LIFE-CHANGING LIFE-SAVING MEDICINE
As the founding school of Augusta University and Georgia’s flagship medical school, the Medical College of Georgia is proud to expand its statewide mission with a new dedicated cohort of students in Thomasville – thanks to a dynamic partnership with Archbold Medical Center.
This means future physicians are now learning directly from Archbold’s expert clinicians, gaining hands-on experience and building lasting connections with the communities they’ll one day serve. Together, MCG and Archbold are investing in the health of Southwest Georgia, training the next generation of doctors, right where they’re needed most.
Experience the Food & Wine Festival with celebrity chef MANEET CHAUHAN on Saturday, then savor legendary Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q at Brunch & Barbeque on Sunday. A culinary weekend worth the trip.
Saturday• March 7
“Your success is our success”
.
— STEPHEN H. CHENEY I CEO
A bank’s success is never an idea alone.
Thomasville National Bank’s success lies in our community of customers, in their character, in their loyal response. They value trust: the handshake agreement.
They are proud of Thomasville: its families, traditions, and prosperity.
The first and finest in the Red Hills Region
FOUNDER
John D. “Jack” Kelly | March 15, 1931 - July 8, 2015
“He spent his life giving back to the community he loved!”
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Karen “KK” Snyder| kk@thomasvillemagazine.com •
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Lauren Wootton | WorkwithADELE.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Lauren Wootton | Jacob Welch
Mary Katherine MacDonald
ADVERTISING SALES
Wendy Montgomery
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Amy Faeskorn, Kris Mueller, Lindsay Fields Penticuff, Stephanie Rice, Sara D. Shearer
PHOTOGRAPHY
Drew Balfour, Emily Tucker Photography MAGAZINE
Your smile is what Protect it.
Matters
“Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”
—Washington Irving
WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR
Happy Birthday, Thomasville! Georgia’s Rose City will mark its 200th year in January, and big plans for “Thomasville 200: Honoring Our History, Inspiring our Future,” are in the works. The kickoff event will take place January 24, from 10am to 1pm, at The Ritz Amphitheater, followed by a calendar of events that will extend throughout 2026. The opening celebration will feature musical entertainment, vendors, children’s activities, a celebration of local living legends, local and statewide dignitaries, and much more. Don’t miss it!
In the meantime, as the holiday season approaches, I want to take a moment to reach out to each of you—our cherished readers and neighbors. In our small town, the end of the year brings a special kind of warmth: twinkling lights down Main Street, the scent of fresh pine, and the lively buzz of community gatherings such as the popular Victorian Christmas. It’s a time not only for celebration but for reflection on all we have experienced together throughout the past year.
Looking back, we’ve shared stories of local triumphs, celebrated milestones, and welcomed new faces, while saying heartfelt farewells to others. Each issue of our magazine has been shaped by the people who live here, their stories weaving a tapestry that reflects the spirit of Thomasville. Now, as we prepare for festivities and family traditions, let’s take this opportunity to pause and appreciate the bonds that make our community so special.
The coming new year is full of promise and possibilities. Whether you’re planning resolutions or simply hoping for more peaceful moments, know that our magazine will continue to be here to highlight what matters most to you. Thank you for being a part of our story. Wishing you joy, reflection, and connection this holiday season—and a bright start to the new year!
Warmly,
Karen (KK) Snyder EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EDITORIAL INFORMATION
Thomasville Magazine is published four times each year. Subscription rates are $15 for one year.
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DIGITAL EDITION & SOCIAL
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ON THE COVER
The Red Hills Region comes to life in winter with quail hunting in full swing. This beautiful shot was taken by Drew Balfour of Balfour Media.
Setting the Standard for Beautiful Smiles.
“People compliment me. I’m more self confident. It’s worked wonders in my life!”
AMY FAESKORN
A young Thomasville native is making a name for himself both in front of and behind the camera.
22
Strong All Over
BY
STEPHANIE RICE
Strength training engages muscles for energy, resilience, focus, and ability.
29 Full of Grace BY LINDSAY
FIELD PENTICUFF
Thomasville native Amy Boland Hauser reflects on life as a mother, a wife, and a child of God.
SARAH D. SHEARER
Customers of Herd & Passel/ Thompson Farms and Martin Farms recognize the benefits of buying local.
62
Merry & Bright
A roundup of Christmas light shows and holiday fun the entire family can enjoy. 64 Covey Film Festival BY
KRIS MUELLER
January brings the return of Covey, with proceeds benefiting Thomasville Community Resource Center and its STEAM programs.
THE ROAD TO Joshwa S.
FAME
STORY BY AMY FAESKORN
Copeland
Not everyone finds their calling in life as a tween but sitting in front of the TV and watching episodes of the Disney Channel’s A.N.T. Farm, Joshwa S. Copeland knew in his heart he was going to be an actor.
“I remember thinking, ‘I want to do what they’re doing,’” says Copeland, now 22 and the sixth of Danny and Joann Copeland’s seven children. “China used her first name as her character’s name, and I thought I could do that one day, too.” He has VHS tapes of home video as proof of his early fascination with performance. He and some of his siblings put on skits for the family, and by the time he was 15, he started a (now defunct) YouTube channel with his sister, Doylisha.
“She actually made the first episode for me for my birthday,” he remembers. “It gave me the opportunity to put myself out into the world for the first time.”
