PEORIA MAGAZINE May 2022

Jim and Laura Sniff walk the Blue Ridge grounds

A R T S A N D E N T E R T A I N M E N T

OUR ALPINE VALLEY SITS ON A BLUE RIDGE Out in the country, a music venue meets a social service calling

BY KIRK WESSLER PHOTOS BY RON JOHNSON

C

Jimmy, now 23, was three years old when a local teacher asked about a class field trip to the farm. A light bulb moment. More field trips followed. Today, Blue Ridge Community Farm works with 50 area schools, social agencies and group homes, hosting upwards of 1,500 visitors each year, most with special needs. Visitors can interact with 33 animals – a mix of alpacas, donkeys, chickens, dogs and a horse. The farm stages social events and offers camping and hiking trails. On its 245 acres, Blue Ridge also grows corn and beans, in addition to operating two grow houses that help support another not-for-profit enterprise run by the Sniffs. Last fall, they purchased Picket Fence Floral, Gift andGardenCenter, a popular store in Chillicothe. This acquisition was the result of another Sniff vis ion.

H I L L I COTHE — T h e Hollywood version of our story would begin with Jim Sniff sipping a beer after a hot

Then he would build a stage at the bottom of the hill. And people would come. And there would be an annual series of free concerts for families to enjoy. And the people would be so moved they would stuff fistfuls of money into boxes, happily donating to the mission of the not-for-profit Blue Ridge Community Far m. That would be Hollywood’s version. It would also be 100 percent true. Every single word. Well, almost. BEFORE THE BEGINNING The real story started some 20 years ago, when Jim and Laura Sniff’s first child, Jimmy, was diagnosed with autism. Overall shortcomings in services – especially funding and opportunities for young peoplewith disabilities as they age into adulthood – spurred the Sniffs to advocacy and beyond.

day of work at Blue Ridge Community Farm, about four miles northwest of Chillicothe. Jimwould be gazing at the western horizon from atop a spot his family calls Sunset Hill, because you won’t find a better midwestern sunset than right there. And his inner voice would whisper: “Alpine Valley.” With a vision of the famedWisconsin outdoor music venue in his head, Jim would then clear the curved hillside of all that pasture grass. He would ask his daughter, Allison, to crank up a battery-powered speaker at the bottom of the hill. Jim would stand at the top and listen as the surrounding trees funneled beautiful, acoustically perfect music up to his ears and soul.

50 MAY 2022 P EORIA MAGAZINE