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photo by Justin Averette
This year's winning basket at the Peach Auction was grown by Mark Knight of M&M Farms. It was bought by the Chilton County Farmers Federation for $1,850.
Size a big factor in prize-winning peaches
Published Saturday, June 27, 2009
Size does matter when you're trying to grow a blue ribbon basket of peaches, says Mark Knight of M&M Farms, the grower of Saturday's first place basket at the annual Peach Auction.
Knight's basket of the Bounty variety sold to the Chilton County Farmers Federation for $1,850.
"Most people want size. It doesn't matter what it tastes like," says Knight, whose basket has placed first for two consecutive years.
Photo by Scott Mims
The basket from Mark Knight and M&M Farms took first place at the annual Peach Auction.
But don't be fooled into thinking that those top-dollar baskets are easy to come by. The work never stops, even on auction day, as Knight's wife, Melissa, went to market Saturday so he could attend the auction.
After the auction, Knight was kind enough to share a few tips on what it takes to grow the perfect Chilton County peach:
"First of all, the peach variety has got to be one that will come off during the Peach Festival," Knight explains.
The Bounty peaches, for example, were not the ones Knight had originally intended to enter, but they were harvested early due to the heat. At first, he had planned to enter the Paul Friday Lucky 13 variety -- but those came off the tree early as well.
Another "secret" is drip irrigation, which is a big benefit in dry weather.
"Other than that, just pray a lot," Knight says.
Then, after the peaches are harvested, the growers pick the best of the bunch to go in the basket. Aside from size, other important factors are color, basket arrangement and the absence of blemishes.
Perhaps the results of Saturday's auction would have been different, Knight supposed, if more growers had participated.
"I want more of our farmers to be involved. I'd like more of them to get recognition," he said.
Jimmy Parnell made the winning bid on behalf of the Chilton County Farmers Federation.
"We're just proud to support the peach farmers of Chilton County," Parnell said.
Rounding out the top five baskets were:
• Second place: Knight Farms, bought by SunSouth John Deere for $1,700
• Third place: Jerry Harrison, bought by Sponsors for Tim James for Governor for $1,700
• Fourth place: Jimmy Harrison & Sons, bought by Peoples Southern Bank for $1,000
• Fifth place: Jimmy Durbin, bought by Congressman Spencer Bachus for $800
The remainder of winning baskets, in order of bidding, is as follows:
6. Ken Patterson Farms, bought by The Clanton Advertiser for $550
7. Billy Patterson, bought by Sen. Richard Shelby and Anna Shelby for $550
8. Billy Patterson, bought by Chilton County Home Builders Association for $500
9. Henry and Suzanne Williams, bought by Stone & Sons Electric for $500
10. Henry and Suzanne Williams, bought by Congressman Spencer Bachus for $400
11. Henry and Suzanne Williams, bought by Rep. Cam Ward for $300
12. Henry and Suzanne Williams, bought by Martin Funeral Home for $300
13. Bentley Farms, bought by Norman Grace for the Commissioner of Agriculture for $300
14. Kenneth and Kenyon Easterling, bought by Chilton County Sheriff Kevin Davis for $400
15. Kenneth and Kenyon Easterling, bought by Wadsworth Oil for $350
16. Josh Smitherman, bought by Chilton County Commissioner Allen Caton for $300
17. Josh Smitherman, bought by Peoples Southern Bank for $300
18. Sunshine Farms, bought by Rep. Jimmy Martin for $300
19. M&M Farms, bought by Peoples Southern Bank for $350
20. Jimmy Harrison & Sons, bought by Sen. Hank Erwin for $250
21. Chilton Research and Extension Center, bought by Clanton Tractor for $350
22. Chilton Research and Extension Center, bought by Ben Atkinson Motors of Tallassee for $250
23. Chilton Research and Extension Center, bought by Bradley Byrne for $200
24. Chilton Research and Extension Center, bought by Pet Haven Veterinary Services for $200
25. Jerry Harrison, bought by SunSouth John Deere for $250
26. Marvin and Peggy Green, bought by District Judge Rhonda Hardesty and Ray Hardesty for $300
27. Marvin and Peggy Green, bought by Rex Cleckler in memory of his father, Wayne Cleckler, for $250
28. Culp Farms, bought by Clanton Tractor for $300
Approximately $15,000 was raised during the auction Saturday. The money will go toward the Clanton Lions Club for various charities throughout the year, such as Alabama Lions Sight Conservation Association. There is typically a strong focus on charities that benefit children.
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Comments
Posted by bama6983 (anonymous) on June 27, 2009 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to Uncle Mark and Aunt Lisa, Love ya
Posted by kwsrgraves (anonymous) on June 27, 2009 at 11:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
$1850.00 for a basket of peaches. Guess the recession is really over.
Posted by dmbaldwin (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Are you kidding? I've seen them go for more than $1850 before. You must know the Peach week is a big time in Clanton. I guess it's the only time that the people really get together and have a good time as a community. Congratulations to all the farmers, everywhere.
Posted by kwsrgraves (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That was 20 years ago when Buddy Clark was alive and his first two trucking companies were on the UPHILL climb. But, $15,000 for 30 baskets of peaches to be donated to various philanthropies is cool.
