The Exhibits Building was packed full of crafts, quilts, art, food items, plants and produce and more during the West Tennessee State Fair. Photo by Holly Roeder, Independent
October’s 2026 West Tennessee State Fair provided the local community a clean, family-friendly environment for games, good food and snazzy rides, but also a small taste of what Chester County citizens have to offer. The fair offered many family fun activities each night, including music, a junior rodeo and a youth talent contest. Roy Weaver, the fair exhibitionist explained that this show was the largest antique tractor show in Tennessee. Among all the activities, tucked away in front of the Ferris wheel, in a big building, the state fair exhibition displayed a wide range of exhibits for fairgoers to stroll around and admire. The exhibition wasn’t just for fun, but gave the local community the chance to test their skills in various competitions. With no entry fee, participants got to show off their various talents in a variety of categories, winning ribbons and even prize money for first place in some cases. This particular fair centers mostly on agricultural production; therefore, most of the categories featured the best canned goods, baked items and plants.
A fairly noticeable category this year was the quilt exhibition. A variety of quilts were proudly on display in categories including hand-quilted, machine-quilted, and friendship quilts. Different ladies in the community made the friendship quilts, each contributing a patch and quilting their names into it. One quilt in particular did not stand out because of its color (which was not as vibrant as the others) but because it was two hundred years old. The fair exhibitionist put this quilt on display in the contest. The second place candidate for the machine quilted division was crafted and dedicated in honor of the late Phyllis Sutherland. She machine-quilted her piece and entered it into the competition. Sutherland was an active member of the Henderson community. She volunteered for the fair last year as well. She entered quilts for the competition, showing her passion for beauty and creativity. While she passed away from stage four cancer this past September, the community rallied together to show support for Sutherland’s family. Dawn Bramblett, Sutherland’s mother-in-law, stated that “Seeing the fair volunteers honor her at her beloved quilt exhibit-and seeing the quilt she planned to enter this year receive a second-place overall ribbon-meant the world to Sutherland’s family and friends.”. Faye Herring submitted first place in the machine quilted division and won best in show. All in all, at least 500 individuals entered the exhibitions this year.
The centerpieces of the building were the miniature farm replicas. Set right in the center, the giant farm replicas were completed by Darryl Cox. Both replicas were considered museum quality, and one, in fact, would be traveling to Nashville for the National Fair. While the prize money and a ribbon are appealing, the fair exhibitionist Roy Weaver stated that for most, “It is a pride thing” to get first place. For many fairgoers, the opportunity to compete and show off one’s talents is a prize in itself.
Competitors winning Best of Show prizes in the 2026 West Tennessee State Fair exhibits are as follows:
Queens of Canning and Culinary
Betty Cooper – Queen of Canning (Cooper had nine First Place ribbons in Canning)
Dawn Phipps – Queen of Culinary (Phipps had two First Place ribbons in Culinary)
Best of Show – Adult Division
Jo Ann Clayton – Fried Pie
Pamela Cooper – Pie Culinary
Kay Cromwell – Cake Culinary
Sierra Dove-Smith – Fabric Crafts
Kevin Essary – Crops-Corn
Connie Heflin – Hobbies/Crafts/Decorated Clothing
Faye Joann Herring – Quilt
Ed Huggins – Horticulture
Mark Maccarino – Photography
Beverly Morton – Canning
Beverly Morton – Crops-Cotton
Margaret Plunk – Stitch and Sew
Holly Redmon – Jams/Marmalades
Brenda Sawyer – Needlework
Renee Thomas – Eggs
Sara Watson – Framed Art
Greg Woods – Honey
Best of Show – Youth Division
Catelyn Ambrose – Visual Arts
Braxlyn Flatt – Culinary Candies
Lillian Hodges – Hobbies/Crafts
Tony Lee – Fruits/Vegetables
Tony Lee – Photography
Briley Spellings – Stitch and Sew
Kalaeb Weaver – Pumpkin
