For this year’s King Buckwheat, the 82nd Preston County Buckwheat Festival will no longer be just an opportunity to compete against friends in the fair’s livestock barns, but a chance to represent his county and the agricultural industry.
Since age 10, the Buckwheat Festival has been an occasion for Connor Gibson to show market steers and eat buckwheat cakes. Encouraged by his family and teachers, competing for the title of King Buckwheat felt like a natural next step in his agricultural career.
Built upon the foundational experiences on his family’s 750 acres of farmland in Cranesville, Gibson has recently launched Gibson’s Livestock LLC, his own agricultural business currently composed of a British White Park cattle herd, pigs and a flock of 40 chickens.
In preparation for his reign as King Buckwheat, Gibson took it upon himself to be as authentic a King Buckwheat as possible — that is, he raised and processed his very own buckwheat crop.
He then processed the grain into flour to be sold to his friends, family and community.
“It was definitely new. I’d never really grown a crop by myself before, so it was definitely a learning experience. It was cool to see it from start to finish,” said Gibson. “I just wanted to try it. That way, if I got King Buckwheat, I’d be able to say, ‘Hey, I did this,’ and be able to talk to someone about it.”
His reign as King Buckwheat has been a similar adventure of new experiences and learning opportunities.
One of his key takeaways? Always be ready to meet new people.
Witnessing the Buckwheat Festival’s vast impact has also been a rewarding surprise, as the fair receives the esteem of not only Preston County residents but attendees from all across north-central West Virginia and beyond.
“I definitely feel like I’ve achieved something,” said Gibson. “It’s been an eye opener to see how well-known [the Buckwheat Festival is] throughout not only Preston County but West Virginia itself and into Maryland.”
During this week’s festival, Gibson looks forward to adding even more pieces to the puzzle of how the Buckwheat Festival comes to be the icon of fall fun that every Preston County resident knows and loves.
“I never really ventured out of the barns over the past few years, but this year I’m going to get to see exactly what the Buckwheat Festival is, instead of it just being for buckwheat cakes and sausages,” said Gibson.
As a senior at Preston High School, Gibson is part of the Preston County Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and the Preston County Livestock Association. He aims to pursue a career in cattle grading or agricultural equipment mechanics.
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