“Surviving Reelfoot” creates lifelong connections

Thanks to the TVA EnergyRight® program for businesses and industries, communities across our service area are seeing real benefits from energy efficiency upgrades. In partnership with Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, TVA is helping schools, businesses and industries reduce costs and improve facilities without straining their budgets.

Gibson Electric Key Account Representative Cynthia McClure delivered incentive checks totaling $32,000 to the Crockett County School District in Alamo. McClure works closely with TVA to inform Gibson Electric member businesses of the programs, services and funding available to them through EnergyRight® and other TVA initiatives.

Crockett County utilized the EnergyRight® program’s LED incentives to improve lighting in its high school, middle school and three elementary schools to enhance the learning environment and save an estimated $45,000 a year in electricity costs.

“We knew because it was an energy-saving initiative, we would be rewarded with some kind of reimbursement,” said Crockett County Director of Schools Phillip Pratt. “I was expecting a couple of thousand dollars. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised with $32,000.”

While schools and small businesses may find lighting and HVAC projects to be most useful, TVA EnergyRight also offers cash incentives for forklifts, refrigeration, thermal ice storage, variable speed drives and commissioning. All incentives are available through the Preferred Partners Network, a network of TVA-vetted commercial and trade contractors.

For more information or help applying, go to EnergyRight.com/incentives or contact Gibson Electric at 731-562-1611 or cmcclure@gibsonemc.com.

Every October, we celebrate National Cooperative Month—a time to reflect on what makes electric cooperatives unique and worth preserving. This year, we’re adding a little extra flavor to the celebration, because at Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, members are our jam.

Cooperatives put people before profits, serve their communities, and give member-owners the power to make local decisions. And to me, that’s as sweet as it gets.

Just like your favorite jam, Gibson Electric is made of real ingredients: real people, real care, and real principles. Seven principles, to be exact—guiding everything we do and reminding us why the cooperative model is worth preserving.

The seven cooperative principles are our recipe for success, and as you read this month’s edition, you’ll find stories that illustrate many of these values in action.

1. Open and Voluntary Membership

Membership is open to anyone who lives in our service area and accepts the responsibilities of membership—regardless of race, religion, gender, or economic circumstances.

2. Democratic Member Control

You have a voice in your co-op. Gibson Electric member-owners elect a board of trustees to represent their interests and help guide long-term priorities.

3. Members’ Economic Participation

As a not-for-profit organization, we don’t send profits to shareholders. Instead, we reinvest in what matters—stronger infrastructure, new technology, and reliability upgrades—all aimed at improving your service.

4. Autonomy and Independence

We are member-owned and democratically controlled, meaning all decisions are made locally with the needs of our communities at heart.

5. Education, Training and Information

Knowledge is power. Whether it’s energy-saving tips, outage safety or understanding how your co-op works, we’re committed to keeping you informed and empowered.

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

When disaster strikes or help is needed, co-ops come together. It’s how we restore power faster and stand strong through challenges.

7. Concern for Community

From energizing our youth to fostering economic development, we’re here to make our communities better for all of us.

These aren’t just words on paper—they’re the real ingredients that make Gibson Electric a meaningful part of your life and community. From the principles we follow to the people we serve, we’re proud to be your cooperative.

Members are our jam—not just in October, but all year long.

Does your home buzz with activity in the early morning or right after dinner? That’s not just your routine — it’s part of a bigger picture. These are what we call “peak times,” when everyone’s flipping on lights, brewing coffee, cooking meals and unwinding with electronics. And while it might seem like business as usual, this surge in energy use puts a real strain on our power grid.

September marks the final month of our summer period (June-September), when electricity demand is typically highest between 1 and 7 p.m. That’s when air conditioners are running full blast, appliances are in use and families are returning home for the day. As we transition into fall, it’s a great time to be mindful of how and when we use electricity.

Gibson Electric Membership Corporation works around the clock to ensure that electricity flows to your home whenever you need it. Behind the scenes, an enormous and intricate system is at work — one of the most complex machines in the world: the U.S. power grid. The grid is made up of three major interconnections that span the country, each managing supply and demand through regional authorities to keep the lights on and our economy running smoothly.

