TWHNC Press Release

The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will allow any Maiden entry to enter by the late entry deadline of July 30th without paying any penalty. Due to the Maiden Finals being held on July 24th which falls after the entry deadline for the 86th Annual Celebration on July 23rd, those entries will be allowed to enter up until the late entry deadline of July 30th and pay the normal entry fee.

The Celebration moved the entry deadline up this year from the traditional date and will take entries in person at the Blue Ribbon Circle on July 22nd and 23rd until 5:00PM CST. For years the Celebration has been asked to create a late entry opportunity with an increased entry fee for those entries that were forgotten and/or for those that have had a change in their circumstances which would allow for them to enter at The Celebration.

“I am glad we found a way to accommodate the Maiden participants and not penalize them for wanting to show in the World Championship show. I want to be clear, the double fee for late entries is not intended as an opportunity for The Celebration to collect more revenue. My hope is that no one takes advantage of the late entry deadline. The late entry deadline and the increased fee came from requests from our customers. The 86th Celebration is lining up to be another amazing show and we are thankful for everyone that plans to enter a horse in the show”

Joseph Edward “Joe” Link, 68, of Mt Juliet, Tennessee passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Joe was born in Nashville on December 26, 1955 to his parents John Thomas and Teresa Pair Link. Joe was a lifelong resident of the area and was a graduate of Holy Rosary Academy.

After graduating high school, Joe began his career in the concrete industry. Joe knew he needed to take care of his family, so he began his own company, Joe’s Concrete Services. He was a go getter working hard to succeed so that he could provide for his family and pass the business down to his son. This was a major accomplishment, but his proudest moments of his life would be the birth of his children and grandchildren. Joe enjoyed hunting, deep sea fishing, and his farm time with his wide variety of farm animals. Joe was a wonderful man, who loved his family deeply. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, business associates and all that knew him.

Joe was preceded in death by his grandparents John Louis & Mary Agnes Quinn Link and Henry & Margaret Pair, his parents John Thomas & Teresa Pair Link and his brother Matthew Thomas Link.

Joe is survived by his loving wife Marla G. Link, his children Heather Nicole Link (Donnie) Jones and John Thomas (Ashley) Link, his grandchildren Bryson Wyatt Jones and Emerson Avery Jones, and his brothers John Louis Link and Donald Parker Link.

There will be a gathering of family and friends for Joe on Friday, July 19, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Hermitage Funeral Home, 535 Shute Ln, Old Hickory, TN 37138. There will be a visitation on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 10:00 AM with his Celebration of Life beginning at 11:00 AM in the Chapel at Hermitage Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Garden of the Cross at Hermitage Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be: Bryson Jones, Donnie Jones, Andy Wyatt, Bobby Phillips, Jeremy Hall and Tony Calvetti. Honorary Pallbearers are John T. Link III, John L. Link, Donald P. Link and Steven M. Link.

Fond memories, words of comfort and expressions of sympathy may be left for the Link family by visiting our website www.HermitageFH.com

TWHNC PRESS RELEASE Tuesday, July 9, 2024
The 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will be held August 21-31, 2024 on its historic show grounds in Shelbyville. Earlier this summer, an entry deadline for preliminary class entries was set for July 23rd at 5:00PM central standard time. This deadline was earlier than in past years by approximately a week.

In response to requests this year and over the past several years, The Celebration® board of directors has made the decision to keep the original entry deadline of July 23rd, but also allow late entries through July 30th at 5:00PM CST. All late entries will be charged double the normal entry fee for entries received after the original July 23rd date.

Online entries will once again be accepted by The Celebration® this year starting July 14th. The Celebration® will take entries not made online, in the Blue Ribbon Circle on both July 22nd and 23rd until 5:00PM each day.

For more information on the upcoming 86th Annual Celebration please visit www.TWHNC.com or call 931-684-5915.

Melissa Payne Chambers, a beloved resident of Tazewell, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2024 at the age of 71. Born on January 6, 1953, Melissa Chambers, was a cherished member of the community, known for her warm heart, unwavering love for her family, and her deep passion for horses and East Tennessee.