Copeland was hesitant to share his dream of pursuing acting with his parents. His father knew well the challenges of early success and fame from his storied NFL career, and his
Photo bottom page 10 by Lucie Keen Studios; page 11 by Brian Jones Photography; Page 12 by Jacob Welch; photo at left by Gadget Negrón
Pictured at the premiere of Retrospection, (top, l-r) Joshwa S. Copeland, writer and director Alexander Riverathose, and Brady Copeland, Joshwa’s business partner; (bottom, l-r) Emily Slass, Joshwa S. Copeland, Veronica Bernier, and Brady Copeland. Photos by Gadget Negrón
mother wanted to shield him from those potential pitfalls.
“We’re a really close family. We were all homeschooled, and I know they both love me a lot and have always wanted what’s best for me,” he says. Once he turned 18, Copeland planned to move to Atlanta and start going out on auditions, but his parents felt it important for him to obtain a college degree, so he switched gears and remained in Thomasville.
A talented youth tennis player, Copeland was offered a track and field scholarship to Thomas University (TU) in the spring of 2021 by team coach Scott Hutchinson based solely on his natural athletic ability. “I had never run more than a mile in my life,” Copeland laughs. “But Coach Hutchinson believed in me, and having the cost of tuition taken care of was a huge load off for me and my family.”
but the shoot was scheduled for the same weekend he and his siblings would normally take their annual trip together. “I told them I had just been offered this role and really wanted to take it,” he recalls. “Everyone was so supportive, and it was the first time my parents were on board, too.”
Joshwa’s large family is very supportive of his acting and producing career.
Meanwhile, Copeland quietly began researching online how best to begin his career in acting and sent out headshots— taken himself with the white wall in his family’s kitchen as a backdrop—to keep making progress toward his goal.
In the summer of 2021, Copeland landed his first real acting gig, a television commercial for Southern Adventist University,
He drove to Collegedale, Tennessee and immersed himself in the world of professional filmmaking over a three-day period.
“I was amazed to see how many people were involved in the production,” he says.
“I was just so happy to be there and be a part of it.”
Copeland began his studies at TU that fall and also started interning at Adele Creative, where he began learning about commercial filming. At the beginning of his sophomore year, Copeland realized he needed to make a change. “Even though I actually set school records in triple jump and pole vault, I knew I didn’t want to run anymore,” he says, “I was clear that what I really wanted was to be an actor.”
He left the track and field team, transitioned to taking classes fully online, and began sending out audition tapes in earnest. That fall he also got his first professional headshots taken, took acting classes on Zoom, and booked two student
films at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He also signed with an agent and booked a film in Panama City, Florida.
Copeland’s steady stream of work increased throughout 2023. He worked on several student films at Florida State University (FSU), where he met his now business partner, Brady Copeland (no relation). In August he booked two episodes of ABC’s What Would You Do? with W. Kamau Bell, which were shot in Mobile, Alabama. In September he acted in another FSU student film, then two television pilots, then an episode for a popular YouTube channel, Shiloh & Bros, which has since racked up over 22 million views. Since then, he’s acted in Lifetime’s The Neighbor Who Saw Too Much and Slick, a film produced by the company with whom Copeland shot his first commercial, all while working as director of accounts on multiple projects for Adele Creative—a position he eventually left to immerse himself more fully in his
shift and life changes. But with a trusted Synovus banker
Photo by Francesca Petrino
entertainment career.
After graduating from TU with a bachelor’s degree in marketing this past spring, Copeland planned once more to relocate to Atlanta, but again his path took an unexpected turn. “My friend Alex wrote a script for a film, Progenitor, and Brady and I decided to get involved,” he says. “Soon after that, we founded our company, Copeland Road Entertainment, and became his co-producers.”
Shot largely at Liam’s in Thomasville, the faith-based short film wrapped production in October and is slated for a festival run in early 2026. “[Liam’s owner] Rhonda Foster was amazing. When we pitched her the idea of shooting at the restaurant, she said, ‘It sounds great, and I know I can trust you.’ She didn’t charge us a thing, which was such a gift.”
Having already accomplished so much at such a young age, Copeland is just getting started and is grateful for the lessons he’s learned so far. “I would tell anyone who wants to go into acting to do it, because nothing happens if you don’t try,” he says. He hopes to eventually maintain residences in Atlanta and Thomasville while making a few more feature films with Copeland Road and establishing himself as a producer in the industry. One thing’s for sure: he still loves being in front of the camera.
“I’ll definitely keep acting until I die!” he laughs. “There’s absolutely nothing like it.” TM
To learn more, visit joshwacopeland.com.
Photos this page by Joshwa S. Copeland, including his family at right.
Beginning Strong
Kick Start Your Health in 2026!
The New Reason to Strength Train
With all the noise from the fitness industry, especially social media, it’s time to redefine the importance of strength training.
We all have “those days”—when it’s hard to pick up your kids or grandkids, daily chores seem heavy, the groceries hurt your arms, vacuuming kills your back, you’re mentally and physically exhausted, and you haven’t even done anything yet. You think, “If I were just stronger, I’d have more energy. I could enjoy my life instead of surviving it.”
I’ve had many of those days where survival is the theme. But there’s good news: It’s not just about caffeine, sleep, or willpower. The real gamechanger? Strength training—that is, using your muscles purposefully, not just for looks, but for energy, resilience, focus, and ability.
Find a New Reason to Move!
When you stop exercising to change your body and start training to boost your energy and improve mobility, everything gets easier. You move because it feels good. You show up because you value yourself. And, your body still changes, but from a place of
For Your Health
strength and self-respect, not shame. Most people start exercising to change how they look, but the truth is that the most powerful transformations happen when you focus on how movement makes you feel rather than chasing a number on the scale.
