story and photos by MICHAEL PROCHASKA

A lingering funnel cake fragrance jumbled with homemade jams and hot pork skins permeated the streets of Bostwick Saturday.
Hundreds of families from all over the state came to celebrate the city’s annual Cotton Gin Festival. The festival kicked off Saturday with the Gin Run 5K on Church Street and then at 11 a.m. an immeasurable line of tractors took off in a parade down Bostwick Road. Among dozens of vendors, war re-enactors and arts and crafts, the day was filled with lively bluegrass and songs of the South.
“It’s an appreciation for days gone by - our history,” said Kim Davis Jackson, a resident of Athens. “Both my parents picked cotton. They have told me the stories of how difficult that was and I think people like to reminisce.”
While some people came for the tractors, others traveled just for the cotton. James Wright, a Georgia Studies teacher at Fulton Science Academy in Alpharetta, carried around clumps of Bostwick cotton stored in his hat. Wright wanted to gather enough cotton to show to his students on Monday. “It’s always better to have something demonstrated than watch a video,” he said.
Proceeds from the festival went to the continuing restoration of the Susie Agnes hotel, which now serves as City hall for the town.

Printed in the November 10, 2011 edition