Students from Grady College’s Advanced Photojournalism course spent an entire day at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in 2016 for the moments that show what the fair means to the attendees.
John Jiles, 4, from Columbus, Georgia, gets escorted out of the Mutton Bustin’ arena after falling off a sheep. Mutton Bustin’ is a competition for children ages three to six, where each child tries to hang on to the sheep’s back the longest, at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia on October 8, 2016. (Photo/Katelyn Umholtz, kumholtz@uga.edu)
Taylor Mcclellon and Emily Gattis, both age 10 and from Habersham County, Georgia, show their lambs in the Class Five competition at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on October 10, 2016. The two friends are typically competing against each other given their same age. (Eva Claire Schwartz, evacschwartz@gmail.com)
Matthew McKeown, 23, of Boston, Massachussetts, who has been working with the fair for three years now, runs the paintball court where you shoot manaqueins and zombie posters at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on October 8, 2016. McKeown has owned his Carhartt jacket for just over a year and uses it at every event, and has just took a picture and sent it to Carhartt to try and get a new jacket. (Photo/Henry Taylor/henrytaylorphoto@gmail.com)
John Brown and Jimmy Clance, from Perry, grill ribeye steaks at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia on October 8, 2016. Brown and Clance volunteer at the Veterans Foreign Wars booth at the fair. (Photo/Cory A. Cole)
Autumn Hodges, 9, from Jones County, Georgia, hangs from a climbing wall at the Georiga National Fair in Perry, Georgia on Saturday, October 8, 2016. This year is the 27th year that the annual fair has been open. (Photo/Hannah Brown, hgbrown@uga.edu)
Karson Underwood, 5, a kindergarten student from Warner Robins, Georgia, rides the mechanical bull on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at the Georgia National Fair, in Perry, Georgia. Underwood and his family travelled from Warner Robins to enjoy the fair on Saturday. (Photo/Ansley Walker, eawalker@uga.edu)
Michael Lee, 41, and Lynn Lee, 45, from Harris County, Georgia, ride the ski lift above the Georgia National Fair on Saturday, October 8 in Perry, Georgia. (Photo/Hannah Brown, hgbrown@uga.edu)
Alaini Moore, 11, a student from Elko, Georgia, walks her show cow into the Junior Commercial Heifer Competition arena on Saturday, October 8, 2016, in Perry, Georgia. The Georgia National Fair offers a wide variety of livestock competitions and events. (Photo Lauren Leising/lel57263@uga.edu)
Two girls call to a sheep before competing in the Children’s Mutton Bustin’ sheep riding competition at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. Children can under sixty pounds can compete in the sheep riding competition. (Photo/Jenn Finch, www.jennfinch.wordpress.com)
Rides run all day at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 10, 2016. The rides are interspersed with food vendors and carnival games. (Eva Claire Schwartz, evacschwartz@gmail.com)
Brittanie Bell, 18, a sales associate from Dublin, Georgia, and Dalton Houston, 20, an artist from Dublin, Georgia, at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on October 8, 2016. Houston won a stuffed animal for Bell by playing a dart game at the fair. (Photo/Caroline R. Elliott, creneee@uga.edu)
Anna, 5, granddaughter of Roy Perkins from Byron, Georgia, rides the carosel at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on October 8, 2016. Anna came with her grandfather to the fair today, just the two of them. (Photo/ Caroline R. Elliott, creneee@uga.edu)
Darrick Hall a cook at Famous Gabby’s Kitchens, 38, of Clear Water, Florida, pours spices on half chickens in proportion for the days patrons at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. “This is my favorite event we do of the year, it’s the people and the southern hospitality,” Hall said. (Photo/Joshua L. Jones)
Meredith Camp, 15, from Concord, Georgia, comforts her ewe, Ophelia while competing in the Breeding Ewe Competition at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. She went on to win the Grand Champion Breeding Ewe Prize. (Photo/Jenn Finch, www.jennfinch.wordpress.com)
Elizabeth Smith, 6, from Kathleen, Georgia, a young competitor in the Mutton Bustin’ Wool Riding competition at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. Smith was taken off of the sheep after a bad start at the beginning of her round in the sheep riding competition. (Photo: Henry Taylor/henrytaylorphoto@gmail.com)
Laurel Wood, 22, a music buisness student, from milledgeville, Georgia, and Michael Kessler, 20, a music buisness student, from Kansas City, Missouri, pose for a selfie on the carosel at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on October 8, 2016. (Photo/ Caroline R. Elliott, creneee@uga.edu)
Kashanti Lemon, 13, and Dymond Brown, 13, two eighth grade students from Sandersville, Georgia, ride a roller coaster on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at the Georgia National Fair, in Perry, Georgia. Lemon and Brown travel from Sandersville to Perry together every year to experience the fair. (Photo/Ansley Walker)
Malachi Wheeler, 10, of Albany, Georgia, enters a fun house through a spinning tunnel at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. (Photo/Casey Sykes, www.caseysykes.com)
Pistol Burkes, 10, from Grady county, waits with his cow, Kate, before judging at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, Saturday, October 8, 2016. Burkes’ family owns three cows and Burkes would go on to show all three. (Photo/Austin Steele, steeleau@uga.edu)
Addison Boyette, 6, a first grade student from Plant City, Florida, laughs with teammate Jayden Ferrell, 12, a seventh grade student from Plant City, Florida, on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia. Boyette and Ferrell travelled to the Georgia National Fair to compete in 4-H Junior Competition with their riding team. (Photo/Ansley Walker, eawalker@uga.edu)
