Council approves special‑event permit for Sharperson Farms trail ride and field party

Chesterfield County Council approved a special‑event permit for the TGG Trail Ride Party at Sharperson Farms in the Mount Croghan/Black Creek area, scheduling the event to begin about 10 a.m. with activities for families and music later in the evening.

Jeff Blakeney, who appeared before council as the permit applicant, said the event would include a daytime trail ride and family activities, with music ending around midnight and guests asked to clear the site by 1 a.m. He told council the permit was for a July date; the agenda packet indicated a single‑event application rather than an annual permit. Applicant remarks: "I'm here for the special event, permit asking for approval for July, TGG TGG Trail Ride Party, field party, and trail ride."

During public comment, Shaquille Sharperson (who identified himself as the owner of Sharperson Farms and a detective in Lancaster, South Carolina) described the farm's safety preparations and said events routinely use off‑duty law enforcement for security. Sharperson told council: "All our events are full of law enforcement. Our staff is full, law enforcement off duty." He invited council and staff to visit the property and review operations.

Council members asked about attendance, security and neighborhood notice. The applicant estimated attendance at "anywhere from 500 to a thousand people," and said the admission fee would be $20. He said Chesterfield County Sheriff's deputies have staffed past events and that the applicant usually engages "anywhere from 4 to 5 deputies" for security. Council asked the applicant to coordinate with codes official Mister Ooten on final permit conditions.

Councilmember Ford moved to approve the permit; Reverend Brand seconded and the motion carried on voice vote.

Clarifying details from the meeting record: the event location is listed as Sharperson Farms in the Mount Croghan/Black Creek area; estimated attendance 500–1,000; admission fee $20; off‑duty deputies (4–5) reported for security; food vendors expected on site. Council and staff noted the county's noise ordinance and said music hours and permit conditions could be adjusted in future events if necessary.

Council did not identify additional permit conditions on the record beyond directing the applicant to work with codes staff; the applicant provided a contact phone number on his flyer (803‑837‑2021).