Electricity comes from a diverse mix of sources — hydropower, natural gas, coal, solar, wind and more. Once energy is generated, it travels through high-voltage transmission lines to local utilities like Gibson Electric, which then deliver it to your home or business through distribution power lines.
When electricity demand surges during peak times, it’s more expensive to generate or purchase power. If supply can’t keep up, the risk of outages increases. That’s why using less energy during peak hours to ease strain on the grid is more important than ever.

So how can you “beat the peak?” Start by adjusting your thermostat a few degrees during peak hours. Smart thermostats can automate this for you. Delay using energy-hungry appliances like ovens, clothes dryers and dishwashers until later in the evening. If you have an electric vehicle, charging it overnight instead of right after you get home can also help.

Looking ahead, our winter period runs from December through March, with peak hours typically between 4 and 10 a.m. While these peak times are based on typical seasonal patterns, weather in the South can be unpredictable. Sudden cold snaps or heat waves can shift demand unexpectedly, so staying flexible and energy-aware is always a good idea.

Small actions taken by many households can lead to big results. When we all work together to reduce energy use during peak times, we protect our power grid, help control cooperative costs and ensure reliable electricity for our communities.

For third- and fourth-generation farmers Ginger Atkins, Jill George and Brooke Coffey, memories flourish where flowers grow —  on the family farm that’s blossomed into a community haven.

Sisters Ginger and Jill grew up on their parents’ farm in Hickman, Kentucky, and continued operations after their father, Doyle Wayne George, passed away in 2009. They’ve continued growing corn and soybeans like their father, but with Jill’s daughter, Brooke, they added you-pick flower rows in 2023. With no idea what to expect, they welcomed 190 visitors on their first day.

“That’s the spark that encouraged us,” Brooke said.

Rooted in family

The new addition deserved a name. First Love Farms, inspired by the “First Love” silverware pattern featuring delicate roses and handed down to each woman in their family for four generations, was born.It’s a heartfelt tribute to Sue Werner, the family matriarch who passed away in 2021.

“Everybody knew Mom,” Jill said. “She worked at the bank, was an avid gardener, loved her yard and always had a smile on her face. She kept a row of zinnias in her (vegetable) garden.”

Now they watch with delight as people from Western Kentucky, West Tennessee and beyond stroll through their rows of zinnias, sunflowers, daisies and more. Jill, who lives on the farm, often sees guests enjoying quiet moments at sunrise, while watching butterflies, hummingbirds and yellow finches dance through the blooms.

Celebrate and create

Patrons begin their visit at a flat-bed trailer, where they choose a jar or small bucket, fill it with water and grab scissors. Then, they wander the rows to cut and create their own bouquets. Payment is simple — cash or Venmo.  

“It’s all on the honor system, and it’s worked really well,” Brooke said.

With photography passes available, families can capture precious memories of engagements, weddings, gender reveals and more. Colorfully painted wooden butterflies dot the landscape, perfect for kids and families to snap photos. Jill’s friendly dog, Mo, is always nearby, happy to entertain visitors in exchange for a few head scratches.

From June to October, the farm transforms with the seasons, starting with daisies in late spring and ending with pumpkins in the fall. The on-site pavilion is available to rent for birthday parties, office retreats or a relaxing day with friends.

An unexpected but joyful benefit of hosting events has been partnering with local talent to offer art, flower arranging and yoga classes.

“It’s fun to see people channel their creative side at First Love,” Brooke said, with Ginger adding that the flowers are “catnip to children” and perfect for passing on their passion for God’s creation.

“Sharing something that we love doing is really rewarding,” Brooke said.

Plan your visit

Whether you’re looking to pick a bouquet, snap a photo or soak in the beauty, First Love Farms welcomes you to make your own memories among the blooms.

First Love Farms is located at 3105 KY-125, Hickman, KY 42050.
Find them on Facebook and Instagram or visit firstlovefarms.com for more information.

On a country road west of Rives on a hot but beautiful morning in mid-June, the occasional passerby craned to see two men in hard hats flying drones in the nearby fields.

The duo – Power Utilization Engineers Grayson Chandler and Phil Taylor – are part of the TVA West Region Comprehensive Services Program (CSP) staff, a technical support initiative that helps local power companies improve safety, efficiency, and reliability.

It’s the second year Gibson Electric Membership Corporation has utilized CSP’s drone services, but the cooperative has a longstanding relationship with CSP. Gibson Electric, like other local power companies, allocates money for CSP that TVA then matches dollar for dollar. In addition to helping ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to members’ homes and businesses, Gibson Electric also uses CSP funds to provide engineering support and assistance with energy efficiency upgrades to the member-owners.

