Officers – Tennessee Association of Fairs

TAF Officers

TAF Officers 2020

Mr. Will Lowery

TAF President

William Lowery has been involved in the Gibson County Fair most of his life. His grandfather, Durand Lowery, was Fair Manager in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. William followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by becoming a member of the Board of Directors in 2006 and serving as President of the Gibson County Fair Association for 5 years.

During this time, Mr. Tommy Wheatley encouraged William to put his name in the hat for board of directors for the TAF. In doing so, he has served on various committees and has enjoyed being a part of this great organization. William is most grateful for all the friendships from across the state this opportunity has brought.

William works for the Tennessee Dept. of Transportation. He and his wife Teresa live in Trenton and have 4 children together and 5 grandchildren. They have all been a part of the fair family and have spent countless hours volunteering

Mr. Scott Jones

1st Vice President
Middle Tennessee

Scott Jones, current Tennessee State Fair Manager, has been involved with the Tennessee State Fair for over 31 years. He was vital in the creation of the Tennessee State Fair Association, the nonprofit that currently operate the Fair. He is also involved in the Tennessee Association of Fairs and currently serves as the 3^rd Vice President.

Jones is an active board member of the Al Menah Shriners and a fundraiser for the Shriner Hospitals. One of Scott’s passions is clowning; he has been a Shrine Clown since 1998 and currently is serving as the 2017-18 Southeast Shrine Clown Association President.

Scott and his wife Kim have been married for 20 years and reside outside of Greenbrier, Tennessee, near Nashville.

Mr. Rick Smith

2nd Vice President
East Tennessee

Ricky Smith has been involved with Cumberland County Fair for over 40 years and served on the Board of Directors for 20 plus years. He has served as President of Cumberland County Fair for the past 3 years. He has also served on the Cumberland County Livestock Board for 3 years and served on the TAF Board of Directors in 2014 – 2016. Ricky returned to the TAF Board in 2018, and is presently 3^rd Vice-president. Farm life and The Cumberland County Fair has always been a special part of his life. Fair participation started early with entries in crops and poultry. He was always proud to show off his 4-H hens or raid the garden for some prize-winning crops. Ricky was encouraged by his parents and grandparents to continue this family tradition.

Ricky and his wife Lisa, of 36 years, live on their farm in Crossville They have a daughter Ashton, with husband Russell Hayes and 2 grandchildren Ryder and Kymber. They also have a son Landon and his wife Kellie, all of which are very active in the Cumberland County Fair. Ricky’s passion for farming came from his parents, with their row-crop and beef operation. Ricky and his wife currently have 100 plus cow/calf operation. Ricky works for Tennessee College of Applied Technology as the Building Construction Instructor.

Mr. Blake Laws

3rd Vice President
West Tennessee

Blake Laws has been involved in the Obion County Fair for most of his life. Blake attributes where he is today to his dad, Bruce Laws, for taking him to his first fair meeting, Tommy Wheatley, and Blake’s mentor Raymond Phillips, who passed away in 2010. Blake has served on the Obion County Fair youth board and advisory board. He now serves as 1st Vice President on the Board of Directors. In this position, his responsibilities include planning and production of the fair book, taking care of the fair website and coordinating all work on the fairgrounds in preparation of the fair. Blake is the voice of the fair on all radio and television advertising. He was also instrumental in the revitalization of the fairs youth board. Blake has announced most all of the fairs events including the grand opening, beauty pageants, truck & tractor pull, demolition derby, nightly drawings and garden tractor pull. He has served on various committees and as a West Tennessee Director for 2 terms on the Tennessee Association of Fairs Board of Directors. The first term from 2013-2015 and the second term from 2017-2019. He is a graduate of Bethel University and Obion County Adult Leadership. He works as Employment Manager for Tyson Foods, Obion County Complex.

Emily Pitcock

Executive Secretary

Emily Pitcock has been on the TAF Board of Directors since 1992, she was the Tennessee Association of Fairs President in 1997 and Executive Secretary since 1999. Emily has been attending the convention since 1979. Lives in Fayetteville, Tennessee and is married to Stan Pitcock, they have one son and two beautiful grandchildren.

