8th Annual Ardmore Lions Club Pull Awarded Top Honors

8th Annual Ardmore Lions Club Pull Awarded Top Honors

Written by
Cayce Lee
Social Media Specialist
Athens-Limestone County Tourism Assn.


The Ardmore Lions Club was awarded of "Best Two Day Pull of the Year" for the 8th Annual Ardmore Tractor and Truck Pull that was held in June 2016 by Mid-South Pullers Association during their November 19th banquet in Lucas, Kentucky,

Criteria for this award included the city that provided the best facilities, the city that provided the best track, and offering the most and welcoming hospitality.  The City of Ardmore's efforts to improve John Barnes Park not only for the community but for the events hosted there played a large role in the award.

Also receiving recognition during the Mid-South Pullers Association annual banquet was Anna Bell Bradley for "Best Appearing in the Limited Pro Stock Tractor", "Rookie of the Year" and "Points Champion of Limited Pro Stock Tractors".  At age 16, Anna Belle is one of the youngest competitors of the sanctioned tractor pulls and is catching the attention of veterans pullers and the crowds.  Anna Belle takes the Mid-South Pullers Association awards all in her first year of competition.

Trim-A-Tree Farm: Locally Grown Christmas Trees

Trim-A-Tree Farm: Locally Grown Christmas Trees  

Written by

Cayce Lee

Social Media Specialist

Athens-Limestone County Tourism Assn.

The rows upon rows of evergreen trees visible from U.S. Highway 72 and the 306 BBQ and Catering lot is only the tip of the iceberg of Trim-A-Tree Farm.  The family-owned farm is the perfect place to make memories for the whole family.

At Trim-A-Tree Farms you can select a pre-cut Fraser Fir or you can come and pick a Leyland Cypress or Carolina Sapphire to take home fresh from the field.  Trim-A-Tree also gives you the option to cut your own tree.  However, if you'd like them to do all the work, they'll cut, net and load your tree for you.  That includes being shaken -- and interesting process where they rattle the tree to shake out what may have landed, nested or made a home of your new Christmas tree.

When the weather cooperates, your children can enjoy pony rides with the family pony on the weekends.  You'll even find a gift shop on site full of goodies crafted with care for your decorating and gift giving needs.

Bring your camera and record your family's experience taking home one of these evergreen jewels or the kids enjoy the pony.  You might even get enjoy sitting around the fire pit, weather and drought permitting.  You'll definitely go home enjoying your new memories and friends you'll make.

To visit Trim-A-Tree Farm, you'll find them on Line Road just off U.S. Highway 72 next to 306 BBQ and Catering and south of Pepper Road. They're open 9:00AM-5:00PM Monday-Saturday and 12:00PM-5:00PM Sundays. For more information, call (256) 497-0801 

Hobbs Farm Beef & Chicken Introduces CSA

Hobbs Farm Beef & Chicken Introduces CSA

Written by
Cayce Lee
Social Media Specialist
Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association



Hobbs Farm Beef and Chicken located at 29578 Gatlin Road in Ardmore, Alabama is known for its USDA Beef as well as Chickens, Eggs, Ducks, and now Turkey.  You can find Hobbs Farms at many farmer's markets including the Athens Saturday Market June - August but on Fridays (and by appointment) you can enjoy their grass-fed, hormone free beef/chicken/duck/turkey.


The Hobbs family takes pride in their product and have taken extra steps to make sure the animals are raised well.  They chose a USDA approved facility in South Pittsburg, Tennessee with trailer inspection to make sure only the healthiest and best animals are processed and provided to you.  If you venture to the store on Gatlin Road or track them down at a farmer's market - they take time to answer questions, explain the products, offer suggestions on which cuts you might enjoy or need for a recipe. You'll also find seasonal vegetables and fruits as well as chow-chow and preserves available too.


Hobbs Farms latest venture is a CSA.  What is a CSA?  A CSA is Community Supported Agriculture and it allows you to support your local farmer and producer by purchasing set amounts of product.  In this case beef and chicken!  By choosing one of two packages - Hobbs Farm and your family benefit. You can choose an every other week package or a once a month package packed with ground beef, whole chicken, steaks, portioned chicken and portioned beef.  You sign up for a season - which is four months.  You choose to pickup at either the shop on Gatlin Road or at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Bailey Cove in Huntsville.


To be part of the CSA or to learn more, visit Hobbs Farms site page for the CSA at>>  http://www.hobbsfarmsbeef.com/csa.html

TN Valley Fiddlers Convention - Where the Beef Is

TN Valley Fiddlers Convention - Where the Beef Is

Written By
Cayce Lee
Social Media Specialist
Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association


If you have never been to the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, also known as Fiddlers

for short, it is held the first full weekend in October each year.  You are not only are you missing the music, vendors and fun but also the best Ribeye sandwiches prepared by the Limestone County Cattlemen's Association.   These Ribeye sandwiches are as famous as the festival itself and the waffing smell of the sizzling steaks on the grill will have your nose leading you directly to their tent.

