Putnam County Dairy Festival

Executive Director Bryce Trotter received the 2025 Dairy Award on behalf of Georgia Milk Producers Inc. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Executive Director Bryce Trotter received the 2025 Dairy Award on behalf of Georgia Milk Producers Inc. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Dairy Festival delivers again for Eatonton

Ian Tocher
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Since the inaugural event in 1953, the Pilot Club of Eatonton has been presenting the annual Dairy Festival, held each June to officially commemorate Dairy Month.This year’s event was kicked off Friday night by a live performance by pop-rock cover band GridRocked before a sizable crowd on The...
This year’s Dairy Festival will begin at 7:30 a.m. Fun Run, followed by the 8 a.m. start of the Dairy Festival 5K Road Race (map, p. 7). By 9 a.m., arts, crafts, and food vendors will be open all around the courthouse square, and at 10 a.m. the Dairy Festival Parade through downtown Eatonton will begin.

This year’s Dairy Festival will begin at 7:30 a.m. Fun Run, followed by the 8 a.m. start of the Dairy Festival 5K Road Race (map, p. 7). By 9 a.m., arts, crafts, and food vendors will be open all around the courthouse square, and at 10 a.m. the Dairy Festival Parade through downtown Eatonton will begin.

Dairy Festival enjoys long, proud history

Ian Tocher
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Initially held in 1953, Putnam County’s Dairy Festival continues today in recognition of the local dairy industry, as well as honoring contributions by dairy farmers and their families to the county.
Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation/CONTRIBUTED

Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation/CONTRIBUTED

GDYF promotes youth in dairy

Ian Tocher
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Also featured in the Putnam County Dairy Festival this year is the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation (gadyf.com), based in nearby Madison. GDYF is a nonprofit group that raises funding for youth dairy activities in the state for Future Farmers of America (FFA), 4-H, and college-level dairy farmers.
As the newspaper of record, The Eatonton Messenger dubbed June 16, 1953, as “a date that has no doubt engraved itself deeply in the history” of Putnam County. CONTRIUBTED

As the newspaper of record, The Eatonton Messenger dubbed June 16, 1953, as “a date that has no doubt engraved itself deeply in the history” of Putnam County. CONTRIUBTED

Putnam A to Z: D is for Dairy Festival

Ian Tocher
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Editor’s note: The symmetry of 52 weeks in a year and 26 letters in our alphabet inspired us here at The Eatonton Messenger to embark on an alphabetical journey every other week in 2023, looking at something – or someone – unique, significant, unusual, or just plain interesting in Putnam County,...
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