With today’s economy, it is time to get back to the basics. That is just what the organizers of Down Home Farm Day seek to do. The farming techniques, survival skills and heritage arts used by Chattooga County’s farm families for generations should be taught to this and future generations. For these educational purposes and to celebrate Chattooga County’s agrarian heritage, the sixth annual Down Home Farm day will be held on Saturday June 6th in   J.R. “Dick” Dowdy Park in downtown Summerville. Admission to the event is free.

The event seeks to have the park filled with scenes of pioneer and farm life.  Area farmers, gardeners and artists are invited to share their farm skills and heritage arts at this event which will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.  Organized by the Summerville Better Hometown Program, the day will exhibit  blacksmiths, antique tractors, and farm machinery as well as Dutch oven cooking, quilting, churning, weaving, and domestic heritage arts. Bluegrass and gospel musicians are invited as well as local artists who create pottery, baskets, and paintings. Farmers and gardeners are invited to sell locally grown produce and plants. Once again, children’s activities will be provided and will be fun as well as educational.

            According to Andres Hall Hayes, Chairman of the Better Hometown Promotion Committee, “We want everyone to come to the park and share their Chattooga County heritage and farm skills. Everything in the park on this day will be either hand made or old fashioned. This will be a great event for families to learn how life was ‘down on the farm’ in Chattooga County many years ago. We also hope everyone will dress in old fashioned attire for the day.” 

             The Summerville Boy Scout Troop # 7 will be encamped and provide Dutch oven cooking with free samples of biscuits, pies, stew and other specialties.

            Around 1 p.m., the historic steam locomotive from The Tennessee Valley Railroad in Chattanooga, Tennessee will arrive with tourists who will also be able to enjoy the day’s festivities.  The antique tractors will crank up and have a parade around the track at Dowdy Park following the arrival of the locomotive.

            For more information or to register as a participant, contact the Summerville Better Hometown Promotion Committee at 706-822-0197 or 706-859-7726.