"Popcorn ... peanuts!"

"Get your program. Everybody needs a program!"

The singsong chants of peddlers in civic organizations ring throughout the grounds of horse shows throughout the South but none are as well versed as those at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. Come August each year, the melodious strains bring cash into the coffers of local civic groups when fans of the Walking Horse industry eagerly purchase their offerings.

Mark Farrar knows first-hand the impact the horse industry throughout the nation has on civic groups. Each year at the kick off of the season, Farrar dons more than one hat in anticipation of the year. He has served as ring escort, announcer, fund raiser and even show manager throughout the years.

"Civic clubs and charitable organizations raise money all year long for their projects but there is generally only one main fundraiser," he said. "For many of them, the big fundraiser (in this area) involves a horse show."

From schools to churches, to athletic associations to non-profit organizations, horse shows provide a large cash crop.

But what if that avenue was no longer available from which the various clubs and organizations could benefit?

"I manage the Murfreesboro Exchange Club Horse Show," said Farrar of the one-night event celebrating its 48th year. "The Exchange Club depends on the money generated from the show to fund the Exchange Club Family Center in Murfreesboro. Their profit from the show goes directly to help prevent child abuse through the center."

Bedford County groups are dependent on such activities as well. One-night horse shows line the schedule of events at the National Horse Show Commission (NHSC), the regulatory facility that registers the dates, judges and inspectors for shows in the industry, with sponsors for the event ranging from the Tony Rice Center to the 4-H club. An average profit from a one-night event for these groups begins at $10,000.

But it isn't just the one-night shows that provide for the various civic groups. The Celebration is the biggest, most lucrative event on many fundraising schedules.

According to Peggy Bush of Shelbyville Lions Club, over half of their funding comes from the sale of programs during the Celebration each August.

"It's our biggest fund-raiser of the year," she said. The Lions Club partners with The Celebration to publish the program and the Club receives a percentage of the money.

"If the people aren't there (at The Celebration) to buy the books," she said, "then we don't have the sales and it hurts us a lot."

While the Lions still sell brooms, mops and light bulbs along with their annual golf tournament each June, it is the program sale at The Celebration that makes up the largest percentage of their budget. This profit is funneled back into school programs, sports teams and vision screenings.

Shelbyville Quarterback Club president Brent Pewitt agrees that work done at The Celebration keeps organizations rolling through the year. Over half of the budget is raised each year at the food booth.

"During those two weeks," Pewitt said, "we sometimes raise over half of the yearly revenue. The money goes to sports teams and to pay for the fall and winter sports banquets."

Though circumstances such as the weather plays a role in the prosperity of the club's sales, Pewitt believes any loss of fund would mean "a considerable impact on Central High School," especially the "non-revenue sports" which don't have ticket sales as a fund-raising mechanism. Pewitt said the funds raised during The Celebration are used to cover overhead costs for insurance and various other expenses.

"The Celebration is a significant fund raiser," Pewitt said, "for just about every civic club in Shelbyville and Bedford County. It would be a problem if it (Walking Horse industry) is diminished or canceled. What really hurts is that it would be the kids that are impacted most."

The Rotary Club of Shelbyville also benefits each year. Last year, its food booth efforts generated over $16,000. All the money raised each year goes back into the community in the form of sponsorships, Boys State delegates' fees, Math Rodeo donations to Harris Middle School, the James L. Bomar Jr. Scholarship and contributions to "It's in the Bag" contributions. In addition, the Interact Club at county schools and the Child Development Center receive sponsorships through the efforts at The Celebration.

Barbara Blanton, president of Rotary Club of Shelbyville, said the membership was already looking into ways to cover the loss should happen to the Walking Horse industry or The Celebration in particular.

"Every penny of the money raised goes back into the community," she said. "Every organization would be affected tremendously (should the show not continue)."

It is easy to see that more than just the horse show competitors are impacted by the recent controversies which have touched the industry. Local civic clubs and, by way of association, the community itself, depend on the industry and The Celebration for a large amount of their fundraising dollars each year. One doesn't have to think very hard to imagine the impact if the horses ever stopped coming to town.