27th Annual Job, Health & Education Awareness Fair in Spencer – Free Sept. 24 🎉

Van Buren County’s largest community resource gathering returns this fall, bringing together employers, health providers, educators, and local organizations under one roof. For nearly three decades, this fair has connected families across the Cumberland Plateau with real opportunities-and this year promises free food, health screenings, job leads, and prizes for everyone who walks through the door.

🗓️ When & Where

The 27th Annual Job, Health & Education Awareness Fair takes place Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at UT Extension-Van Buren County, located at 228 Spring Street in Spencer. Admission is completely free, and everyone is welcome-families, job seekers, students, and anyone curious about local resources.

✨ What You’ll Find There

This is not a typical job fair. Over three hours, you’ll encounter four distinct opportunity zones designed to strengthen different parts of your life and family:

• 💼 Employment & Careers: Meet local employers, explore job openings, and connect with people hiring right now.
• ❤️ Health & Wellness: Access free health screenings, gather wellness information, and learn about health resources available to Van Buren County residents.
• 📚 Education & Scholarships: Discover educational programs, training opportunities, and scholarship pathways for students of all ages.
• 🤝 Community Resources: Connect with local organizations and nonprofits that serve the area-from social services to civic groups.

Throughout the morning, families can enter drawings for giveaways and prizes. Free food will be available, making it easy to spend the full three hours exploring without worrying about hunger.

💡 Why This Matters

Job fairs and resource expos often feel overwhelming or disconnected from real community needs. This event, now in its 27th year, has earned trust because it brings together the actual employers, health providers, and educators who serve Van Buren County-not distant recruiters or generic vendors. For families on the Cumberland Plateau, where job options can feel limited and health services scattered across rural terrain, this fair condenses months of searching into one morning.

Whether you’re between jobs, exploring a career change, looking for health information, helping a teenager plan for college, or simply wanting to know what resources exist in your county, this fair offers a low-pressure way to explore without commitment.

🎯 Who Should Go

This event is designed for everyone-job seekers and the employed, students and parents, young adults and retirees, families with children and individuals exploring options alone. If you live or work in Van Buren County and want to understand what opportunities and resources are available to you, this is your morning.

📞 How to Get There & Learn More

The fair is hosted by UCHRA Van Buren County Head Start. For questions or additional details, contact them at 423-881-5182 or email kheard@uchra.com. The venue is UT Extension-Van Buren County at 228 Spring Street, Spencer, TN 38585-easy to find and accessible to anyone in the area.

🌟 Long-Term Value

Community resource fairs like this one strengthen the invisible network that holds rural areas together. When employers, schools, health providers, and nonprofits gather in one place, they remind each other of shared goals and often discover new ways to collaborate. For attendees, the real value often comes weeks or months later-a job lead that pans out, a health resource that changes a family’s trajectory, or a scholarship opportunity that opens a door. The fair plants seeds; the community grows from there.

❓ Questions Worth Thinking About

• What opportunity or resource have you been looking for but didn’t know where to find?
• How might connecting with local employers and educators in one morning save you weeks of searching?
• Who in your family or circle of friends might benefit from attending with you?
• What would change for your family if you discovered a job, training program, or health resource you didn’t know existed?

Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 24, and plan to spend the morning exploring. Bring a family member or friend, grab the free food, enter the drawings, and discover what your community has to offer. This is a rare opportunity to connect with dozens of local employers, educators, and service providers all in one place-and it costs nothing but your time.