Melissa spent her life in Tazewell, where she cultivated a life filled with love in her marriage to Jay B Chambers for 43 years; family, and cherished traditions. In her professional life, Melissa worked for 40+ years as a Registered Dietitian; caring for patients in hospital and assisted living environments. She had a special place in her heart for her grandkids, who were the light of her life. She spent countless hours sharing incredible stories, offering wisdom, and creating memories with them that will be treasured forever.

Her love for horses was a defining aspect of her life. Whether she was riding, grooming, or simply spending time at the stables, Melissa found joy and solace in the company of her family farm. Her knowledge and passion for horses were evident to all who knew her, and she often shared this love with her grandchildren, teaching them the values of care and compassion.

As a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Melissa was a dedicated Tennessee Volunteers fan. Game days in the fall & winter were reserved for cheering on the beloved Lady Vols basketball team, and she took great pride in her team’s triumphs and championships. Her enthusiasm for the Lady Vol program was infectious, and her home was always a gathering place for family and friends to watch the games together.

Melissa’s ability to hold friends and keep their loyal friendships was unparalleled. Laughter was a defining quality as she had the ability to entertain and hold a room captive with a mix of wit and Southern storytelling. Her ability to carry a room with her laughter was known by all whom she loved and was a defining aspect of her ability to just have fun. She cherished holiday entertaining especially around Christmas and Easter; the gatherings would be full of a festive atmosphere, incredible meals and stories that will continue for the generations.

She is survived by her daughter Ashley Davis Stinson (Doug Stinson) and her two grandchildren, (Nolan Payne Stinson and Haley Rose Stinson), her sister Martha Payne Neff (Steve Neff), niece Amanda Johnston (Jay Johnston), great-niece Reese Johnston, and preceded in death by her husband Jay B Chambers, parents Robert and Edith Payne and brother Steven Payne. She also leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and devotion that will continue to inspire those who knew her.

In the months after Jay’s passing; her spirits were lifted by family, old friends Pete and Rosalind Smith, Martha Yoakum, Rena Shockley & new friends like Renata Price. All together, they were peas in a pod, sharing new adventures and living life to the fullest. Their escapades brought laughter and joy; proving friendship knows no bounds and fun has no expiration date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church of New Tazewell or the Kerbela Shriners of East Tennessee in her name; two organizations Melissa cared for deeply.

Melissa will forever be remembered for her kind spirit, her deep love for her family, and her passions that brought so much richness and joy to her life. May she rest in peace.

“Life’s a party, and I’m here for the dance! Cheers to a life well-lived, filled with love, laughter, and endless joy!”

A celebration of her wonderful life and gathering to honor Melissa will be announced at a later date.

The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association Auxiliary is very instrumental in promoting education, especially when it comes to members of the Walking Horse industry. Each year the Auxiliary awards scholarships to any eligible candidate involved with Tennessee Walking Horses who is furthering his/her education. Each application is evaluated and scored by numerous qualified professional people. Beth Thomas and Kari Tisma lead the scholarship committee. Thomas and Tisma are also educators in Bedford County, Tennessee.

This year, the WHTA Auxiliary presented six scholarships. The 2024 scholarships were awarded to Harper Grider, Gracie Mourglea, Peyton Nelms, Corbin Parker, Abi Smith and Colton Trimble.

