Ag News
Georgia National Fair celebrates, youth, ag, century farms, rural medicine
Posted on Oct 22, 2026 at 16:27 PM
By Jay Stone and Jennifer Whittaker
The 37th Annual Georgia National Fair kicked off Oct. 8 with the opening ceremony in Reaves Arena. The ceremony featured members of the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Livestock Ambassador Team, with remarks from Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority Chairman Foster Rhodes, Georgia Livestock Legacy Secretary Caroline Lewallen and Gov. Brian Kemp. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper cut the ribbon to declare this year’s fair open.
Georgia Livestock Legacy Board (GLLB) Secretary Caroline Lewallen shared the new organization’s goal of investing in youth livestock exhibitors at the Georgia National Fair through scholarship and promotion to strengthen their personal and professional development.
“Past and current exhibitors from across the state have put their dreams on paper, and they've shared what this industry has taught them, what they hope to accomplish and the difference they want to make. And now we get to help those dreams go further,” Lewallen said. “Your livestock career is bigger than the showroom. What you learn here matters and what you do with it matters even more.”
She said that next year, the organization will begin awarding the species champions with scholarships and awards at the Georgia National Fair. Beginning Fall 2028, the GLLB will begin awarding scholarships and premiums to the top five champions in each species category. Visit www.galivestocklegacy.com to learn more about the 501c3.
Agriculture Commissioner Harper, Gov. Kemp, and First Lady Marty Kemp presented each species grand champion from the Georgia Junior National livestock shows over the past year with a framed certificate commemorating their accomplishment.
Kemp stressed the important life lessons about hard work and perseverance Georgia youth learn through showing livestock, noting that his daughters showed livestock.
“They learned a lot being here, and we saw both as Georgians, but also proud parents, how important the National Fair is in passing that value of hard work onto the next generation, which a lot of these young people have already talked about,” Kemp said. “It also gives our visitors of all ages a healthy appreciation for the industry that puts food on all of our tables and provides the fibers of the clothes on our back.”
Kemp hinted that the fair has a unifying effect on all those involved.
“Nothing does a better job of bringing people together, bringing together the past, present and future of the Peach State like the fair. As people walk through the exhibits and learn about our agriculture industry, it has always driven success in our state. They're inspiring the next generation of leaders in this sector, but also many others.”
Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority Chairman Foster Rhodes welcomed visitors to the fair and lauded the efforts of the Livestock Ambassador team.
“They go across the state to different conventions and functions,” Rhodes said. “They represent the Ag Center, but the main thing is they represent young people in agriculture that are so important today.”
Rhodes said the livestock shows at the 2026 Georgia National Fair featured more than 5,300 entries.
Immersive pecan exhibit joins peanut, forestry & cotton exhibits at fair
Since 2023, Georgia’s Rural Center has rolled out a new immersive, educational exhibit showcasing a different Georgia commodity in the Georgia Grown Building. This year, the center teamed up with the Georgia Pecan Growers Association to unveil “Crack into Georgia Pecans.”
The new exhibit introduced fairgoers to the nutritional benefits of Georgia’s official state nut that is certified by the American Heart Association to be a valuable part of a heart-healthy diet. Visitors had the chance to crack pecans, explore different varieties of pecan trees grown in Georgia, follow the journey of a pecan tree from planting to production, and get an up-close look at the specialized equipment that keeps Georgia’s orchards growing, including the chance to feel the shake of a pecan harvester firsthand.
Guests also learned about the year-round work that goes into producing one of Georgia’s most iconic crops, its impact on the state’s agricultural sector, and plenty of delicious ways to eat pecans other than in a pie.
In a nod to the ongoing debate surrounding the correct way to pronounce the savory nut, fair attendees had the chance to pull a lever to vote for their preferred pronunciation - PUH-kahn or pea-can.
Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Robert Dickey, House Ag Committee members Reps. Jaclyn Ford and Angie O’Steen, Georgia Pecan Growers Association directors and Georgia National Fair Authority Board members were among the state officials who participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 8 for the new pecan exhibit.
The Powerful Peanut Experience, introduced in 2025 with help from the Georgia Peanut Commission, was on display to bring Georgia’s official state crop to life. Visitors were able to step beneath towering 3D peanut plants and follow the peanut’s journey from the field to the many food products made with peanuts. The exhibit highlighted how peanuts grow, the crop’s history and sustainability story, different varieties and the legume’s role in a healthy diet. Guests were also able to climb up and into an iconic peanut wagon.
The Georgia Forests Experience, first introduced at the fair in 2024 with the help of the Georgia Forestry Association and Georgia Forestry Commission, taught visitors about Georgia’s forestry sector. Guests were able to explore how forests are planted, grown and protected, while discovering forestry’s impact on conservation, Georgia’s economy and everyday products.
The Georgia Cotton Experience, first unveiled at the fair in 2023 with help from the Georgia Cotton Commission, celebrated cotton’s enduring role in Georgia agriculture and American manufacturing. Visitors were able to see live cotton plants in the bloom stage and learned how cotton is grown and harvested before following it through the manufacturing process. Exhibit partners Magnolia Loom (Rally Apparel) and Southern Drawl Cotton offered live demonstrations, including the sewing of t-shirts and hand towels. The exhibit showcased the connection between Georgia farms, the products we use every day, and American-made goods.
Georgia recognizes 13 farms as Centennial Farms during ceremony
Georgia Farm Bureau congratulates the recipients of the 2026 Georgia Centennial Farm Award presented Oct. 14 during a reception at the Georgia National Fair. The Centennial Family Farm Award recognizes farms owned by members of the same family for at least 100 years.
