New director named for Perry fairgrounds

The Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter will have a new executive director come May 1.

The Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority announced Monday that Stephen Shimp has been named to the agricenter's top job.

Shimp has served as public safety director of the facility for 14 years, according to a news release.

Foster Rhodes, vice chairman of the authority, said in the release that Shimp has done "an outstanding job" in his prior service at the fairgrounds.

"Stephen's knowledge of the programs is exceptional and he has demonstrated a sincere desire to take the agricenter to the next level," Rhodes said.

Shimp, 45, is a native of Massachusetts and came to the midstate in 1993 when he received a baseball scholarship at Georgia College in Milledgeville.

He said he had junior college credits that didn't transfer, and his scholarship ran out before he graduated, so he left to find work. He was a deputy for the Bibb County Sheriff's Office for seven years when he took the job at the agricenter.

Shimp said he has been working to finish his bachelor's degree at Fort Valley State University and expects to have his degree in criminal justice soon.

He said he is excited about his new job.

"Our No. 1 mission is to promote the agricultural achievements of Georgia's young folks," he said.

Shimp said the job of public safety director will be advertised soon.

Shimp is replacing Randy Moore, who retired Dec. 8. His annual salary is $110,000.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published April 18, 2016 at 1:53 PM with the headline "New director named for Perry fairgrounds ."