Piney Chapel celebrates a way of life Aug. 3-4

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On display at the 20th annual Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days, Aug. 3-4, will be an array of gasoline and steam engines, along with antique tractors, cars, trucks and horse-drawn equipment. The event will offer a chance for the public to see farm equipment in action. Courtesy of Steve Garner
Courtesy of Steve Garner
Courtesy of Steve Garner

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July 28, 2012

Piney Chapel celebrates a way of life Aug. 3-4

By Lora Scripps lora@athensnews-courier.com The News Courier Mon Jul 30, 2012, 04:20 PM CDT

— For Mike Hodges, the 20th annual Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days is about tradition.

As an event organizer, Hodges finds nostalgia in the hum of an antique engine and the excitement of a youngster taking part in his or her first pedal pull. He’s been attending the event since it began.

A Thatch native, Hodges grew up going to tractor shows.

“This is kind of my hobby,” he said. “A lot of people get into antique cars. A lot of people go fishing and things like that. This is my thing.”

Hodges also collects antique flywheel engines, and he and his father James Hodges, who he credits for his passion, have accumulated quite a few through the years.

Heritage Days also gives him a chance to meet a wide variety of people and educate the younger generation about the heritage of farm life.

“When you have little kids come up and ask you ‘What does this do?’ or ‘What’s this for?’ and they show a genuine interest in it, that’s really the drive that keeps you going and doing this,” Hodges said. “You have to educate kids with the agricultural history of Limestone County and North Alabama. It also gives the older generation a chance to reminisce about days gone by. You never know where you are going to go until you know where you have been.”

Like Hodges, members of the Piney Chapel Antique Engine and Tractor Association Inc. are preparing for the event, which begins at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, and 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. Show grounds will be at 20147 Elkton Road in Athens and will offer a chance for the public to see farm equipment in action.

On display will be an array of gasoline and steam engines, along with antique tractors, cars, trucks and horse-drawn equipment. Also in attendance will be parts and flea market vendors.

Weekend events include a Parade of Power, fast-crank competition, slow races, skillet-throw competitions for ladies, pedal pull competitions for kids and a number of other activities. Winners of pedal pull and skillet-throw will receive trophies after the events.

Live entertainment will take place at 6 p.m. Friday night and feature The Piney Creek Boys and Just Down the Road. Grilled ribeye-steak sandwiches will also be available on Friday evening starting 5 p.m. Monroe Broadway of the Cattlemen’s Association will be manning the grill.

A number of other concessions will also be available during the two-day event, including a Heritage Days favorite — pinto beans and cornbread. The Association will also be serving up hamburgers and hot dogs and vendors will have homemade pork skins, funnel cakes, homemade ice cream, shaved ice and more.

When asked what he would tell someone who hasn’t been to a Heritage Days event, Hodges said it’s an event worth attending.

“You have to see it to believe it. It’s a big draw that brings in a lot of people,” he said. “It’s a family-oriented place and we have a whole lot of fun.”

Primitive camping is available for the weekend event. No hook ups.

Admission to The Annual Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days is $5, children 10 and under are admitted free. Parking is free.

Vendors and exhibitors will set up Thursday, Aug. 3. Spaces are first come, first serve.

For more information, contact David Hargrove at 256-431-6226, Allen Dement at 256-431-0619, Marvin Putman at 256-431-2316 or Mike Hodges at 256-206-5926.

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Piney Chapel celebrates a way of life Aug. 3-4

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