Business Before Hours at the Wilson County Fair – TN State Fair

Business Before Hours was held at the Wilson County Fair – TN State Fair this morning. This special Business Before Hours was hosted by the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce and Wilson County Promotions at the Event Pavilion.

During the event, the annual Ole Timers Awards were presented by Helen McPeak, on behalf of Wilson County Promotions. In addition to having their names added to a plaque that will remain at the Fairgrounds, Ole Timers Award recipients were presented with rocking chairs courtesy of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Dallas & Lillian Plumlee, Joyce Sampson, and Odell & Linda Bain were recipients of the 2024 Ole Timers awards.

Wilson County Promotions President Randall Clemons presented the Mike Baker Award during the breakfast to recipient Bob Rochelle. This annual award recognizes business professionals in Wilson County who have gone above and beyond in their support of the annual Fair and in service to the community. The award is given in memory of Mike Baker, longtime chairman of the Fair’s Great Give-Away Committee.

Christopher Cooley was awarded the Mike Baker Scholarship. This scholarship is a one-time $1,500.00 scholarship sponsored by Wilson Bank & Trust, Wilson County Promotions and Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce, to be matched by Cumberland University and awarded to transferring or returning full-time students at Cumberland University. Students must have a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA. The scholarship was presented in July by Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Melanie Minter, Helen McPeak on behalf of Wilson County Promotions, and DeJeay Woods who represented the Chamber’s Education Division and Wilson Bank & Trust. Cooley was recognized again at Business Before Hours this morning.

Business Before Hours included several door prizes provided by Wilson County Promotions, and as always, the Chamber Pot drawing. All Chamber members are entered into the Pot to be drawn during the event. You must be present to win. If the first person is not present, we will draw a second time for half the original value. If the second person is not present, the value goes up $25 for the NEXT Business Before or After Hours. The August 20th Chamber Pot was valued at $375. The first name, drawn by Lillian Plumlee, was not present. Wesley Works, LLC was drawn second – owner Wesley Flatt was present to claim!

Minter welcomed guests to the Business Before Hours. Jackie Bullard, Ms. Wilson County; Cheryl Lewis, Ms. Senior Wilson County; and Luci Rose Coay, Fairest of the Fair led the Pledge of Allegiance and assisted in awards. Lyndon LaFevers, member of the Wilson County Fair – TN State Fair Executive Board, led the group in a prayer. Clemons annouced that the Fair has had over 390K attendees so far this year, and a record number of attendees over the weekend.