TWHNC Press Release
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration has selected Derek Bonner, Jamie Bradshaw, Scotty Brooks, Leigh Stuart and Amy Trimble to judge the upcoming 86th Annual Celebration. The Celebration will be held August 21-31, 2024 in Cooper Steel and Celebration Arenas over five morning sessions and 11 evening performances.
The Celebration affiliates with the SHOW HIO and selects its judges from those licensed by the SHOW HIO. The Celebration only selects from those judges that hold a AAA or better license with SHOW. Earlier this summer the Celebration sent an email to all SHOW judges and asked for those that had an interest and availability to judge this year’s show. There were 32 AAA or better licensed judges to submit their name for consideration and the Celebration narrowed the list initially and then went through an extensive vetting process to select the final panel.
“We appreciate the interest our SHOW judges have in judging our industry’s World Championship Show. I would like to thank our judges’ committee for the amount of time and effort put into selecting this panel,” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells.
Bradshaw, from Arab, Al., will be judging The Celebration for the seventh time with his most recent appearance in 2022. Bradshaw had judged The Spring Fun Show on four occasions including earlier this year. Bradshaw has judged most every major show in the industry during his career and will mark the cards one more time before The Celebration at the upcoming Marshall County Horseman’s Association horse show in Lewisburg.
Bonner, from Mooresboro, N.C., will be making his fifth appearance on the judging panel and will judge the show in back-to-back years for the first time in his career. Bonner has also judged most major venues outside of The Celebration in the industry and has also worked for The Celebration at the 2014 and 2022 Spring Fun Shows.
Stuart, from Alvaton, Ky., will be making her sixth appearance at The Celebration with her first appearance happening in 1997. Stuart also judged The Celebration in 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2020. Stuart’s span of 27 years from her first appearance to her current selection is one of the longest in recent Celebration history.
Brooks, from Smith’s Grove, KY, will be making his second appearance at The Celebration with his first coming in 2017. Brooks has judged the Spring Fun Show in 2006, 2010 and 2017 and judged the Celebration Fall Classic in 2023. Earlier this year Brooks judged the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Money Tree Classic, two of the industry’s premier venues.
Trimble, from Pulaski, Tn., will be marking the cards for the second time with her first appearance being in 2022. Trimble most recently judged the Money Tree Classic over the 4th of July weekend but has also previously judged the Celebration Fall Classic, Mississippi Charity, Columbia Spring Jubilee, North Carolina Championships and Walking in the Smokies.
“Along with Charles McDonald and our entire center ring staff, I look forward to working with the panel to have a great Celebration. Our ability to have a panel that represents four different states and has 20 years of past Celebration experience excites all of us about our upcoming show,” concluded Wells.

Cartwright Elementary School is the newest school built in Shelbyville/Bedford County and will welcome students this upcoming 2024-2025 school year. The school is named in honor of the late Bobby and Jane Cartwright. Better known as “Big Hoss” and “Granny Jane”, the Cartwrights were longtime supporters of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry, as well as staples in the Shelbyville/Bedford County community. The land that now cradles the elementary school was purchased by the Cartwright’s in the early 1970s.
The Cartwright Elementary School mascot is fittingly “Home of the Colts”. When principal Whitney Yoes decided a Walking Horse mural was a necessity, she knew exactly who to contact- Suzy Cartwright Johnson, daughter of Big Hoss and Granny Jane Cartwright. Suzy knew the perfect horse to be honored. IB Smokin’ Joe is owned by The Johnson Family, and she knew he would be a great representative for the mural. Not only is he a beautiful Tennessee Walking Horse, but he is quite a talented one as well. IB Smokin’ Joe is a 7x World Champion and 3x World Grand Champion. Suzy also knew exactly who to choose to do the artistic project. Crystal O’Neal, a local artist was thrilled to accept the task. Crystal’s artwork should be very familiar with everyone that attends The Celebration. She just happens to be the same artist who painted the Walking Horse located under the west grandstand of the Celebration Arena.
Congratulations to Keith and Suzy Johnson for such a great tribute honoring the legacy of two very giving individuals, Bobby and Jane Cartwright. Suzy summed it up best, “My parents were very involved in the community, and I think they would be so proud. They loved children, they loved the community, and they wanted to see good things come to all people.” The Scoop also congratulates IB Smokin’ Joe for being honored in this artistic way.
For those interested in seeing the school firsthand, an open house will be held for the community on July 11, 2024 at 5:00pm.

TWHNC PRESS & SOCIAL MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, June 14, 2024

The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration (TWHNC) has released the class schedule for the upcoming 86th Annual Celebration. The Celebration will begin on Wednesday August 21, 2024 and run through the following Saturday, August 31st. The class sheet mirrors 2023 in terms of what classes are offered.
The only changes are a slight reorder of the classes on the first Saturday morning and a move of the Juvenile Park Performance from Thursday evening to Friday evening, which in turn moved the Amateur Mares & Geldings Park Performance from Friday to Thursday.
The entry deadline for the 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is 5:00PM CST on July 23, 2024. The Celebration will take entries in person at the Blue Ribbon Circle Club on July 22nd and 23rd and will once again this year accept online entries.