cave city watermelon growerswendy williams sister lawyer
(800) 458-4756 Read more. They carry everything you need for a successful fishing trip on the Spring River. Watermelon Growers Games - In front of Melon stage. Cave City bills itself as having the worlds sweetest watermelons. Find out for yourself July 29-31 during the 41st annual Watermelon Festival, which offers three days packed full of fun and entertainment for the entire family.Activities include a children's fishing derby, 5K run, car show, pancake breakfast, parade, school alumni reunion, speed eating contest, seed . Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Historic Downtown Hardy Loaded with unique shops and restaurants, downtown Hardy is a postcard community nestled along the Spring River. In its earlier years, Cave Citys means of entertainment appeared to revolve around camp and/or brush arbor meetings and revivals at local (and often not-so local) churches. We are very grateful that people like what we produce, Julie said. Cave City growers just want you to know, it's important to look for the sticker. CAVE CITY, Ark. The original church was located on the site of the current Hometown Market. Over at Perkey & Woolridge, theyre experiencing the same busyness. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Photo courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. It can be a little aggravating, he said, when others are using your name to sell a different product. The goal was to have the young men take over the operation. We appreciate the volunteer work already underway around town to prepare for the festival, Cave City Mayor Jonas Anderson said. Growers put a registered trademark stick on the watermelons that reads "Genuine Cave City Watermelon". The Taste of Chicago has a pretty exhaustive Wikipedia page, which is a pretty good indication that the event is practically built into the citys DNA. The continual hot weather has now put them about one week ahead of schedule in opening the stands. "Usually we start setting the first plants somewhere along about the middle of April and that's when we were getting some real cold weather, so we were delayed a little bit in getting the first plants set out," Johnson said. Prior to that, Phillip said, We just trusted in the Lord and the weather. Rainfall or lack thereof is detrimental to the production of watermelons. Our watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce "The World's Sweetest" watermelons! We have very loyal people. The first ones out of the field bring families out of the backroads and cities alike to be among the first to experience the fruits of the farmers labors around the first to middle of July. The Cave City Watermelon Festival gets underway Thursday. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. This involves discing, cultivating, fertilizing and planting that typically begins in April. 71 were here. 167 North of Cave City. You can buy the melons outside of the city, but supply is limited and there are imposters. On her blog, Seek Adventures, Julie shares about the outdoor and travel adventures of her family as they camp and standup paddleboard across the South. It is located two and a half miles North of Cave City on Hwy. As a result, they became more innovative in their production process. locate As soon as the summer sun beams down on the South, families make their way to lakes and rivers to cool off. They orderedplants from a greenhouse. You can also learn more about her writing on her site Seek Adventures Media. This meant a garden hoe. This and resellers marking the melons up to make so large of profit that the cost of their fruit is much higher than the Johnsons melons at their stand. Sadly, their father passed away in June before seeing the first of what is now the 46th harvest of his sons melons and the establishment of Johnson Brothers Watermelons. Thankfully for the organizers of the wildly popular Windy City Smokeout, fans of barbecue and fans of country music are often one in the same. BREAKING: Student arrested for crime involving explosives, Cave City watermelon growers warn against knockoffs, Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, Jonesboro police investigating 2 reported shootings. Blueberry Fields Forever Judsonia, AR, 72081. The annual watermelon festival, which draws thousands to the town each year, is scheduled for July 26-28. To contact our registered growers, check:. 