Strength training isn’t just about building muscle; it’s about creating energy, resilience, ability, and peace of mind. It’s a tool to help you live with more vitality and less stress, not a punishment for what you ate or something you have to “earn.” When you stop looking at your body as something to fix, you open the door to freedom, strength, and calm. It’s time to find a new reason to move, one that fuels your life from the inside out.
What Is Strength Training?
Strength training simply means using resistance (think dumbbells, bands, or even your own body weight) to challenge your ability so you can get stronger and build lean,
functional muscle. It’s not about getting bulky or trying to look like a bodybuilder (unless that’s your goal). It’s about building muscles that help you live better so you can lift groceries with ease, carry your kids, and age with strength. The keyword is “training” because it’s not just random exercise, but rather consistent, purposeful, and progressive movement that teaches your body to do hard things with more ease. And the best part? You don’t need fancy equipment or a gym to start. Simple moves like body weight squats, push-ups, and band rows are enough to begin building strength right at home in just a few minutes a day.
A proper strength training program should challenge you because you won’t see change without challenge. That doesn’t mean pushing to exhaustion or pain; it means giving your body a reason to adapt and grow stronger. Progress happens when you start where you are and gradually add on more reps, more resistance, or more control with each workout. That’s what we call progressive movement. It’s about consistent, small increases that build strength, confidence, and capability over time. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s progression.
Redefining Exercise
For decades, fitness has been marketed as a way to shrink, tone, and sculpt, but that approach keeps you stuck in a cycle of self-criticism. Strength training flips the script. It helps you see what your body can do, not just how it looks. When you train for ability, like lifting your groceries with ease or playing with your grandkids, you naturally gain energy and confidence, not to mention decreasing your risk for falls, osteoporosis, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
A research study published by Frontiers in Psychology shows that people who exercise for mood, energy, or strength stick with it longer than those who focus only on appearance goals. It’s all about instant gratification. You feel better a lot faster than you look different. The next time you set out on a wellness journey, try reframing your motivation to something like “I move to feel better, not to look smaller.”
Strength Train For Energy
Strength training does more than build muscle, it also
For Your Health
boosts your metabolism and energy production from the inside out. And no, that doesn’t mean you need to spend hours in the gym. Research shows that just 11 minutes of resistance training per session can increase resting metabolic rate by about 7.4 percent. That’s because muscle is metabolically active tissue. The more lean muscle you have, the more calories your body burns and the more efficiently it uses energy, even while resting.
Beyond metabolism, strength training enhances mitochondrial function (your body’s natural energy factories) so you feel more alert and less drained throughout the day. Studies show that people who consistently strength train report higher daily vitality and less fatigue. In other words, more strength equals more stamina for the life you actually live. You wake up feeling more ready, handle daily demands with more reserve, and rely less on caffeine or sugar for energy boosts. Remember, it’s about increasing your ability to live life on your own terms. Bottom line: Strength training builds lean muscle, fuels your metabolism, and gives you the energy and endurance to keep up with everything that life throws your way.
Who Needs Strength Training?
Strength training truly benefits everyone—all ages, all fitness levels, and in every season of life. Whether you’re a beginner, a busy professional, a stay-at-home parent, or starting again after time off, it’s not about having the perfect routine but rather about consistent, functional movement that supports your energy and ability. Research shows that even low-intensity exercise can reduce fatigue by up to 65 percent in sedentary individuals and that older adults who strength train experience improved energy levels, mood, and metabolism, even when starting later in life. You don’t have to be a gym rat or lift heavy every day. Steady, moderate strength training is enough to build lasting energy and confidence.
Embrace the “Smart Strength” Framework
1. Move smarter, not harder. This is where mindset meets movement, and where “1 percent better every day” really comes to life.
2. Start small. Two sessions a week of 15–20 minutes is enough to feel a difference.
3. Use what you have: body weight moves, resistance bands, dumbbells… it all counts.
4. Pick two or three full-body compound moves like squats, push-ups or presses, rows, and deadlifts. These movements target your biggest muscle groups, giving you the most impact for your time.
ARTICLE BY STEPHANIE RICE
B.S. Exercise Science, Jacksonville University
ASCM, Certified Personal Trainer
ACE, Weight Management Specialist
Balanced Body Pilates Instructor
MBG Functional Nutrition Specialist
Fit Fab Life – Owner fitfablifetraining@gmail.com; fitfablife.biz
Once again, it doesn’t take hours in the gym to feel the amazing results of strength training. Research shows that training just two times per week is enough to significantly improve strength and muscle growth when done consistently. So, aim for consistency. Complete two or three sessions each week, even if they’re short. Over time, gradually increase your reps, resistance, or control. That’s the progressive movement I talked about earlier, and it’s how you continue to get stronger without burnout. Track strength, not size. Notice when a movement feels easier, your posture improves, or your mood lifts.
I always suggest seeking the help of a professional, even if it’s just one time, to make sure your form is correct or to give you a basic strength training program to start with. Fuel your body well and rest intentionally. Adequate sleep, hydration, and protein make all the difference. Before and after each workout, take a breath and remind yourself: “I am building energy. I am becoming capable.” Choose movements that support your daily life and celebrate every win along the way.
