Ag News
Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Breaks Ground on New Arena
Posted on May 21, 2025 at 15:00 PM
Members of the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority were joined by Middle Georgia legislators, fairground supporters, Perry FFA members, and Perry/Houston County leaders to break ground for the Larry Walker Arena & Barn being built at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. / Photo by Natalie Wisekal
On May 14 the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter (GNFA) held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new arena and barn for small species of livestock such as hogs, goats and sheep.
The arena is to be named after former state representative and Perry local Larry Walker Jr. Walker was instrumental in the establishment of the GNFA and getting it placed in Perry during his time in the Georgia General Assembly.
Construction is set to be finished fall of 2026.
“The barn will ensure that no child will ever not be able to show with the Georgia National Fairground due to lack of space, and that's something that we run into,” said GNFA Executive Director Stephen Shimp.
Photo by Natalie Wisekal
The Larry Walker Arena will have a climate-controlled show ring with a minimum of 400 chairback seats, and the barn will have 400 pens to house small livestock, Shimp said. There will also be covered walkways connecting the new facilities to the current ones.
Larry Walker Jr. expresses his appreciation for the new GNFA livestock arena & barn being named for him. / Photo by Natalie Wisekal
“I never thought anything like this would happen. I mean, I never could have thought it. And I'm so glad to see you all here,” Walker told the crowd.
Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority Chairman Foster Rhodes shared that the annual economic impact of the GNFA on the state of Georgia is $133 million dollars, according to a recent study done by the University of Georgia. The annual Georgia National Fair generates more than $900,000 in state sales tax during its 11-day run each October. The authority also provides around $2.6 million dollars of services to 4-H and FFA exhibitors throughout the year.
The Georgia National Fair Livestock Show and the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show are two of the fairground’s main youth events. Around 8,000 4-H and FFA members exhibit livestock in these shows alone.
“Mr. Walker, the future looks bright for the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. I can assure you this place and our staff have got our foot on the gas petal. It will always be the greatest place in the nation for the youth coming to show equine and livestock,” said Shimp.
Shimp says the need for the building has been felt. There has been rapid growth in the number of youths showing livestock, along with a sharp increase in the number of small species being exhibited.
There are several factors behind these rising numbers. Families that are starting to show usually begin with hogs, goats, and sheep. More kids are beginning their show careers at a younger age and need a smaller animal they can better handle. Shimp said the smaller animals can be cheaper to purchase compared to beef cattle. Most of the smaller species are also herd animals and do better when raised in a group, so families aren’t buying just one.
The Larry Walker Arena will sit in what is currently the New South Arena Parking lot. The new barn will be beside the existing Sheep and Swine Barn #2, in what is currently a grassy area alongside Exhibitor Drive.
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Larry & Janice Walker, center, were joined by their four children & spouses, and their grandchildren for a groundbreaking ceremony held today at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter (GNFA) for the new Larry Walker Arena. / Natalie Wisekal
The 83-year-old Walker has a strong connection to his heritage and growing up in Perry. He comes from an ag family, grew up exhibiting cattle and was a member of the FFA. His father, the late L. Cohen Walker was the first ag teacher and FFA advisor in Houston County, who began teaching at Perry High School in 1937.
Walker graduated from Perry High School and went on to attend the University of Georgia where he received his undergraduate and J.D. from the UGA School of Law. In addition to practicing law for many years, Walker served in the Georgia General Assembly for 32 years.
Walker says his position in politics and the friends he made along the way allowed him to help what he loves the most—and that’s Houston County. He has been a longtime supporter of Georgia youth. He said today’s youth in agriculture are fine people and that he’s proud to be a part of that.
“I'm glad to see these 4-H and FFA members here with those blue coats on. I was a member for four years,” Walker said. “I'm so proud of them, I'm so proud of being here. I never dreamed of anything like this [having an arena named for him].”
Members of the Perry FFA Livestock Show Team attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Larry Walker Arena at the Georgia National Fairgounds & Agricenter. / Photo by Natalie Wisekal
In related news, the new hotel currently under construction at the fairgrounds is expected to open this fall, hopefully before the Georgia National Fair in October, Shimp said.
Natalie Wisekal is an intern in the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Information/Public Relations Department. She is a senior at ABAC and a GFB ambassador.
Shovels set up for the groundbreaking ceremony. / Photo by Natalie Wisekal
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