With aerial drones, CSP performs thermal and visual inspection of transmission, distribution, substations and components. Especially in areas that are difficult for bucket trucks to reach, the drones help Gibson Electric identify problems and potential issues so lineworkers can schedule maintenance to avoid outages.

“Safety and reliability are important to any utility provider, and this service touches on both,” Chandler said. “Scheduled maintenance is safer and more efficient than fixing a problem during a power outage.”

Aerial inspections

Before drones, aerial inspections were conducted using helicopters—a method that, while effective, came with its own challenges. Typically, the pilot would take up two Gibson Electric personnel to inspect electric poles for potential problems. They were in the air from four to five hours. Helicopters were an improvement on the small Cessna airplanes previously used.

“Even with the pilot flying as slowly as possible without stalling, those electric poles went by like fence posts,” Gibson Electric Vice President of Engineering and Operations Barry Smith recalled.

Helicopters were far more efficient, with pilots able to easily return to and/or hover over a pole for closer inspection. Restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and new safety regulations, however, cleared the skies for drone services.

Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect President and CEO Dan Rodamaker was an early proponent for TVA wrapping drone services in its Comprehensive Services Program, making Gibson Electric one of the first local power companies to utilize TVA drones.

High-tech reports

Personnel operating the drones must complete training and obtain a license as required by the FAA. Chandler has been licensed for just under a year and Taylor for about three months. Working for Gibson Electric in Obion County in June, they inspected transmission lines, 294 poles and all pole components in two days.

Transmission lines carry high-voltage electricity long distances, serving hundreds up to thousands of Gibson Electric members.

Each drone flight lasts about 30 minutes, but pilots land with at least 25% battery remaining as a safety measure. When the drone reaches its range limit—about half to three-quarters of a mile—they reposition and continue the inspection. Pilots take at least six photos per electric pole to give Gibson Electric multiple angles of their lines and components.

Returning to the office, pilots use software to generate a report of the photo and thermal images taken by their aerial drones. They inspect the images and add notes to identify any issues and assign severity levels. The comprehensive report and all images are sent to Gibson Electric for review.

“Ultimately, this technology helps us serve our member-owners better,” Smith said. “By identifying issues early and preventing outages, we’re not just improving reliability—we’re protecting the comfort, safety and productivity of the people and communities we serve.”

By embracing drone technology, Gibson Electric is taking proactive steps to enhance service and reliability for its members.

You’re invited to our Gibson Electric Membership Corporation appreciation events starting Sept. 30 in Alamo.

Please mark your calendar for 11 a.m.-1 p.m.:

Click for Member Service Center locations. Note: Tiptonville Ellington Assembly Hall is located at 2595 Highway 21E, Tiptonville, TN 38079.

Our annual Member Appreciation Events are part of Gibson Electric’s celebration of National Cooperative Month, a time to reflect on what makes electric cooperatives unique and worth preserving. This year’s celebration comes with a sweet reminder: members are our jam—and we are proud to serve the people who make our communities strong.

These come-and-go celebrations are more than a free lunch—it’s a chance to connect with the people who power your community. Enjoy a pulled pork or pulled chicken sandwich, chips, dessert and a drink (while supplies last), plus enter to win a $100 bill credit (for your Gibson Electric or Gibson Connect account) and a Members Are Our Jam picnic basket featuring a bamboo cutting board, two campfire mugs, a bag of Higher Ground coffee, an assortments of jams and more.

“Just like your favorite jam, Gibson Electric is made of real ingredients: real people, real care and real principles,” said Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect President and CEO Dan Rodamaker. “Our members are the heart of everything we do, and this event is our way of saying thank you.”

Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect team members will be on hand to answer questions and share updates on programs and services designed to serve members better. Members can sign up for Gibson Connect’s high-speed fiber internet.

For questions or special accommodations, please call (731) 562-1615.

Gibson Electric Membership Corporation is celebrating staff excellence while powering continued progress with the addition of three new employees.

New CFO

Gibson Electric Manager of Accounting Julie Grogan has been tapped to succeed Richard BeDen as Chief Financial Officer when he retires in January. Grogan earned a bachelor’s degree from Murray State University and master’s in business administration from Union University. She was licensed as a certified public accountant in 2020.