2019 Officers & Directors Tennessee Association of Fairs

Pictured front row, left to right: Lynne Williams, Fair Administrator; Lisa Robinson, 2018 President; Phil Booher, 2019 President; Chloe Warren, 2020 TAF Fairest of Fairs; Emily Pitcock, Executive Secretary; Will Lowery, 1st Vice President, Scott Jones, 2nd Vice President; Rick Smith, 3rd Vice President, Blake Laws, West Tennessee Director, and Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Charles Hatcher, DVM. Back row, left to right: Helen McPeak, Middle Tennessee Director; Heath Hill, Middle Tennessee Director, Jeff Hughes, Middle Tennessee Director; Keith Franks, West Tennessee Director; Doug Singleteary, West Tennessee Director; Jesse James, Associate; Nicholas Seibert, Associate; Bill Riggs, East Tennessee Director; Cindy Smith, East Tennessee Director & Rhonda Humbert, East Tennessee Director. Not pictured: Scott Suchomski, Advisor; John Rose, Advisor & James Roy Pope, Associate.

TAF Past Presidents

Scroll down to see photos. We would like to have pictures of all past presidents

2019 – Phil Booher

2018 – Lisa Robinson

2017 – Lisa Robinson

2016 – Brenda Pierce-Williams
2015 – Ruthie Jeans
2014 – Debbie Bradshaw-Hart
2013 – Stephen Potter
2012 – James Spears
2011 – Tommy Wheatley
2010 – Lynn Tollett
2009 – Bill Phillips
2008 – Paul Finley
2007 – Richard Shadden
2006 – Kevin Lawrence
2005 – Rosa Ann Donnell
2004 – Jim Parker
2003 – Terry Whitson
2002 – Larry Gibson
2001 – Ed Underwood
2000 – Andy Brummett
1999 – Milton Rodgers
1998 – Garry Hood
1997 – Emily Pitcock
1996 – Johnny Bruff
1995 – Alan Shelton
1994 – Dr. John Beasley
1993 – George Atwood
1992 – Bob Presley
1991 – Roy Womack

1990 – Eddie Anderson
1989 – Don Holifield
1988 – Hale Moss
1987 – Bob Nichols
1986 – George Walker
1985 – Mike Eubank
1984 – A.B. White
1983 – David Crooks
1982 – Sarah Posey
1981 – Jim Craig
1980 – Jack Thurman
1979 – John Beasley
1978 – Truman Lewis
1977 – George Sliger
1976 – W.B. Lockert
1975 – Jim Rippy
1974 – Rupert Blair
1973 – Ted Vaughn
1972 – Wilson Sparks
1971 – Wilson Sparks
1970 – Crosby Murray
1969 – James Fisher
1968 – Thornton Taylor
1967 – Vernon Henson
1966 – Joel Bell
1965 – James N. Hardin
1964 – J.B. Grant
1963 – J.B. Grant
1962 – Leonard Rogers

1961 – Hunter Taylor
1960 – Leonard Rogers
1959 – Leonard Rogers
1958 – G.W. Wynne
1957 – G.W. Wynne
1956 – Jack Vinson
1955 – Stanton Hunter
1954 – Hunter Taylor
1953 – Patt Kerr
1952 – J.W. Shouse
1951 – C.E. Johnson
1950 – John B. Waters
1949 – W.J. Huddleston
1948 – P.G. Crooks
1947 – G.E. McAdams
1946 – Maude Atwood
1945 – O.D. Massa
1944 – Henry Beaudoin
1943 – Henry Beaudoin
1942 – Henry Beaudoin
1941 – J.H. Bennet
1940 – W.L. Little
1939 – A.U. Taylor
1938 – S.F. Houston
1937 – S.F. Houston
1936 – S.F. Houston
1935 – Will A. McTeer
1934 – A.W. McCartney