Many in southwest Georgia and southeast Alabama have come to look forward to the annual Country Goes Huntin’™ event, held at the beginning of turkey season every year. Most of the hunting has been at various locations in southwest Georgia and the benefit concert was held in Dothan, Alabama. That is until now. This year’s theme, “Bringin’ it back to the camp” sums up the sentiment of Country Goes Huntin’™ co-founder Sam Klement, “We want to bring the event home to Early County where it originated and do something this year that is different and more exclusive than in the past.” Michael Waddell, host of the hottest new TV show Bone Collectors™ says, “It’s like having a back stage pass to the coolest hunting camp in the country!” Rhett Akins says, “most of our artists attending grew up in small towns similar to Blakely, all over the south. We are excited about making this year’s CGH our biggest event yet with a small town appeal and big city music guaranteed to have you standing on your feet!”

Country Goes Huntin’™ was born from the minds of co-founders Sam Klement and Rhett Akins 8 years ago by the fire at a hunting camp in Early County. The concept was simple. Invite top hunting pros and country singers to the area to raise money for people less fortunate. Everyone comes at their own expense and no one is paid for their time or efforts. The Pro-staffers take the singers on a multi-day turkey hunt and at the end of the last day the country stars perform a benefit concert.

Plans are currently underway for a private huntin’ camp concert in Early County for 350 guests. Tickets will be $100 each and will include admission to the CGH Camp and an exclusive acoustic concert by at least a dozen Country music stars. As always, expect a few surprise guests to attend. The funds raised from ticket sales, online auctions and from other items sold are divided among all the participating celebrities and given to the charities of their choice. Some of the charitable organizations receiving donations in the past years have been the Wiregrass Children’s Home, Georgia Sheriffs Association, Wheelin’ Sportsman, The Arthritis Foundation, the American Cancer Society, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Enterprise Tornado Victims and G.O.N. Seeds Program, to name a few.

The Blakely-Early County Chamber of Commerce is working with Country Goes Huntin’™ to plan the event. “We’re excited to be bringing Country Goes Huntin’™ to Early County and hope we can make this an annual event. This is a big opportunity for Early County to get national exposure on various Outdoor Network shows such as the Bone Collectors, Realtree Roadtrips, HS Outdoors and at least 6 other top rated TV shows”, stated Blakely-Early County Chamber President, Hilary Halford.

Tickets will go on sale Saturday, March 7th at 10:00 a.m. at the Blakely-Early County Chamber of Commerce office in Blakely, Georgia and can also be ordered by phone at 229-723-3741.

For more information on this years event log onto www.countrygoeshuntin.com. If you would like to get involved contact Hilary Halford at the Blakely-Early County Chamber for more information.