Following the second-largest attendance in history of the Fair, the 2025 Wilson County – Tennessee State Fair documented its success and competed for top honors against fairs from around the world in the Annual IAFE Awards. Over a couple months, the Fair assembled comprehensive entries highlighting every aspect of the event – from its theme and sponsors to events, activities, educational programs, innovative competitions, exhibits, commercial, agriculture, concessions, communications and year-round activities held on the Fairgrounds beyond the official Fair dates.
IAFE award recipients were selected from the 2,093 entries submitted by member fairs of all sizes across the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. Entries were evaluated by fair industry professionals with awards presented during the 2025 Virtual Awards Show. The Wilson County – Tennessee State Fair earned a total of 16 awards across five categories, including five first-place awards and two prestigious Best of Division Awards.
Awards received include:
Agriculture Awards: (Best of Division Award)
- 1st Place — Any other agriculture program/exhibit: Sprout & Stroll - A Specialty Crop Immersive Exhibit
- 1st Place — Agriculture Individual Photo (Misc.): Dressed in patriotic style, this young exhibitor and his cow took part in the Dairy Cattle Capers competition at the Fair - honoring America’s dairy farmers while celebrating America 250!
- 2nd Place — Agriculture exhibitor participation incentives and retention programs: Beginner Youth Showmanship Clinic for showing goats and sheep
Commercial Exhibits & Concessions Awards:
- 2nd Place — Marketing and Promotion of the Fair Food Competition
Communications Awards:
- 2nd Place— Scripted Videos: Wilson County - Tennessee State Fair song and promo video
- 2nd Place— Online Advertisement: Promotion of our Fair Pricing and Daily Specials
Competitive Exhibits Awards: (Best of Division Award)
- 1st Place —Use of Theme Throughout Multiple Divisions of Competitive Exhibits: “Goin’ Hog Wild & Bacon Memories at the Fair!” & “Year of Pork” Fair Theme and Agriculture Commodity
- 1st Place — Display Method and/or Prop: State Fruits & Vegetables Exhibit
- 2nd Place —New CLASS of Competition: The Great Bacon Toss
- 2nd Place — Strategy or Tactic to Engage Overall Competitive Exhibits Participants: Basket Weaving Workshop
- 2nd Place - Special Contest: Pig Tail Hair Contest
- 3rd Place — New DIVISON of Competition: Bluegrass Competition - Youth
- 3rd Place — New Competitive Exhibits Contest with New Partner/Sponsor: Tennessee Garden Party - Charcuterie Showdown sponsored by “Downton Abbey: The Grande Finale” movie
Non-Fair Facility Usage Awards:
- 1st Place — Non-Fair Event Designed to Educate: Farm Days education about pork
Headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) is a voluntary, nonprofit organization founded in 1885 by a small group of fairs. Today, the IAFE represents more than 1,100 fairs worldwide and over 900 members from allied industries. For more than a century, the organization has remained committed to promoting and advancing the growth, education, and excellence of agricultural fairs, shows, and expositions.
The 2026 Wilson County – Tennessee State Fair will take place in Lebanon, TN from August 13-22, 2026.
We’ll see YOU at the Fair!
Picture Caption: The Wilson County – Tennessee State Fair team (left to right) Myle Crowder, Robin Holcomb, Anna Cate Kulas, Helen McPeak, Terry McPeak, Shari Bazydola, David Hale, Lanah Hale, Lyndon LaFevers, Felicia Johnson, Jane LaFevers, Phyllis Webb and Johnnie Webb attended the IAFE Convention in Denver, Colorado, from November 29 to December 3, 2025.