By WhitLei Burks 

The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration returns this year for its 88th annual show, a tradition woven into the fabric of Shelbyville and the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. For Shelbyville, Tennessee, The Celebration is much like the Kentucky Derby is to Louisville or the Super Bowl is to its host city. It is more than an event—it's a homecoming, an economic driver and 11 days when an entire community comes together around a shared tradition.

Each August, horse enthusiasts travel from across the country to make the pilgrimage to Shelbyville while local civic organizations serve meals that have become traditions in their own right. Children reunite with friends they only see at Celebration time, families gather year after year, and whether you're competing for a world championship, volunteering in a food booth or simply cheering from the stands, The Celebration has a way of leaving its mark.

Having attended The Celebration since I was born, I thought I knew it well. However, as I began this series highlighting the people behind the scenes, I gained an entirely different perspective. Getting to know the men and women who work tirelessly throughout the year to make this event possible gave me an even greater appreciation for what it takes to keep this cherished tradition alive. Perhaps what surprised me most was hearing their passion for The Celebration, even from those who have never stepped into the show ring themselves.

As I sat down with each member of The Celebration staff, one thing quickly became clear: no two stories were exactly alike. Some have devoted more than three decades to The Celebration. Others are just beginning their journey, but every one of them shares a common goal—to make the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration the very best it can be.

I hope you'll enjoy getting to know the people whose dedication keeps this tradition alive because while the horses may take center stage, it's the people behind the scenes who help make The Celebration feel like home.

Meet the Staff: Barbara Armstrong

If you've ever called the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration office, there's a good chance you've spoken with Barbara Armstrong. As an administrative assistant who also works in the entry office, she's one of the friendly voices helping exhibitors and spectators prepare for The Celebration.

For the past seven years, no two days have been the same.

"You never know what's going to hit you," Armstrong said. "Between all the different job duties and everything you have to do to get ready for The Celebration, you never know what's going to come up."

While the work can be unpredictable, it's the excitement surrounding The Celebration that keeps her looking forward to each August. Whether she's talking with longtime attendees who have made the trip to Shelbyville for decades or welcoming someone attending for the very first time, Armstrong enjoys hearing the stories that connect so many people to The Celebration.

Outside the office, family is at the center of Armstrong's life. She and her husband, Tommy, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in October. Together they have three daughters and five grandsons who keep them busy with ballgames and family activities. When they find a little free time, the couple enjoys setting off on new adventures together.

When asked what she couldn't work The Celebration without, Armstrong didn't hesitate.

"My coworkers," she said. "We all help each other."

Like many Celebration regulars, she has traditions of her own. Her favorite stop is the Community Lions Club to get a ham sandwich and for anyone making their first trip to Shelbyville during The Celebration, she has one recommendation.

"The Optimist doughnuts," she said with a smile.

To Armstrong, The Celebration is about much more than horses.

"It brings people together," she said. "I love what it does for the county."

Meet the Staff: Margaret Eakin

If you've spent much time around the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, chances are you've crossed paths with Margaret Eakin.

For more than 30 years, Margaret has been one of the familiar faces helping keep The Celebration running. Whether she's in the entry office, center ring or handling one of the countless behind-the-scenes responsibilities that make each performance possible, she's always ready to lend a hand.

Her Celebration journey began at the ticket gate before moving to center ring in the late 1990s. In 2009, she transitioned into the entry office, and even after retiring, she wasn't quite ready to step away. Instead, she remained in a supportive role, continuing to do what she's done for decades—help wherever she's needed.

Today, Margaret wears many hats throughout The Celebration. She supports the entry office before the show, then shifts to center ring where she serves as announcer Mark Farrar's assistant, organizing announcements and ensuring they are delivered at the proper time. She tracks classes as they enter and leave the ring, records timeouts and their causes, keeps the show running on schedule and coordinates with trophy presenters to ensure the correct individuals are recognized throughout the week.

Before the first class is ever called, Margaret and her sister, Kathy Eakin, prepare one of The Celebration's most recognizable displays. Together, they fill the trophy case with the show's prestigious challenge trophies and organize the awards that will be presented throughout the week, ensuring everything is in place long before the first champion is crowned.

In her own words, she's simply a "jack of all trades."

Ironically, Margaret dreamed of working in center ring long before she ever had the opportunity.
"As a little girl, I'd come to The Celebration to watch the horses, but I'd also find myself watching the people in center ring," she recalled. "I always thought it would be pretty cool to be out there."

That childhood dream eventually became reality.

