Family Fun Weekend to benefit Halfway Home

The Benefit Family Fun Weekend for the Halfway Home of Shelbyville will be held Saturday at Clearview Farm, 2291 U.S. 231 South, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The event will feature live bluegrass and country music, barbecue, crafts, fishing, pony rides, and a silent auction.

"The halfway home is for men who have just recently gotten out of prison. We have four really good men. I love what I do," said Pastor Jay Pope, executive director of the Halfway Home.

"We have three homes on Carter Street. We are currently only using one, but the other two should be ready soon," Pope said.

Money raised will go to upkeep of the houses, the purchase of a van and payroll for the small staff, according to Pope.

"We have other fundraisers which include golf tournaments and chicken and dumplings lunches, but this is our very first family fun weekend," Pope said.

Sam Powell, author and clinician, will hold a horse training clinic at the benefit. "Powell's the best in the world when it comes to horse training. He's the granddaddy of them all. He is one of my best friends and has taught me a lot," Pope said.

Special donations for the silent auction include cowboy hats from George Strait and an autographed guitar from Tracy Lawrence. There will also be at least one horse for auction and a saddle.

"We are still getting donations for the auction and we need a lot more," Pope said.

Music will include a "George Strait Tribute" by Duane Drake and his Strait Country Band, T.J. Klay and T and T.

Marie Lloyd, owner of Clearview Farm, "has generously given us her facilities for the whole day. She will be furnishing the pony rides also," Pope said.

"There is going to be great food all day. Bryant Dunn will be cooking the barbecue.

"We are shooting for 200-500 people. School starts back the next week so it will be a good day for families to come out and enjoy family fun. It's also a community thing, we have to make a difference in these men's lives -- one man at a time," said Pope.

Tickets for the Family Fun Weekend are available from Pope at (931) 212-7815.