BETH RINER                                                                                                                                               Contributor

Slick back those mullets, practice spitting watermelon seeds, and work on your turkey calling skills – it’s time to show them off at Beersheba Springs Market Music Fest June 27.

It’s all part of the festivities celebrating the market’s newly finished stage out back of the iconic mom-and-pop general store that’s been a fixture in the community for decades.

“I’m excited for everyone to come together, have fun, and bond as a community,” said Audra Miller, who runs the market with her husband, Billy Ray.

Events get underway at 4 p.m. with registration for the contests which include best mullet, watermelon spitting, tobacco spitting, yodeling, turkey calling, hoot owl calling, and hog calling. Judging is at 5 p.m.

“We’re gonna give trophies, but the bragging rights are what you want,” Audra laughed.

Folks are invited to come early and eat. The market’s known for its hand tossed pizza, burgers, fresh subs, hot fudge cakes, and banana splits.

Music begins at 6 p.m. Locals should bring their guitars, fiddles, banjos, harmonicas, spoons, and cowbells to join in on the country fun. Miller also suggests bringing chairs.

“It’s a share-the-stage,” Audra said. “I am going to have a microphone and karaoke available.”

Located right alongside State Route 56, the market was rebuilt in 1953 after the original store burned in 1947.  After multiple owners, Bud Whitman took over in 1976 and ran it for 47 years before deciding to retire – only no one wanted to buy it.

John Adams and his father, Howell Adams, a longtime Grundy County benefactor, led the fight to save the market. The younger Adams put together a group of investors to buy the market and fund much-needed renovations while keeping its country-store character intact.

They found newlyweds Audra and Billy Ray Miller to run the place. Both Millers had fond memories of the store from growing up in the area.

“Everybody in this town and people not even from this town—let’s call them the out-of-towners or the summer people—all have memories of being a child in this store. The common denominator is this store,” Billy Ray said.

When the Millers agreed to run the store in 2023, Audra made her new husband promise they would quit if it ever stopped being fun for them.

“We’re still having fun,” she said. “It’s demanding, but I am proud we were able to save this little market, and that it’s still a very important part of this community.”

The market is open seven days a week. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call 931-692-3314.