GRADY COUNTY, Ga. (WTXL) - Whigham, Georgia home to fewer than 500 people according to the last census. But every year on the last weekend in January, around 10,000 flock here for the Rattlesnake Roundup.
Dillon, a Whigham Boy Scout said he's been coming to this event all his life.
"They take the rattlesnake and milk it for the venom to send it to the hospitals so they can make anti-venom. And also they teach people about snakes and there just a bunch of fun stuff," said Dillon.
That's how this unique tradition started 59 years ago. Now it's grown into this family-oriented fair. From vendors to bounce houses and reptiles.
"I've never seen one up close like that that didn't have tape over its mouth and looked like it was gonna bite me. It was just calm. He was just laying there and someone was holding him and I just pet him. I've never pet an alligator before so that was really cool," said Brooke Hilgartner.
People even have the chance to climb inside this navy Huey that was used in the Vietnam war. A VFW member brings this rare and amazing piece of history to events to raise money for the organization and the junior ROTC.
And for a town this size, the money coming in benefits the community all year 'round.
"It's just a really good family environment. We get to be friends with the parents and the scouts, and it's all tied up with the Rattlesnake Roundup and the Whigham Community Club, and it's just good people," said Melanie Belk.
After 59 years, the Rattlesnake Roundup is still going strong and helping to strengthen this community.