Christine Bartley, 54, of Long Island, New York, and Joseph Follmer, 57, of Jersey City, New Jersey, talk together after getting engaged at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Bartley and Follmer met in Ocala, Florida, where they both now reside, after Bartley’s daughter, Cassandra, set her up with Follmer, a maintenance worker that works in the building where she lives. “They went out for coffee and [have] been inseparable since,” says Cassandra. But when recollecting their first meeting, Follmer admitted, “we still haven’t had our first coffee date.” When they met up before going to get coffee, they talked for so long that they forgot to go. (Photo/Casey Sykes, www.caseysykes.com)
Fair-goeres at the Georgia National Fair ride an amusement park ride on Saturday, October 8, 2016 in Perry, Georgia. 2016 marks the 27th year of the annual fair. (Photo/Hannah Brown, hgbrown@uga.edu)
Addie Bridges, 14 from Menlo, Georgia, walks her cow towards her father, Michael Bridges, 51, Robotics Technician from Menlo, Georgia, as practice for her competition at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. One big part of the Georgia National Fair is the chance for people of all ages to show off their livestock in various competitions. (Photo/Kelsey E. Green, kegreen.professional@gmail.com)
Chloe Rowell, 8, from Macon, Georgia, sits as she gets her face painted to look like a tiger at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia on October 8, 2016. The Georgia National Fair takes place from October 6-16 and happens once a year. (Photo/Katelyn Umholtz, kumholtz@uga.edu)
Reece Meaver, center, 20, from Griffin, Georgia, and a junior at Gordon State College gets ready to lead the Southern Exposure drill team into the ring to compete at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. The the team is comprised of girls from age 12 to 20. (Photo/Joshua L. Jones)
Meredith Camp, 15, from Concord, Georgia, comforts her ewe, Ophelia, after winning first place in the Semifinals of the Breeding Ewe Competition at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. (Photo/Jenn Finch, www.jennfinch.wordpress.com)]
Jayden Martinez, 5, from Byron, Georgia, waits to participate in the Mutton Bustin’ event at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, Saturday, October 8, 2016. Mutton Bustin is a competiton for kids to see who can ride the sheep for the longest amount of time. (Photo/Austin Steele, steeleau@uga.edu)
Luke Comeau, 5, from Toccoa, engulfs with great power a mere piece of cotton candy while sitting in his grand aunt’s lap, June Stubb, 73, who resides in Perry, Georgia, at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on October 8, 2016. (Photo/Henry Taylor/henrytaylorphoto@gmail.com)
Troyquavian Thomas, 7, a child from Arlington, Georgia, rides a swing ride on Saturday, October 8, 2016, in Perry Georgia. The rides, games and large variety of food options at The Georgia National Fair offer families and fair-goers a fun and unique day. (Photo: Lauren Leising/lel57263@uga.edu)
Liliana Alarcon, 5, from Warner Robins, Georgia, colors on a community coloring wall at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, Saturday, October 8, 2016. The Georgia National Fair attracts thousands of people every year for the various events. (Photo/Austin Steele, steeleau@uga.edu)
Fair-goers ride on a swing ride on Saturday, October 8, 2016 in Perry, Georgia. The Georgia National Fair attracts people from around the state and country. (Photo: Lauren Leising/lel57263@uga.edu)
Christine Bartley, 54, of Long Island, New York, and Joseph Follmer, 57, of Jersey City, New Jersey, embrace while a family member records the moment after Bartley proposed to Follmer at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Bartley and Follmer met in Ocala, Florida, where they both now reside, after Bartley’s daughter, Cassandra, set her up with Follmer, a maintenance worker that works in the building where she lives. “They went out for coffee and [have] been inseparable since,” says Cassandra. But when recollecting their first meeting, Follmer admitted, “we still haven’t had our first coffee date.” When they met up before going to get coffee, they talked for so long that they forgot to go. (Photo/Casey Sykes, www.caseysykes.com)
Jade Dockery, 18, and Destiny Early, 19, both of Atlanta, Georgia, scream while riding Pharaoh’s Fury at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. (Photo/Casey Sykes, www.caseysykes.com)
Fair goers ride a carousel at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. The fair is celebrating its 27th anniversary this year. (Photo/David Barnes, davidbarnesphoto@gmail.com)
Dr. Michael “Doc” Rhett, from Cobb County competes in the Legislator Showdown at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia on October 8, 2016. Rhett is the state senator for District 33 in Georgia. (Photo/Cory A. Cole)
Kori Pugh, age 6, from Leesburg, Georgia, flips on a jumping attraction at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. Pugh and her family drove down for the day, like many families, to spend quality time together. (Eva Claire Schwartz, evacschwartz@gmail.com)
Meghan Boyette, 32, from Plant City, Florida, leads her horse to the stables in between showings at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. Boyette is the team leader of Hearts for Horses, a 4H group that is competing at the fair for the first time. (Photo/David Barnes, davidbarnesphoto@gmail.com)
Ela Todd, 49 hairstylist from Griffin, Georgia, plays with her granddaughter, Olivia Todd, 2 from Griffin, Georgia, at the Georgia National Fair on Saturday, October 8, 2016 in Perry, Georgia. “Famous for fun,” the Georgia National Fair is a place for family and friends to spend time with one another and make special memories. (Photo/Kelsey E. Green, kegreen.professional@gmail.com)
Nevaeh Barnette, 5, from Phenix City, Alabama, and a student at West Smith-Station Primary rids the ferris wheel at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, October 8, 2016. (Photo/Joshua L. Jones)
Guests ride a lift at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia on October 8, 2016. The Georgia National Fair is the largest fair in Georgia. (Photo/Cory A. Cole)