Remember, your goal isn’t to work out more, it’s to live better! TM
BALANCING FAME, FAITH AND FAMILY Amy Boland Hauser
BY LINDSAY FIELD PENTICUFF
SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT
ACTOR PAUL WALTER HAUSER IS WELL-KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD FOR HIS ROLES IN BLACK BIRD, CRUELLA, RICHARD JEWELL AND COBRA KAI, AND HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACT ALONGSIDE CELEBRITIES LIKE RALPH MACCHIO, MARK WAHLBERG, JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, LIAM NEESON AND THE LATE CHADWICK BOSEMAN.
But Paul’s wife—Thomasville native Amy Boland Hauser and the daughter of Dale and Linda Boland—admits she didn’t even know he was famous when she first came across his profile on a dating app in 2019.
“He told me he was an actor, and I was like, ‘Yeah right! Everyone says they’re an actor nowadays,’” Amy says. “I told a friend of mine about him, and she said he’s a legit actor, that he’d actually been on late night shows before.”
But it wasn’t Paul being an actor that caught her attention at first.
“On his profile, he said he likes to have fun, but he also likes to do nothing for 36 hours,” Amy says. “I had been working on a book launch at the time, and I was burning it on both ends, so I felt that. I needed a break, and I needed somebody who I could relax with.”
Amy was working for Passion City Church in Atlanta at the time and Paul was in Atlanta while filming and starring in a Clint Eastwood movie Richard Jewell, which is about the security guard who was falsely accused of being the bomber in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
“We want to do all that God’s calling us to do and all He’s put in us.”
– Amy Boland Hauser
Trusted by Tallahassee families for over 40 years
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“And to my family’s credit, none of them told me it was a lofty goal or that I couldn’t handle the stress and pressure of living in Hollywood.” – Paul Walter Hauser
So, they decided to meet for their first date, enjoying tapas at an Atlanta area restaurant, followed by visiting Landmark’s Midtown Art Cinema to watch the live-action movie The Lion King together.
“It was really, really memorable,” Paul recalls, “and I knew once I was done filming all my projects, because I was doing back-to-back-to-back movies, I wanted to meet back up with her when I was back in L.A.”
Little did they know L.A. would soon be in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic the next time they’d have a chance to see each other.
“He would text me and say, ‘Do you want to break the law?’” Amy says laughing. “I said, ‘No!’”
They’d text and talk often, sneaking out from time to time for in-person dates, and they fell in love—madly in love.
Not long after, and while visiting Amy’s home in Thomasville one weekend, Paul proposed, and she said yes. They got married in late 2020 in a private ceremony on the front lawn of her rental home in L.A. Then, two weeks later, Amy found out she was pregnant with their first child, Harris.
It should have been a happy time for the couple, but there were struggles. Amy and Paul experienced heartache, separating for nearly a year while she gave birth to Harris and began raising him on her own. They eventually divorced.
However, God had different plans, and Amy’s and Paul’s faith brought them back to one another. They remarried in 2022, their second son Jonah was born in 2023, and they welcomed their first daughter, Isla Grace, on July 20.
“Isla Grace has been the most beautiful grand finale to our family being complete,” says Amy, who adds that Isla had a twin brother they named Hudson Royal. “The pregnancy taught us that grief and joy could co-exist. … We are excited to meet him in heaven one day.”
Today, Amy and Paul continue to count their blessings that God helped bring them back together. Their family of five is thriving as they travel the world together, supporting one another’s goals and passions, and taking time daily to cherish their love and dedication to each other.
“Faith is at the center of everything we are and everything we do now … and we want to do all that God’s calling us to do and all He’s put in us,” says Amy.
WHY THE ARTS?
Paul grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, a small, bluecollar town, where he says there weren’t exactly a lot of opportunities to dream big, at least not as far as becoming a professional actor.
But he loved comedy and acting, skills that he came by almost naturally.
“In a house of four kids, you’re always trying to find your voice and make yourself heard, and I think for a long time for me, it was about being the jester and the clown,” Paul says. He also loved writing, working on a manuscript in high school while also writing two movies as a senior thesis project.
“And to my family’s credit, none of them told me it was a lofty goal or that I couldn’t handle the stress and pressure of living in Hollywood,” Paul says. “They were very much gungho from the beginning, and as my mom said to me once, ‘I’d be more surprised if you didn’t make it, than if you did.’”
Amy’s passion for the arts was also supported greatly by her family, as well as the Thomasville community.
“Thomasville has a beautiful way of supporting the arts, instilling it and giving children an opportunity to love the
“Thomasville has a beautiful way of supporting the arts, instilling it and giving children an opportunity to love the arts.”
– Amy Boland Hauser
arts,” Amy says. “I love that Thomasville helped shape who I am through the arts, whether it was through Thomasville Music and Drama Troupe or dance. Thomasville just believes in their kids and pours into them as much as they can, then they send them out into the world. I feel like anywhere I’ve gone in the world; somebody has a link to Thomasville.”
A BUSY—BUT BLESSED—LIFE
Paul was in three movies over the summer—Americana, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and The Naked Gun—and he was most recently featured in a movie about Bruce Springsteen called Deliver Me from Nowhere. He’s currently filming a movie titled Sticks and Stones about the U.S. Olympic men’s curling team that won its first gold medal in 2016.
At the same time, Amy enjoys writing and is working on a book, and she launched a website last fall, amybolandhauser.com, that meshes her passions in sharing information and resources about functional medicine and biohacking. She has also partnered with Cotton Gunter Studio to launch a jewelry collection called The Freedom Collection, which helps fight child trafficking and exploitation.
