About The Sunflower Farm & Festival:

 

THE FARM HISTORY:

Celebrating 75 years in 2012, Sunflower Farm has been home to 5 different generations of the West Family (We grow family as well as we do our sunflowers). In 1936 W.W.West and his wife Pauline Haymore purchased the property and moved their 5 children and their cotton and hog farming operation here. Over the next several years they greatly expanded the farm and added 3 more kids to the growing family. In the 1980’s Granddaddy West grew sunflowers for the first time and supplied Pennington Seed with some of their first sunflower seed for their brand new line of wild bird feed. Bobby West the youngest of the 8 West siblings decided to grow a field of sunflowers again in 2000 to help attract doves to the area for an annual hunt. People started showing up wanting to cut flowers and take their pictures in the sunflower field so Wes Holt and his parents Rena West Holt and George set up a cut-your-own station where people could buy flowers on the honor system. So many people came the first season they decided to have a festival the very next year.

 

THE HISTORY of the FESTIVAL:

The sunflowers were in full bloom on the 4th of July. As the annual antique tractor parade, comprised of neighbors in the community, was going past the field, it was determined that others should be able to experience this spectacular sight - thus the Sunflower Farm Festival was born. Over the last 10 years the festival has grown into a much anticipated community and regional event with over 9,400 in attendance last year. Heritage crafter's and artists set up to demonstrate their hand-made items. Wonderful home-grown music was played, delicious, local, and traditional 4th of July food was served, and kids participated in games and art projects and took a hay ride in a tractor-drawn wagon. Everyone enjoys "cut-your- own" sunflower bouquets to take home with them. The 1811 McCowan-McRee house and the 1891 Sharecropper’s Market are the center of the festival and tours of both houses and their heritage gardens are a must. With artisans and crafter's under the canopy of the oak trees, and the now 15 acres of glorious sunflowers the 2012 11th Annual Sunflower Festival is sure to be the biggest and best ever!

 

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Sunflower Farm Festival
1430 Durden Road
Rutledge, Georgia 30663
706-557-2870