Why MoonPies, Little Debbie and 60 more TN businesses have joined Wilson County State Fair

Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean
Updated ·4 min read

Moon Pies. Little Debbie.

Cobbler Creations, D’s Kettle Corn and Bravo Gelato. SugarRoos, Ousley Ouch Salsa and D's Kettle Corn.

All are providing hundreds of products from Tennessee companies and farms connected to a new exhibit at the Wilson County Fair — Tennessee State Fair in Lebanon that opened Thursday and continues through Aug. 26.

The fairs are together for the third consecutive year.

“It’s another way we are trying to showcase all 95 counties (in Tennessee) and be a true state fair,” Wilson County Promotions President Randall Clemons said about the exhibit opening.

Pick Tennessee Products Experience is the exhibit name that showcases products made by Tennessee farmers, businesses and foresters with interactive displays and demonstrations.

You can buy more than 350 products made from over 65 vendors in the Turner Evans building, now renovated with seven Tennessee woods paneled on the wall. There is also wood shelving and cabinets with old-time signage such as "Goo Goo: A nourishing lunch" "Ranch Style Beans" and "Take Home Kern's Bread."

Central to the building is a general store with products available for purchase from Tennessee businesses that make food and fiber related to cotton or wool used for clothing and textiles.

The Beez Knees preserves for sale at a new general store that sells different products and commodities produced in Tennessee inside the Pick Tennessee Products Experience at Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
The Beez Knees preserves for sale at a new general store that sells different products and commodities produced in Tennessee inside the Pick Tennessee Products Experience at Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.

"I like to buy Tennessee products and it's a great opportunity to see things from other counties you don't see at other stores," said Julie Harper, 60, one of the first customers. "It's a great marketing idea."

Chocolates, cheeses, popcorn, ice cream, wool items and soaps are among the products being sold at the store. Numerous agricultural commodities like soybeans, corn and wheat are highlighted on different walls.

An "old country feel," struck volunteer Sue Allen as she went through the store buying two peach vanilla honey butter spreads.

"It will show what Tennessee has to offer that people don't realize comes from Tennessee," said Felicia McPeak, one of many who took advantage of a presale offered before the fair opened for volunteers and employees. It generated more than $2,000 in sales.

Building renovations were headed up by the Department of Agriculture.

“We want to increase awareness to buyers and increase opportunity for our vendors with buyers,” said Andy Holt, assistant commissioner of the Department of Agriculture's Business Development Division.

Fairgoers can also vote at the exhibit for a new logo for Tennessee-produced milk. Voting will also be offered online at the Department of Agriculture’s Facebook page, Holt said.

Inside a new general store that sells different products and commodities produced in Tennessee inside the Pick Tennessee Products Experience at Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
Inside a new general store that sells different products and commodities produced in Tennessee inside the Pick Tennessee Products Experience at Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.

Each day of the fair will have a theme with giveaways while supplies last. They are:

  • Friday, Aug. 18: Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Friday

  • Saturday, Aug. 19: Ice Cream Day

  • Sunday, Aug. 20: Cheese Day

  • Monday, Aug. 21: MoonPie Monday

  • Tuesday, Aug. 22: Pork Day

  • Wednesday: Aug. 23: Watermelon Wednesday

  • Thursday, Aug. 24:  Little Debbie

  • Friday, Aug. 25: Beef Day

  • Saturday, Aug. 26: Frozen Yogurt Day.

There are also stages inside and outside for daily demonstrations and displays. The demonstration schedule is:

Different condiments for sale at new general store that sells different products and commodities produced in Tennessee inside the Pick Tennessee Products Experience at Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
Different condiments for sale at new general store that sells different products and commodities produced in Tennessee inside the Pick Tennessee Products Experience at Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.

Friday, Aug. 18: 6:30 p.m. – Regenerative agriculture. 8 p.m. – Regenerative agriculture.

Saturday, Aug. 19: 11 a.m. – Personal Protective Equipment for Wildfire and Burns. 1:30 p.m. – Careers in Forestry. 3:30 p.m. – Hempcrete: The Green Future of Construction. 4:30 p.m. – Garden Cut Flower Arrangement. 6:30 p.m. – Tennessee Tree Identification. 8 p.m. – Personal Protective Equipment for Wildfire and Burns.

Sunday, Aug. 20: 1:30 p.m. – Cooking with Dairy. 3:30 p.m. – Cooking with Dairy. 6:30 p.m. – Sheep Shearing. 8 p.m. – Sheep Shearing.

Monday, Aug. 21: 6:30 p.m. – MoonPie contests. 8 p.m. – MoonPie contests.

Tuesday, Aug. 22: 6:30 p.m. – Million Dollar Bacon. 8 p.m. – Million Dollar Bacon..

Wednesday, Aug. 23: 6:30 p.m. – Insect and Disease Petting Zoo. 8 p.m. – Insect and Disease Petting Zoo.

Thursday, Aug. 24: 6:30 p.m. – Hydrangeas. 8 p.m. – Hydrangeas.

Friday, Aug. 25: 6:30 p.m. – Meet a Farmer/Rancher & Beef Cooking Demo. 8 p.m. – Meet a Farmer/Rancher & Beef Cooking Demo..

Saturday, Aug. 26: 11 a.m. – White Oak Management. 1:30 p.m. – Project Learning Tree Activities. 3:30 p.m. – White Oak Management. 6:30 p.m. – Project Learning Tree Activities. 8 p.m. – Tree Farm and Forest Certification in Tennessee.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MoonPies, Little Debbie part of Wilson County - TN fair. Here's why.