Adult and kids T-shirts for the 2016 Peach Jam are available for purchase at the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Anthony Richards)

This year’s official Peach Jam T-shirts have arrived and are available to be purchased at the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce.

Thorsby High School senior Erica Hilyer came up with the design for this year’s shirts.

“We always want to do anything that we can to put a spotlight on the schools and businesses in the county,” Chamber Executive Assistant Lynsie Glasscock said.

Hilyer’s artwork was selected during a countywide contest that included students from each school in Chilton County.

“I’m grateful to be involved in something that the community cares so much about,” Hilyer said. “It took a while to get everything done, but it was a really cool experience.”

According to Hilyer, Derrick Littleton, a coach and teacher at Thorsby, introduced the idea of entering the contest.

“Without him, I would have never even known,” Hilyer said.

Lynsie Glasscock and Erica Hilyer pose with the 2016 Peach Jam T-shirts. Hilyer (left) created the design that will grace the front of this apparel. (Contributed Photo)

The first step in the design process involved figuring out the size and room to draw that she would be working with.

Step two included plenty of time spent “doodling” with an array of possible creations.

Finally, a design was settled upon that included a guitar-like instrument devised out of a sliced opened peach.

The design reflected Hilyer’s musical background, after spending her junior year as a member of the Thorsby band. She has also played volleyball for the Rebels since she was in the eighth grade.

Hilyer found out about her winning work while scrolling on Facebook and spotting a picture of her design as the profile image on the Peach Jam’s page.

“It was a shock when I first saw it,” Hilyer said. “What a crazy time.”

This year, adult sizes from small to XXXL will be sold for $12, and youth sizes from small to medium will be $10.

The Chamber is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 500 Fifth Avenue North in Clanton.

Shirts will also be sold at Headley’s Big Peach in the near future. For more information call the Chamber at (205) 755-2400.