The legacy of the Limestone County Cattlemen's Association started in 2000 according to Limestone County Cattlemen's Association Secretary Daveen Stanford.  The group originally partnered with the cheerleaders to raise funds for scholarships the first couple of years until the sports programs were discontinued.  The group then joined the English Department to continue their participation in Fiddlers - to the good fortune of the scholarship program and happy attendees.

What makes this a great pairing of locally farmed beef and good old fashion mountain music?  October is Beef Month and so is Fiddlers!  Not only do they share the rewards of hard work - the Ribeye steaks perfectly grilled onsite - but they also offer handouts and recipes that educate people to the nutrients of beef and its importance in a healthy diet.

Secretary Stanford said that over the Fiddlers weekend, the Limestone County Cattlemen's Association will cook 2,600 Ribeyes for sandwiches.  They try to cook 1,300 sandwiches each day and start selling at 10:00AM. On Friday, you can expect to find a Ribeye Sandwich for about 5 hours but don't wait on Saturday, you can expect them to be sold out in 4 hours or less.  Don't be discouraged by the long lines, it is completely worth the wait.

When asked, Secretary Stanford said the next year's planning for the Fiddlers convention starts as soon and the new year begins. Lessons learned each year are put to good use the next so attendees and the volunteers from the Cattlemen's Association can have the best experience when the product is bought.

This year, attendees can enjoy a Ribeye steak sandwich, a bag of chips and drink of your choice for $10.00.  They'll also be serving up cold Sundrop, Diet Sundrop, Coke, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Sprite, all in cans, and water.

So be sure to add this to your reasons to join Athens State University for the 50th Anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention on October 6th, 7th and 8th on the green of Founders' Hall.  For more information:  athens.edu/fiddlers

Homesteading Classes Come to Ardmore

   Homesteading Classes Come to Ardmore

Written by
Cayce Lee
Social Media Specialist
Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association


Homesteading has become vogue with Millennials, college and universities, school systems and those looking to return to the land and cultivate food and materials for their use. Broadly defined homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency but its roots can be traced back to 1862 when the Homestead Act was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln.

The law allowed people to receive free land from the United States Government in exchange for developing a homestead farm within a certain period.  If all obligations were met, the land the newly established farm sat upon become property of the citizen.

The Ardmore Public Library will be offering a series of Homesteading classes:

• August 20 -- 10:00AM
  Beekeeping with Benny Birdstrong of Giles County Extension Office
  
• September 17 -- 10:00AM
  Pruning Trees with Darby Payne of the UT Extension Office
  
• October 22 -- 10:00AM
  Diseases and Insects on Trees with Kevin Rose of the UT Extension Office
  
• November 12 -- 10:00AM
  Making Holiday Breads with Susan Duff

The Ardmore Public Library is located at 25836 Main Street in Ardmore, Tennessee.  To contact the library, please call 931-427-4883 from 9:00AM-6:00PM Monday through Friday and 9:00AM-1:00PM on Saturday.

Tasty Tomato Fun Comes To Athens Saturday Market August 13th

Tasty Tomato Fun
Comes To Athens Saturday Market August 13th

Written by

Cayce Lee

Social Media Specialist

Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association

Make your plans and come prepared for juicy, fresh Tomato Sandwiches being served up August 13th at the Athens Saturday Market at the Limestone Co Farmers Market Pavilion 409 West Green Street Athens, AL.   

Join the Spirit of Athens from 8:00AM to 12:00PM Noon for local growers, producers and artisans and a truly special Southern Treat - Tomato Sandwiches.

This juicy, succulent snack is a staple in Southern kitchens when the bumper crops of freshly grown tomatoes arrive.  There will be disagreement on which tomato makes for the best sandwich- Big Boy, Germans, Beefmasters, or good old ugly heirlooms.  Then the mayonnaise will be another bone of contention - depending on where you grew up.  But there is one thing for sure that overpowers any disagreement - the joy you have sharing the bounty of the garden with friends and family.

Activities for the kids including information about plants and conservation.  Enjoy the samples from local growers and producers including the latest crops of peaches and watermelon.  You'll be able to stock the fridge with local meat, eggs, produce, hummus, and more in one trip.

Live musical guest will be Copeland Road, so be sure to bring a chair for the performance under the pavilion.

 AthensSaturdayMarket.com​

Mandatory Game Check Workshop August 13th at Cabella's Huntsville

Mandatory Game Check Workshop August 13th
at Cabela's Huntsville

Written by
Cayce Lee
Social Media Specialist
Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association


New Alabama Game Check laws go into effect this Fall hunting season and hunters will not want to miss the opportunity to learn about these new practices and procedures on August 13th at Cabela's in Huntsville 7090 Cabela Drive at 3:30PM.

Chuck Sykes, Director of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries will be hosting the event and welcomes hunters of all ages to learn more about the new 48 Hour reporting standard, how impacts the hunting season, and how it will help conservation efforts.  He will also discuss the three methods hunters can register their kills during the event.

For more information about this workshop: 334-242-3465.