About Singing Springs
Read about our wonderful history and discover how Singing Springs grew from one family’s passion for hard work, creativity, and community.
Our History
Long before he arrived in Morrow County, Gale “Virg” Slack learned the value of hard work, a good joke, and strong, caring connections with family, friends, and community. Those life lessons began on his family’s dairy farm in Roseville, Ohio, and he’s held them close as a creative and successful entrepreneur.
Gale moved to Cardington in 1972 as a newly graduated OSU Buckeye to manage Cardington Packing Co., where he bought, processed and sold meat raised by area farmers. He developed his original bratwurst recipe and won awards from the Ohio Meat Association. He judged county fair livestock competitions across the state.
After a tornado hit Cardington in 1981, Gale rebuilt his business while also helping the village recover by serving as its economic development director and a member, and soon president, of the Cardington Improvement Committee. The CIC supported local business growth and helped secure a major industry, Cardington Yutaka Technologies.
Gale tapped other creative skills when he started Singing Springs Nursery and Garden Center in 1996, which included a Christmas tree farm and landscaping services for commercial and residential properties. Customers note Gale’s helpful, creative talent for making a new landscape look natural and beautiful. Cardington Yutaka, Morrow County Job and Family Services, Whetstone.
When customers expressed how much they missed Gale’s meat products, especially his original recipe bratwurst, he worked with a friend in the meat business to provide those products at Singing Springs. That’s how “The Nook” began: a room beside his office that features Gale’s famous brats and a tasty variety of other meats, seafoods, cheeses.
Gale has continuously supported school programs and other organizations, such as the Cardington-Lincoln High School FFA program, the Pirates football team mulch and bratwurst sale, county 4-H club projects, the local library summer reading program, Friends of Cardington. His landscaping projects include Cardington Yutaka, Morrow County Jobs & Family Services, Whetstone Industries, & many more.
Gale is married to Darlene, former Marion Star reporter with Associated Press awards and OSU Mansfield faculty in writing. Their son, Cory, grew up working at the nursery with his parents and many local adult and teen residents, before he, too, became an OSU Buckeye. Cory resides and works in Columbus, previously at The Star House for homeless youth, Franklin County Children’s Services, and now Lindey’s fine dining. Many customers also fondly remember being greeted by Frisco, their big dog with a big heart.