The Friend of Agriculture Award recognizes a community member or entity who provides goods, services, or support to the production agriculture community.
Born and raised in Habersham County, Brenda Kinsey, has a servant’s heart for her community.
Besides raising a family, working a public job, serving as the Habersham Baptist Association WMU director for over 15 years, and working on many different mission and community projects, Brenda has served on the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair Board for 18 years.
Fourteen of those year, Brenda led the organization as president. In her leadership roles, Brenda worked with numerous organizations and community groups to best promote their missions and purpose through the fair.
Since Chattahoochee Mountain Fair is part of the Georgia Agricultural Fairs Association, Brenda worked tireless with Extension, AG teachers, Farm Bureau leaders and others to spotlight agriculture programing and the AG industry in Habersham County and Northeast Georgia. Her motto is “Let’s make sure agriculture is in the spotlight.” From livestock shows to food preservation exhibits, Brenda has worked to ensure these events have been center stage and well-funded activities.
In addition, Brenda worked with Habersham County Farm Bureau to host the Annual Kids’ Farm and Fun Day that is held each year on the opening day of the fair. All of the county’s fourth grade students descend on the Habersham County Fairgrounds and rotate through 13 different learning stations and participate in hands-on learning activities link to food production and production agriculture.
“Brenda and the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair board have always been a support arm that allows us the time and space to host the event. You couldn’t ask for a better collaborative effort,” Gilbert Barrett said.
Brenda also led the effort to continue the fair’s scholarship opportunities for youth who participates in the fair contest. Not only does the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair provide many local scholarships to students, but Brenda has worked tirelessly to make sure our Habersham livestock students have taken advantage of State Scholarship opportunities. Under her leadership, Habersham County Students have received more State Fair Association Scholarship Awards than any other counties in Georgia or South Carolina.
Brenda also served four years as a board member on the Georgia/South Carolina State Fair Board, and she served on the Mount Airy City Council. This year, Brenda is stepping down from her leadership role as president of the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair.