West Virginia Buckwheat Festival

The Buckwheat Festival started in the late days of the Great Depression.   Buckwheat was grown in West Virginia as an insurance crop that area farmers found to be of excellent quality, great cattle feed, had an excellent yield, and had a short growing season.  Farmers in Preston County would gather at the end of their harvest time to relax and compete in contest to celebrate the end of the season.  Some of the past contests have included eating contests, rolling pin throwing, and tug of war. 

The Buckwheat Festival continues to this day with the addition of a Buckwheat King and Queen.  Buckwheat cakes are a favorite treat at the festival.