It was a perfect summer day at the Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center to celebrate the 2nd Annual ‘Maters and Music.  The valley rang with music from two great local bands, The Shady Grove UMC Bluegrass Band and the Bennie Shook Family Band, while volunteers served juicy tomato sandwiches with iced tea.  There was a lot of toe-tappin’ and lip-smackin’!

A rare bargain for a day of fun in the Mountains! The $4.00 admission price for this day includes tours of all Reece Farm and Heritage Center exhibits and facilities, the opportunity to share one of summer’s best treats – homegrown tomatoes, and enjoy some terrific Bluegrass music from local Blairsville musicians. For more information on the Band, check out their Facebook page at Shady Grove UMC Band.

While you’re visiting, don’t miss the amazing crafts, art, books, and other locally produced items in the gift shop. Take home something special to remember your visit.

On June 13th, lucky visitors to the Byron Herbert Reece Farm & Heritage Center had a chance to sample more than a dozen different cornbread recipes prepared by some great mountain cooks.  The cornbread was accompanied by other favorites – soup beans, green onions, butter, loganberry tea, and buttermilk punch.

Diners were able to eat next to the creek or in the pavilion decorated with spectacular examples of creatively crafted planters for summer, plus plants and garden books available for sale to help create garden masterpieces at home.   Master Gardner, Shirley Cole, demonstrated how to create them using “thrillers, spillers, and fillers.”  Six lucky visitors took home one of Shirley’s beautiful planters as a door prize for the event.

After the garden demonstration and cornbread tasting, Women of Heart provided a beautiful concert of native Cherokee stories and music.  It was a magical day!  Check out the photos below.

Make plans now to visit and share a day with your family and friends at the Reece Farm at one of our special events.