Hobart Ames Foundation

THE AMES PLANTATION LOCATED NEAR GRAND JUNCTION, TENNESSEE IS OPERATED FOR SCIENTIFIC & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES UNDER A COOPERATIVE PROGRAM PLANNED & APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE.

THE PLANTATION ENCOMPASSES 18,653 ACRES THAT INCLUDE ABOUT 14,600 ACS OF FOREST (LOBLOLLY PINE, UPLAND HARDWOODS AND BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS) & ABOUT 2,000 ACS OF COMMODITY-ROW CROPS. THE HERITAGE AND CULTURAL RES OURCES OF THE PLANTATION'S LAND BASE ARE RESEARCHED AND DOCUMENTED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AGRICULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IS SUPERIMPOSED ON NUMEROUS PROGRAMS. THE PLANTATION SERVES AS ONE OF TEN UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AGRESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTERS. STUDENTS FROM UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES INCLUDINGUNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS AND MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY CONDUCT WILDLIFE AND FORESTRY RESEARCH AND ARE OFTEN IN RESIDENCE IN THE TWO SMALL ON-SITE DORMITORIES. SCHOLARS AND PROFESSIONALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD OFTEN VISIT TO SEE RESEARCH AND PARTICIPATE IN TEACHING. HISTORICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE INTERPRETATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF SOUTHWESTERN TENNESSEE,RESTORATION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES AND CEMETERIES, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON LOCAL HISTORY AND PRESERVATION. AMES PLANTATION HERITAGE FESTIVAL IS HELD ANNUALLY IN OCTOBER. IT IS HOSTED IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE. FOLK ARTISTS, DEMONSTRATORS, RE-ENACTORS, AND MUSICIANS PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES. 19TH CENTURY SKILLS AND ACTIVITIES ARE FEATURED IN HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PICKING COTTON AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF BLACKSMITHING, KETTLE LAUNDRY, TRADITIONAL POTTERY, AND GUILTING.AMES PLANTATION HERITAGE VILLAGE IS HOME TO A COLLECTION OF RESTORED STRUCTURES REPRESENTING ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE FROM AROUND 1820 UNTIL THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY. THE VILLAGE INCLUDES A TYPICAL 19TH CENTURY FAROILY FARMSTEAD, THE 1830S STENCIL HOUSE WHICH SERVED AS A ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE IN THE EARLY 1900S, A REPLICA BRICK KILN, AND THE "COTTON INTERPRETATIVE CENTER" HOUSED IN A RESTORED LOG CABIN. THE VILLAGE SERVES AS AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY WHERE VISITORS CAN ACTUALLY VISUALIZE THE LIFESTYLE OF THEIR ANCESTORS AS EXHIBITED THROUGH ITS BUILDINGS AND FURNISHINGS. AS A DESTINATION FOR SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, STUDENTS RECEIVE DETAILS OF LOCAL HISTORY WHILE LEARNING HOW EVERYONE CAN HELP TO PRESERVE OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE. IT'S OPEN FOR VISITS BY APPOINTMENT.THE AMES PLANTATION HAS HAD THE HONOR OF PROVIDING RESEARCH MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS FROM THE RHODES INSTITUTE FOR REGIONAL STUDIES. EACH RESEARCH TOPIC IS RELATED TO EITHER THE SOCIAL OR MATERIAL CULTURAL OF THE REGION DURING THE 19TH CENTURY. IN MOST INSTANCES THE RESEARCH INCLUDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE 19TH CENTURY HISTORY OF THE AMES LAND BASE WHICH HAS ADDED GREATLY TO UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIVES AND TIMES OF AMESIST 19TH CENTURY RESIDENTS.THE NATIONAL FIELD TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR ALL-AGE BIRD DOGS, WHICH BEGAN IN 1896, HAS BEEN HOSTED ANNUALLY ON THE PLANTATION SINCE 1915. RUNNING ON ABOUT 6,000 ACS, THE USUAL ENTRY OF ABOUT 36 ENGLISH POINTERS AND /OR ENGLISH SETTERS THAT ARE WINNERS OR PLACERS IN 70 QUALIFYING TRIALS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND CANADA COMPETE. SEVERAL THOUSAND FIELD TRIAL ENTHUSIASTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ATTEND THE EVENT EACH YEAR.