“We are aggressively busy, running errands while making phone calls, while trying to feed our children, while cleaning up diapers, while I’m reading emails that are time
sensitive, while she is trying to start her own business, while I’m trying to lose weight for a role,” Paul says. “We’re never doing one single thing. We’re always doing 17 things.”
But they find time for their family and especially each other.
“We do make time for each other, where one of us will pull the other out of bed at six in the morning to read the Bible together, exercise, drink smoothies and have a morning routine,” Paul says. “Or, one of us will pull the other aside and say we need a date night. In all the busyness, we’ve been sowed into by mentors who have told us that one of the biggest ways to keep our life and marriage afloat and healthy is taking time for each other. If it starts to feel like you’re just running a business and you’re ships in the night, that means something is probably wrong.”
And Amy commends Paul for doing such a great job of helping keep their family first.
“I look at his workload. He’s starring in several million-dollar movies as a lead, then he’s got a famous director on the phone wanting him to make a decision about other stuff. In the middle of it, he’s asking what I need, how he can support me and what I’m doing. He has his own stuff going on, but he is really great about this,” Amy says. “Knowing I want to be a stay-at-home mom, but there’s also things I want to do, he helps give me that leg up to do those things. There’s a balance.”
WELCOME (BACK) TO GEORGIA
After spending three months in Australia over the summer while Paul was shooting a movie, the Hausers decided that upon moving back to the United States they’d relocate to Alpharetta—just north of Atlanta.
“I love all our friends in L.A., but we just did not have the community and support like we have here in Georgia,” Amy says. “We have two boys, and when Paul is gone, I know I have that community of people who can come stay with me, and I don’t feel so isolated.”
SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT
“This move [to Georgia] offers a better quality of life for our children … and I want to make sure Amy is living her best life.”
– Paul Walter Hauser
Their oldest son Harris has also been diagnosed with autism, which Paul says was an important piece of the puzzle when determining where the family settled down and what’s best for his future.
“This move offers a better quality of life for our children … and I want to make sure Amy is living her best life,” he concludes. TM
To learn more about Amy’s ongoing projects, visit amybolandhauser.com. You can also follow the couple on Instagram @amybolandhauser and @paulwhausergram.
Three generations. One standard – excellence.
Since 1948, DHRAC has brought timeless renovation and designbuild craftsmanship to South Georgia homes.
From Thomasville to Valdosta and the surrounding communities, our family transforms historic houses, farmsteads, and modern residences with precision, integrity, and Southern refinement.
CaCao CHOCOLATES
NEIGHBOR to Table
BY SARH SHEARER
HERD + PASSEL PHOTOS BY EMILY TUCKER PHOTOGRAPHY
Purchasing locally raised and butchered meat from local farmers has never been easier or more accessible for residents of Thomasville and surrounding towns, with Thompson Farms and Martin Farms both offering fresh options.
Thompson Farms has been a local household name for over 20 years. The farm was originally founded by the late Raymond Thompson and is now run by his son Andrew Thompson and other family members. This Dixie, GA, establishment has long been devoted to quality meat, community involvement, and Christian service.
Back in 2003, Raymond Thompson was frustrated about trying to find quality meat at the grocery store. According to his granddaughter Abby Davison, who now manages their store, Herd + Passel, her grandfather often reminisced back to his youth, when meat was processed in a dirt floor smokehouse right on their property.
The unmistakable taste and quality of that meat from his past was his call to action. Because he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he decided to create it himself. Thompson pursued a practice he’d seen largely abandoned in modern times—running a pasture-raised pork farm. He traveled to different processors all over the United States learning best practices for raising pigs and curing meat. Paramount to their process is raising hogs well and harvesting them humanely.
They oversee each detail of the processing to ensure the meat is delicious and nutritious. Nitrates are not even permitted inside their facility. Unlike with meat purchased at the grocery store, consumers know the entire story of the breakfast sausage on their plate. Originally known as Country Cured Meats, Thompson Farms operated solely off their farm for years. Customers would
drive out to Dixie to choose from their wide array of pork products. In 2008, they opened a new processing plant, and in 2021 they fulfilled a huge goal of opening the storefront in Thomasville. Abby grew up on the family farm, but never pictured herself staying there, and even shuddered at the prospect of marrying a farmer. She had other plans.
“The Lord began tugging at my heart though,” Abby says, and after a stint elsewhere, she ended up back home and married a farmer. She’s delighted with the turn of events. Her husband, Zack, works on his family’s cattle farm in Barwick, just 15 minutes from Thompson Farms. Zack’s farm’s products are featured in Herd + Passel’s
offerings throughout the store, aptly combining the herd of cattle and passel of pigs.
Opening the storefront was pivotal for Thompson Farms, because their heart has always been for their community. The fact that their customers can purchase local meat, eggs, dairy and a variety of other products from neighboring farms right in the heart of Thomasville is so meaningful. They know this convenient location makes it that much easier for people to shop sustainably.
Abby is passionate about keeping prices reasonable and ingredients clean. As a mother of young children, and a professional with a background in food safety, she knows how important it is for families to know exactly what they are purchasing at the grocery store.
“Every week, people come in to buy our product and that means a lot to us...we appreciate that we have our customers’ trust,” she says.
Another important aspect of Thompson Farms is serving their community and giving back. Together, they are carrying on Raymond’s legacy of donating meat to local food banks and shelters. Thompson Farms noticed a big gap in the protein options at many food banks, so they stepped in and began processing special packages of their meats to donate. Those interested in supporting or donating meat can visit thompsonfarms.com.
fresh country cooking served buffet style daily in a casual family friendly atmosphere.
