Fun was had by adults and kids alike at this year’s Poke Sallet Festival. With more than 60 vendors, an art show, car show, and carnival, this year’s event - held at the Jackson County Fairgrounds - was the biggest Poke Sallet Festival in recent years.
“God has blessed us with amazing weather, lots of volunteers, and a community that supports each other,” says Poke Sallet Foundation Board Vice President Casey Jackson. “This is exactly what we envisioned when we took over the festival a year and a half ago.”
This year’s event included traditional Poke Sallet Festival competitions such as the Outhouse Race, Poke Eating Contest, Iris Show, and Frog and Terrapin Races. Kara Wright was crowned Miss Poke Sallet at the pageant held Thursday night, and Feather Scantland was crowned Poke Sallet Annie during the festival.
Proceeds from the festival go to the Blue-Collar Scholars Scholarship fund. This year’s recipients were Matthew Otte and Brady Buck, who were each awarded $1,000 from the Poke Sallet Foundation to attend their trade school of choice. A generous donor matched these awards, giving each recipient an additional $500 and adding $1,000 to the Fund to be awarded next year. “This scholarship will help these boys with books, gas, and other expenses while they are going to school at TCAT Livingston,” says Amanda Buck, mother of scholarship recipient Brady Buck. “We can’t thank the board members of the Poke Sallet Foundation enough for this amazing opportunity for our kids in Jackson County.”
The Poke Sallet Foundation’s mission is to preserve and celebrate the culture and history of Jackson County, Tennessee with community-driven events, and to provide funding for other local organizations who provide necessary resources for our residents. Their vision is a community that works together to promote and preserve our area's history and promote growth through economic development and tourism. This foundation will provide funding for members of our community to grow in positions of skilled trade, as these jobs are the backbone of any functioning society. For more information on the Poke Sallet Festival, future events, or Blue-Collar Scholars, visit www.pokesallet.org.
