There’s certainly a lot of work and planning that goes into the Wartrace Horse Show at Jernigan Field each year.  

What is tremendous is how much the community stands to benefit from the one-night show. From making sure the ribbon presenters are on mark to counting and recounting entries, there’s always something to do each summer.  

According to show chair Ronnie Sutton, the main attraction of the show is of course the horses. But it is largely a joint venture, fundraiser, organized by East Bedford Civic Club and Cascade Elementary PTO.  

Sutton notes the two groups come together, comprising Civic Enterprises. All proceeds collected at the Wartrace show are divided between the two groups. In addition to ticket sales and entry fees, concessions are sold at the show.  

So, some volunteers stood over a hot grill to make hamburgers on Saturday night. East Bedford Civic, of which Sutton’s a part, then turns around and with their proceeds, hosts such events at the Strolling Jim marathon and the popcorn booth at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.  

From these fundraising efforts, Cascade students and the elementary PTO will benefit.  

East Bedford Civic offers two scholarships and supports other student and community needs. One man gave a $5 tip to the concession stand Saturday night; he said it’s because of how the concessions support the schools.  

Those dollars, large or small, are greatly invested back into the community, according to Sutton. It soon adds up. In the past, the Wartrace park has benefitted. New LED lights have been installed at Jernigan Field, which is a place a lot of the community use from time to time. “This benefits the whole community.”  

The 116th horse show, he advises, brought in 143 entries. “We expected to have a blow out night,” says Sutton.  

It was estimated that 95 percent of box seats sold. In addition, nearly 500 people who came through the general admission gate at some point during the evening.  

It was certainly a sweltering night, says Sutton who dresses up in a suit for the show. As sometimes happens, lightening started, he chuckles, and people scattered. But it sprinkled rain then cleared off for the rest of the evening, leaving enough time to finish out the 2022 event.  

“All in all, it was a great show,” Sutton says. He highly compliments the Cascade High Marching Band for doing an “outstanding job,” especially when they played the National Anthem.  

It seems that the Wartrace community just seems to know how to rally together to get things done. Sutton himself has stuck with the lead role year after year because he knows how much the community stands to benefit.  

He doesn’t forget to thank the community and the horse trainers, owners and exhibitors who drove out to Jernigan Field to show support for a very worthwhile cause in the tiny town of Wartrace.  

Now, East Bedford Civic prepares for the big show—The Celebration. Popcorn anyone?