Only in Florida can you toss mullet, dance with pirates, watch swamp buggies race, or feast on swamp cabbage—all part of the flavorful and festive traditions found across the state.
Of all the festivals I’ve been to over the years, the Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival is the only one I’ve been to where the stars of the show are slimy, wriggling, and completely unaware they’re part of the entertainment. Before I made my way to Sopchoppy, which also happens to be the Worm Gruntin’ Capital of the World, I didn’t have the faintest idea what worm grunting was all about. I mean, how exciting could coaxing worms out of the ground really be? But curiosity got the better of me—and I couldn’t resist digging in.
What is Worm Grunting?
Worm grunting is simply a method used to lure the worms out of their burrows using a wooden stob and a roopin’ iron. By driving the stob into the ground, then rubbing the roopin’ iron over the top, the result is a grunting sound that causes the stob to vibrate. This vibration is sent into the ground and is said to mimic the movement of a mole – one of the worm’s enemies – and cause the worms to surface.
Interestingly enough, in 1881, in his book “The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms,” Charles Darwin theorized this phenomenon: “It is often said that if the ground is beaten or otherwise made to tremble, worms will believe that they are being pursued by a mole and leave their burrow.” His theory was proven correct 127 years later (2008) when Vanderbilt biologist Ken Catania traveled to the Apalachicola National Forest and tested the hypothesis.
Why Sopchoppy? Why did this small Florida town become ground zero for worm grunting in the United States?
Back before plastic lures were used for fishing, worm grunting was THE way to get live worms for bait – especially in the Apalachicola National Forest and surrounding areas due to the flatwoods and good topsoil. The worms aren’t just your run of the mill worms. These earthworms are a native species for the forest.
Sopchoppy resident Lossie Mae Rosier (1927-2011) is given credit for starting the practice of worm grunting in the area. Beginning in 1950 she began harvesting the worms and used the money she made selling them as fishing bait to raise her 11 children. (Rosier went on to be crowned the Queen of the Worm Gruntin’ Festival in 2003.)
Worm Gruntin’ Festival queen Lossie Mae Rosier with others in Sopchoppy. 2004. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.
Others began to follow suit and the harvesting reached its peak in the 1960s when hundreds of worm grunters traipsed through the Apalachicola National Forest gathering millions of worms. The popularity was so intense the Forest Service stepped in and started issuing permits out of the concern for these native worms. Gary Revell, who calls himself the “Worm Man,” is a legend in these parts and has been worm grunting for about 70 years, learning from his father. He says at one time there were 700 permits, but now he is one of the last ones to hold a permit.
Gary and Audrey Revell | Floridiana Magazine | Doris Keeler
Gary and his wife Audrey are still worm grunting, but on a much smaller scale. And they are annual fixtures at the Worm Gruntin’ Festival.
History of Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival
Now in its 25th year, the Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival started as a way to celebrate this tradition. Held on the second Saturday in April, the festival draws thousands of people to the Sopchoppy Depot Park. The day starts with a fun run and culminates with the Worm Grunters Ball. In between there are vendors and food trucks, live music, and the crowning of the Worm Gruntin’ Festival Queen. But probably the highlight of the day is the worm grunting contest for kids 12 and under.
Field of worm grunters. | Floridiana Magazine | Doris Keeler
Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin” Festival | Floridiana Magazine | Doris Keeler
Concentration is key to worm grunting | Floridiana Magazine | Doris Keeler
You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen these kids – armed with stakes and metal rods – get down to business in a field next to the depot. The field, once a parking lot, is seeded with worms in advance to give these youngsters a chance at a successful haul. And just like they are trying to coax the worms out of the ground, their moms and dads, grandparents, and other family members are there coaxing them on, offering advice, and helping to watch for the little wrigglers to emerge.
A helping hand | Floridiana Magazine | Doris Keeler
As the contest wears on, the plastic cups fill up. Some of the young grunters give up their tools to their parents. Others stick with it until the end.
Wiggly worms – the stars of the show | Floridiana Magazine | Doris Keeler
To Gary Revell, seeing the children participating creates hope that one of these kids will be inspired and take to the woods and continue the tradition.
What else is there to do in and around Sopchoppy?
Whether you are in Sopchoppy for the festival or just looking for something to do, there are a few places you don’t want to miss while you’re there.
The Sopchoppy Train Depot Museum: The museum sits in the center of town and serves as a small museum celebrating the town’s early railroad days. Once a vital stop along the Carrabelle, Tallahassee and Georgia Railroad, the depot offers a glimpse into the town’s history and features local artifacts, photographs, and stories of the region’s development. Even the train that ran through Sopchoppy played a part in the worm grunting history, picking up worms that had been harvested and distributing them to fishing stores throughout Georgia. And yes, there’s a wall devoted to the history of worm grunting in the area.
Sopchoppy Depot Museum | Floridiana Magazine | Doris Keeler
A Stroll through Town: A walk through Sopchoppy takes the history out of the museum and onto the streets. From the old Martha Syfrett Revell Rooming House to the historic brick buildings (circa 1900s) turned into coffee and pastry shops, Sopchoppy remains a living testament to old Florida.
Downtown Sopchoppy | Floridiana Magazine | Doris Keeler
Rooming House | Floridiana Magazine | Doris Keeler
Other Points of Interest: In addition to the local culture, visitors to the area can spend time at the Ochlockonee River State Park, the Myron B. Hodge City Park, the Sopchoppy Opry, and George Griffin Pottery. Within a short drive of Sopchoppy is the Wakulla Springs State Park, the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, and other small towns like Carrabelle.
Turns out, worm grunting is one of those wonderfully weird Florida traditions that you have to see—and hear—to believe. Between the small-town charm, the lively crowd, and the unmistakable sound of a roopin’ iron at work, the Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival is yet another reason to love Florida’s quirky festival scene.
Enjoy some of my photos in the slideshow below.
