The legendary Country Concert in the Hills continues for the first year without the man who started it all.
In 1981, Mike Barhorst and his wife, Mary Jo, held the very first Country Concert at their campgrounds in Fort Loramie. What began as a vision has eventually led to what is now one of the greatest outdoor concerts in the United States. Each year top tier country artists like Blake Shelton, Jake Owen, and Florida Georgia Line take the stage in front of the masses. On the first day of this year’s 3-day event, more than 50,000 country fans flooded the grounds Barhorst first walked nearly 40 years ago.
The concert is now watched over by Barhorst’s five sons and his wife. One of his sons, the President of Country Concert, Paul Barhorst says, “Dad’s goal was just to make it better every year.” He adds regarding his father, “He never set a financial goal, he just said, ‘if we make it better every year it’ll grow.’” Barhorst and the rest of the family continue to work together on the concert. He says, “It’s been a labor of love to put this together.”
Barhorst’s legacy continues through all of the good the concert brings to the Fort Loramie area. Funds raised go to organizations like the Fort Loramie Fire Department, American Red Cross and Jackson Center Boosters.