While the responsibilities have changed over the years, one thing has not.

"The people," she said. "The people I work with are a great team, and then there are the customers. Sometimes I only get to see them once a year, so it's always good to catch up."

A fifth-generation Shelbyvillian, Margaret's roots in the community run deep. She lives on her family's farm where she raises cattle and enjoys gardening when she's away from The Celebration. The event has also become a family tradition. Her sister, Missy, works in the ticket office, while Kathy works alongside her preparing the trophy case and awards before The Celebration begins each year.

When asked about her favorite Celebration memories, Margaret immediately thought of two very different moments. She vividly remembers the flood of 1969, when water rushed through the Quarterback Club food booth, and vehicles sat underwater around the grounds. More recently, she recalls the electricity inside Celebration Arena as Justified Honors captured his fourth World Grand Championship.

"Being out in center ring, especially for that last class, is an experience," she said. "Just thinking about it sends shivers up your spine."

Like many Celebration regulars, Margaret has her annual traditions as well. She never passes up an order of tater twirls from the Band Boosters and makes sure to enjoy at least one Optimist doughnut each year.
For anyone attending The Celebration for the first time, her advice is simple.

"Don't miss the last Saturday night," she said. "That's why you come."

To Margaret, The Celebration has always been about more than what happens in the show ring.

"It's the cornerstone of this community," she said. "You want to make sure it's as great as it can be."

Anyone who has worked with Margaret knows she is one of the first people to offer help when it's needed. Whether she's answering a question, solving a last-minute problem or quietly making sure every detail is in place, her dedication has made her one of The Celebration's most trusted and recognizable faces for more than three decades.

Meet the Staff: Sara Smith

Although she's one of the newer members of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration staff, Sara Smith has already found her place in one of the busiest offices on the grounds.

As Entry Office Manager, Smith oversees entries and edits the program page headings during The Celebration, helping ensure everything is accurate before it reaches exhibitors and spectators.

Having been part of The Celebration team for just over a year, one of the things Smith enjoys most is reconnecting with the trainers and exhibitors she met during her first Celebration.

"I enjoy meeting the trainers and getting to see everyone from last year," she said.

Outside the office, family comes first. Smith and her husband have been married for 12 years and have a 10-year-old daughter who attends Liberty School. Her husband serves as a K-9 deputy with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, and together they own a farm in the Flat Creek community. When they're not busy with work or school, the family enjoys exhibiting dairy goats.

When it comes to getting through the busy days of The Celebration, Smith says she couldn't do it without one essential tool.

"My computer," she laughed.

For first-time visitors, her advice is simple.

"Don't miss the last Saturday night."

When asked what The Celebration means to her, Smith smiled before giving an answer that perfectly reflects her personality.

"When Celebration gets here, I know Christmas isn't far behind."

For someone who loves Christmas, The Celebration is the sign that one of her favorite seasons of the year is just around the corner.

Meet the Staff: Missy Eakin

For many people, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration begins with a ticket. Before that ticket ever reaches a customer, chances are it has passed through the hands of Ticket Office Manager Missy Eakin. 

Now in her second year managing the ticket office, Missy spends her days answering emails, taking phone calls and helping customers find the seats they've been searching for. While technology has changed many aspects of the ticket-buying process, one thing hasn't.

"Every ticket our customers receive has been touched by me," Missy said. "There's not a machine somewhere spitting them out."

Although she's only served as ticket office manager for two years, The Celebration has long been part of her life. Before taking on her current role, she often helped her sister, Margaret Eakin, polish silver and prepare trophies before the show. Today, The Celebration remains a family tradition. Margaret continues her work in the entry office and center ring, while their sister, Kathy, assists with copying, proofreading and countless behind-the-scenes projects. Their family's Celebration roots run even deeper. Their father owned a colt named Midnight in 1939, and through the years they've experienced everything from floods and thunderstorms to unforgettable championship nights.

One of Missy's favorite parts of the job is listening to longtime attendees reminisce about Celebrations of the past.

"They'll tell you about when tents were pitched on the grounds and horses were tied to the trees," she said. "The wives and mothers would wash clothes and hang them on clotheslines, and they'd bathe the children under the faucets. I love hearing those stories."

Those conversations remind Missy that The Celebration has always been about more than the competition. It's about generations of families returning to Shelbyville year after year to continue traditions of their own.

She also enjoys watching the excitement build as The Celebration draws near.

"Everyone puts their heart and soul into getting The Celebration ready before the show starts," she said. "You can feel the excitement from the customers."

