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Parriott: a bird of a different feather

Trey Allman | The Appalachian Robert O. Parriott collected area events and photographs for the 2005 High Country calendar.

by Alison Fosbenner
 Staff Writer

His colorful and lifelike photos capture the essence of High Country nature, and many fill the pages of his 2005 High Country events calendar.

This winter the second season of his local cooking show, which illustrates his love for cooking and teaching, will air on Mountain Television Network (MTN).

High Country resident and eager entrepreneur, Robert O. Parriott, follows his heart and interests for happiness, rather than for the money.

His productions and lifelong goals have taken a lot of time and dedication.

The idea of a High Country events calendar accompanied by High Country area nature photographs came to Parriott in the fall of 2003. His vision was to take his local photos and couple them with a High Country event resource in order to produce a calendar for residents.

“I thought it would be a way to share my photographs with people by using the events as a hook,” Parriott said. “It’s not the monetary gain I’m interested in; it’s sharing my work with people.”

Most of the calendar’s images were taken from his own yard and around the High Country area.

“I live off the parkway so I’m blessed to have that opportunity,” Parriott said.

A photo that correlates with the particular season accompanies each month, in addition to bonus nature shots on the inside cover.

In January, Parriott approached Michelle A. Wilson of the Boone Convention and Visitors Bureau to pitch his photo/event calendar concept.

“Her enthusiasm for the project really helped me bring it together,” Parriott said.

The Web site, www.visitboonenc.com, will provide any updates or changes to events listed on the calendar.

Parriott’s 2005 calendars are sold at locations such as the ASU Bookstore, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, the Carlton Gallery in Foscoe, Black Bear Books, Highland Newsstand and more.

His interest in photography dates back to 1974 when Parriott began taking photos for fun and ended up falling in love with it.

Since then he has gained photography experience from the news bureau at Berea College in Kentucky and at The Appalachian and Media Services as a dark room technician while he attended graduate school.

Cooking has come to play a substantial role in Parriott’s life. He began to pursue cooking in 1989, when his children, Jahsh and Brooke, gave him “The Joy of Cooking” cookbook.

Now about 15 years later, Parriott has blended his love for cooking and teaching together for Robert’s Most Yum Cooking Show on MTN, a locally-produced half-hour cooking show.

“I was very impressed that he followed through and made his cooking show happen,” Christine M. Nichols, who does marketing for MTN, said. “Most people come up with an idea but don’t follow through.”

The first day of filming for season one, comprised of 13 shows, was on May 24, Parriott’s birthday.

Nichols said MTN did not have a locally produced cooking show prior to Parriott and added that the network and viewers enjoy the local community aspect.

“He’s done really well for someone who has never done it before,” Nichols said.

“The cooking show was the greatest challenge of my life. It was more difficult to accomplish than my master’s [degree],” Parriott said in regards to getting and keeping sponsors, finding chefs, etc. “It was my heart and stomach.”