THOMASVILLE- Each year, Thomas County students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade showcase their creative writing skills in the Georgia National Fair’s Fair Bear Writing Competition. The contest challenges students to craft an original story centered around Fair Bear, the Georgia National Fair’s beloved mascot. Participants first compete at the school level, with first-place winners advancing to the state competition.

This year, school-level winners from Thomas County Middle School are Brayton Hooks, a fifth-grade student, and Simeon Sturrup, a sixth-grade student. Both young writers will now move on to compete at the state level.

The annual competition is inspired by the true story of an American black bear that lived in Middle Georgia from 1980 to 1993. The bear frequently crossed Interstate 75 near the Georgia National Fairgrounds, where it tragically lost its life in 1993. To honor its legacy, the bear was named the official mascot of the Georgia National Fair, and in 1994, the Fair Bear Writing Competition was established.

This year’s competition theme, “Fair Bear is a First Responder,” challenged students to write about Fair Bear taking on the role of a first responder. Their stories had to include details about what type of first responder Fair Bear became, the emergency services he provided, his training experiences, and the outcome of an emergency where he played a crucial role.

Hooks and Sturrup will represent Thomas County in the state-level competition at the end of March. Winners will be announced in April.