CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — The Chattahoochee Mountain Fair marked its 50th anniversary this year with more than carnival rides, livestock shows, and art exhibits. On Thursday night, the fair paused to honor the people and institutions that have sustained it, presenting awards that underscored both tradition and community impact.
A night half a century in the making
Joel Williams of WCON 99.3 hosted the ceremony, his familiar radio voice guiding a crowd of fairgoers, exhibitors, and volunteers through a program that celebrated five decades of continuity.
The Friend of the Fair Award went to Gail Kinsey, recognized for her years of organizing the fair’s art show. Kinsey said she was in her garden when she learned she had been chosen, a moment she described as humbling. Standing for a photograph beside her granddaughter, Phoebe, she represented the way the fair has long tied families together across generations.
Other awards honored contributions that stretched across industries and eras. DJ Fine Foods, a vendor with 23 years of service, received the Vendor Award. The Agriculture Heritage Award went to Gilbert Barrett and Family, whose work reflects the fair’s roots in farming and animal husbandry. WCON received the Community Impact Award for its role in connecting and informing residents.
Leadership and legacy
Leadership and legacy were also in focus. Marcia Scroggs and Brenda Kinsey both received Distinguished Fair Leadership awards. The Legacy Award went to Helen Barrett, honored not only for her leadership but for her vision. Most notably, she has attended the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair every single year since its founding.
Behind the scenes, the fair remains steered by a dedicated board: President Lowell Tench, Vice President Kimberly Foster, General Manager Shelley Tullis, Secretary Pamela Caldwell, and board members Matt Hayes, Hazel Cording, Christy Welborn, and Teresa Mans.
A rural tradition
Founded in 1975, the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair was created to showcase agricultural life in North Georgia and provide a gathering place for a growing community. Today, it remains a blend of spectacle and substance: midway rides and music paired with livestock competitions, art exhibitions, and displays of canning, quilting, and crafts.
Why does it matter? For locals, the fair is one of the county’s strongest institutions — a week that bridges generations and offers newcomers a place to connect. Children who once entered coloring contests now return with their own children, while vendors, volunteers, and farmers create a sense of continuity year after year.
As the ceremony closed, applause rose not just for the award recipients but for the institution itself.
