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LANDRUM—On Friday, September 15, the Rotary Club of Tryon hosted its 22nd annual Shrimpfest at the Landrum Farmers Market. The event aimed to raise funds for the Rotary Club Foundation, which provides scholarships and grants to local organizations.

The evening began with drinks and social time, emceed by current Rotary President Dave Scherping, and was followed by a delightful dinner. The menu featured a variety of dishes, including boiled shrimp with all the trimmings, prepared by The Nest Catering & Events and the Rotary Cooking Team of Bill Miller, Ken Shull, Jim Hemphill and Art Brown.

Notable attendees included Rotarian Rick Callebs, CEO of the Greater Spartanburg YMCA, which recently received a generous $150,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Tryon for the Polk County YMCA.

“The Rotary Club of Tryon has been incredibly generous and supportive from the beginning of the project,” Callebs said. “And we are truly appreciative of the generous donation.”

The event saw the participation of the Interact Club, Polk County High School’s Rotary Club chapter, and Polk High’s soccer team members, who actively contributed to serving and cleaning up. Many high schoolers expressed how much they enjoyed being involved in their community, meeting new people and making new friends. 

Aaron Greene, the event’s DJ, and The Hunnilicious Band provided musical entertainment, and Michael Baughman also led an auction for donated items. Various local individuals and organizations sponsored the Shrimpfest, including Ashworth Financial Group, The Hay Rack, Duke Energy, Andy Haynes, Old Mill Market, Edward Jones, and many others, contributing to the event’s success.

The 22nd Annual Shrimpfest exemplified the Rotary Club of Tryon’s dedication to community service and was a testament to the power of collaboration. Former Rotary President Rev. Dr. Allan Purtill expressed his admiration for the event, emphasizing that it brings locals together for a good cause.

“What I love about Shrimpfest is it brings roughly 300 people together from all across the community for the good of the community,” he said.