Grogan began her career as an accountant at Perseus Distribution in Jackson in 2003. She joined Hickman-Fulton Counties RECC as an accountant in 2008, remained an accountant following the merger with Gibson Electric and was promoted to manager of accounting in 2021.

“Julie’s 17 years of experience with our cooperative gives her a clear understanding of what sets us apart,” said Gibson Electric Vice President of Human Resources and Member Services Rita Alexander. “Her leadership will help ensure our financial strategies continue to support the needs of our members and communities.”

Clinton team

Bob Nerren, previously a line crewleader, applied for and was granted a transfer to service crewleader. First Class Lineworker Josh West was promoted to line crewleader. Nerren and West have 14 and 13 years of respective service with Gibson Electric.

“We’re happy to have Bob and Josh move into new leadership roles in Clinton,” said Barry Smith, Gibson Electric vice president of engineering and operations. “Their experience and dedication to serving our members well will continue to benefit our team and the communities we serve.”

Apprentice Lineworkers Aiden Carson and Ethan Weatherford have joined the Clinton member service team. Carson, of Boaz, Kentucky, is a graduate of McCracken County High School who attended Madisonville Community College Lineman Training. Prior to Gibson Electric, Carson worked at Lowe’s.

Weatherford, of Wingo, Ky., is a graduate of Graves County High School who attended North American Lineman Training Center. Before joining Gibson Electric, he worked at D&D Directional Drilling.

“Aiden and Ethan grew up in Western Kentucky, which gives them a strong connection to our members,” Smith said. “They will deliver the kind of personal, reliable service our members deserve.”

Mechanic

Elliott Bauer has joined Gibson Electric as a mechanic in Trenton. He previously worked for Tennessee Tractor for 14 years, honing his skills and earning multiple certifications, including the John Deere TECH certification. He and his family live in Trenton

“Keeping our fleet running smoothly is essential to delivering reliable service to our members,” Smith said. “Elliott’s experience and strong work ethic help ensure our crews have the equipment they need to respond quickly and safely.”

Technical support

Donna Counts has joined Gibson Connect as a part-time technical support representative. She works as the front-desk receptionist at Milan High School and lives with her family in Bradford.

“We pride ourselves on providing excellent service to our Gibson Connect subscribers,” said Gibson Connect Vice President of Operations Charles Phillips. “Donna’s experience working with the public makes her a great fit for this role.”

When Donny Thomas closed the switch to energize the line in a small Guatemalan village, the 20-year lineworker felt the same thrill he remembered from his first job. But this time, the simple act brought light to a community for the very first time.

Donny, a Gibson Electric Membership Corporation line crewleader in Troy, was one of 15 volunteer lineworkers from seven cooperatives across Tennessee to spend 17 days in the remote mountain communities of Corral Viejo and La Paz. Together, they built nearly eight miles of power line across rugged terrain to connect 28 homes, two schools and a small business to electricity. Their work allows children to study after dark, families to refrigerate food and store medicine and entrepreneurs to open or expand their businesses.

“The trip was the highlight of my career,” Donny said. “I don’t think there will ever be anything to top it.”

Choosing to go

The project — dubbed Project Highlight — was part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International Program, an ongoing effort to extend electric service to underserved areas. The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association assembled the first all-Tennessee crew for the mission.

Donny said applying for Project Highlight was an easy decision.  Two years ago, he made a personal commitment to be a better man and a better Christian. When he told his wife, Tara, about the opportunity, she encouraged him to go for it.

“It takes a very strong woman to stand behind a lineman,” Donny said.

Throughout their 25 years of marriage, Tara has shown her strength time and again.

“She’s never wavered,” Donny said. “I know I can leave, and she can handle it.”

Support outside of the home was also vital. Donny said they received an abundance of love from their Bethpage Baptist Church family and his Gibson Electric coworkers, who checked in on the couple regularly while he was away.

Bringing light

Donny, father of two sons, said the Guatemalan people —especially the children—quickly stole the volunteer lineworkers’ hearts. The villagers were so eager to have electricity that they hauled utility poles on their shoulders up the treacherous mountainside. They set their own poles and cut and stripped temporary ones, working together to ensure every home was ready.

“The community was together,” Donny said. “They jumped up to help us. They wanted electricity that badly.”

