Sign up to win prizes and for exclusive updates about this year’s festival

April 26-28, 2024

Word of South

The Good Little Chickens

The Good Little Chickens is a young band out of Tallahassee that first took shape in Leon High School’s music program. The band’s name was inspired by guitar teacher Ed Prasse, who jokingly calls his students “good little chickens” if they play well, and “bad little chickens,” if they don’t. GLC lead guitarist and slide […]

Read More…

Donnie Fritts

“Funky” Donnie Fritts is a legendary artist and songwriter from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He’s known for his soulful songs, like “We Had It All” and “Breakfast In Bed.” A recording artist in his own right, he has been Kris Kristofferson’s keyboardist for decades and released three outstanding albums featuring Tony Joe White, Eddie Hinton, Kris […]

Read More…

Jenni Harris

Jenni Harris, Will’s middle daughter, is the fifth generation of the Harris family to tend cattle at White Oak Pastures. After living on the farm her entire life, Jenni went to Valdosta State University and earned a degree in Business Marketing, graduating in 2009. She remained intimately involved in the family business throughout her studies. […]

Read More…

Laura Freeman

Laura Freeman received her BFA from the School of Visual Arts and began her career working for various editorial clients. She has illustrated over twenty children’s books, including Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, the Nikki & Deja series by Karen English and Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal. In addition to illustrating books and […]

Read More…

John T. Edge

John T. Edge is a contributing editor at Garden & Gun and a columnist for the Oxford American. For three years he wrote the monthly United Taste column for the New York Times. Edge is also director of the Southern Foodways Alliance, an institute of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the […]

Read More…

Judith Dupré

New York Times bestselling author Judith Dupré writes about art, life, and architecture. Her illustrated nonfiction has been published in 14 languages, and is beloved by readers around the globe. She writes about history as revealed through a single building type, in books that include Skyscrapers, Bridges, Churches, Monuments, and, most recently, One World Trade […]

Read More…

Sean Dietrich

Sean Dietrich (“Sean of the South”) is a columnist and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern Living, South Magazine, Yellowhammer News, Good Grit, the Bitter Southerner, Thom Magazine, and the Tallahassee Democrat, and he has authored seven novels. […]

Read More…

Benjamin Crump

Through a steadfast dedication to justice and service to others, Benjamin Crump has established himself as one of the nation’s foremost attorneys and advocates for civil rights and social justice. His legal acumen as both a litigator and advocate has ensured that those most frequently marginalized in American society are protected by their nation’s contract […]

Read More…

Charley Crockett

Charley Crockett released his debut solo album titled A Stolen Jewel in 2015, receiving critical acclaim in Dallas and ultimately landing him a Dallas Observer Music Award that year for “Best Blues Act”. A record “rich with Southern flavor, a musical gumbo of Delta blues, honky-tonk, gospel and Cajun jazz,” Jewel proved that Crockett, born […]

Read More…