Posted by chiltoncopeach (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Graves, did you miss the "fact" that this money was raised to go towards charity that benefit children. I think you need to grow up...Your remarks should not be aloud here if you cannot act like an Alabamian. Arrogant remarks does not make people compelled to hear what you have to say.
Posted by November162000 (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
chiltoncopeach: Getting a bit testy aren't you? Did you bite down on a peach pit or something? I didn't read anything in what Steve wrote that indicated that he had any sort of problem with the auction, charities, peaches or farmers. A lot of people read these posts just to see what he's going to write next, others come here just to see who gets hot under the collar over what he wrote. Some others just come here just to complain about other people's opinions.
Posted by kwsrgraves (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Nov, but Chiltoncopeach is showing it's complete ignorance by that comment it made. If it is so stupid it didn't understand my very last sentence, then STUPID is the only word to describe that sour peach. And you were right I posted absolutley NOTHING negative. Just stating the obvious, if the CCFF has $1850.00 to donate to a local philanthropy, they are in fairly good financial shape. Nothing negative in that. dmbaldwin was the one pointing out this is a poorly donated amount, not me.
Posted by JanineS22 (Jan Smith) on June 28, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've seen the first place basket go for as much as $7,000 in an election year.
Posted by PhilBurnette (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am beginning to think someone started an anti-Graves club...I agree with Nov, some just look for a chance to attack you. Good thing you aren't thin-skinned brother.
Posted by kwsrgraves (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Like I implied, this ChiltoncoPEACH probably needs to get a dictionary and look up the word, "philanthropy". As you can tell by he/she or "it's" posting, it's a sour tainted peach.
Posted by Rickey (anonymous) on June 29, 2009 at 12:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kwsgraves is entitled to his opinion. He is also entitled to express that opinion. And for Chiltoncopeach to suggest that graves' opinion should not be listed here simply because it is different from his own, is un-American. In America, unlike many nations worldwide, we allow opposing opinions. We re-dub you, not as chilton co peach ... but as chilton co sour grapes!
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Knight and thank you for all the hard work you do in support of a good cause! You guys work all year 'round and have certainly invested more
than $1,850 in your business over a year's time. It absolutely amazes me that while this is a once a year event ... people want to complain about the price of a basket of peaches. Let'em know how much money you spent the other 11 months toward your business and they might just figure out that $1,850 is a mere drop in the bucket. I guess you can't please everybody, so keep doing what you do best Mr. and Mrs. Knight ... raising the very best peaches!
Posted by snowlady (anonymous) on June 29, 2009 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If everybody would stop complaining and go back in history and look this peach festival has brought this much for peachs and sometimes more. The peach festival is a way to being attention to the peach farmers and the coounty and to make money for charities that's all. people need to grow up.
Posted by shak2467 (anonymous) on June 29, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems Snowlady has effectively COOLED the chatter here!!
Some, it seems, just HAVE to comment on here about everything! Guess some just don't have a social life or even a life for that matter. I come here from time to time just to read into their poor pitiful and lonesome lives!!!
Posted by kittycreek (anonymous) on June 29, 2009 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seemingly, anyone who comes here just to read into our poor pitiful and lonesome lives, are the ones who need to get a life. Hee, hee, hee! ☺
Posted by JanineS22 (Jan Smith) on June 29, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What do you mean Shak?? This is our social life! Our small group of cool, happening people hang out here daily. You should go away, and then we wouldn't bother you so.
Posted by kwsrgraves (anonymous) on June 29, 2009 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cool? Who you callin' cool? It's 115° in this 12ft duct bank runnin' 6" conduit! Aint nuthin' cool bout it! Cept the paycheck!
Posted by dee (anonymous) on June 30, 2009 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you to all those who support the Peach Farmers! And a special thanks to the Farmers' Federation for their support of many groups in Chilton County!
Too bad so many people on this site use their time to snipe at each other instead of supporting each other like the great people who participate in uplifting activities like the Peach Festival!
Posted by kwsrgraves (anonymous) on June 30, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dee, is that your way of saying you're not sniping, just griping about those who do snipe? But you are not REALLY pointing a finger, because you are above that behavior, you were 100% positive in your intentions, I am sure, but your actions just made you a part of "those people".
Posted by blackwater (anonymous) on June 30, 2009 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you peach farmers for all you do. If it wasn't for the peach farmers, this town would never come together and be communal about anything. I wish there were more events like the peach festival. It could give people around here something to do besides cook crystal meth.
Posted by ATC1962 (anonymous) on June 30, 2009 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Peach festival week is always enjoyed. Congrats to all of the farmers who placed. And Thank You to all of the farmers who took the time and effort to donate a half bushel of peaches for a good cause. Peach Festival week can be enjoyed by everyone. This yearly event draws many positives to a rural farming county in this state. Surely no one could possibly find fault in the positives surrounding the festival. And another Thank You to the civic groups which help promote and put on this event. From other pictures posted here in the paper, it is obvious more than 7000 people enjoyed the concerts and time in town. Five of the above farming families live in the same community. Way to go Fairview.
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