Children also pitched in, handing tools to the lineworkers and following them from job to job. A young boy even hopped on Donny’s back for a ride up the mountain. And after long days of sometimes grueling labor, the volunteers never missed a chance to play soccer with the kids.

Life-changing trip

For both the villagers and the volunteers, the trip was life changing.

“It wasn’t just about going down there and building power lines,” he said. “It was really our privilege to go, and it was a huge privilege.”

For the villagers, the convenience we often take for granted will make daily life easier – like the kids who returned to their newly energized schoolhouse after dark to read books and the woman who cried and hugged the lineworker who installed the switches and receptacles in her home. Now she can run her blender when she needs it, instead of waiting for a few precious moments of electricity from a small solar panel on her roof. She’s also hoping to buy a refrigerator.

For the volunteers, it was a chance to reconnect to the roots of their profession. With no bucket or derrick trucks to assist, they relied on manual tools, which they had to carry on their backs. They saw how another culture lives—how friendly, content, resourceful, persistent and community-minded the villagers are. Most of all, the volunteers built unbreakable bonds within their team.

“Working with these guys was unbelievable,” Donny said. “It was really special to be the first Tennessee crew to go. We all had a good time, and we made lifelong friends.”

Project Highlight was made possible by NRECA International, a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, whose mission is to increase individual and community access to electricity in all parts of the world. The National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, CoBank, TVA, United Utility Supply, Gresco, Appalachian Electric Cooperative, Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Gibson Electric, Middle Tennessee Electric, Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and Volunteer Energy Cooperative also supported the trip.

Jackie Curlin was building and remodeling houses when a Hickman-Fulton Counties RECC superintendent asked him to consider linework.

A few days later, Curlin called the superintendent with an answer.

“I tried it out and ended up staying 25 years,” Curlin said.

Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, which merged with Hickman-Fulton Counties RECC in 2016, hosted a reception recognizing Curlin’s retirement in June. In addition to the merger and a new member service center built in Clinton, Curlin saw plenty of changes during his time as a lineworker. The basics, however, never changed.

“The technology has been the biggest change I’ve seen,” he said. “But we still climb poles and use a bucket (truck).”

With his experience building houses, Curlin was naturally service-minded. Applying those skills at Gibson Electric was an easy transition.

“I’ve always liked helping people,” he said. “It’s not just a job. If you make people happy, your day is happier.”

Curlin also enjoyed spending time with the Hickman, and later, Clinton crews.

 “We joked around with each other, and that made the day better,” he said. “I’ve worked with some good people. This has been a good place for taking care of my family.”

Curlin said he would miss the camaraderie and talking with people in the community.

“I always enjoy talking to people,” he said. “And most people want to talk.”

Curlin has no concrete plans for retirement, but he has returned to his carpentry roots, working part-time. He and his wife, Vickie, son, Zack, and grandchildren Collier and Sophie enjoy spending time on the lake, and he looks forward to having more time with them.

“I’m just going to piddle around and do whatever I want to do,” he said.

“We thank Jackie for his years of dedicated service and wish him all the best in retirement,” said Gibson Electric Vice President of Engineer­ing and Operations Barry Smith.

For 13 seasons, a small but passionate group of live reality game (LRG) fans have built lifelong connections through “Surviving Reelfoot.”

Based on the popular CBS reality competition “Survivor”, “Surviving Reelfoot” invites players to spend eight days in Hornbeak, Tennessee, to play what the LRG community calls the most authentic experience outside of the television show – with a crew of dedicated volunteers recording and streaming for a worldwide audience.

The 13^th season of “Surviving Reelfoot” wrapped on June 7, 2025, with a record-breaking 1,003,647 views on the game’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube channels.

“I’m very lucky that I have a such a passionate team,” said Amos Smith, “Surviving Reelfoot” creator, a Samburg native who lives in Union City, works full-time as a restaurant server, does some acting in the Knoxville area (he spent six hours on set with Dolly Parton and confirms “she’s just as wonderful in person as you think she is”) and is currently shopping a sitcom that he has written.

Smith launched “Surviving Reelfoot” after his own “Survivor” dream fell short in 2010 when he made it to the final 48 in casting. In 2014, he pulled his first LRG together in his mother-in-law’s backyard, with 11 people competing. “Surviving Reelfoot” now calls the 300-acre Hunter’s Sanctuary in Hornbeak home. It’s hosted players from across the country and beyond, with competitors flying in from Australia, Canada and the UK.