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Rotating menu features 10-plus meats, 20-plus vegetables, a 70-item salad bar, and over 20 varieties of fresh baked desserts, served every day.
MARTIN FARMS
Located just across Highway 84 from Thompson Farms is Martin Farms, another local leader in top quality meat products. Like Raymond Thompson, longtime farmer Sam Martin found himself dissatisfied with the steak he was getting from restaurants and grocery stores. “Every time I had a steak, it was a different experience,” he says. Whether he was sitting down at a steakhouse or grilling for his family, he could no longer rely on consistent quality or taste, so he decided to do something about it.
A row cropper, Martin devoted himself to learning how to produce the best beef. He is committed to excellent husbandry and taking care of his herd. “The harder you work at it the easier it is,” he says about the dedication it
takes to keep a cattle farm running smoothly. Fresh water, good feed, and attention to animal health are just a few aspects of cattle farming which cannot be overlooked. Martin Farms raises and breeds Akaushi Wagyu bulls with registered Angus cows. This combination ensures excellent marbling, which means superior flavor. Marbling is a term that refers to the type of fat on an animal. This intermuscular fat, or marbling, is what ensures optimum flavor and juiciness.
“What we’re trying to achieve is a consistently good eating experience,” Martin conveys, and they have done just that for countless consumers locally and across the United States.
“We’re not trying to do boutique beef,” Martin says. “We want people to have easy access to high quality.” They’ll even deliver within a 20-mile radius of Barwick, GA.
More recently, Martin’s wife Alex, who
runs the business with him, has started a line of highly acclaimed beef tallow skin products. Beef tallow is widely known for its restorative properties, and Alex is excited to provide this resource, specifically for locals. She makes moisturizer, lip balm, lotion, soap, and face cleanser—all featuring the golden ingredient of their very own beef tallow. Her selection of products is available online and at F&C Farms, Proper House in Moultrie, and Mizell Interiors in Valdosta. Visit martinfarmsbeefco.com to shop their selection and experience the difference for yourself. TM
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FLOWERS FOODS
Thomasville
Flowers Foods’ annual holiday gift to the community, the light show features more than 20 holiday vignettes and 25,000 multi-colored lights throughout the grounds of the company’s home office in Thomasville. Enter through the gates on northbound U.S. 19 South, near the intersection with Old Monticello Road. Visitors are asked to turn off their headlights when entering the display, observe the 5-mph speed limit, and always remain in their vehicles. Free to the public, the drive-through display will be open every evening from 6-10pm through New Year’s Eve.
CHEHAW PARK
Albany
Cruise through the park and enjoy thousands of festive lights in Christmas scenes around the grounds, including the 12 Days of Christmas and a sparkling drivethru tunnel. Stop by for a hot chocolate, and roast marshmallows at the firepit.
DOROTHY B. OVEN PARK
Tallahassee
Through January 1, stroll through a twinkly light show at Dorothy B. Oven Park, a 1930s manor house with antique furniture and pristine landscaped gardens. Over 250,000 lights on display are accompanied by holiday music throughout the six-acre garden. Open weekdays 6-10pm and 5:30-11pm Saturdays and Sundays. 2305 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee
CALLAWAY GARDENS
Pine Mountain Callaway Resort & Gardens’ Fantasy in Lights welcomes visitors through January 4 with more than 10 million lights, earning its spot as one of Forbes’ “7 Spectacular Christmas Light Displays That Offer
Merry & Bright
Holiday Magic” in 2024. Guests can drive the classic seven-mile route featuring 18 dazzling light scenes, including the brand-new Song of the Trees, where towering trees glow in a symphony of light and music, or stroll on select evenings along a walk-through Winter Wonderland at Robin Lake Beach. The Callaway Christmas Village adds extra holiday magic with the 40-foot Tree of Traditions Pixel Pine, shopping, hot cocoa, s’mores, and visits with Santa.
WILD ADVENTURES
Valdosta
With over two million lights transforming the park into a glowing holiday landscape, Christmas Wild & Bright is in full swing at Wild Adventures in Valdosta through December 31. Families can explore immersive light zones like Twinkling Timbers, Glimmer Grove, and the Woodland Outpost, or walk through the dazzling light tunnel for the perfect holiday photo. Festive shows include the Carol of the Animals Lake Spectacular and, for one night only, the Holiday Horizon Drone Show will feature hundreds of drones dancing across the night sky. Guests can also enjoy classic rides, meet Santa, and warm up with seasonal treats like gingerbread funnel cakes, s’mores, and hot cocoa. The season concludes with a New Year’s Eve fireworks finale.
FILM FANS AWAIT Covey
BY KRIS YOUNG MUELLER
FILM FESTIVAL
Original Covey Film Festival founders, (l-r) Jane Fonda, Howell Ferguson & Sharon Maxwell-Ferguson
Opposite page: The 2014 festival featured a Thomasville native and star of The Walking Dead, Scott Wilson, who played Hershel Greene on the show.
When the proverbial “curtain” rises in January on the Covey Film Festival, it will kick off a new season of film screenings, events, and discussions designed to celebrate the art of filmmaking and present important films rarely shown in smaller markets.
Planned for January 18-30, the Thomasville festival will showcase 15 different films at its downtown theater—Covey Nest. The following months will highlight films and speakers on varying themes, including Black History Month in February, Women’s Month in March, and Library Week in April. NoSeeUms, a horror film featuring the South’s most noxious gnats swarming through a tale of racial injustice, also will be featured as an award winner at the 2025 London Film Festival.
