Local surgeon sells 233 acres to distillery; plans for the site are unclear
As the love for bourbon continues to grow throughout the world, so must the distilleries that produce it. For Frankfort’s Buffalo Trace distillery and Dr. Joseph Dobner, expansion has been mutually beneficial.
Dobner’s beef cattle farm shared a property boundary with Buffalo Trace near Lewis Ferry Road. After talking with Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley, Dobner said he started looking for greener pastures.
“At a function there (at the distillery) some years ago, Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said they needed space to expand,” Dobner said. “I never wanted to sell my farm.
“Then over the last few years, the bourbon industry has gone through the roof. The distillery is so important to Frankfort and it really is a gem for Frankfort. They were interested (in my property) and wanted to expand.”
The farm was equally as important to Dobner.
As a place to raise his family and relieve the stress as a practicing orthopedic surgeon, Dobner, originally from Chicago, enjoyed his time on his relatives’ dairy farm in Wisconsin and wanted one of his own. He now farms 200-head of beef cattle on 218 acres.
After long negotiations, Dobner sold Buffalo Trace 233 acres in October.
“Because of the property I found (in Franklin County), I’m pleased as punch,” Dobner said. “I found a farm for sale that has much better facilities on it. My dogs are much happier now too. They would run around the farm and I would always find them on the distillery.”
Dobner said Buffalo Trace didn’t say what they plan to do with his property and distillery officials were unavailable for comment on Tuesday.
Animal compost
A portion of Dobner’s property was to be leased to the Franklin County Fiscal Court to serve as the location of an animal composting facility.
The agreement came in May after some negotiating between the parties, but the future of the composting site now is unclear.
Since the purchase, outgoing Judge-Executive Ted Collins said he’s been in negotiation with Buffalo Trace to see if they will still honor the lease. However, he said he has not yet received a response.
“Dealing with the private and public sectors to get something worked out takes time,” Collins said. “I’m still talking with them about it and hoping that it goes, the process just takes a while.”
If an agreement is not made before Jan. 5 when Collins leaves office, the negotiations will pass to incoming Judge-Executive Huston Wells and the new fiscal court.
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