Tennessee State Fair board considers becoming part of the Wilson County Fair

Nashville Tennessean

A new state fair advisory committee is exploring the possibility of merging the popular Wilson County Fair and the Tennessee State Fair into one event.

Wilson County was among three counties that submitted an “Expression of Interest” to the Tennessee State Fair and Exposition Commission to potentially hold the state fair in 2021.

Davidson and Maury counties also submitted similar expressions of interest.

Multiple state fair commissioners who offered personal rankings of the submissions at a meeting on Friday scored Wilson County the highest.

The Tennessee State Fair and Exposition Commission then approved the advisory committee to further study the option. The committee will provide a report and recommendation by Oct. 1, according to Tennessee State Fair and Exposition Commission Chair Charles Hatcher said.

Organizers with the Wilson County Fair have submitted an expression of interest to hold the Tennessee State Fair in 2021. The Tennessee State Fair and Exposition Commission has approved the formation of an advisory committee to study the possibilities.

“We’re not talking about two events, we’re talking about one event,” Wilson County Fair President Randall Clemons said of the interest by Wilson County Promotions. “We want to be able to retain the Wilson County Fair and continue to showcase the talents of Wilson County.

“At the same time we are more than a county fair and have a lot to offer. And (the state fair) can help take it to the next level.”

The Wilson County Fair, held annually in August at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, regularly draws near or more than half a million people.

The Wilson County Fair has been the most popular fair in Tennessee and among the best in the country.

The Tennessee State Fair and Exposition Commission is considering different venues to hold the state fair amid redevelopment plans at The Fairgrounds Nashville, which includes a new Major League Soccer stadium and mixed-use project.

"As have previous commissions, we highly regard the heritage of the current site, yet we know that site is not adequate to accommodate existing needs or future growth of the state fair," Hatcher said in an email. "Considering a new location is another step in a long process to explore options for ensuring the best chance of success and a bright future for a state fair that serves all Tennesseans."

Davidson County's Expression of Interest says The Fairgrounds Nashville can still be a suitable venue for the state fair.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper last week also advocated to keep the state fair in Davidson County. Nashville's fairgrounds has been the site of the fair since 1906, according the county's submission.

"Since that time the property has undergone significant change," the submission states. "While the campus will look and operate differently, it will allow for the fair to function well in new facilities and expose the fair to a new audience."

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"While we respect the Commission’s decision to pursue other location options, we firmly believe a state fair worthy of the great state of Tennessee can be held at The Fairgrounds Nashville for generations to come," The Fairgrounds Nashville Executive Director Laura Womack said in an email. "We will continue to work with the Commission and the Tennessee State Fair Association in planning for a fair in Nashville or transitioning it to Wilson County if they choose to relocate."

Wilson County Promotions is made up of a 10-member executive committee that manages the Wilson County Fair, a 300-member board and hundreds of committee members and other volunteers.

The venue and facilities, infrastructure and volunteer base are all in place to bring on the state fair in 2021, Clemons said. The Ward Agricultural Center is about 270 acres.

Both the Wilson County fair and state fairs are canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 state fair scheduled Sept. 11-20, was canceled because of health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online and virtual events including Facebook Live demonstrations are being planned for those dates, Tennessee State Fair Association Manager Scott Jones said.

The Wilson County Fair also canceled its fair Aug. 13-23, because of the pandemic. Smaller livestock shows are planned in lieu of the Wilson County Fair, Clemons said.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.