Foxes On A Fence, a Small Town with a Big Heart
Story and photos by Darcy Justen
My husband used to wonder why it took me 45 minutes to pick up milk at the local Safeway. The problem wasn’t Safeway, but instead running into all the people that I knew and it was part of the charm of living in this small village. I loved running in to the post office where they called me by name and already had my packages behind the counter because they knew who I was.
Local businesses and the people behind them are what give our town its unique flavor. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the convenience of online shopping as much as anyone else. But I love to make time during my busy week to pick up books from Second Chapter Books, have lunch at Julien’s and get my afternoon coffee at Middleburg Common Grounds.
Recently, when I was organizing “Foxes On The Fence,” a local fundraiser for the town, I got to see firsthand how many wonderful local farmers, craftsmen, antique dealers and artisans were willing to support this project. The idea behind the fundraiser was that local businesses would sponsor a fox painted by a local artist and everyone I asked was so excited about connecting their business to a local artist.
Jamie Pantel from Sunpower Farm was a great example. Pantel had only one request, and that was for a lot of gold to be on her fox. So, artist Barbara Sharp created a wonderful design full of gold sunflowers.
“…We are so happy to support this fundraiser and we have our fox in the lobby until it gets hung on the fence April 1. We love Middleburg and opened this office in town to provide one-of-a-kind personal customer service…”
-Maggie Johnston
Pantel and her family moved here to be part of the animal-centric Middleburg community. They have a large farm and offer, she said with a smile, yearling mutton custom sheep cuts and gourmet foods for canines and human companions. Her custom gourmet dog food is unique and popular with locals.
Bank of Charles Town (BCT) was another business that wanted to sponsor a fox. They loved the wonderful color in artist Leslie Anthony’s fox, which cleverly depicted fabulous roosters and chickens.
“I am very familiar with her work,” said Maggie Johnston from BCT, “and this one does not disappoint with amazing colors. We are so happy to support this fundraiser and we have our fox in the lobby until it gets hung on the fence April 1. We love Middleburg and opened this office in town to provide one-of-a-kind personal customer service. When you personally know the people behind the business where you’re buying local products and services, you enjoy a connection you would not otherwise have. Everyone at BCT hopes that this will encourage friends and families to visit Middleburg.”
As the suburban sprawl approaches the rolling countryside around us and fills in with big box chains and retailers, it is quite special that Middleburg has hung on to its unique charm. It is a small town with a big heart. I believe in the success of our town and this project is a way each one of us can make our own personal investment in its success.
The seven-week event sponsored by Middleburg Garden Club will showcase local artists and businesses by hosting an online auction featuring 30 hand-painted 4’ foxes. These foxes make wonderful art in the home or garden. They will be displayed on the fence in front of the Methodist Church on Main Street beginning April 1, 2017.
The goal of this project is to highlight the historic village of Middleburg, promote the talented local art community and bring business to our town. For $75, local businesses can sponsor a fox with a sign displaying their name above it.
BCT Bank Middleburg Branch, 115 The Plains Road, Suite 150. Middleburg VA 20117