By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–The Strike King Bassmater College Series will be returning to Paris Landing and Kentucky Lake after an absence of two years. Henry County also will be hosting a nationally-known three-day faith-based conference. The Cody Nance PBR will be returning to Paris in April and the Mule Barn Steak Cook-Off will be returning in June.
At a busy meeting Monday morning, the Henry County Tourism Authority approved applications for upcoming events, while rejecting one request.
Tara Wilson, Assistant Director of the Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee, said she reached out to Bassmasters officials with the prospect of returning to Kentucky Lake. She said, “In the past, we’ve partnered with Bassmaters for their high school tournament but we lost the tournament in 2020 because of the negative publicity around the Asian Carp.”
With Bassmasters having a new Director now, Wilson said she made contact with them again, explaining that Kentucky Lake was on the rebound and that Paris Landing has a new Lodge which is increasing tourism. After exploring the idea, Bassmasters got back with her and said they were open to coming back, Wilson said.
The tournament will be a two-day tournament for college anglers, with a maximum of 250 college teams/boats. It will be held the first week of April in 2024.
Their request of $30,000 from the Tourism Authority “is the same as we paid Cabela’s tournament,” she said. The economic impact from the tournament will mean a return of $431,000 to Henry County. “Bassmasters is the gold standard,” she said. “This is a great rebound for us.”
A new event for Henry County will be the Alex McFarland Conference called “Truth for a New Generation”. The three-day event will be from April 19-23 this year and it is being brought to Henry County in conjunction with the Tennessee Valley Community Church.
Wilson said Alex McFarland is a nationally-known speaer and the conference will bring some 200 people, most from out-of-state, due to the special guest speakers, radio show hosts and personalities.
The application noted that Henry County and Paris will be receiving national exposure through adio show hosts mentioning the event and national TV exposure.
The request for $5,000 to help promote the event was approved by the Authority.
The Cody Nance PBR will be returning to Paris, set for July 7 and 8 at the Henry County Fairgrounds. This will be the third time for the event, which is a popular event which has attracted hundreds to the county.
The two-day event will include mini bull-riding, mutton bustin’ and bull fighting. A free Family Day will be held at the Fairgrounds Saturday and there will be after-parties each night at local restaurants.
County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway noted, “We’ve always supported this the last two years. It’s a great event for Henry County.”
Nance Productions requested $15,000, but after discussion, the Authority agreed to $10,000. Ridgeway and Wilson noted that the Tourism Authority typically pays less each year for recurring events. On a motion from County Commissioner Ricky Wade, the Authority approved the reduced payment of $10,000.
The Mule Barn Steak Cook-Off was approved for June 9-11 at the Mule Barn at 600 Scarbrough Lane in Buchanan.
Teams are competing for points which will allow them to cook in the World Championship. The Mule Barn Cook-Off is a qualifier for the World Championship. Free to the public, but teams pay an entry fee.
Some 38 to 42 teams are expected.
Wilson noted this is the third year for the Cook-Off and that Ken Scarbrough requests less each year “which is what we ask everyone to do. This is a growing event. And I should note that each year, he comes in under what he asks for.”
The request for $1,800 was approved.
In other business, a request for $10,000 for the Ultimate Bullfight at the Henry County Fairgrounds in August was rejected unanimously. The event is sponsored by Nance Productions.
During discussion, Wilson noted the Authority usually does not sponsor one-day events. Commissioner Dell Carter said, “We don’t get the same return that we do for events where people stay over in Henry County and revenue is what this is all about.”
Commissioner Ricky Wade made the motion to not fund the Ultimate Bullfight event.
–Wilson said the new website is now live at hctourismauthority.org. The website was designed by Susan Jones PR with a video prepared by Crove Media. The website allows applications to be made online, as well as providing information on Henry County tourism and local attractions.
Photo: Members of the Tourism Authority review applications at Monday’s meeting. Shannon McFarlin photo.