Shelbyville, TN - Due to anticipated yet unpredictable weather this weekend, both the Shady Brady Ride and Nearest Green's First Responder Appreciation Day have been postponed. More details, including the new date, will be announced once confirmed. 

The Tennessee Firemen’s Association (TFA) recently partnered with Nearest Green Distillery in Bedford County to host the 10th Annual Shady Brady Memorial Bike/Jeep Ride. This event benefits the Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial (TFFM) in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. While the ride was scheduled for this weekend, it will now take place at a later date, still culminating in a visit to Nearest Green Distillery, which will continue to support their inaugural First Responder Celebration Day. The new date for the event is still to be determined.

Again,  Due to the anticipated, yet unpredictable weather this weekend, both the Shady Brady ride and Nearest Green’s First Responder Appreciation Day have been postponed. More details and the new date will be announced when confirmed.

PREVIOUS RELEASE - The Tennessee Firemen’s Association (TFA) recently teamed up with Nearest Green Distillery for a special ending to its 10th Annual Shady Brady Memorial Bike/Jeep Ride benefiting the Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial (TFFM) located in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. The ride will culminate in a post-memorial visit to Nearest Green Distillery, where the distillery is hosting its inaugural First Responder Celebration Day.

The ride begins at 730 a.m. from three separate locations—Sparta Fire Department (715 N Spring Street, Sparta, Tennessee), Benton County Rescue Squad (295 Factory Street, Camden, Tennessee), and First Tennessee Pavilion Parking (1826 Reggie White Boulevard, Chattanooga, Tennessee) and combines down at the Tennessee Fire and Codes Enforcement Academy located at 2161 Unionville Deason Road in Bell Buckle.

Participation in the ride is $25 per bike or vehicle. 

Following the gathering at the memorial, bikers and riders can make their way over to Nearest Green Distillery to enjoy a Shady Brady or Critical Assistance specialty cocktail (for riders/attendees 21 and up) as well as The 911 Spicy SmashBurger at Humble Baron which hosts the world’s longest bar! Barrel House BBQ will also be offering The Siren Special which includes mouthwatering rib tips and two sides. Barrel House BBQ lunches can be pre-ordered by event riders for a discounted price of $15.

Humble Baron and Barrel House BBQ will also be offering 25% off to all active and retired First Responders on any additional options for THIS DAY ONLY!

NGD tours and tastings will be available FIRST COME FIRST SERVE TILL BOOKED. Anyone who donates to TFFM will be entered to win one of several amazing prizes with 100% of the proceeds going to the memorial.

As part of First Responders Celebration Day, families can enjoy photo ops with emergency response vehicles, fun music, face painting, Build-Your-Own Stuffed Animal with Wonder Works and life-sized outdoor games all on the Nearest Green Distillery Lawn!

The distillery also crafted a 10th Anniversary Shady Brady commemorative bottle of 1856 Uncle Nearest Whiskey for $60+tax which includes the event name engraved on the front, a special TN Fireman’s Assoc. side sticker, as well as the beloved 10th Annual Shady Brady Medallion! Pre-orders will be fulfilled the day of the ride. Contact tennesseefiremensassociation@gmail.com to request a bottle. Payments will be made directly to Nearest Green Distillery.

“We hope this year is the ride’s most successful year yet,” said TFA President Jason Driver. “It’s always a good time, and it’s for a very good cause. We are excited to be teaming up with NGD this year and join them for their inaugural celebration for first responders.”

“We are absolutely thrilled and honored to team up with the TFA and The Shady Brady Memorial Ride for its 10th Anniversary!” said Hannah Marie, Marketing, Events, Community Partnerships Manager at NGD. “When we were in the middle of planning our First Responder Celebration Day on-site at the distillery, I received an email about a contribution to this cause and immediately wondered how we could bring even more awareness to the memorial–to Brady’s legacy. The answer was simple… we were able to change our originally-planned date to coincide with the Shady Brady ride! We do not take this lightly and thank everyone who has put their trust in us to help be another exciting part of this wonderful cause.  We hope to grow this event even more next year!

About the Shady Brady Ride: The ride was originally created by the late Barry Brady who has become a legendary name in the Tennessee fire service. Brady’s unfortunate battle with colon cancer sparked a movement to pass The Barry Brady Act (2019) which allowed firefighters to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if they were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colon cancer, skin cancer or multiple myeloma—leukemia and testicular cancer were later added to the coverage list.

Brady, TFA President 2018, served on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial. He always advocated for unique ways to raise money for the memorial for its upkeep and maintenance, as well as for families that were affected by firefighter deaths in the state of Tennessee. Since its inception, the ride has raised nearly $38,000 for the memorial.

Dawn Morrison Brady, Barry’s widow said, “It warms my heart that we continue to have such a big draw to this event each year. Barry would be so proud that this event has continued to be a success and provides significant income to the memorial.”