New fair vendor offers free lemonade

WASHINGTON — Keota-based coffee truck business Rural Revival is making a splash in its first year at the Washington County Fair.

Co-owners Kari Bert and Naomi Gretter, former teachers in Keota, said their business would provide a free lemonade to every 4-H, FFA and Clover Kids member.

“This is our first time doing this, and we think this is awesome that these kids are able to handle this kind of responsibility,” Bert said. “We wanted to reward them in some kind of little way … just something to look forward to.”

Bert said the offer was rewarding for those in the truck as well.

“I’m so glad now we did it because every single kid that comes up here is so polite and kind, they’re a different breed,” she said.

Gretter agreed.

“You can just tell the group of kids are very well-mannered and brought up with that,” she said.

Beyond the free lemonade, Bert said business at the fair was good.

“It’s been very steady in the mornings, I’m glad we’re open early,” she said. “It’s kind of a slower time in the afternoons, but during events it picks up.”

While the former teachers left education for personal reasons, their spot at the fair offered several reunions with previous students.

“We just needed a better balance,” Gretter said. “We’re all married to farmers and were just kind of having trouble fitting everything in and making our families a priority.”

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