ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) – What started as competition between local farms turned into a unique Easter tradition. The first Peters Hollow Egg Fight took place in 1823, as farmers competed to see whose chickens laid the hardest eggs.

This year marked the 200th fight, having paused in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fight is held on Norman Peters’ property, who has served as the host. This year, the fight was led by his son, Jamie Peters. For him, there’s rarely been an Easter that didn’t include an Egg fight.

“I’m 56 years old and I’ve always been at an egg fight,” Peters said. “After church on Sundays, we would have an egg fight. And I grew up just over here, and my grandfather and grandmother lived here. And so as long as I’ve been alive, it’s always been held on this property.”

For many, the egg fight was a time for reunions.

“I mean, it was a time when all the families would come home for Easter,” Peters said. “They’ve moved off and come back.”

“Getting to see people talking, laughing, and just having a good time,” Mike Cole said. Cole, who is 72 years old, has participated in the fight for most of his life.

Peters said not everyone who attends is a yearly participant.

“There’s people that you just expect to see at the egg fight,” He said. “I may see them a couple times a year, but I know I’ll see them at the Egg fight. And then every year there’s four or five people [who] shows up and just heard about it.”

The event is usually divided into four age groups: 0-3 years, 4-6 years, 7-12 years, and adults. Toddlers typically receive a dozen eggs, while the two younger age groups each get two dozen. Adults usually get six dozen. However, this year the number of eggs was reduced due to rising costs—just one dozen for the youngest participants and three dozen for the adults.

But the participants stepped up for those who may not have been able to afford the extra dozen.

“I even brought and several families brought some extra eggs in case people showed up that didn’t have eggs,” Peters said.

While trophies were given out to the winners, those attending said it’s about more than winning.

“I mean, win or lose, you’re all winners here,” Cole said. “Our whole community is a winner.”

“This is something I would do as long as I can,” Owen Kamp said. “Like, I’m going to do it when I’m an adult.”

As the years go on, and the tradition is passed down, Peters said one thing will never change.

“Even though I don’t live in Peters Hollow, we will still have the Peters Hollow Egg Fight somewhere in Peters Hollow,” he said.

This year’s winners included:

• 0-3 years old
  • First Place: Levi Arnold
  • Runner up: Garrett Arnold
• 4-6 years old
  • No participants
• 7-12 years old
  • First Place: Owen Kamp
  • Runner Up: Madalyn Peters
• Adults
  • First Place: Matthew Baird
  • Runner Up: Laura Baird