<sup>THE KNOTT COUNTY GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL WAS FOUNDED BY TROUBLESOME CREEK TIMES PUBLISHER RON DALEY. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL  INCLUDES HONORING THE COUNTY'S BEST GINGERBREAD MAKER AND BAKING THE WORLDS LARGEST GINGERBREAD MAN. LOTS OF CONTESTS ARE HELD AND ENTERTAINMENT IS PLENTIFUL FROM TALENTED FOLKS ALL AROUND ESPECIALLY KNOTT COUNTY'S LOCALS .  I FIND IT INTERESTING TO NOTE HOW THE NAME "THE GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL" WAS CHOSEN.  GINGERBREAD WAS SELECTED AS THE KNOTT FESTIVALS NAMESAKE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A  DISTINCTIVE MOUNTAIN FOOD BAKED BY GENERATIONS OF KNOTT COUNTIANS.  I REMEMBER WELL THE GINGERBREAD MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO MAKE AND THE SAME RECIPE WAS PASSED ON DOWN TO MY MOTHER.  I MAKE THE SAME RECIPE FOR MY FAMILY AND MY CHILDREN HAVE ALSO PICKED UP ON THIS TRADITION.  GINGERBREAD ALSO WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COUNTY'S ELECTION TRADITION.  CANDIDATES USED TO HIRE PEOPLE TO BAKE AND DISTRIBUTE GINGERBREAD ON THE ELECTION GROUNDS AS A MEANS TO WIN VOTES.  THE FESTIVAL HAS ALSO HELPED A COMMUNITY TO WORK AS A WHOLE ON A PROJECT THAT HAS MADE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS  SUCH AS REVIVING THE HORSE SHOWS IN THE COUNTY.  THE SURVEY FOR COMPILING THE INFORMATION ON THE FAMILY SURNAMES WAS DONE IN 1990 AND THE HONORS BEGAN AS PART OF THE GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL IN 1991. A LIST OF THE FAMILIES HONORED FROM 1991 TO DATE IS LISTED BELOW.

..GLORIA</sup>