to restore the trailer and prepare it for game nights.
Today, the Victory Bell is more than metal and rope. It is school pride, school spirit, and generations of Hornets celebrating together. Somewhere in the story of that bell is a reminder of what Jerry Rogers has done so often throughout his life: see something meaningful before everyone else does, then quietly make it happen.
A Fixture at the Henderson County Livestock Show
If the classroom was one arena for Rogers’ influence, the Henderson County Livestock Show has been another. For decades, he and his wife Beth, known affectionately by many as“ Momma Gran,” have been woven into the fabric of the annual event. They are not there for applause. They are there because they believe in kids.
Years ago, before inmate labor helped with setup, student exhibitors from FFA chapters and 4-H clubs would spend long hours hauling pens, stalls, and equipment into place before the show began. By the time the work was done, they were hungry, tired, and far from home. So the Rogers family did what caring people do: they solved the problem.
Their son Brad, who was always involved in setup day, noticed the students were missing a meal. Jerry and Beth fired up a large smoker, cooked pork butts, and began serving sandwiches. Later came big pots of pinto beans. A tradition was born.
That meal became more than lunch. It became encouragement on a bun. And if you’ ve ever smelled slow-smoked pork drifting across the fairgrounds, you know some traditions deserve to continue. Over time, the effort has grown, with volunteer businesses and organizations now stepping up to provide breakfast and lunch for exhibitors.
Still, the Rogers family kept their own tradition alive at the 2026 show, serving the same smoked pork and pinto beans that first filled hungry students years ago.
Why the Show Matters
Ask Rogers his favorite part of the Henderson County Livestock Show, and he answers with enthusiasm:“ All of it!!!!!!” Then he gets to the heart of the matter.
What he loves most is seeing the development of young people from one year to the next- the growth, the maturity, the resilience.“ They learn from what they are doing,” he said.“ They learn habits that can carry them through life... They learn that not everything they do will turn out like they had hoped, and they learn from those defeats, and become better people because of them.”
To Rogers, the show has always been about more than banners and buckles. It is about responsibility. Through caring for animals, students learn discipline, patience, accountability, and hard work. Through wins and losses, they learn grace, resilience, and gratitude- lessons that stay with them long after the show is over.
Values Passed Down
The Rogers family story is inseparable from the livestock show story. Jerry and Beth first brought their chil-
8 | Greater Athens Magazine | April 2026