CONTACT: Beau Haddock
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Frankfort, Ky.-- For the third year, the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program and the Department of Agriculture will partner with the Kentucky Retail Federation in presenting the Kentucky Crafted Retailer Awards to an outstanding in-state retailer, a Pride of Kentucky food retailer, a Kentucky state park gift shop, and an out-of-state retailer.

These four important categories of retailers provide outlets for Kentucky producers to sell their products. The Kentucky Retail Federation, located in Frankfort, is a statewide group that represents the retail community in governmental affairs.

Winners will be honored at Kentucky Crafted: The Market's Awards Dinner on Friday, March 1, 2002. "The recognition being shown nominees and award winners represents the appreciation held for retailers among Kentucky's craft community and their exceptional level of accomplishment and commitment to buying the finest Kentucky made products," said Fran Redmon, Kentucky Craft Marketing Program Director.

Last year's winners were Annette Jones of True Kentucky, Glendale, Ky, In-State Retailer of the Year; Mary Benjamin of Bluestem Missouri Crafts in Columbia, Missouri, Out-of-State Retailer of the Year; and Brenda Willoughby and Sandra Woosley of Constitution Square State Historic Site, Danville, Ky, State Park Gift Shop Retailer of the Year. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Pride of Kentucky winner was Paul's Fruit Market, owned by the Thieneman family, Louisville, Ky.

The Market is open to Trade only on February 28, and March 1. Interested retailers who wish to attend can register at the door with two forms of business identification. The Kentucky Retail Federation is sponsoring a special buyer breakfast workshop featuring nationally renowned presenter Bruce Baker. "Dynamic Sales and Winning Customer Service" will be the topic and be presented at 8am on Friday morning, March 1st, before the Market opens, in ballroom 101, South Wing A, at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, KY.

The Market will be open to the public from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Public admission is $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children ages 6-12, and free for children under 6. Parking is $3.00. An additional entrance is at the rear of South Wing A. Free shuttle transportation will be provided from the parking lot. Visit web site www.kycraft.org for official program guide and $1.00 off admission coupon.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Kentucky Crafted: The Market. Visitors will find over 270 exhibitors of Kentucky contemporary and traditional crafts, musical recordings, two-dimensional visual art, books and food products. It is also a showcase for some of Kentucky finest performing artists, represented through a program of the Kentucky Arts Council.

In addition to offering the best of Kentucky, guest organizations include Ohio Designer Craftsmen, Southern Highland Craft Guild, the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists, and Tamarack (West Virginia).

The Market is produced by the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, a state agency in the Kentucky Arts Council; Education, Arts & Humanities Cabinet; Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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The following is a list of the 2002 Top Retailer of the Year Award nominees.

In-state Retailer: Appalachian Fireside Gallery, Berea; Artique, Lexington; BeBe's Artisan Market, Paducah; Country Moments, Lexington; Edenside Gallery, Louisville; Inside/Out, Midway; Land Between The Lakes Association, Golden Pond; Log House Craft Gallery, Berea; Promenade Gallery, Berea; Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg; True Kentucky, Glendale.

Kentucky State Parks: Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, Burksville; Fort Boonesborough State Park, Richmond; General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton; Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Prestonsburg; Ken Lake State Resort Park, Hardin; Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, Jamestown; My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown; Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade; Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough.

Out-of-state: A Show of Hands, Hendersonville, NC; American Craftsman II, New York, NY; Coffee Antiques, Sunbury, OH; Highland Craft Gallery, Gatlinburg, TN; Inglobal, LLC Fowler, MI; Screen Porch Art, Houston, TX; Surprises, Houston, TX; Takashimaya New York, NY; The Longaberger Company, Newark, OH; Woodbourne Gallery, Cincinnati, OH; ZYZYX! Inc., Bethesda, MD.