After a two-year absence — more to blame on a global pandemic — Putnam County’s celebration of the dairy farmer is back. Eatonton’s town square is sure to be buzzing on Saturday, June 4, with activities surrounding the 2022 Dairy Festival.

June is National Dairy Month, and Eatonton long ago earned the nickname Dairy Capital of Georgia for what was once a big part of the Putnam economy. The festival began in 1953, and at that time Putnam was home to more than 200 dairies. That number, however, shrunk over the years due to technological advances, but that hasn’t diminished the celebratory spirit offered for the whole family.

It also hasn’t diminished the amount of milk produced locally, again thanks to that same technology.

The Pilot Club of Eatonton serves as host for the Dairy Festival, and since the year began members were hard at work planning for the comeback and what folks will see around the downtown courthouse. Day after day they were remembering details forgotten during the hiatus.

This is a major fundraising event for the Pilot Club and its projects throughout Putnam County, including scholarships for local high school graduates; providing brain safety programs and bicycle helmets for all first-graders in local schools; and programs for local nursing home residents, training center clients and family caregivers.

“The purpose of the Dairy Festival was and continues to be to recognize the dairy industry and its contribution to Putnam County and to honor the dairy farm families,” said Glenda Ridley of the Eatonton Pilot Club. “Additionally, the festival provides an opportunity for people in the community to come together for fun and entertainment and brings hundreds of visitors/consumers to our city and county.”

This wasn’t the first time, however, that Eatonton went without a Dairy Festival. It was discontinued in 1970. When the Pilot Club was chartered, its first project was to bring the festival back, which it did in 1978.

A brand-new feature to the Dairy Festival is a 5K road race at 8 a.m. and fun run at 7:30. Find out how to participate at www.putnamcountydairyfestival.com/events. Vendor booths featuring hand-made items, other locally produced products and food and beverage, plus children’s activities open up at 9 a.m. What everybody loves, a parade, begins at 10 starting at Putnam Elementary School on Washington Street.

Getting back to the subject of food, with the end of the parade comes the beginnings of the smells, the smells from barbecue on the square at 11 a.m. Also at that hour, the Putnam Dairy Family of the Year will be honored. The 2022 Dairy Farm Family is the Jerry Swafford Family of the Briarpatch Dairy. Guest speaker is Putnam County Clerk of Courts Trevor Addison.

The Eatonton Service League sponsored this year’s Queen of the Dairy Festival pageant won by Putnam County High student Lily Frisch on May 7. Her court, first runner-up Erin Harvey and second runner-up Cherish Rowell, plus the other division winners will be introduced at the 11 a.m. program.

For the rest of the day, continue to shop, eat and enjoy live entertainment on the courthouse square. Acts to perform are the Eatonton Harmonettes, Putnam County High vocalists and the Putnam County Ensemble of Praise. Attendees can also hear from Georgia Smith, Uncle Remus storyteller, at 1 p.m. The Dairy Alliance is bringing a milk truck, and there will also be an air-conditioned van with a live cow for a milking demonstration.

“The festival could not happen without the cooperation and help of many people including city and county officials and employees, businesses and organizations like the Eatonton Service League,” said Ridley.