Tiger Ears popular treat at annual event

By Jonathan Picklesimer

BSN Contributing Writer

PAINTSVILLE — Since 1990, the Tiger Ears sold by the Red Bush Volunteer Fire Department (RBVFD), have been a favorite at the Kentucky Apple Festival in Paintsville, which gets underway this weekend.

Apple Festival attendees have a long list of favorite foods to choose from. All food vendors are non-profit organizations that support various churches, sports teams, and civic groups.

One of the longest lines is always found at the corner of Court and Second streets, where the Red Bush Volunteer Fire Department makes its version of the fair favorite elephant ear – known locally as Tiger Ears.

“We started making Tiger Ears to raise money for a fire engine,” Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Reed said, “and in five years paid it off. It has been our largest fundraising event ever since.”

Nothing is premade at the Tiger Ears stand. Each year, the booth uses 1,375 pounds of flour, 450 pounds of sugar, and an untold amount of canola oil to make over 3,000 pastries. Volunteers start making dough around 5:30 each morning. This dough is then passed through rollers for flattening and into a deep fryer. Add sugar, cinnamon, and a dash of cool fall morning breeze for a plate-sized treat you will never forget.

The booth is located near the main stage for the Apple Festival. While waiting for your order – made hot and fresh by 30 local volunteers – you can watch the spelling bee, see the winners of the various school competitions, hear local choruses sing, or take in a musical performance from one of the bands performing at the festival. This year’s volunteers are from the Johnson Central High School girls’ basketball team.

“We have seen it all,” Reed said. “People waiting in line for an hour for a Tiger Ear, rain, snow, power outages, and even Loretta Lynn.”

The proceeds from the sale of Tiger Ears support the work of Red Bush Volunteer Fire Department, which serves a community of more than 2,000 residents in Johnson County. Every tasty treat sold helps purchase equipment, provide training, and prepare volunteers to help their neighbors.

The Kentucky Apple Festival will be held on September 30 and October 1, 2022.