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The 165^th exposition of the Coffee County Fair caught the eyes of the state judges as they named the Coffee County Fair the Most Improved during 2022.

The local fair board also garnered a second place for its commemorative 165^th anniversary fair book cover.

Coffee County Fair Board officer Katie Kusisto said the board was honored to receive the recognition.

“Our board is 100% volunteer. Any nonprofit organization, when you sign up for that’s your second child. You’re spending a lot of time up there,” she said.

“(This award) shows that if you have a lot of hand on deck and moving all in the same direction with the same goals in mind…it proves the hard work that you put in you do get recognized,” Kusisto said.     

The most improvement award considered details like number of premiums given out, the number of exhibits and attendees, along with any upgrades.  

Coffee County Fairest of the Fair Addison Welch competed at the convention against 47 other Fairest of the Fair in a very competitive pageant. Welch accepted the fair’s awards.  

The honor was one of several earned by local fairs as Lincoln County was also given Most Improved in their class while the Warren County Fair, one of the only free fairs remaining in the state, earned second place in Best Fair in its class.

Tennessee fairs were presented with top honors at the 101st Tennessee Association of Fairs Annual Convention held Jan. 19-21, 2023 in Murfreesboro. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture and Tennessee Association of Fairs presented awards to the best county, regional, and state agricultural fairs of the 2022 season.

Forty-nine fairs received the Award of Merit based on agriculture, educational value, overall operations, and the promotion of local interest and community spirit. The Cumberland County Fair received the highest honor when it was named the Champion of Champions Fair for 2022. The Champion of Champions is selected from the 2021 division winners.

“Fairs showcase Tennessee’s heritage and agricultural strengths,” Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher D.V.M. said. “Fairgoers of all ages can experience farming family traditions, and events are a great way to foster a love of agriculture in our young people. It’s rewarding to see counties across Tennessee be successful in their outreach and education through their local fairs.”

“The value of agricultural fairs is immeasurable,” Tennessee Association of Fairs President Scott Jones said. “While fairs generate tens of millions of dollars for our state’s economy through local businesses and hospitality industries, they play more a crucial role in the advancement, education, and public awareness of that pillar of life—agriculture. Ancillary benefits boost family fun and affordable entertainment while uniting communities. Fairs continue to be an essential need for cultivating and continuing the spirit of Tennessee agriculture.”

2022 fair category winners

Division A

State Champion:  Decatur County Fair

1st Runner-up:  Benton County Fair

2nd Runner-up:  Fentress County Fair

Most Improved:  Humphreys County Fair

Tennessee fairs honored at State Convention                                                                       

Division AA

State Champion:  Dyer County Fair 

1st Runner-up:  Henry County Fair

2nd Runner-up:  Warren County Fair

Most Improved:  Lincoln County Fair

Division AAA       

State Champion:  Gibson County Fair

1st Runner-up:  Williamson County Fair

2nd Runner-up:  Greene County Fair

Most Improved:  Coffee County Fair

Premiere Awards (selected from among previous winners)

Champion of Champion:  Putnam County Fair

Division AA:  Obion County Fair

Division AAA:  Clay County Fair

In the regional division, the Appalachian Fair and the Tennessee Valley Fair received the Award of Merit. In the state division, the Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair received the Award of Merit based on overall fair operations. Other 2022 honorees include Wayne Davenport of the Warren County Fair, who received the Judy Basse Memorial Award for outstanding fair secretary; Will Lowery of the Gibson County Fair who received the Thornton Taylor Award for outstanding dedication to the fair programs in Tennessee, and Scott Jones of the Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair who received the Vernon Henson Memorial Plaque.

The statewide Fair Showcase offered prize money and awards in 40 categories. In its 24th year, the competition drew 511 entries from 39 fairs.

In 2022, nearly three million visitors attended county, regional, and state fairs in Tennessee, enjoying more than 214,000 exhibits. There were more than 74,000 entries in livestock and farm crop competitions and other exhibitions. Fairs contribute considerable economic impact across the state and promote community involvement.