DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. (KT) – One Hopkins County couple has mobilized pro-lifers in western Kentucky for 10 years through a Kentucky staple: bluegrass music. The Saturday music fest is returning this week.
Laura Smith was inspired by the example of her mother, Martha, who sat down once a month to write a check to National Right to Life when the nonprofit was just starting in the early 1970s as Roe v. Wade began a 49-year reign as the law of the land.
“At that time, I didn’t really understand abortion. It wasn’t talked about as much as…we talk about it now,” Smith said. “And I thought, ‘Wow! That’s important to her; that should be important to all of us.'”
Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear is held in honor of both Martha and Smith’s father, Jim Fred. The one-day music fest benefits three pregnancy resource centers in western Kentucky: Door of Hope in Madisonville, Alpha Pregnancy Care Center in Hopkinsville and H.O.P.E. Clinic in Benton and Eddyville.
“We’re trying to bring in regular people, normal people to become more aware of what the pregnancy resource centers do…so that they understand what their function is and also how to generate support for them,” said Jim Smith, Laura’s husband.
“(Jim and Laura) have a passion for the pregnancy care center world, and they have taken upon themselves to do their part in supporting all pregnancy care centers in our area,” said Heather Bryant, executive director of Door of Hope. “I feel like they are a light in our community, that they’ve done this all on their own…it stared out pretty small and has grown to be one of the largest fundraisers around.”
Since 2014, the unique fundraiser has raised over $153,000 for the local ministries. In 2022, each pregnancy center received $12,864 after Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear generated a record total of $38,592.
“We’re very honored to get that money,” Bryant said. “It’s used to further our mission here to educate women and help them in their parenting journey and offer them the supplies that they need.”
The Smiths, who are Catholic, said the event draws support from Catholics and Protestants alike, and that even those who disagree on the morality of abortion should agree on the good work done by pregnancy resource centers.
“No matter which side you’re on,” Laura said, “for life or death or pro-choice or whatever you want to call yourself…why not support something as wonderful as a pregnancy resource center?”
The Smith’s host Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear at their lakeside property each fall.
“We’ve got a yard that can hold several hundred people, and our neighbors allow us to park on their properties,” Jeff said. “Everyone in the neighborhood chips in to help put on the event.”
“We definitely could not do this alone. And it’s just amazing, you know, really the amount of support out there,” Laura added.
The grounds will open at 11 a.m., rain or shine, with programming running from noon to 6 p.m. Six bands, spanning genres from gospel to blues to country, will be playing. Admission is free, with food, drinks, baked goods and merch available for purchase throughout the day. A raffle with over two dozen donated prizes, including two $500 cash prizes and two tickets for the UK/UofL football game on Nov. 25, will also generate funds.
And because the Smiths cover all administrative costs, everything purchased during the music fest will directly benefit the three pregnancy resource centers.
“If someone gets a $7 meal deal, all $7 will go to the pregnancy care centers,” Jeff said. “It’s all profit for the pregnancy centers.”
“Every dime that we raise goes directly to the pregnancy care centers,” Lisa added.
A generous donor also matches up to $12,000 raised through Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear.
“Just come on out and have some fun,” Lisa said.
To learn more about Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear, visit bluegrassonbeshear.com.
Friends of Life KY 