Reno Horseshoe Pitching Family Performs At Bob Evans Festival

by Gary B. Roberts

The original Bob Evans Farm is located in Rio Grande, Ohio. The house where Bob was raised is now a museum. In 1972 Bob decided to have a Farm Festival that featured arts, crafts, and activities that would reflect the culture of this Appalachian area. He felt horseshoe pitching belonged at the Festival. He contacted my uncle, Ottie Reno, about putting on a demonstration. Ottie, along with my brother, Donnie Roberts, attended this first Festival and pitched on two stakes driven in the ground. Little did we know that we would return to the Bob Evans Farm Festival every year for the next 46 years.

The Bob Evans folks built a professional court for us and the demonstration developed into me throwing 13 different turns followed by a series of trick shots and audience participation. We had very large crowds, and we continue to be invited back each year. We perform three times on each day of the three day Festival. I threw in excess of 1000 shoes during the nine exhibitions. We have now performed more than 400 exhibitions at the Festival.

I’m happy to say that I have not injured any of my family members during the demonstrations. However, there have been a few anxious moments. We plan to perform at the 2018 Festival.