Thanksgiving at the Farm

" "Come one, come all," said Uncle Duffy, the first time he hosted Thanksgiving at his family farm. And everybody came. Fifteen years later, everybody still comes: immediate family and extended family, in-laws and cousins of cousins, our second-grade teachers, even the occasional boyfriend who's here one year and not the next. Every November, our kooky band of almost 60 people bumps down the road to Uncle Duffy's 1890s farmhouse in Nesmith, South Carolina. The familiar drive promises a day full of throwing horseshoes, good-natured teasing from loud uncles, and a potluck dinner that puts you in a food coma.

"Whether we've known you for years or don't even know how you ended up at the farm, on Thanksgiving, you're part of the family." 
-Besty Cribb
 

An 1890s heart-pine farmhouse in Nesmith, South Carolina, is the home of this family's 15-year-old Thanksgiving tradition. 

Apple pie, pecan pie, pumpkin spice cake, and graham bars—there's never a shortage of desserts, if you have room.

These magically disappearing bars will be a new family favorite. 

Recipe: Miss Margaret's Magical Graham Bars

"You might score a seat at an outdoor table or in a rocking chair, but most of us balance our plates on our laps, legs dangling off the porch. And we stay on that porch all afternoon, eating, laughing, and telling stories of pig pickings past."
- Besty Cribb

No day at the farm is really complete without a game or two of horseshoes behind the barbecue shed.

Everyone gets the chance to play bartender at the fully stocked Bloody Mary bar. This crowd likes 'em spicy. 

Choosing the worst dish of the day is really all in good fun. Ballots are top secret—and the voting is rigged.

There's no need to be shy around the barbecue pit! All are encouraged to grab a bite straight off the pig.