“The festival has allowed us to present films that would otherwise not be available to individuals in Southwest Georgia,” says Sharon Maxwell-Ferguson, an original founder of Covey Film Festival. “Our mission is to educate, entertain, and engage, and this guides our choice of films.”
Using the model of larger film festivals, Covey invites filmmakers, directors, actors, and subject experts to participate in screenings in person or by video.
“The variety of the films we show, and the discussions around those films, are so important in civic education,” Sharon said. In deference to the community’s children and youth, the 2026 festival will feature several films suitable for younger viewers. The annual film competition for high school students is also on the schedule, and an Awards Ceremony will be held in January. Children are the reason the film festival was started and continues to be a driving force, Sharon said.
Covey Film Festival was created in 2012 as the signature fundraiser for the Thomasville Community Resource Center
(TCRC), which helps underserved children reach their full potential. Sharon, a board member for both organizations, said festival proceeds and underwriting help TCRC provide education, health, and supportive services for children in need.
As Sharon reflected recently on the film festival’s evolution, she shared how she and two other TCRC board members (Doby Flowers and Didi Hoffman) were asked years ago to identify and organize a fundraising event for the agency.
“Over coffee, we struggled to find any event that wasn’t already offered in Thomasville,” she recalled. “Then, at the same moment, all three of us said ‘film festival’ and agreed that we would ask Jane to be our honorary chair.”
Their “Jane” happened to be renowned actress Jane Fonda who, at the time, lived near Thomasville with her husband, Ted Turner of Turner Broadcasting Company. Fonda also was the founder of TCRC and remains supportive as an emeritus member of its board of directors.
FILM FESTIVAL
With little knowledge of film festivals, the Covey founders tapped into Fonda’s knowledge and that of other film industry experts nearby, including Paul E. Cohen. Cohen is an independent film distributor and a faculty member at Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts. While many communities consider launching a film festival, very few are successful, Paul said. Covey is an exception on the festival scene for several reasons.
“To create a festival that has longevity, sustainability and a growing audience is a very different journey. I think Sharon and Howell (her husband) have been able to shoulder the responsibility of actually creating a festival in Thomasville that is ongoing, thoughtful, purely volunteer, and that is a major talented event.
“Thomasville’s a very unique community,” he continued. “It is small but is filled with
Children served by Thomasville Community Resource Center reap the rewards of the festival’s earnings.
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professionals, successful businesspeople, and others who are socially conscious and interested in these events. And Sharon has taken her mission very much to heart … Everything she does with the festival is for the community, for raising money, and for bringing to Thomasville serious movies that don’t otherwise play in this part of the Southeast culture.”
One of Covey’s significant partnerships is Tallahassee’s Tall Timbers Research Center, which works to preserve land and wildlife in South Georgia and North Florida.
In 2024, Covey and Tall Timbers screened the award-winning documentary Common Ground in Tallahassee. The film explores regenerative agriculture, a method of farming that can restore soil health, improving food quality, human health, and the environment through restoration.
Two University of Florida experts in soil health provided background and perspective for the film. The event was oversold, attracting scientists, farmers, plantation landowners, and other interested viewers from a wide area.
Sometimes, Covey’s film screenings can lead to unexpected surprises when those attending screenings learn how festival proceeds help children.
Several years ago, a marine behavior expert from Florida State University provided commentary for the film My Octopus Teacher. The Netflix documentary chronicles a year spent by the filmmaker as he developed a strong bond with a wild common octopus in a South African kelp forest.
The FSU professor was so excited by the mission of TCRC that he helped arrange a trip to the FSU Marine Lab for 40 children served by TCRC. The trip was funded by Covey Film Festival proceeds.
“Many of the students had never been to the coast before,” Sharon said. “They gathered shells, seaweed, other debris on shore and then, in small groups, went on the marine collecting boat where they watched marine scientists collect specimens, use high powered microscopes, etc.”
It’s another example, Sharon said, of how Covey Film Festival puts into action its mission to “educate, entertain, and engage” so that local children can benefit.
The future looks bright for Covey Film Festival as its audiences grow, the regional tourism industry expands, and film studios continue to shoot movies in the state, Sharon said.
“I think Covey’s screenings are very important cultural events for Thomasville, as well as the Southeast, and that the film festival is an important voice for independent cinema,” Paul added. “I think we will see many more years of success. The festival has grown, and the audiences have grown. And the (film) industry knows that Covey is a certified festival, and it is willing to bring its movies here.” TM
Editor’s Note: At press time, the film screening schedule for 2026 was still being confirmed. For more information, check the Covey Film Festival website at coveyfilmfestival.org.
Through December 31
Christmas in Lights Flowers Foods’ annual holiday gift to the community, the lightshow features more than 20 holiday vignettes and 25,000 multi-colored lights throughout the grounds of the company’s home office in Thomasville. Enter through the gates on northbound U.S. 19 South, near the intersection with Old Monticello Road. Visitors are asked to turn off their headlights when entering the display, observe the 5-mph speed limit, and always remain in their vehicles. Free to the public, the drive-through display will be open every evening from 6-10pm through New Year’s Eve.
December 1
Downtown Christmas Parade
The Annual Thomasville Downtown Christmas Parade is hosted by Thomasville YMCA and ThomasvilleThomas County Recreation Department. Parade begins at 6:30pm.
