The Wonders of Benton County, Tennessee

Hot Rods, Classic Cars, Motor Cycles, Chrome and Leather, Antique Tractors, Parades, Music, Dancing, Gospel Jubilee, Dinner on the Ground, Miss Tennessee, Rock Climbing Wall, Smokey the Bear, Hummer Rides, McGruff, Turkey and Duck Callings, Rocky T and the Reading Rangers, Catfish, Kid's with Mom's and Dad' and all the Grandparents combining to make Happy Endings...

What do all these things have in common? The Inaugural Event of the Tennessee River Pearl Festival which brought several thousand visitors from all over Tennessee and every bordering state, including tourists from Kentucky, Virginia, North and South Carolina, California, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, Florida and even as far away as Venezuela and England all to Big Sandy, Birdsong, Camden, Danville, Eva and Holladay for a full weekend of exciting fun, food, fellowship, fishing, music and a lot of action. The event brought three days of land and water based activities for all ages. The Festival offered Benton County at it's finest with a classic car and tractor show, swap meet, kid's fishing tournament, a countywide scavenger hunt and a catfishing tournament all presented by Benton County Tourism and the Tennessee River Resort District.

Saturday, June 14, 2008 brought smiles, mentoring, handshakes and hundreds of kid's to the area with the Kid's Fishing Rodeo held at the waterfront of Birdsong Resort and Marina in Camden as the signature event. "It is all about the kid's getting hooked on fishing, hunting and the great out doors", said Larry Hudson one of the event's volunteers.

As beautiful and enticing as the wonders of Benton County area are, even with the many wonderful things happening in tourism and visitations all supporting the local economy, it is not, however, exempt from a glitch. Nashville country music legend, Tanya Tucker was unable to attend due to a conflict. She was to meet and greet only and not perform. We regret any hardships it has caused. However, Miss Tennessee, Grace Arnold Gore did the Grand Marshal honors at the festival's 100 plus mix of cycles and classic motorized units as the parade thundered to downtown Camden, the county seat of Benton County.

Hot Rods, kids and happy endings..there you have it! Big things can happen in small places. A special thanks to all the sponsors and the volunteers who worked to make the event a success! The groundwork is currently being laid for the 2009 event and the goal of the Tennessee River Pearl Festival Volunteer staff is to produce a bigger and better event to attract more visitors to beautiful Benton County west Tennessee, USA while increasing the local awareness, community pride and media attention.

The Take-A-Kid-Fishing Rodeo was held in conjunction with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation; Take Me Fishing which is sponsored in part by Benton County Tennessee and the Inaugural Tennessee River Pearl Festival, and by the Tennessee River Resort District, Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, Turner Dairies, TN National Guard, Anderson Bait Company, King Kat Bait, Crappie USA, Crappie Kids USA, Cabela's,

Epiphone Guitars, WLJT-DT TV 11, a PBS Affiliate, Bill Dance Outdoors, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Department of Forestry, Governor Phil Bredesen's Drug Prevention Alliance, Miss Tennessee Grace Arnold Gore, Benton County Ministerial

Alliance, Mayor Wiseman and County Commissioners, Morgan Hardy, Funky Banana Shirt Company, Pro Fisherman Steve McAdams, BrewHouse West, Kody's Kountry Store, David Barber, Shooters Sporting Goods, Benton and Carroll County Sheriff's Departments, Camden PD, Benton County Rescue Squad, Chalk Level Volunteer Fire Department, Camden Lions Quarterback Club, Mayor Allen Webb and the Aldermen of the City of Camden, Mike McLemore, three time World Champion Duck Caller and Champion of Champions, Turkey Game Caller, Ricky Doyle of Milan, B.P.O.E. Elk's Lodge # 2156 of Camden and the Elk's Drug Awareness Program, Tennessee Department of Transportation, All-Brite of Jackson, Camden Chronicle, WFWL-WRJB, Magic Valley News, Kentucky Lake Times, Jackson Sun, Paris Post Intelligencer, Garry Mason, Tennessee Magnet, Benton Countian, Keith Weatherly and the Benton County Fair Board, Benton County Electric System, Kerry Farmer and the Benton County Plumbing and Electric, Three Degrees Masonic Motorcycle Club of Dickson, West Tennessee Antique Engine and Tractor Association, West Tennessee Antique Car Club, Mid South Street and Hot Rod Association, Parkway Christian Antique Car Club, Bumpas Harley Davidson of Murfreesboro, Jackson and Memphis, C and S Harley of West Nashville, Loveless Cafe, Sloan's Honda, Boswell's Harley, Graceland Harley Davidson, Southwest Airlines, West Tennessee's Outdoor Rob Somerville, CCSO Dispatcher Jamie Verner along with her Mother and Father Raye and Jim Verner, the hot dog and hamburger cooks.

For a complete photo gallery of the three days worth of festivities; VISIT and CLICK on the PHOTOS GALLERIES at www.TennesseeRiverPearlFestival.com

The 2009 event sponsorship information and to be part of this great partnership in making a difference in the Benton County, contact Bob Keast at (731) 584.8687 bob@TennesseeRiverPearlFestival.com or visit www.TennesseeRiverPearlFestival.com.