Williamson County Ag Expo Park serves as major economic driver
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — Between hosting the Williamson County Fair to the annual Franklin Rodeo, the Williamson County Ag Expo Park remains a major economic driver in the county, attracting roughly 350,000 visitors each year.
The facility's director, Kenny Wallace, is a native to the area and remembers the Ag Expo opening its doors back in 2001. As he prepares to retire this month, he's worked to create a facility that remains close to its roots.
'When I was raised on our farm, the big deal was coming to Franklin on a Saturday afternoon, that was a big deal. People my age still remember those days. So, it was built on agriculture, we want to continue that,' Wallace said.
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Each year, the grounds host roughly 50 major events, as well as serving as home to the Williamson County UT Ag Extension and local 4H programs
'It takes a lot of work to maintain, a lot of grass is cut here, we do not contract any of that out, we do it all in house,' Wallace added. 'Everything we do here, we do in house.'
The facility is free to use for schools and government activities and serves as training grounds for local volunteer firefighters and law enforcement. However, it also works to remain self-sufficient based on funds brought in by visitors.
'We do not have a huge staff here and we do not operate on a large budget. We have a great return on investment here, anywhere from $15 to 20 million in economic impact [per year],' Wallace said. 'And that is money that comes in here that the taxpayers don't have to fork over.'
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The venue aims to also appeal to a variety of interests, and host a wide range of events. However, it's important to Wallace that the 100-acres remains rooted in agriculture and serves the community.
'We have the crown jewel of Williamson County right here, it is a great, great location, we have the best location in Williamson County and the city of Franklin,' he said. 'We're right here beside the interstate, a lot has grown up around us. I see no reason why we should ever, ever get rid of the ownership of this facility to someone else because we do a lot of good for our community.'
Wallace invited everyone to attend this year's upcoming Franklin Rodeo, taking place May 15 through 17.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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