2021 Cave City Watermelon Festival Set for July 29-31th April 29, 2021by KFFB 106.1 FM Cave City Watermelon Festival is gearing up for another great Festival. Perkey Farms is a family owned and operating watermelon farm. In those days, an average grower planted about 30 acres. Phillip went on to explain that in the early days it was hard to sell a watermelon. In earlier years, before the creation of the town, the cave had belonged to the Horn family, and was known as Horns Cave. Millies From fried catfish to grilled steak to a homemade casserole, you never know what you will find at Millies, but its guaranteed to be good eating! Grab a cooler and gas up the tank because we are heading out in search of good eats, unique treasures and scenic vistas. The Cave City Watermelon Festival Facebook page recently posted how to know if it's a genuine Cave City watermelon versus an imposter. Plan your visit to Cave City and make sure to attend their Watermelon Festival in July! One of the most favorite and anticipated of these camp meetings was the holiness camp meeting held every year at Calamine by ministers of the Nazarene Church. Watermelon Farms in Cave City, AR About Search Results 1. It appears that you're using a severely outdated version of Safari on Windows. Apparently the Laman brothers bought large tracts of land in the Cave City area, built their business and encouraged other merchants to relocate at that place. We dug holes, put water to make a sluice in the ground and then put the plant in. So I prefer to go right to the source. For Food Vendor Inquiries call Andrea @ 870-283-5301, For Craft & Commercial Vendor Inquiries email Hana @ craftmelonvendor@yahoo.com, For Volunteer Opportunities call Robin @ 870-283-1195For Entertainment Inquiries call Tyler @ 870-283-4877, To become a sponsor call Julie @ 870-307-9631, Copyright 2022, Cave City Watermelon Festival. The event has shrunk from 10 days down to just three this year (July 7-9), but thats plenty of time to eat your fill of local food. This included transplanting. Grower Brian Carter can trace that blood back to his great, great grandfather who hauled melons from Sandtown by wagon to sell in Batesville in the early 1900s. Digital Marketing and Design - The Richland Group. Around 1980, a group of city leaders actually trademarked the name "Cave City Watermelons" so that anyone who uses that registered trademark to make money off of a different product is actually breaking the law. The Bank of Cave City was organized in 1906, with James A. Laman as the first president. Today, people from around the world come to this small place each summer to help us do just that! She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. But one common seed is the craving for the fruit of summer the watermelon. . Record collectors dont miss a chance to browse their vintage selections! It doesnt quite feel like summertime in Sharp County until the Cave City watermelons hit the stands and that happened this past week. SHARP COUNTY'S WIDEST CIRCULATED AND ONLY LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER. The boys did as any good sons would and began to take on the responsibilities of the farm. Phillip Johnson of Johnson Brothers Farms said the below-freezing temperatures in April made them nervous. We were all so excited. Evening Shade is small but gained some popularity in the 90s when it was the setting for the television show of the same name starring Burt Reynolds. 2 talking about this. After the harvest, pulling of the plastic and planting grass on the fields carries their work into October or November. While contestants are toting in their entries for the Prize Melon competition at the park, the White River Family Fun "Wet Zone" with waterslides starts at 6 p.m. and goes until dark in the softball field. Wooldridge says even though COVID canceled the festival last year, it didnt cancel watermelon season, working from sunrise until sundown picking and selling watermelons. Ellis and Ernest Landers had the largest acreage planted in watermelons --- 45 acres. He is excited to interact with people at the festival again. Charles Osborne Farms (870) 799-3459 PO Box 148 Cord, AR 72524 4. It will include games, auctions, seed spitting contests, free watermelon feasts, a family wet zone park, and live entertainment, including headliner Tracy Byrd. The Cave City Watermelon Festival slated for July 29 through 31 is quickly approaching. It hasnt always been easy. Visitors can view their work with paddlefish, sturgeon, Gulf Coast Striped Bass, walleye, and smallmouth bass. Required fields are marked *. Historic Places There are seven properties on the National Register of Historic Places located in Evening Shade. By 1958, the association had 127 members with about 1,000 acres planted in watermelons in Sharp and Independence counties. Spring River The Spring River is a favorite spot to fish, swim and float. J.W. Live musicians such as Luke Stroud, the Farris Family Quartet, Legacy Five, Shane Thornton, and others will perform Thursday and Friday. Its worse than Black Friday at Walmart, Julie laughed. Julie said, There are no female melons, laughing in anticipation of the question, but stating it is one so many people ask. To contact our registered growers,. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We select one featured photo per week, but we show many more in our gallery. In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. Copyright 2018KAIT. The towns population began to be drawn to the larger area of Walnut Ridge and further declined when the highway was built 2 miles outside of town. Usually the Cave City Watermelon Festival is held the week after the Hope Watermelon Festival, but this year they were held concurrently. Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have our registered trademark sticker. CAVE CITY, Ark. The town of Cave City was incorporated in April 1907 with a Mayor-Council form of government. Johnson Brothers Watermelons is a family operated business consisting of Gary & Becky & Phillip & Julie. More than 9 million gallons of water flow from it each hour filling a 10-acre lake and flowing into the Spring River. No one picks the watermelons but Gary and Phillip. Thankfully, that changed once we finally shook winter and headed into May. Some of these were Hickory Valley, Sandtown, Curia, Clarkson, Reeds Creek/Fairview, Maxville, Emery, Mobley, Flat Rock, Cedar Grove, and Loyal. Cave City's registered growers plan to keep the town's tradition alive, and start preparing for the 41st Watermelon festival. After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. The SRC recently spent an evening with Gary and Phillip Johnson and their wives, Becky and Julie, who have been with them every step of the way. Its crazy because theres so many different components to it.. Among the growers, are one family who are in their third generation of production of the luscious fruit of summer. Gary, laughed and said he told his brother to get her some water. Jonas Anderson - Mayor of Cave City - orilla vallie stage 12:00pm: Live Music: Deadwood Groove - orilla vallie stage Travel east/northeast out of Cave City along AR-230 and AR-25. Now, in its 40th year, the watermelon festival is the largest festival in the region and has been voted as one of Arkansas' best festivals. The Fourth of July Picnic at Cave City was another major attraction, bringing folks from all over the surrounding country. From July 27-29 in Cave City, Arkansas, youll find a feast of watermelon courtesy of local growers; the website also notes that Catfish dinners, pancake breakfasts, talent shows, watermelon judging contests, 5K runs, ice cream making contests, car shows and local entertainment have filled the event calendar in previous years. A cross-section of the Crookneck heirloom watermelon, an indigenous watermelon whose seeds were recovered from an abandoned cave in Arizona. From July 27-29 i n Cave City, Arkansas, you'll find a feast of watermelon courtesy of local growers; the website also notes that "Catfish dinners, pancake breakfasts, talent shows, watermelon judging contests, 5K runs, ice cream making contests, car shows and local entertainment have filled the event calendar" in previous years. Be sure to stop by on a Friday and order the catfish. CAVE CITY, AR (KAIT) - It doesn't quite feel like summertime in Sharp County until the Cave City watermelons hit the stands and that happened this past week. No one will ever argue that watermelon blood doesn't run deeply in Cave City. by Themeansar, Johnson Brothers For the love of watermelons, Sharp County public service entities receive nearly $1.36 million from American Rescue Plan, NO!! Watermelon Festival The 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival is sure to delight. Johnson says theyve seen more people at their stand and more people in the city in preparation for melon season and the festival. The machine is equipped with a spike in the center that makes a hole in the plastic. Johnson Brothers was established in 1976. Authors Note: Some locations may have altered hours, service or be temporarily closed due to Covid. Many of these families moved to that area from Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, etc., and settled along the creeks and waterways in the more temperate climates away from the mosquitoes and malaria of Eastern Arkansas. People would travel for miles around to attend theses meetings, sometimes called union meetings or tent revivals, where two or more church de-nominations would hold meeting at the same time and place. "Grew better than I've probably ever seen watermelons grow.". Most actually want to know how to select the best and sweetest melon. Be sure to come pause in Hardy while you travel. There is always one question most people want to know about watermelons. For Craft & Commercial Vendor Inquiries email Hana @ For Volunteer Opportunities call Robin @ 870-283-1195 So bring your family and lawn chairs and celebrate the labor and goodness of one of the greatest contributors to the Sharp County economy. Phillip laughed recalling a story his mother told, They got married on March 30 and were in the watermelon fields on April 1. Their parents harvested melons until 1976 when Lester became ill. At the peak of watermelon production during the 1960s, the growers association that was established in 1938 had 127 members with over 1000 acres of melons planted. The Watermelon Parade is at 10 a.m. Live music begins at noon and features Deadwood Grove, followed by The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band. (KAIT) - Even though the Cave City Watermelon Festival was canceled, melon season has been going better than expected. D & S Rodeo If you love rodeo and music, you will want to head to the D & S Arena. You cant go wrong with anything on their menu but be sure to order a Cinnamon Roll Iced Coffee! Our trip starts in Cave City so whether you choose the route to Black Rock or the route to Mammoth Spring, there are a few places you need to check out before you leave town. Gary laughed at his tenacity, admitting sometimes stubborn streaks