Written by: Emerson Loudenback

The Williamson County Fair is a favorite of many in and around the area. Complete with food, entertainment, art, animals, and more, the fair runs smoothly on account of its many participants and volunteers. One of those volunteers is Leah Kennedy, a fifteen-year-old student at Fairview High School. On her own, she raises and shows chickens, but as a volunteer and a friend, she has worked with many other animals, including livestock and horses, both in the show rings and in the barns. 

Having been an avid member of 4H since youth, Leah now serves on the Williamson County Junior Fair Board, holding the position of Secretary and Vice Chairman. Both positions have showcased her leadership skills and her knowledge of how the fair functions. She loves the work she does and knows what it takes for the fair to flourish each year. Her observations have led her to partake more and more each year in various aspects of the fair. “Once I saw all the work that went into the event, I felt that I needed to serve my community and give back to them,” Leah says. 

In addition to working with the animals and in the show rings, Leah has also helped in the youth art section, assisted the judges, worked on setting up and tearing down, as well as organizing the Funnel Cake 5k Run. Eager and happy to serve, Leah can always be counted on to assist wherever needed. She also works at events like the Tennessee Farmers’ Cooperative Meeting, and helps other organizations like the Nashville Rescue Mission. Her passion for volunteer work goes beyond the fair and beyond her love of agriculture. “I am not going to ignore a chance to achieve more to help others thrive,” she says. 

For example, she loves working with children. The Williamson County fair allows Leah the opportunity not only to spend time with children but to help them learn and explore different topics like farm animals and agriculture in the community.  She enjoys introducing them to some of the fair’s animals and answering their questions. “I love working with little kids and seeing their faces light up. It is the most rewarding thing,” she says. 

More recently Leah has found ways to give back to her community. Due to the recent pandemic, a need for medical masks has arisen. Leah has been making some of these masks and delivering them to local EMS workers and also some of her family members. It is actions like these that display the joy she has for helping her community and the heart she has for those working hard around her. 

Leah is named Nashville’s Volunteer of the Month for her generous heart. She and other volunteers like her are celebrated by Doing Good, a local 501c3 nonprofit which celebrates those who do good. For more information or to nominate someone for Nashville’s Volunteer of the Month, visit DoingGood.tv.

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Doing Good is a 501c3 non-profit which provides marketing and public relations tools, resources, and opportunities to non-profit and government agencies to celebrate their volunteers. www.DoingGood.tv