Signing in for the day's event

Democrats from five counties flocked to the Hand Farm in Montgomery for the annual “Labor Day” barbecue and party rally. The event, which is coordinated by the Montgomery County Democratic Party and held each year on the first Saturday after the national holiday, is designed to celebrate Labor in the form of unions and workers. It jumpstarts the “politicking” that will dominate the ensuing two months before the 2008 Presidential election. Participating counties included Montgomery as the host county, with Cheatham, Robertson, Davidson and Williamson Counties throwing their support to the event.

Kim McMillan, the first woman elected as majority leader of the State House of Representatives, emcee’d the event, which presented an array of guest speakers including Congressman Lincoln Davis of Tennessee’s 4th District, Gray Sasser, Chairman of the state Democratic Party; Tennessee AFL-CIO President Jerry Lee; State AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stuart Acuff; U.S. Senate Candidate Bob Tuke; and U.S. 7th Congressional District Candidate Randy Morris.

Intent on the Message

Opening ceremonies included the Nashville Firefighters Color Guard, the singing of the National Anthem, an Invocation by Jerry Maynard, and the presentation of an award to Lt. Governor John Wilder.

Honorary Celebration Chairs were filled by Congressmen John Tanner, Bart Gordon and Jim Cooper, Senator Jo Ann Graves and Representative Joe Pitts.

The days festivities included the traditional all-you-can-eat chicken barbecue. Candidates and organizations either had booths or were visiting bootha and taking the time to speak with constituents. The first local distribution of Obama yard signs began at this event, with Clarksville For Obama campaigners assembling the signs throughout the day.

This event was first present in 1996 as a Unity Dinner that attracted several hundred attendees. In 1998 it became the Truman Day Celebration, and in 1999, having outgrown its original site of the Jaycee Building, the celebration moved to the Hand Farm.  Six years ago the event evolved yet again to the Middle Tennessee Labor Day Celebration.  It is the only such event in Tennessee celebrating Labor Day, Labor Unions, and the working men and women of Tennessee.

Photos by Bill Larson

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The event, which is held one week after the traditional Labor Day holiday, is designed to honor the American workers and the Labor Unions who work in their best interests, and involves five Middle Tennessee counties.

Come out and support our Democratic Party and candidates and also enjoy the numerous VIP’s and keynote speakers and of course music and the best barbecue around!

More than 2,000 people attended this event last year. Tickets are priced at $20 each and include the speakers program, chicken barbecue, a dart tournament, and activities for children.

Five County Annual Labor Day Celebration is hosted by Cheatham, Davidson, Montgomery, Robertson, and Williamson County Democratic Parties.  For more information, please contact Kimberly Fritts at or call 615-748-9011.

Tickets will be available at the gate on the day of the event or by calling the Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters at (931) 552-5523.

To get to the celebration at the Hand Farm from Clarksville-Montgomery County get on I-24 East and get off at Exit 19.  At Exit 19, turn left and cross over I-24 then take the 1st right turn and follow to the entrance to the Hand Farm.

When Democrats from five Tennessee counties gather at the Charles Hand farm, Ben Johnson is sure to be there with his campaign buttons, lapel pins, and bumper stickers. Johnson, who lives in Lebanon, Tennessee, was quick to point out that he makes his wares “for democrats only,” and will use only Union vendors to print his products.

In fact, the theme of the day was a strong support of Unions throughout the area. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which represents Trane workers locally, was a major sponsor of today’s event.  The strong Union presence was in honor of the Labor Day event.

According to the Department of Labor, Labor Day was first celebrated in New York City on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. By 1894, the US Congress had passed its recognition of Labor Day as a national holiday to be celebrated on the first Monday of September of every year.

The Ballistic Pintos of Old Hickory, TN performs at the Charles Hand Farm. Photo by David W. Shelton

The strong Union presence was matched by a sincere excitement of area Democrats who had a single mission in mind for next November’s election, as voiced by Kim McMillan, senior advisor to Governor Phil Bredesen: “Tennessee is and will be a blue state.” This was a message that was voiced by nearly everyone who spoke at the event.

Speakers were quick to point out that their mission wasn’t to put an end to the Bush regime, but rather send home those who they say “empowered” him. One target is the US Senate seat currently occupied by former governor Lamar Alexander. McMillan introduced Mike McWhorter, the son of another former governor—Ned McWhorter—as a possible candidate. His mission, McMillan said, would be to “send Lamar and that plaid shirt back home.”

McWhorter has not officially announced his candidacy, but said that he was seriously considering the option. He pointed out several issues that he would address, including the war in Iraq, which came up often throughout the night. Republican policies in Iraq, he said, “are wrong.” He also said that the current administration is “mortgaging our country’s future” with an “out-of-control” national debt.

Tennessee’s Democratic party president Gray Sasser addressed a general excitement for the future for the party in the state, and said that the party’s primary goal is “to make darn sure that no red pickup truck will ever get anywhere near the White House next November.” The reference was to the popular “red pickup truck” senatorial campaign led by former Republican US Senator Fred Thompson, who announced his candidacy for the Presidency this week.

Other speakers for the event were 5th District Congressman Jim Cooper, TN AFL/CIO president Jerry Lee, and the keynote address was provided by the R. Thomas Buffenbarger, International President of the IAM union. Buffenbarger has served as president of that union since 1997.

The day wasn’t all speeches and rhetoric, though. Music was provided by the Ballistic Pintos, a country group out of Old Hickory, Tennessee. The group featured drummer Richie Albright who often played with Waylon Jennings, and vocals by Bobby Keel.

State Senator Rosalind Kurita talks with attendees at the Labor Day Celebration. Photo by David W. Shelton

There was a dart competition between unions, for which a trophy was awarded to the United Auto Workers, who apparently “played only slightly less badly that everyone else.”

Attendees had an opportunity to vote for their nominee for the President of the United States of America. In an informal (and unofficial) straw poll, Hillary Clinton was the clear favorite, with John Edwards coming in second.

The day wasn’t without its lighter moments, which featured “the world’s smallest horse,” as described by his owner, local attorney Kevin Kennedy. He said that the miniature dwarf horse, “Twinkie the Wonder Horse,” is only 46 pounds and 16 1/2” tall. The equine miniature was a star attraction, drawing children from all over to pet a horse that was far smaller than they were.

Clarksville electrician Bill Edmonson provided democratic spirit by donning a donkey mask, which he kept on throughout the speeches. Edmonson offered plenty of applause and “thumbs ups” for the speakers.