arent all good. They are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday Saturday and are located just outside Cave City on AR-230. Below is a list of the fun, unique food festivals and eating opportunities taking place in July 2023. Johnson Brothers Watermelons | Cave City AR In 1919, J. M. (Roe) Street became president and served in that capacity until his death in 1942. The cave was both a great asset to the community and a source of mystery. In August of 1958, Burnis Brown was the manager of the Cave City Watermelon Growers' Association, which consisted of 127 members with 1,000 acres planted in watermelons. Meachams Family Restaurant This restaurant has been around for over 40 years. One of the earliest references to a Fourth of July picnic at Cave City was in the Sharp County Recordnewspaper in June of 1899, planning a picnic for that year. (Photo from Old Independence Regional Museum, Batesville). That Spring, Lester taught his sons the ins and outs of watermelon production that he learned from his own father. One bite into one of these sweet, juicy melons makes it worth the trip. Now, in its 43rd year, the watermelon festival is the largest festival in the region and has been voted as one of Arkansas' best festivals. We try really hard to produce a great product. (KAIT) - The town of Cave City and festival goers from all over the country are kicking off the 40th annual Watermelon Festival this week. You want the stem to be green with a white spot on the belly. Gary added, Some of the spots are also yellow to brown depending on the variety of melon., It hasnt always been easy. This is not a rinky-dink operation: More than 500,000 attendees are expected at this years event, enjoying activities such as a cherry pancake breakfast, the crowning of the Cherry Queen, and delicious barbecue and beer. The World's Sweetest Watermelons. With the help of C. P. (Prince) Matlock, efforts were made to develop the grounds and add cabins to what became known as Cave Courts. . Held each year since 1980, Charles and Anita Landers have spearheaded this celebration of the town and its rich history of producing the world's best watermelons. Music starts at 6 p.m. with Erin Walters, followed y MaryBeth Byrd and Danielle Peck. Voters again reject proposed Highland School millage increase, Cave City athlete sets school and state indoor track record, Nashville Songwriter with local roots inks new songwriting contract, Arkansas States new Digital Technology and Design Program offers new emphasis areas, West Plains resident reflects on life-saving heart care received at Ozarks Healthcare. After returning to Cave City from World War II, Lester became a watermelon farmer in 1945. Our goal is to pick them at the perfect stage before they go into the over ripe stage. Kevin Moore Farms, 870-283-2043.Moore's stand is located on the north end of Cave City. Perhaps Oscar Wilde said it best Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The round Genuine Cave City Watermelon sticker, designating the brand is sometimes counterfeited. Every eating event you need to know about, month by month. There is also a thriving art and music scene. In 2017, the Cave City Watermelon Festival was inducted into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame by the Department of Arkansas Heritage. Abra Perkey - 870-307-2666 Rustin Wooldridge - 870-283-9914Stand is located at 1424 Hwy. The Watermelon Growers Games will commence at 3 p.m. with a watermelon . When you direct seed, you very seldom get a perfect stand. There are several outfitters in the area that will provide gear and shuttle service so you can enjoy a fun day in the cool waters of the Spring River. Digital Marketing and Design - The Richland Group. Woodies Main Street Cafe This classic American restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday. The Watermelon Parade is at 10 a.m.Live music begins at noon and features Deadwood Grove, followed by The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band. Many out-lying families moved into town soon after the creation of the new school to better educate their children. While watermelons are still at the center of our celebration, we also celebrate the people and businesses that make the Cave City area one of the greatest places in Arkansas! Last night, I had a Facebook message from a guy driving four hours to get watermelons. Garrett Duncan walking a growers' Cave City Watermelon . On an extremely hot day, one Julie described as the seventh circle of hell, the couple were working in the field after cultivating the rows spaced ten feet apart with a tractor. To contact our registered growers, check: http://www.cavecitywatermelonfestival.com/about_us.php Courtesy www.cavecityarkansas.info: "These days, the reason for Cave City's renowned and its place on the map is due primarily to the annual Watermel See more 5,505 people like this 5,757 people follow this Regardless, its high summer, and Im ready for a sweet treat. Locals and watermelon farmers all agree the festival has seen a lot of changes over the years. Crystal Bridges 2023 Exhibitions Unveiled, Visiting Poinsett, Cross and Mississippi Counties, Things To Do In Independence and Stone Counties, An Afternoon in Cave City - Only In Arkansas, An Afternoon in Cave City Only In Arkansas Only in Arkansas Ferry St. CAVE CITY, AR (KAIT) - It doesn't quite feel like summertime in Sharp County until the Cave City watermelons hit the stands and that happened this past week. From left, Tyler Parsley, Cederic Etheridge, Jonathan Fowler and Julie Johnson, members of the Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee, stand by some of the melons they will be celebrating July 27-29. This is unfair to the growers who, like the Johnsons, put hundreds of hours of work into their harvest, not to mention tens of thousands of dollars they have invested in the crops. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Childrens Hospital. Arkansas Tourism, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, strives to expand the economic impact of travel and tourism in the state and enhance the quality of life for all Arkansans. Head due north out of Cave City for a beautiful trip that will take you through Evening Shade, Ash Flat, Hardy and Mammoth Spring. You have to go back and replant and you get different sizes and the plants are at different phases, Phillip explained. They proudly stand behind every melon they sell. Artisan Grill The Artisan Grill takes the food you love and gives it a flare that makes it more than special. That year, the Johnsons attended field days in watermelon fields in Southeast Missouri from Leechville to Hocum, areas where watermelons also grow well. 2, 2019 at 5:14 PM PDT. Its the perfect spot to embark on a treasure hunt. They were sold to brokers, simply by word of mouth, and transported across the nation. But with every good thing comes some form of negative issue. Many of the families who lived in these smaller communities resided in those areas for years before the town of Cave City was ever imagined. The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. Watermelon is synonymous with Cave City, and while folks in my neck of the woods go bonkers when a pickup truck with a bed-full of [], Your email address will not be published. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Children's Hospital. YP - The Real Yellow PagesSM - helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. She leaned back on her hoe and looked back at me. As far back as 1938 a Melon Growers Association for Sharp and Independence counties was organized at Cave City, with the following officers elected: President, Fred Anderson; Vice-President, Wilburn Jackson; Secretary, Marvin Bull; and Treasurer, Orville Girtman. Most recognize Gary and Phillip as the Watermelon Men, but in reality, Johnsons melon production began long before the two men were even a thought. Watermelons - Schedule your trip for mid-July through August and grab a watermelon or two from one of the registered growers. He first spent a short time working on a construction crew that built the current highway that runs through the city the family has called home since before the early 1920s. Cave City watermelons are arguably the best watermelons in the world. Roadside stands are found throughout the city. & Wendell Perkey Farms 870-283-4395, 870-283-5918.Located 2 miles north of Cave City on Highway 167. After a while when I got done, she grabbed a hold of that hoe and threw it across the field and said, I quit. Weve gathered a list of some great stops along the way, so now its time for you to choose your own adventure. Phillip explained, I am trying to tell Julie how to do it right, how to do it better. When they are picking, the selection goes fast, so we get there early. We love to get the people in here, love to see where everybody comes from for the festival and the watermelons, he said. Cin-sations Flea Market This hidden treasure isnt found on social media, but you will find loads of treasures inside this quaint antique/junk shop! BREAKING: Student arrested for crime involving explosives, Growers prepare for Cave City Watermelon Festival, Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, Jonesboro police investigating 2 reported shootings, Plans for new Sikeston fire station moving forward, Buddhist monks to create mandala sand painting at Lyon College. Pickled foods are, of course, the highlight here, but its comedy-focused too, featuring stand-up shows and touring performers throughout the weekend. Order with an open mind, and you will enjoy an explosion of flavor like youve never had before. If they have banana pudding on the menu, order extra to go! Then, in 1875, the current county line was established, moving the Independence County line to its present location and creating Cave Township. 5 . Many people played a part in creating Arkansas as we know it today. There is no doubt the area has realized the huge growth of the Cave City Watermelon Festival in the last few years. Roadside stands are found throughout the city. . But this is an issue they deal with and overcome by having loyal customers and some of the sweetest melons in the state. Gary recalled one incident where a broker offered his grandfather a few cents less per pound than he desired. 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