After year of upheaval, Martin community members launch Grassroots Soybean Festival

MARTIN, Tenn. — Dozens of children jumped in joy Tuesday night as fire trucks, scouting troops and floats from local businesses rolled down the streets of Martin, flinging candy toward families gathered on the downtown sidewalks.

The parade marked the start of a week-long Soybean Festival that’s been a tradition in Martin since 1994. This year, it’s also a form of victory march for community members who logged thousands of volunteer hours over the last three months to keep that tradition alive, creating a grassroots version of the festival from scratch. 

The Tennessee Soybean Festival Committee announced the official festival’s cancellation in May, citing the city’s recent financial challenges. It was a painful blow to a community already stinging from the indictment of former Mayor Randal Brundige, Economic and Community Development Director Bradley Thompson and Brundige’s daughter, Natalie — all charged in November with official misconduct and the combined theft of more than $450,000 in public funds since 2015.

Their court cases are ongoing, and in the meantime, the city is under orders from the state’s comptroller to build up its anemic cash reserves and pay down its debts. In June, the Martin Mayor and Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the addition of a city manager, an appointed position that will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations and additional oversight.

John Sellers, owner of Martin’s Coffee and Bakery, said the festival’s cancellation caused him a level of frustration he’d never felt before. He believed that the celebration could go on, though on a smaller, more locally focused scale, without the ticketed big-name musical acts and carnival rides that joined the festival in recent years.

Within hours, Sellers and other community members mobilized, sketching out their own plans for Martin’s Grassroots Soybean Festival. 

When they were unable to get the Tennessee Soybean Festival Committee’s help with administrative logistics, they formed their own entity, created a board, and secured permits and insurance. Mayor David Belote — the city’s former vice mayor who was scrutinized but ultimately appointed to the role after Brundige’s resignation  — helped outline what Sellers and others would need to bring the event to life.

The group raised $115,000 through sponsorships and partnerships with businesses, including $25,000 from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and $30,000 from Martin’s tourism fund, which is fed by a specially designated hotel tax. Simmons Bank chipped in to sponsor the parade.

About 90 days later, Sellers sat in a folding chair in front of his storefront wearing a “Martin’s Grassroots Soybean Festival” T-shirt, watching nearly 50 groups march in the parade. Participants included campaigns for mayoral candidates David Bell and Kent Kelso, who are vying for votes in November.

Rick Hughey and his wife, Jessica, set up to watch the parade from the sidewalk in front of Martin’s Coffee and Bakery about an hour before it began. They both graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and Rick Hughey lived in the town of 11,000 his whole life before moving to nearby Southport. He said the turmoil of the last year did bruise public trust, but “it’s on its way back.”

Steven Tucker moved to Martin from Wisconsin in 2021 to join family members there, and has attended the festival every year since.

“We really like the people, and there’s a feeling of camaraderie with everyone,” Tucker said. While it may be scaled back this year, Tucker pointed out that people were still lined up on the sidewalks to watch the parade.

Angela Anderson was one of those people, there to watch two of her grandchildren participate with their karate and dance groups. 

Debbie Carden, a resident of nearby Gleason, watched as her 3-year-old grandson Brynson Massey jumped up and down as tractors and other heavy equipment rolled past. 

“He loves all things farm-related,” she said.

“They’ve done a really good job,” Carden said. “The community pulled together to put together a really nice week for everyone. Everybody’s happy that people stepped up.”

On Thursday, 20 faith institutions will participate in the festival’s Faith and Family night, which will feature a free petting zoo and inflatable jump park for children. The first 1,000 attendees will receive a free meal thanks to partnerships with Tosh Farms, Martin Stockyards and Walmart. Vendors, food trucks, and performances from local musicians will stretch through Saturday night.

Any profits left over after the festival concludes will be donated to the local fire department to help fill a funding gap for needed breathing apparatus upgrades, Sellers said.

“It’s really showing what we can do when everyone comes together and does their part,” he said. 

One of Sellers’ favorite folktales is “Stone Soup,” a tale about hungry travelers who bring a village together by convincing them to contribute ingredients to a soup made from water and stones.

“It really reflects that here, because everybody bringing what they have makes something greater … it has been amazing to witness it,” Sellers said.