Is That Deductible? The Blueberry Festival

The Blueberry Festival: A Weekend of Community, Commerce, and Tradition

Every year, the quiet town of Plymouth, Indiana, with its population of just 10,000, undergoes a remarkable transformation over Labor Day weekend. The Marshall County Blueberry Festival, Indiana’s largest four-day festival, attracts a staggering 250,000 to 300,000 visitors, turning our rural community into a bustling hub of activity. For those of us who call this town home, it’s a weekend far from relaxation. Instead, it’s a whirlwind of events, activities, and economic opportunities that bring out the best in community spirit—and in entrepreneurial creativity.

The Festival’s Impact on Our Community

The Blueberry Festival is nothing short of an economic powerhouse for Plymouth. The influx of visitors creates an impressive churn throughout the community, with local businesses, vendors, and even residents seizing the opportunity to present micro-business ventures. Whether it’s offering parking on private property, selling handcrafted goods, or operating food booths, everyone finds a way to contribute to—and benefit from—the festival's massive scale.

For many of us, the festival isn’t just about enjoying the festivities; it’s about rolling up our sleeves and getting involved. Over the years, I’ve done my fair share of volunteering, from manning booths to parking cars for my kid's private Christian school, which sits conveniently next to the festival grounds. That particular task—four days of guiding cars into spots and dealing with the inevitable chaos—is far from my favorite, but it’s all part of the experience.

The Blueberry Stomp: A Tradition of Running and Community

Amidst all the hustle and bustle, one event stands out as my personal favorite: the Blueberry Stomp. This annual 5K and 15K race is a highlight of the festival for many, including myself. There’s something uniquely exhilarating about running down a closed-off Main Street, cheered on by thousands of spectators lining the streets for the Labor Day parade. The parade itself is a slice of pure Americana, featuring everything from high school marching bands to local politicians, floats, and fire trucks.

The race route, which takes runners along the same path as the parade, is both challenging and rewarding. The energy from the crowd is palpable, and there’s nothing quite like the feeling of running alongside the parade, with spectators on either side cheering you on. It’s an experience that captures the essence of community spirit—a moment where the town comes together to celebrate both its traditions and its people.

Over the years, my experience as a runner has been diverse and enriching, spanning both competitive and recreational aspects of the sport. I have participated in various distance events, including the swift 5-kilometer races and the more challenging 15-kilometer courses. These experiences have allowed me to explore different facets of running, from the intense focus of striving for victory to the sheer joy of embracing the event's festive atmosphere. In my competitive pursuits, I've pushed my physical limits, honing my skills and endurance to vie for top positions. The thrill of racing against fellow athletes, feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I strive to cross the finish line first, has been both exhilarating and rewarding. Conversely, I've also indulged in the more lighthearted side of running events by donning elaborate costumes inspired by beloved pop culture characters. Two of my most memorable outfits include dressing up as the awkward and endearing Napoleon Dynamite, complete with his iconic curly hair and "Vote for Pedro" t-shirt, and embodying the cheerful spirit of Buddy the Elf, with his distinctive green attire and contagious enthusiasm. These costumed runs have brought an entirely different dimension to my racing experience. The reactions from spectators and fellow runners alike have been heartwarming and uplifting. As I dash past children and adults lining the race route, I'm greeted with beaming smiles and enthusiastic cheers. Their joy is palpable, and their exclamations of delight serve as a powerful motivation, propelling me forward with renewed energy and spirit. This blend of serious athleticism and playful participation has deepened my appreciation for the running community and the diverse ways in which people engage with the sport. Whether I'm striving for a personal best or spreading cheer in a whimsical costume, the connection I feel with fellow runners and spectators remains a cherished aspect of my running journey.

The Impact on the Medical Community

As a physician who has served this community for 27 years, the Blueberry Festival brings with it a unique set of challenges and responsibilities. The surge in population over the four-day weekend inevitably leads to a spike in medical needs, both from locals and the influx of visitors. This festival is known to cause a huge increase in locals seeking treatment for acute health conditions, often wanting to be treated over the phone due to the urgency of the big weekend. This experience alone is one of the driving forces for my creation of ChatRx. The demands on the local ER also skyrocket, with a flood of patients presenting everything from minor injuries to serious medical emergencies. This surge often results in the local ER being overwhelmed, and I’ve been called in more than once as the on-call doctor to help manage the overflow—an experience that I’ve undertaken without compensation—doing it altruistically as a good corporate citizen.

