BBQ & Barrels has grown into a national and international destination that reflects what focused leadership, vision, and hard work can build over time.   Each year, visitors travel to Owensboro from across the United States and from several foreign countries to experience a weekend that brings together championship barbecue, elite bourbon, major music talent, and genuine community hospitality. This isn’t accidental. It’s the result of years of planning,…

Editor’s note: This commentary was written by Mark Calitri, President of Visit Owensboro, and originally published on his personal leadership blog.     Sports don’t just entertain us. They show us how communities are built, how effort still matters, and how pride shows up when it counts most.    During the Kentucky All-A Championships, one game looked over before it ever started. One team came in as the clear favorite, carrying…

Don’t Take Our Word for It. Take a Respected Observer’s. Every once in a while, a story comes along that captures the arc of a community better than any marketing piece ever could. That happened recently when longtime journalist and columnist Keith Lawrence, a trusted and official news source for generations of readers, shared a reflection that quietly said a lot about Owensboro. It started with a phone call. A…