Ketner’s Mill welcomed many to Whitwell over weekend

WHITWELL, Tenn. (WDEF) — Ketner’s Mill is a southern tradition for many in the Sequatchie Valley.

The festival was founded in 1977 and has been packed with guests and vendors for almost 50 years.

Vendor of The Fun Co. and longtime attendee, Brian Greer said,  “Well between me and my dad, we’ve probably been coming up here 35 probably plus years. I don’t know. But somewhere in that ballpark. It’s one of our oldest shows that we’ve done. And we love it.”

Everything from crafts to even local honey was featured this weekend.

Local beekeepers, Keith and Susan Bodet, have attended the event for years, but enjoyed this festival for the first time as vendors.

“Every product we make is made from something rendered from our hives. We use our rendered beeswax for lotion bars, chap sticks, we make sugar scrubs with our honey, we also make a bug bite stick for our children who get stung,” Susan Bodet said.

With over 60 hives, the couple sold everything from raw honey to their signature barbecue sauce.

They admired the event organizers and community for their support.

“The owners who own it have done a wonderful job, and they’re nonprofit. This is for our community. This is a way to come out and support our community. And let’s keep this mill going. Let’s keep it open for the public,” Bodet said.

The fall festival has become a nostalgic and family-oriented event over the years.

Vendor of Two Crazy Crafters, Tammy Langley said, “We’ve met people who travel in from different states, as well as people who are here in the community. Lots of stories about people who make this an annual event for their families. Us as well, we this as a family, so I have my sisters, my husband, my son and myself. So it’s kind of like a family reunion for us as well.”

Ketners Mill also had live bluegrass music and virtually any food under the sun.

Many enjoyed the atmosphere and festivities over the weekend as the historical tradition continued on in Whitwell.