Farm & Ranch Tour set for May 20

(Post sponsored by Tinsley Title, Holt Wrecker, R&R lawn specialists, Gibson Pharmacy.)

For 60 years now, the Farm & Ranch Tour has offered a front-row seat to the land and people who keep Henderson County growing.

This year’s tour rolls out Tuesday, May 20, with a morning kickoff at First Methodist Church in Athens. Coffee and donuts start at 8 a.m., provided by Kevin and Jeaneane Lilly’s McDonald’s and First State Bank. Buses leave at 8:30 a.m. for a guided trip through the local agriculture scene.

Stops on the tour include Cavender Ranches, a snack and restroom break at Kingdom Living Cowboy Church, and a final visit to Athens Tree Farm. Along the way, riders will hear from local guides offering historical context and agricultural insight. After the tour, lunch will be served at the church, catered by Danny’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Q, along with a short program.

Tickets are $12 and cover everything — coffee, transportation, snacks, lunch, and the tour itself. Buses are provided by Athens ISD, and spots fill up quickly each year.

The Farm & Ranch Tour is hosted by the Athens Chamber of Commerce, Athens Kiwanis Club, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Co-title sponsors for 2025 are Athens Tractor & Equipment and First State Bank.

Tickets are available in person at the Chamber office, 201 W. Corsicana St., Ste. 1, online at athenstxchamber.org/farm-%26-ranch-tour, or by calling 903-675-5181. Tickets will also be available at the door as long as seats remain.

This is one of those events that reminds us what makes this place special. Good land. Good people. Good stories. All in one ride.