Recipients of the 2026 Centennial Family Farm Award are: Bass Farms, Worth Co.; Bates-Cosper Family Farm, Haralson Co.; Brooks Hill Farm, Habersham Co.; Chaney Farm, Coffee Co.; DC Cattle Company, Floyd Co.; EstherJohn Farm, Houston Co.; Glosson Farm, Bacon Co.; Hill Family Farm, Hart Co.; John Washington Croft Farm, Brooks Co.; London Farms, White Co.; Middlebrooks Family Farm, Houston Co.; Snider Farm, Schley Co.; W.W. Evans Farm, Screven Co.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins attended the ceremony making the occasion a memorable one for members of the 13 farms receiving the award.
“What a beautiful day [to be] in Georgia. I want to thank you all so much for allowing me to participate. This year, we are, as you all know, celebrating 250 years of freedom since a daring and defiant ragtag band of patriots, many of them farmers, first declared and then won our independence. A band of patriots that included farmers who, trusting in providence, put everything on the line - their time, their treasure, their lives- in order to overcome impossible odds and to defeat the mightiest empire the world had ever seen in England,” said Rollins. “What better way to celebrate this glorious heritage than by honoring the families, the farms, and the enduring legacy of American agriculture that makes our freedom still possible.”
The program is coordinated by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs with support from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Farm Bureau, UGA Extension, Georgia EMC and the Georgia National Fairgrounds. GFB was instrumental in starting the program in 1993.
“One hundred years. Think about that for a second. That's a lot of years plowing the soil, raising livestock, working the land, surviving good and bad times. That’s all part of agriculture, and your families have lived through these in preserving your family farms over a century,” said Georgia Farm Bureau Chief Administrative Officer Jeffrey Harvey. “At Farm Bureau, we understand the importance of preserving the family farm. Considering the challenging times that we're in, Georgia Farm Bureau has focused on our ‘Strong Farms, Strong Georgia’ campaign this year. We developed this initiative because when our farms are strong, our local communities are strong, and when that happens, the entire state succeeds.”
As part of the SFSG campaign, GFB took Georgia farmers and ranchers to Washington, D.C., to share the economic crisis they are experiencing on their farms with members of Georgia’s Congressional delegation. GFB also conducted a statewide survey of Georgia farmers to gather data that is being presented to state and federal legislators and officials. To learn more visit www.gfb.ag/strongfarms .
Two other award categories are offered. The Centennial Heritage Farm Award honors farms listed on the National Register of Historic Places and owned by members of the same family for at least 100 years. The Centennial Farm Award recognizes farms that are at least 100 years old and listed on the National Register of Historic Places; continual ownership by the same family is not required.
Interested in applying for 2027? Visit https://gfb.ag/centuryfarmsapply for more information.
Harper designates Mercer School of Medicine the Official Georgia Grown Medical School
On Oct. 16 at the fair, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper signed a proclamation recognizing Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) as the official Georgia Grown Medical School, underscoring its commitment to education, healthcare and service.
“Georgia Grown is about investing in the people and communities that keep our state strong. By recognizing Mercer University School of Medicine as the official Georgia Grown Medical School, we are highlighting the vital role rural physicians play in supporting the health and well-being of Georgia’s farmers, families and agricultural communities,” Harper said. “Healthy rural communities are essential to a strong agricultural industry and a prosperous Georgia, and this partnership reinforces our commitment to ensuring rural Georgia has the resources and medical professionals it needs to thrive.”
Through its efforts to develop Georgia’s future physicians and address the healthcare needs of rural communities, Mercer’s mission aligns with Georgia Grown’s commitment to supporting a strong, healthy and prosperous state.
Education: Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) accepts only Georgia residents into its medical degree program and prioritizes students from rural communities, investing in future physicians who understand the needs of Georgians. Nearly half of its medical students come from rural Georgia, and 70% come from outside metro Atlanta. MUSM is the only medical school in Georgia that exclusively admits Georgia residents to its M.D. program.
Healthcare: Mercer helps address physician shortages and expand access to quality healthcare in rural Georgia by preparing physicians to serve these communities. A recent 10-year review found that 76% of its graduates practice in primary care, helping meet the state’s healthcare needs.
Service: Mercer prepares future physicians to address local health care needs and improve the well-being of Georgia’s farmers, families and rural communities, supporting the people and communities that sustain the state’s agricultural industry.
“Few honors align more closely with Mercer’s mission than this designation,” said Mercer University President Penny L. Elkins. “For nearly two centuries, Mercer has been committed to serving Georgia and helping its communities thrive. Across the University, and especially through the work of the Mercer University School of Medicine, we are preparing leaders, addressing critical needs and expanding opportunity in every region of our state. We are proud to be recognized as Georgia Grown and honored to contribute to Georgia’s future through education, healthcare and service.”
MUSM Dean Dr. Jean Sumner noted the school’s long-standing commitment to supporting rural areas.
“Mercer University School of Medicine is deeply honored to be recognized as ‘Georgia Grown.’ Our mission is to prepare future physicians for Georgia’s rural communities. We accept only Georgia residents into our M.D. program who share that calling,” said Sumner. “Mercer is a national leader in enrolling medical students from rural areas and in preparing them to understand and address the importance of rural health. We’re proud that our students can now wear the Georgia Grown label, which reflects on the good people who grow, harvest and produce the many goods in this great state.”
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