In addition to the ER, maternity care becomes particularly busy during the festival. OB triage visits increase, and there’s often an uptick in out-of-town deliveries for patients without a local doctor. The convergence of these factors makes the festival weekend one of the busiest times of the year for medical professionals in our community. For years, I tried to avoid being on call during this weekend, knowing that it meant being much busier and dealing with constant interruptions. When it was my turn, I always mentally geared up for the additional workload, knowing that the festival would be anything but a break.

One of the special elements of retiring from my local primary clinic and moving into a semi-retired state is the freedom it has afforded me during the Blueberry Festival. No longer do I have to account for the constant interruptions or the extra workload. I’ve been emancipated from the medical responsibilities and hardships that come with this massive community event, allowing me to enjoy the festival in a way that wasn’t possible before.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Seizing Opportunities

The Blueberry Festival isn’t just about fun and games; it’s also a prime opportunity for entrepreneurial ventures. Over the years, I’ve found various ways to tap into the economic potential of the festival. One of my earliest ventures was offering paid parking at my medical office building, located just a short walk from the festival grounds. It was a simple yet effective way to generate some extra income while providing a valuable service to festival-goers.

As my business interests grew, so did my involvement in the festival. I’ve sponsored the Blueberry Stomp in the past, with my business name proudly displayed on the T-shirts and promotional materials. This year, however, my sponsorship took on a new twist, thanks to a collaboration with my former partner, who now serves as the race director.

He wanted to attract more elite runners to the event, and one way to do that was by offering free housing for them. We came up with a creative solution: in exchange for sponsorship for ChatRx, I provided housing for two runners in my micro-business guest house we call “The Legacy House”. This arrangement not only met the race’s needs but also allowed me to utilize one of my business assets in a meaningful way. I would have offered three suites, but my daughter and her husband were coming to stay for the weekend, occupying one of the suites.

The Economics of Festival Sponsorship

One of the unique aspects of this arrangement is the economic benefit it provided. By offering housing as part of the sponsorship, I was able to cover the cost of a branded corporate sponsorship without actually spending any cash. Instead, I leveraged an existing business asset, making the most of what I already had. And since my registration for running in the Blueberry Stomp is tied to the business purpose of sponsorship, it’s also a deductible business expense. This is a perfect example of how creative thinking and resourcefulness can lead to significant economic advantages, even in a small-town festival setting.

The Joys of Festival Food

Of course, no festival experience would be complete without indulging in some of the local food offerings, and the Blueberry Festival is no exception. One of my particular pleasures is grabbing a bite at the food booths, especially the homemade blueberry doughnuts served up by a local church. These once-a-year treats are legendary, with a line that often stretches for a half hour or more. But as any local will tell you, the wait is worth it—especially if you know the non-peak times to avoid the longest lines.

Is That Dedectible? It Depends

Now is the time to figure out how the costs were allocated to all of my activities and whether were pre-tax business dollars, or post-tax personal dollars.

Blueberry Stomp Registration: A deductible business expense

Blueberry Stomp Sponsorship: No expense, but a business activity

Blueberry Festival Housing: No new expenses incurred, but a business activity. The overhead of the guest house with AC, internet, media, furniture, bedding, towels, etc… all are business expenses to our LLC that owns it.

Blueberry Stomp Costume: None this year

Blueberry Doughnuts: Yummy and a personal non-business expense!

Reflecting on the Festival’s Impact

The Blueberry Festival is more than just an event; it’s a reflection of the community’s spirit, resilience, and creativity. It’s a time when the town comes together, not just to celebrate but to contribute, to support one another, and to make the most of the opportunities that come our way. For me, the festival is a reminder of the importance of community, of the value of tradition, and of the endless possibilities that exist when you approach life—and business—with an entrepreneurial mindset.

A Call to Action: Empowering Physicians Through SimpliMD

As physicians, we often find ourselves caught up in the demands of our profession, leaving little time to explore our entrepreneurial potential. But just as the Blueberry Festival offers opportunities for economic growth and community engagement, so too does SimpliMD membership. For just $99, you can gain access to $2,500 worth of business products designed to help you thrive as a physician entrepreneur. Whether it’s through our business formation guide, our network of professionals, or our courses like “Creating a Practice Without Walls,” SimpliMD is here to support you every step of the way.

Don’t miss out on the chance to take control of your career and your future. Join SimpliMD today and discover how you can create a micro-corporation that empowers you in the marketplace, just as the Blueberry Festival empowers our community every Labor Day weekend.