Those attending Saturday's Farm Ya'll Festival were treated to fresh watermelon.

Country will come to town Saturday when the Third Annual Farm Y’all Festival takes over downtown Cullman to celebrate all things agricultural.

Giant pumpkins and watermelons, cooking demonstrations and, of course, fresh locally grown produce will be among the attractions at Depot Park and Festhalle.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., attendees can enjoy a variety of entertainment, from mechanic bull riding, sack races, a petting zoo and horseshoe pitching as well as numerous farm-related and food vendors.

At the Festhalle, the Celebrity Chefs table will feature delicious dishes created with locally sourced ingredients beginning at 10 a.m. This year, demonstrations will include Randall Baldwin with Dyron’s Low Country in Mountain Brook, Rosie Hartley with StoneBridge Farms, Carrie’s Kitchen, Phillip and Nancy Garrison of GoldVine Farms and Matt Heim of AllSteak Restaurant. Arnold Caylor with the North Alabama Horticulture Substation will also be honored for his agricultural work.

Across the street, you can enjoy performances by the Fairview Drama Club Children’s Theater, the 5th Quarter Band and Fairview FFA String Band.

Growers from across the U.S. will see if their behemoth pumpkins and watermelon will tip the scales during the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In and the Giant Watermelon Contest. Fairview’s own Trent Boyd of Harvest Farms broke a state record last year with his 1,052 pound pumpkin.

The event will end with a smash when a pumpkin is dropped from a crane at 3 p.m.

Water Wheels Outdoor Water Conservation Lab will be on hand to demonstrate how to install rain harvesting systems. The 4-H Chick Chain trailer will showcase poultry management skills while the Ag in Action trailer will give attendees a chance to drive a simulated cotton picker and interact with an electronic learning station .

Events sponsors are TriGreen Equipment, American Proteins, Farmer’s Poultry Supply, O.F. Richter & Sons, Tommy Little Animal Clinic, Britt Demolition & Recycling, AK Equipment Rentals and Sales, Valley Heating & Cooling, City of Cullman, Cullman County Industrial Development Authority and Cullman County Commission.

‰ Tiffeny Owens can be reached by email at towens@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 256-734-2131.

Giant pumpkins and watermelons

8-11 a.m.: Registration

11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Judging

12-2 p.m.: Weigh-in

3 p.m.: Great Pumpkin Drop

Celebrity Chefs

10-10:45 a.m.: Randall Baldwin with Dyron’s Low Country

11-11:15 a.m.: Arnold Caylor with North Alabama Horticulture Substation (Recognition and Presentation)

11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.: “Artistic Fruit Carving” with Rosie Hartley of StoneBridge Farms

12:30-1:15 p.m.: Carrie’s Kitchen

1:30- 2:30 p.m.: “Backyard Bees & Honey Treats” with Phillip and Nancy Garrison of GoldVine Farms and Matt Heim of AllSteak Restaurant.

Entertainment Tent

8:30-8:45 a.m.: DJ Music

8:45-9:15 a.m: “Chaos in Wonderland” presented by Fairview Drama Club Children’s Theater

9:30-10:15 a.m.: 5th Quarter Band

10:15-11:00 a.m.: Fairview FFA String Band

11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: “Chaos in Wonderland” – Encore presentation

 

 

For more information, visit www.farmyall.com and on Facebook at Farm Y’all Festival

Location: Corner of Arnold Street and First Avenue N.E.

Time: Farm Y’all Festival begins at 9 a.m. and events run throughout the day

Admission is free.