In geo-language, cachers know that FTF stands for First-To-Find, however in SLAGA-land it is also known for Food Truck Friday events hosted by Robert Klemme, aka Geokid12. This past Friday was the Silver Anniversary, or 25th FTF event, held at 9 Mile Garden in Affton, MO
The 9 Mile Garden is "Affton's only outdoor event center and Missouri's first Food Truck Garden" (credit '9milegarden.com' website). It's a fun place for family and friends to gather and enjoy local food and drink, and sometimes live music or performances. Outdoor movies and other community events are also held there and notices posted on the Garden's Facebook page of upcoming events. Basically this was an ideal spot for a fun gathering and a geo-event, as Robert discovered a few years ago.
In April 2021, Geokid12 hosted the SLAGA Spring Picnic and chose the 9 Mile Garden as the location. There were 47 attendees at that picnic. And while this was a bit different venue then the typical park shelters where the picnics were usually held, it turned out to be wise decision. It wasn't an official FTF event, but it was the precurser to those fun events. With Robert living just a couple miles from the Garden, and enjoying the atmosphere and food truck availabilities, as well as opportunities to meet up with geocachers, this venue was an easy choice for launching his now infamous events. In April 2022 the very first FTF: Food Truck Friday (GC9QC4N) event was held, but being a cold damp day, the 13 attendees met inside the Garden's 'Canteen' center instead of outside, which is a plus for this outdoor venue.
It only took a couple of months for the word to spread of this unique event and venue. Robert reported that, "the highest attended FTF event was #3 (GC9TZ05), which was held on June 17th 2022, with 34 in attendance."
He added that, "Another notable FTF event was the one that wasn’t even held at 9 Mile Garden, FTF #8 on March 31st 2023, the first one of that year. It was moved to St Louis Bread Co at Grasso Plaza due to weather that was so bad that they actually closed 9 Mile Garden. Usually even if there is rain the Canteen is still open, but this was above and beyond. The 9 attendees who braved the weather were treated to a rainbow at the end of the event." While there are, on the average, 14 to 15 attendees at Robert's FTF events, the smallest group was 5 cachers who showed up on a cool day in April 2024 for FTF XVII.
FTF V: Food Truck Friday 5 FTF XXV: Silver Anniversary
As the months went by, Robert continued to host FTF events as the weather permitted, and this past Friday's event was the 25th, FTF XXV: Silver Anniversary (GCBC5J9). It also happened to be Oktoberfest celebration at the 9 Mile Garden, so FTF attendees not only enjoyed live music and food truck items, but there was beer tasting and craft tables to purchase unique items, like the Halloween earrings this reporter purchased. Twelve cachers attended this very lively event. This is a consistently enjoyable geocaching event and venue, and one worth attending at a future FTF. Because when asked if he would continue to host his FTF events, Robert said, "As long as the few faithful continue to show up, I'll continue hosting them. This is a fun location and being an Affton resident, it's great that I can help support by patronizing this local establishment, which is quickly becoming an Affton icon."
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Some Group Photos From FTF Events
