By James Hearn

Our October 3rd celebration was a milestone four decades in the making, and the energy in the room reflected every bit of that history. Thank you to everyone who spent their Saturday morning with us from 9 to 11 a.m. to celebrate our 40th anniversary. It was a fantastic start to the weekend, filled with laughter, connection, and a healthy dose of friendly competition.

The legendary Loveless Cafe food truck rolled in to start the day off right. Sharing their iconic Southern breakfast staples, complete with their famous biscuits, gave everyone a perfect chance to mingle, catch up with longtime members over coffee, and fuel up for the morning's activities.

Between bites, attendees jumped into our photo booth to strike a pose, donning fun props and snapping keepsake photos to commemorate the big milestone.

A particularly meaningful moment of the morning was the presentation of certificates to our Lifetime Members. Honoring these dedicated individuals gave us all a chance to recognize the deep commitment and leadership that helped shape our organization into what it is today.

Adding to the legacy of the morning, we marked the milestone with a lasting living tribute: the dedication of a new Bladdernut tree for the Arboretum. This beautiful addition symbolizes our deep roots in the community and our commitment to continued growth for decades to come.

Following the dedication and awards, the energy shifted to the undisputed highlight of the event: the "funny money" auction. The bidding wars were fierce, fast-paced, and absolutely hilarious, proving that our group knows exactly how to bring the fun, even before noon. Watching attendees scheme, pool their funny money, and cheer for the winning bids created some of the best memories of the day.

We also featured signups for our special 40th Anniversary Cookbook, a curated look back at the people, challenges, triumphs, and recipes that built this organization over the last four decades. If you didn't get a chance to put your name on the list during the event, you can still sign up to receive your copy here: Order your copy now!

Thank you for 40 incredible years. Here is to the next chapter!