One of Missy's favorite Celebration memories came unexpectedly when she was asked to fill in as a trophy presenter during the World Grand Championship. Standing in center ring as Out On Parole captured the title gave her a perspective few fans ever experience.

"Getting to see the horse up close and seeing everything from that perspective was very exciting," she said.
Away from The Celebration grounds, Missy enjoys flower gardening, reading, rescuing cats and dogs, and serving as the pianist and organist at First Christian Church. She also comes from a family of educators; another tradition she proudly carries with her.

When asked what she couldn't work The Celebration without, her answer had little to do with the ticket office itself.

"You have to love the horse and what The Celebration means to this community," she said. "The work is too hard if you don't."

Like many Celebration veterans, she never passes up an Optimist doughnut or a Community Lions Club ham sandwich.

And if you're attending The Celebration for the very first time?

"Be here on Saturday night when the spotlight comes on and the horses enter the ring," she said. "And make sure you're eating a doughnut."

To Missy, The Celebration represents far more than a horse show.

"It means heritage. It means coming together for a common cause, and it means financial security for our community."

Whether she's helping someone find the perfect seat or listening to stories from Celebrations long ago, Missy knows every ticket represents someone's tradition. She considers it a privilege to help welcome visitors back to Shelbyville each August.

Meet the Staff: Scotty Marr

Behind every successful Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is a tremendous amount of work that most attendees never see. For Accounting Manager Scotty Marr, that work begins long before the first class enters the ring and continues long after the final World Grand Champion is crowned.

Since joining The Celebration staff in July 2013, Marr has helped oversee the organization's day-to-day financial operations. Her responsibilities include managing emails and mail distribution, processing invoices, preparing deposits, making bank runs, completing data entry and compiling reports for the accounting firm. While many people assume accounting is simply writing checks and making deposits, Marr is quick to point out there's much more happening behind the scenes.

Despite the long hours that come with Celebration season, Marr says it's the people who make it worthwhile.
"The people make up for it," she said.

One of her favorite memories dates back to the days when the Civitan Club operated a food booth on the grounds.

"I'd dip ice cream up to my elbows," she laughed, recalling one of the many traditions she remembers as a longtime Celebration attendee. 

Family has always been at the center of Marr's life. She and her late husband shared nearly 60 years of marriage before his passing in 2024. Together they built a family that includes one daughter, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Continuing the family tradition, one of her grandchildren now works on The Celebration grounds.

When she's away from the office, Marr enjoys shopping, reading and relaxing with a good television show.
When asked what she couldn't work The Celebration without, her answer drew a smile.

"Comfortable shoes," she said. "By the end, my feet are as big as my head."

Although her favorite Celebration food used to be a country ham sandwich from years past, her advice for first-time visitors has nothing to do with food.

"Tour the grounds," she said. "There's more than just the bleachers. See the overall picture."

For Marr, that's what The Celebration is really about.

"Being part of something that helps our community overall," she said. "So many people don't realize that."
Whether she's balancing the books, preparing financial reports or making another trip to the bank, Marr knows every task contributes to an event that has meant so much to Shelbyville for generations. Her work may happen behind the scenes, but it helps keep one of the community's most cherished traditions running year after year.

Meet the Staff: Keith Gentry

Before the first spectators arrive and long before the first horse enters the ring, Keith Gentry is already at work making sure the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration grounds are ready.

As Maintenance Supervisor, Gentry oversees the upkeep of The Celebration's 105-acre facility, from mowing grass and maintaining landscaping to handling electrical issues and making repairs wherever they're needed. Although this is his first year with The Celebration, he's already gained an appreciation for what it takes to care for one of the most recognizable venues in the walking horse industry.

"It's a lot more than people realize," Gentry said. "The amount of upkeep it takes to maintain 105 acres, keep everything clean and make sure everything is working is tremendous."

For Gentry, one of the biggest surprises has been preparing the grounds for an event of this size. While spectators enjoy the finished product, countless hours of work go into making sure every building, walkway and arena is ready before the first horse arrives.

When he's not working, Gentry enjoys spending time outdoors with his family. He has three children—two daughters and a son—and much of their family time revolves around cowboy mounted shooting. The sport has become a passion for the Gentry family, with all three children finding success in competition.
Although he attended The Celebration once as a spectator in the 1980s, this year offers a completely different perspective.

"I'm excited to see how everything works behind the scenes," he said.

When asked what The Celebration means to him, Gentry immediately thought of the grounds themselves.
"It's exciting to see the property used to its full potential," he said. "We don't have another event that brings this many people together or uses the Big Oval like The Celebration does. Then you think about all the history that goes along with it."

