Horse Soldier’ s Scott Neil talks about the upcoming Lake Cumberland 250 celebration
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blue ' 56 Chevy on it," said Floyd. " We even changed our logo colors this year to red, white and blue!"
The American Dream Distilled
Ultimately, everything ties back together to the moment the community has been waiting for since 2019, when it was first announced that Horse Soldier Bourbon would be making its home in Somerset— the opening of Horse Soldier Farms, on which ground was broken in 2021. It ' s a development that tourism
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officials anticipate helping benefit every corner of Pulaski County, keeping visitors coming through even when lake tourism isn ' t in season, and is expected to become a major economic driver for the community.
" Horse Soldier Bourbon brings a powerful connection to both American history and service, which makes their involvement especially meaningful for this July 4 celebration," said Mills. " Their story— created by U. S. military heroes— fits naturally with the spirit of
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Independence Day. It’ s a reminder of sacrifice, service, and the values that have shaped our country, which is exactly what this celebration is meant to honor.
" For Burnside, their presence also helps shine a light on our community as a destination," she added. " Events like this bring visitors into town, support local businesses, and introduce people to everything Burnside and Lake Cumberland have to offer. It’ s about more than just one day— it’ s about building longterm tourism and showing
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people what makes this area special. We’ re proud to host a celebration where something as meaningful as America 250, local community spirit, and a veteran-founded brand all come together in one place. It truly adds to the significance of the day for both residents and visitors."
Said Allen, " Horse Soldier Farms will be transformational for tourism and economic development in this region. The project brings together Kentucky bourbon, agriculture, hospitality, tourism, entertainment, and American
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Q & A
Southeast Kentucky Life was able to interview Scott Neil, co-founder and president of Horse Solider Farms, on his business’ s role in the upcoming Lake Cumberland 250 celebration. Here are Neil’ s responses.
Q: What kind of events will Horse Soldier be involved with for the Lake Cumberland 250?
Neil:“ We will celebrate America’ s 250th through a series of events surrounding the grand opening of Horse Soldier Farms, including ribbon-cutting ceremonies, live concerts, Professional Bull Riders( PBR) events, fireworks, food trucks, cornhole tournaments, live music, local vendors, and family activities. One of the most meaningful moments will be veterans parachuting an American flag directly into the arena before the PBR event.”
Q: What does it mean to Horse Soldier to be a part of Lake Cumberland 250? Are you excited to have the public see the work put into the property?
Neil:“ We did not build Horse Soldier Farms just for ourselves. We built it to share with others and to contribute to this community. Somerset and Lake Cumberland represent something rare today— authentic small-town America with incredible people and opportunity. We want the public to experience what we discovered here and to see what can happen when people believe that anything is possible.”
Horse Soldier’ s Scott Neil talks about the upcoming Lake Cumberland 250 celebration
Q: Is there anything in particular about the celebration as a whole that you are most looking forward to, either within your own events or the other planned events( soap box derby)?
Neil:“ I love Americana— the traditions, the energy, and the sense of community. From the soap box derby to the Somernites Cruise events, the food trucks, and the downtown celebrations, this is shaping up to be one of the most unique Fourth of July celebrations anywhere in the country. What inspires me most is seeing public and private partners come together to create something meaningful for the entire region.”
Are you proud of the work put into Horse Soldier Farms?
Neil:“ I have not spent much time looking backward yet. Right now, we are focused on building what comes next. There will be a time to reflect, but today is not that day. We still have more work to do, and the future will look very different from the past.”
Q:“ What does America’ s 250th anniversary mean in general. How does it feel to those who helped fight in the military and contributed to keeping the country free?
Neil:“ Serving this country was one of the greatest privileges of my life. The military brings together people from every background imaginable— kids from Detroit serving alongside kids from Malibu or Appalachia— and they become family. They may come from different places and have different stories, but they are willing to sacrifice everything for one another and for this country. That spirit is what America’ s 250th should celebrate.”
Q: Anything else you want to add? Neil:“ Despite years of negativity, division, and difficult headlines, what we are building here is proof that the American spirit is still alive. We built something from nothing through hard work, belief, and community support. That, to me, is the American story.”
10 • SEKY- Southeast Kentucky Life June 2026