By: Stephanie Reynolds
And just like that, both the heat and the busiest month for tourism all year were done. Urgency dropped by degrees like mercury in a cold front. Sweaters and boots (or at least long sleeves and loafers) replaced tank tops and flip flops. No fewer than 14 separate events from the Cemetery Stroll to the Visitor Center Retreat (which was a “tourism speed dating” work event) in Mobile dotted my calendar.
Most significantly, the end of October on the calendar marks the end of the year-and-a-half planning, discussing, and hosting the Rural Tourism Conference.
“What’s the Rural Tourism Conference?” I’m so glad you asked! Cast your mind…
A year ago last May (or was it June? No wait, it was before that).
Anyway, sometime in 2024, we had the opportunity to compete against other Alabama tourism departments to see who would hold the 2025 Rural Tourism Conference.
You see, rural tourism offices are often hampered by a lack of attractions, time, and funding. An area might feel they don’t have much to offer because they don’t have the beach or an amusement park.
The Rural Tourism Conference aims to change that perspective. Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee take turns hosting the conference. Attendees are treated as honored guests who get to sample the best food and experiences that the hosting town has to offer. Additionally, they get awesome presentations of how to encourage tourism in their area. It’s an opportunity for the host city to love on their tourism brethren, feed them well and entertain them, teach and encourage them, and then to send them home, hopefully full of ideas and energy.
We crafted our bid early in 2024, highlighting the amazingness that IS Athens-Limestone County. We were one of three finalists who got to present in person to the RTC Board in Tuscaloosa, and we won the bid! WOOHOO!
But then the work really started. For over a year Pammie, Debra, Nikki, Ana, Anna Grace, Telisheon, and myself coordinated everything from the theme (“Rooted in Rural”) to the receptions, the A/V to the swag bags. We didn’t have to do it alone though. Our fellow Athens-Limestone neighbors are amazing, and we had Athens Main Street, KALB, the Mayor’s Office, the County Commission, the Chamber, the Ardmore Welcome Center, LCEDA, the Launch Box, Athens State University, AMLA, Athens Athletics, Athens Florist, TVA, the Lofton, and more offer time and resources to make this the best conference ever. In fact, even organizations outside of Limestone County quickly volunteered to help!
For a year, meetings and drafts, communications and missteps, emails and paper and phone calls and printing and counting and designing and organizing and purchasing and reserving and pacing and placing consumed our days.
And suddenly it was time. The Square, Farmer’s Market, the Alabama Veterans Museum, and Launch Box were all decorated perfectly. Suzanne’s, Ro’s, Donut NV, Isom’s, the Lofton, Scooters, and Happi Pappi filled our guests to the brim with delicious food. We had tours all over the county from Marbut Bend (thank you, Mr. Simbeck!) to 1818 Farms. Tere Richardson spoke passionately about art and reviving a town. Nix Side Hustle was an amazing music duo, and I can’t wait to hear them again. The mayor and the rest of the “Athens Hee Haw Gang” gave an adorable skit. Bil Lepp, a master storyteller whom you might have seen at the Storytelling Festival, delighted the guests with his tale of why you don’t sneak into the baptismal pool as a Methodist, how to cheat VBS competitions with coins, and what bats have to do with all of it.
We danced to the Limestoners and found that “Worth the Wait” was just that. State Representative Andy Whitt gave a candid and well-received talk about how tourism is a vital foundational pillar of economic development. We “shopped local” and rode in a horse drawn carriage (thank you, Stan!).
I must give a special shout out to Sandy and the Alabama Veterans Museum. That’s where we held the conference, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. She was always there for us, offering everything from dozens of tables and hundreds of chairs to a stapler. I loved being in the middle of all the bustle and looking up to see her right there, calm and ready to help with whatever we needed. What a treasure she and her crew are!
And a huge thank you to our sponsors: Visit Morristown Tennessee; the UA Center for Economic Development and Research; Sweet Home Alabama; North Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association; Experience Maury, TN; Alabama Black Belt Adventures; and the TN Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention.
(I’ll be honest, I’m afraid to stop typing thank-yous — I’m afraid I’m going to miss someone!)
What was my favorite moment? I honestly can’t answer that. I loved listening to the Limestoners play Hank Williams Jr. one minute and The Cure the next. I loved the enthusiasm of everyone who helped us put this on. I loved the colors of the logo. I loved the desserts. I loved meeting people and how they seemed to be enjoying themselves.
I loved working with everyone! I got to see how much “heart and brain power” we have here in the area and how generous everyone is. I loved the whole thing. I’m sad it’s over and would love to do it again…
But maybe later.
By: Stephanie Reyolds, Athens-Limestone Tourism Association