As he prepares for his first Celebration as a member of the staff, Gentry is looking forward to watching months of preparation come to life. While visitors will remember the horses and the championships, he'll take pride in knowing the grounds were ready for every one of those moments.
 
Meet the Staff: Travis Emore

While the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is best known for its 11 days each August, General Manager Travis Emore spends all 365 days of the year making sure the grounds remain active.

Now entering his fourth Celebration, Emore oversees the day-to-day operations of Cooper Steel Arena while working to attract new events to the historic facility. Whether it's preparing for a livestock show, a concert or The Celebration itself, his work never really slows down.

"I think people would be surprised by the number of hours that go into every event," Emore said. "The community is beginning to realize The Celebration operates 365 days a year."

Originally from the Quarter Horse industry, Emore wasn't quite sure what to expect when he attended his first Celebration in 1993.

"I thought I was just coming to watch a horse show," he said.

Instead, he discovered an event unlike anything he had experienced before—one built on tradition, community and a passion that extends far beyond the show ring.

Today, that's one of the things he appreciates most.

"The community involvement," he said. "That's been something new to me."

Outside the office, family remains a priority. Emore and his wife, whom he met while attending Middle Tennessee State University, have deep ties to Shelbyville through her family. They have two children, and this past year was especially memorable as both got married just three weeks apart. When he finds free time, Emore also enjoys operating a welding business on the side.

When asked what he couldn't work The Celebration without, his answer came quickly.

"The staff. There are so many moving parts. It takes everyone knowing their role."

Like many longtime Celebration attendees, Emore looks forward to the traditions that make the event special year after year. His advice for first-time visitors is equally straightforward. 

"Don't miss the performances in the Big Oval, especially the championship nights. And you've got to get some doughnuts."

To Emore, The Celebration is exciting because of what it means to Shelbyville.

"It's exciting to be part of something that's so important to this town," he said. "Watching people come together is what makes it special."

For Emore, keeping The Celebration grounds active throughout the year helps ensure this historic venue continues serving the community for generations to come.

Meet the Staff: Connie Allen

For more than 35 years, Connie Allen has helped guide the day-to-day operations of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. As Director of Operations, no two days are ever the same, especially as Celebration season approaches.

"People are in and out, the phones are ringing, emails are coming in," Allen said. "You're just trying to keep your head above water."

Those 12-hour days are exactly what she enjoys.

"That's the fun part," she said. "You're doing all of this because people want to come here."

Since joining The Celebration staff in April 1990, Allen has become one of the organization's most familiar and dependable leaders. While visitors see the finished product each August, she's focused on making sure every detail comes together behind the scenes so guests leave with a positive experience.

"I want everything done to the best of my ability," she said. "I want people to leave happy and know we've made a difference."

For Allen, one of the best moments of every Celebration comes before she ever steps into the grandstands.
"When I walk out the back door and hear the music and hear the people, that's when I know it's time."
As much as she enjoys the excitement surrounding the event, one class holds a special place in her heart.

"I love watching the World Grand Championship entries," she said. "Every horse in that class is special to someone—whether it's the owner, the trainer or everyone who helped get them there."

Away from The Celebration, Allen enjoys spending time with her husband, Ralph, her son and daughter-in-law and, most of all, her grandson, who she says is very special to her. She also remains close with her sister, who lives in Georgia. When she finds time to relax, she enjoys working in her flower garden, listening to music and dining at new restaurants.

When asked what she couldn't work The Celebration without, Allen didn't hesitate.
"The staff."

She credits everyone—from CEO Warren Wells to every member of the Celebration team—with making the event possible. No one person can do it alone, and she believes the teamwork behind the scenes is what allows The Celebration to continue thriving year after year.

Although many people have a favorite Celebration food, Allen admits she's usually more interested in the conversations than what's on her plate. She enjoys visiting with friends in the Blue Ribbon Circle, where the camaraderie is just as much a tradition as the horse show itself.

For first-time visitors, her recommendation is simple.

"Don't miss the Opening Ceremony and the Flag Horse."

When asked what The Celebration means to her, Allen needed only one word.
"Everything."

After more than three decades, it's easy to understand why. The Celebration has become more than a workplace—it's part of her life. Through countless long days, late nights and unforgettable moments, Allen has helped shape the experience that thousands of exhibitors and spectators look forward to every year. Her steady leadership and commitment have made her one of the trusted pillars of The Celebration, helping ensure this treasured tradition continues for generations to come.