Rick Oxner returns to the festival this year as a sponsor and vendor. Rick is the founder/owner of Warm Peet, a mission-driven sock company. He established the brand with a commitment to donate 100% of his profits to nonprofits focused on mental health, suicide prevention, and environmental conservation (like us!). We asked Rick what he's been up to since we saw him last. Here's his answer:

Here we are again, coming up on another A.T. Festival in Loudoun County Virginia. We are so happy to be back for a fifth year and look forward to seeing everyone! 

A lot has changed since last year, but some things have stayed the same—like our socks! We introduced several new pairs of socks in 2025 and will bring the entire lineup to Hillsboro in June. As always, 100% of the profits are donated to non-profits, so come by and see us. 

On another topic, I want to address a much-needed topic in today’s world: finding your peace. 

I, for one, have not been hiking much. Well, I have—just in circles around a 156-acre property I acquired in 2025 in upstate New York. It is something I wanted to do for a long time, and the right property presented itself in early 2025. I became a New York resident in July. What am I doing with all that land, you might ask. For now, I have 6,700 cloves of garlic planted and will plant asparagus, onions, sweet potatoes and a few other things when I return in the spring. 

Why am I doing this at 62 years old? Bottom line: to find my peace. 

The world is changing too rapidly for me at the moment, and the politics of the world seem quite insane. I found myself trapped in a doom cycle of constant stress, anxiousness, worry, anger and depression. I needed to break free of this cycle—so I did. I am doing something I know nothing about (farming), but I have found good tutors in friends and neighbors. I am isolated from the constant bombardment of crises generated by humans, as they ignore the threats of climate change, processed foods and industrialized agriculture (to name a few).

Being with the land, living more simply, riding a tractor, watching the Monarch butterflies mate and migrate, seeing the fawns gradually lose their spots over the year, hearing the coyotes at night off in the distance, watching the sunrise at 5am, and being mesmerized by the constellations until I can’t keep my eyes open. That's how I am finding a personal peace these days. It’s more than a weekend hike, a ten-day outing or even a thru hike; it’s every day. I watch Mother Nature and live within her confines, seeking a better understanding of myself and the world we occupy. 

I hope that each of you can find your peace, even if only temporary, out there, somewhere intertwined with Mother Nature. I promise you: all the glory is waiting. Now, go…find your peace! 

​—Rick Oxner

Just in time for our Appalachian Trail celebration, festival sponsor Catoctin Creek brings us a new Appalachian-inspired spirit: Shenandoah Gin. What's there to love about this Catoctin Creek creation? 1. It's pink! 2. It's rather tasty! 3. It's flavored with our own native pawpaw!

This from Catoctin Creek:
"Our Shenandoah Gin draws inspiration from an old Appalachian recipe, featuring natural flavors of ripe strawberry and pawpaw, and an attractive pink color that comes from natural black carrot juice. The result is a vibrant, fruit-forward American gin that balances tradition with a distinctly regional character, showcasing ingredients long celebrated in the Shenandoah and Appalachian regions."

(Pawpaw side note: The fruit of this tree is often referred to as the "Appalachian Banana" and considered "trail magic" by hikers lucky enough to come across ripe fruit in the fall. Hikers familiar with the traditional Appalachian folk song "Way Down Yonder in the Pawpaw Patch" have been know to hum the tune when they find a grove of the trees along the trail. And, as if that weren't enough: The pawpaw tree is the exclusive host plant for the beautiful zebra swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillars feast on its leaves.)

So many thanks to Catoctin Creek for their sponsorship, their new pink drink and their celebration of our Appalachian heritage!