Retired Expo Center Director Honored

Walters State Community College honored longtime employee John Baldy with the naming the Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center judging booth. Baldy served as executive director of the Center for 26 years, retiring in 2019.

“John played such a significant role in the success of the Expo Center,” said Dr. Tony Miksa, president of Walters State. “Under his leadership, the Expo Center grew in both the number and the type of events hosted. People travel from several states to attend events now.”

The Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center hosts agriculture and commercial events.

Area high schools and Walters State hold graduation ceremonies there. Over the years, the center has hosted horse shows, professional rodeos, BMX and motocross, remote car racing,  conferences and musical acts including the Statler Brothers and Aaron Tippin.

One of Baldy’s favorite events was a visit by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Baldy had to oversee the accommodations of 90 musicians and over 4,000 area students. Some orchestra members were not sure what to make of the dirt floor, but both the musicians and the young listeners enjoyed the show.

“This was probably the first time any of those kids had ever heard symphonic music and we were so proud to bring that to them,” Baldy said.

The Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center opened in 1996 in White Pine. Baldy was the first director. Its mission is to stimulate community and economic development through agribusiness, commercial and entertainment events. The Center attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. 

The Expo Center includes a 98,000-square-foot pavilion with a 300' x 150' show ring, seating for 3,900 and the Jefferson Federal Conference Room. The Expo Center features the Ray and Barbara Bible Equestrian Center, which is comprised of four horse barns (100 stalls each), a covered warm-up ring that connects to the pavilion and an outdoor ring. 

The dedication ceremony was held during the annual Ranch Rodeo, an event organized by agriculture students.