event starts at noon on Thursday and “goes until everybody leaves, probably around dark,” Winters said. “We get around 100 people, but depending on the weather, we have had 200-250 people some years. The weather has a whole lot to do with it. But normally, the first Thursday in October is pretty nice.”
Some people show up as Winters starts cooking around 8 a.m. “to help set up and get things going. We start the event with a speech and anytime they want to come out, they can. I’ve got plenty of room to hang out.”
To get to Winters’ farm, head out on State Route 93 from Ironton and go about a mile and half to County Road 119 and take a left.
“It is about a half mile out, just follow the signs and it will take you to a hay field. There is plenty of parking, easy in and easy out,” Winters said. “Hopefully, it won’t rain. If it does, I got a tractor and can pull you out.”