The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration held its annual Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at the Blue Ribbon Circle Club.  Nearly 200 people were in attendance for the festivities that honor full-time and seasonal employees and others who play a role during the world championship horse show.

The focus of Celebration Board Chairman Charles McDonald’s comments, as he addressed the honorees, was a “year of transition” at The Celebration and in the Walking Horse industry.  McDonald is in the first of a two-year term as Chairman of The Celebration Board of Directors.  Stated McDonald, “Since 1939, the annual Celebration has grown to be an integral part of our community and an increasingly major economic contributor for the past 71 years.  But it could not have happened had it not been for you and the many community minded citizens that served in your roles since its inception.  With the support of many industry organizations, including the Walking Horse Trainers Association, this community and people sitting in this room, we did survive and continue to make progress each day.”

Celebration Board Treasurer Henry Hulan provided the closing remarks for the evening.  Hulan’s comments were centered on two key words for which the evening focused:  appreciation and celebration.  He commended and thanked those in the room, and the community as a whole, for “stepping up” and making the 71^st Annual Celebration the success that it was.

The final highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Celebration Ambassador Award.  Board member John T. Bobo presented the award to Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray.  Bobo pointed out Ray’s years of community service which include 28 years as a county commissioner.  In twenty of those years Mayor Ray served as Chairman of the County Commission.  Bobo stated, “Mayor Ray has always been a strong supporter and advocate of The Celebration.  That was never more evident than in 2009, when Mayor personally met with industry leaders and officials in Washington, DC.”  Continued Bobo, “The Celebration and the community owe a great deal of gratitude to Mayor Ray.”

The 72^nd Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is slated for August 25 – September 4 at the Historic Celebration Grounds in Shelbyville, TN.