The Ohio Tobacco Museum proudly presents Frederick Kautz as their contestant for the Fall Back into Time Contest and he represents the many hard working farmers of this region. FREDERICK KAUTZ raised horses, corn and wheat, but his cash crop was “Broadleaf” tobacco. In 1863 he grew strange light-colored plants from his tobacco bed and produced a much lighter, milder smoking tobacco. This new “White Burley” began the U.S. cigarette industry and changed the agricultural landscape of Brown County.

Portraying Captain Kautz is historian Ernie Parnell. Ernie, a retired Army officer, is a resident of Brown County and has been very active in the region as a re-enactor. He has taken his 19th century traveling museum to many events and schools throughout the area.