T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Chris Dutton, organizer of the Blame My Roots music festival, greets area professionals from both sides of the Ohio River on Wednesday, along with agency leaders such as Jackee Pugh, director of Belmont County Tourism.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Business leaders and representatives from agencies across the Ohio Valley joined in celebrating the area’s newest country music festival during Breakfast with Blame My Roots at the Market at Ebbert Farms.

Co-founder Chris Dutton updated the gathering about how the festival has progressed since its inception in 2019.

He and sister Nina are the head organizers of the event hosted by their family farm and campgrounds near Morristown.

He said the festival got off to a slow start and was stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he added the commitment of the festival operators and an enthusiastic country music fan community are helping it grow. Blame My Roots has since attracted bigger-name performers such as Dierks Bentley this year.

“We’re a new festival and it takes all year to plan,” he said.

Dutton outlined the challenges of starting such a festival, as well as finding its feet and learning what was possible.

“We’re still very much in startup mode, trying to figure out how do we build sustainably? How big are we? How big can we be?” he said. “We’re going to see a lot of growth this year. We see that in ticket sales.”

Dutton said last year the festival had ticket sales to people from 15 states.

He spoke about the challenges of booking performers at a smaller festival, noting smaller venues might have to pay more than larger ones that book multiple performances. Blame My Roots also provides about 50 hotel rooms for the acts.

“We’re real proud that our little festival was able to provide that much revenue for the community,” he said, adding he expects growth of 50 percent.

New attractions will include a “beach” scene with rented sand, children’s pools and lifeguards.

“It’s just an opportunity for us to get in front of the business folks around the community, give them an update on the festival and share with them what to expect this year,” Dutton said of the breakfast. “How to partner with us, how to sponsor with us, some employment opportunities. The business nature of Blame My Roots. … our festival is a big opportunity for local businesses to advertise with us, to market with us. … As the festival grows, we’re able to put more money back into the economy. … It’s an exciting time for us.”

Dutton said instead of asking for volunteers among friends, the festival will begin promoting job openings to the community.

“We’re expanding,” he said.

He said sponsorship is already exceeding last year.

Jackee Pugh, director of tourism for Belmont County, and Wendy Anderson, director of the St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce, co-hosted the meeting and are working to promote the festival.

“We are so excited to bring all the communities together,” Pugh said. “It is such a big economic impact to our area.”

“We look at Blame My Roots as one of maybe the top four attractions in Belmont County,” John Ratizak, a tourism board member, said. “It brings people from all over to see Belmont County. … The more people we bring to Belmont County, the better.”

“There’s a lot of people here from all over Belmont County, Ohio County. We’re excited about it,” Anderson said.

Centers of education such as Belmont College and Ohio University Eastern were also represented.

“I’m excited to be part of something that’s organic to our area. It’s a local event. It’s something that’s starting here, the people leading it are from the area,” OUE Dean David Rohall said. “We’re hoping to bring in a bunch of OU alums and offer the opportunity to get together.”

Blame My Roots is held July 14-16 at Valleyview Campgrounds in Belmont.