“This is life-changing,” said Pete Morgan of Fulton, Kentucky.

Morgan, a fan of “Survivor”, heard about “Surviving Reelfoot” from a friend who played in the second season. Morgan was selected for Season 4 and enjoyed his experience playing so much that he came back for a second season and partnered with Smith and two other producers to build “Surviving Reelfoot” into a sought-after experience in the LRG community.

“I played and met some of my best friends in the world,” Morgan said.

Smith and his team are committed to giving players the best experience possible. The game starts on a Saturday, and everyone is guaranteed at least two nights in their camp. They size up their competitors and compete in reward challenges until Monday morning, when the first tribal council is held. The game moves quickly from there, with three to four eliminations per day until the jury votes for the winner on Day 8.

When a player is eliminated from the game, they go to the lodge.

“We encourage everyone to stay, but they can go home if they choose,” Smith said. “We tell them just because their game is over doesn’t mean their experience is.”

The experience is so moving that many competitors, like Austin Jackson of Amarillo, Texas, return as volunteers.

“We want ‘Surviving Reelfoot’ to continue to grow and get better,” Jackson, Season 11 winner, said. “We all loved the experience we got, and we want to give that to other people. I’ve met some of my best friends from Reelfoot. It strengthens our bonds to come back and takes our relationships to a new level. We get to know each other even better.”

Planning and producing “Surviving Reelfoot” is year-round. The application window typically opens in August, with producers interviewing three to four applicants every Sunday through December. Once the roster is set, producers spend the next six months preparing the cast for the competition. Season 14 will be played May 30-June 6, 2026.

Learn more on any of the “Surviving Reelfoot” social channels, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

How is “Surviving Reelfoot” like “Survivor”?

“Survivors,” or in this case, “Reelfooters” are split into tribes and assigned a camp. Season 13 featured two tribes of nine players. Each tribe is provided with a cooking pot, machete, rope, small tarp, bag of white rice, toilet paper, bug spray and all the fresh water they need.

Challenges and rewards are like those seen on “Survivor”. There are obstacle courses, endurance trials and lots of puzzles. Reward challenges include flint, luxury items for the camp, food and the top prize, immunity.

The first seven voted out of the game spend the remainder of their days in the lodge. Their cellphones are returned to them when they are eliminated. Subsequent eliminated players comprise the jury. They are sequestered without their cellphones in the lodge. They observe the challenges and tribal councils.

This season, players whittled down to the final two competitors, and the jury voted for the winner, Rob Sullivan, a massage therapist from New York City, who won $1500.

Bonus Content

“Surviving Reelfoot” creator Amos Smith and co-producer Pete Morgan invited Gibson Electric to their Day 7 shooting of the show in June. While watching the remaining six contestants compete in an immunity challenge featuring a word puzzle, we asked jury members and castaways when they first noticed cognitive decline. They agreed that the combination of little to no food, physical fatigue and the mental exhaustion of constantly thinking about the game set in on the third day of competition.

“It gets overwhelming,” said Joshua “Trav” Travatello.

We also visited with the season’s youngest and oldest competitors – Colby Dixon, 20, and Debra Mitchell, 61. They played on the same tribe and were voted out before making the jury. This season included Outcast Battle Back, but Dixon and Mitchell missed their chance to return to the game.

Dixon lives in Maryland and has competed in “Survivor” LA” and Rock Creek. “Surviving Reelfoot” was his first multi-day game experience.

“My dream is to make it on ‘Survivor,’” he said. “This game is closest to the real ‘Survivor,’ and I wanted that experience.”

Dixon said he came to “Surviving Reelfoot” with high expectations for himself. Despite leaving the game early, he is grateful to have spent time with the producers and crew.

“I’m part of this community now,” he said. “The whole world was unlocked for me.”

Mitchell lives in Georgia. She was a huge “Survivor” fan but didn’t know LRGs existed until COVID-19 hit. Mitchell, a teacher, joined a Zoom “Survivor” game called “Zoomvivor.”

“It was the highlight of my time during COVID,” she said. “I just loved it so much.”

“Zoomvivor” led her to “SINsation” in Virginia where she connected with a “Surviving Reelfoot” participant.

“There’s a whole world of LRGs out there,” Mitchell said.