December 5
First Friday Sip & Shop
Enjoy the monthly sip and shop activities along with The Ritz
Winterin Town
Amphitheater Tree Lighting. Extended shopping & dining hours throughout downtown Thomasville, and a free concert with Derrick Flowers. 6-10pm
December 5-7
The Nutcracker
South Georgia Ballet invites you to celebrate the holiday season with Clara and her prince as they journey to the Land of Sweets in South Georgia’s favorite family tradition - The Nutcracker. December 5-6 at 7pm; December 7 at 2:30pm; Thomasville Municipal Auditorium, 144 E. Jackson St.; 229-288-9420; southgeorgiaballet.org
December 5-7 & 12-14
TOSAC Christmas Performance Thomasville on Stage and Company presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids, the most inventively awful kids in history. Purchase tickets online at tosac.com/tickets or call 229-226-0863 to leave a reservation message and pay at the door.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
December 6
Jingle Bell Jog
The Phoebe Foundation presents the Jingle Bell Jog benefiting Children’s Miracle Network and helping fund Phoebe’s NICU expansion project. Returning this year to the original race route. The jog consists of a 5K run and walk, a 10K run, and a 1-mile fun walk, starting at 8:30am, 8:45am and 9am respectively this year. The race is a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta. Register at raceroster.com. Pick up your race packet at Phoebe Healthworks (311 W. 3rd. Ave) during the following hours: December 4, 11am-6pm and December 5, 9am-5pm. For more information, call 229-312-4483.
Birdsong Family Day
Families are invited to a day of free admission to enjoy nature at Birdsong. From the early 1800s to the present, the land now known as Birdsong was transformed from pristine longleaf pine forest to a plantation, then farm, and now a center for conservation and learning. For info, visit birdsongnaturecenter.org.
December 7, 14 & 21
Extended Shopping & Dining
Many downtown shops and restaurants are open through 5pm so you can finish up your holiday shopping and enjoy a bite to eat.
December
9
Tree of Lights
Donors, families and the community are invited to the lighting of the living tree—a ceremony that heralds the beginning of the holiday season and offers a celebration of life and remembrance for attendees. 6pm - front lawn of Archbold Memorial Hospital on Gordon Avenue. 229-228-2924; archboldfoundation.org.
December
9
TEF Concert
Thomasville Entertainment Foundation’s 88th concert series continues with Emmet Cahill’s Christmas, featuring the return appearance of Ireland’s premiere tenor vocalist in a program of traditional holiday music and festive Irish songs to herald the season. The performance takes place at 7:30pm at Thomasville Center for the Arts.Tickets are $40 for adults,
$15 for students. Tickets are very limited for this performance. For more information, visit TEFconcerts. com or call 229-226-7404.
December 11-12
Victorian Christmas Journey into the past as Thomasville’s turn-of-the-century downtown ushers you into the spirit of Christmas long ago with the
COMMUNITY EVENTS
to assist in services provided such as STEAM programming, engaging 500+ students and their parents in Thomas, Mitchell and Grady Counties. For festival info, visit coveyfilmfestival.net.
January 23-24
Nature Symposium
The Nature’s Wonders Symposium will be held at the Thomasville
Advocacy Center of Thomas County and their work for children impacted by abuse and trauma. Cocktail attire; 6:30-10:30pm; The Biscuit Company, 219 Oak Street; treehousethomasville.org
February 7
Oysters in the Afternoon Oysters in the Afternoon promises
cause dedicated to preserving the character of our community. Tickets and sponsorships are partially tax-deductible and available at thomasvillelandmarks.org
February 6-8
Stage Play
Brookwood School presents Shrek the Musical, an all-school musical and fun for the entire family. For info, call 229-226-8070 or visit brookwoodschool.org.
February 19-22
Shakespeare in the Park
This free session of Shakespeare in the Park will feature The Tempest and a special version of Winter’s Tale by the Bardlings at Adderly Amphitheater in Cascades Park. For info, southernshakes.org.
February 28
Black History Celebration
Join in on the 9th Annual Black History Month Parade and Celebration. The parade through Downtown Thomasville will begin at 10am. A celebration will begin immediately following the parade at The Ritz Amphitheater, featuring DJ’d music, local school
performance by Scott Elementary, African dancers & drummers, TCCHS and THS Drumlines, and food vendors. For info, email events@thomasville.org.
Fun for a Cause
MILLPOND PLANTATION - THOMASVILLE
Thomasville Antiques Show Foundation recently hosted a sold-out Mahjong & Mingle Tournament at the most iconic and storied quail hunting destination in the world - Millpond in Thomasville. Millpond was established in 1905 and is still enjoyed by the same local family and select guests more than a century later.
The Big House is over 38,000 square feet and consists of 11 fully appointed bedrooms, all of which are accessible via the loggia flanking the center atrium. The atrium is constructed of large retractable glass roof panels that open and close with the season. The grounds were designed by noted landscape architect Warren Manning, who apprenticed under Frederick Law Olmstead, and who also designed the grounds of the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. All proceeds from the event will fund grants and scholarships for youth-centric local organizations through the foundation.
Photos by Drew Balfour, Balfour Media
30 Years of Wildlife Arts Festival
Organizers and patrons of the Wildlife Arts Festival gathered at Onward Reserve in November to launch a special edition 30th Anniversary Wildlife Arts Festival t-shirt. All proceeds are given to support the programs of Thomasville Center for the Arts throughout the year.
Photos by Tia Turner
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