Russell Main Street's Annual Brew Me Growth and Evolution
Leadership and Foundation
Krista Whitmer served as the Executive Director for Russell Main Street, Inc. for nine years, from 2014 to 2023. Throughout her tenure, she benefited from a strong support system, most notably from Jeannine Byers-Long, who at that time served as the Board President and continues to support the mission as an investor.
Signature Events and Fundraising
Russell Main Street relies on two primary events to drive community engagement and financial sustainability:
Bricks, Broncs & BBQ: Recognized as the organization’s main fundraiser, this event draws significant crowds and serves as a cornerstone of the annual budget. It now is the heart and soul of a larger picture, one that usually includes cornhole tournaments, bingo, beer garden, live music, baking contests and a kids zone.
Brew Me: This event, which started in 2017, was strategically designed to capture the momentum of the Bricks, Broncs & BBQ event. The original vision was to provide a late-afternoon and evening attraction for attendees after the BBQ awards ceremony concluded on Saturday afternoon.
Brew Me: Growth and Challenges
The "Brew Me" event has evolved despite several logistical hurdles:
Supplier Scarcity: Early challenges included a limited number of local distilleries, wineries, and breweries available to pour their own products.
Regional Competition: The event often faces direct competition with Oktoberfest in Hays, Kansas, located only 25 minutes away.
Logistics and Staffing: During years when products are sourced from local liquor stores rather than directly from producers, the event requires a significant increase in volunteers to manage setup, pouring, and teardown.
The VIP Experience: To enhance revenue and provide exclusive benefits, RMSI introduced a VIP experience limited to 100 tickets. This year 2026 these tickets are reserved exclusively for Russell Main Street Investors or Brew Me Sponsors.
Economic Vitality and Community Investment
The funds generated through membership investments and fundraising efforts are reinvested into the community through a specialized loan program. Russell Main Street offers 0% interest business loans designed to support economic development.
Loan Program | Purpose | Eligibility |
Incentives Without Walls (IWW) | Originally State-supported low-interest/0% loans for property rehabilitation and business development. Through forward thinking and years of operation RMSI has managed to build and grow on these funds. | Russell Main Street Investors. |
Russell Revolving Loan Fund | Locally managed 0% interest loans for business expansion and startup costs. | Russell Main Street Investors. |
These financial tools are a primary benefit of organizational membership, intended to create employment opportunities, preserve historic properties, and strengthen the local tax base.
Membership Investment Levels
As of 2026-2027, the following investment levels allowed businesses and individuals to participate in the Main Street mission and access benefits like the 0% interest loan programs:
Level | Annual Investment | Key Benefits |
Gold | $1,100 | Recognized sponsor for all events; home page recognition. Four VIP tickets to Brew Me |
Silver | $550 | Two VIP Brew Me tickets; public recognition at events, logo on all newsletters |
Downtown Development | $220 | Enhanced directory listing; business promotion consultation. Opportunity to host an Off The Clock event. |
Food Truck or Home Based Business | $80 | Downtown Development level for food trucks & home based businesses. |
Non Profit or Individual | $55 | Downtown Development level for non profit organizations or individuals who want to support RMSI |
Non-Profit | $55 | Listing in website directory; Main Street newsletter. |
Russell Main Street, Inc. continues to operate as a volunteer-driven organization, utilizing its limited budget and staff to foster a vibrant community space for visitors and residents alike.
Celebrating a Legacy of Growth
As we look back on the incredible impact of Russell Main Street, Inc., we celebrate the nine-year tenure of Krista Whitmer, who served as our Executive Director from 2014 to 2023. Krista’s leadership was marked by innovation, perhaps most notably with the 2017 launch of the "Brew Me" event. Designed to keep the festive energy flowing after our signature "Bricks, Broncs & BBQ" fundraiser, Brew Me has become a beloved community staple.
To further support our local economy, the popular VIP experience was added, providing exclusive benefits while directly fueling our community reinvestment efforts. These funds empower our 0% interest business loan program, a vital resource available to our investors for property rehabilitation and business startups. Thank you, Krista, for helping build the foundation for a vibrant and prosperous downtown!
