Tyler Gamble named 88th Strawberry Festival General Chairman

By Tabitha | June 30, 2025 |

by Shane Wofford

Humboldt native Tyler Gamble will serve as General Chairman for the 88th annual West Tennessee Strawberry Festival in 2026. The announcement came from festival president Danny Wade, who praised Gamble’s deep roots in the community and enthusiasm for the festival.

“Tyler and his family have been pillars in Humboldt for decades,” Wade said. “Selecting Tyler to be my General Chairman of the 88th West Tennessee Strawberry Festival was a no-brainer.”

Tyler’s selection continues a family tradition of Strawberry involvement that stretches back decades. Both of his parents, Jeff and Laurie Gamble, have previously served as presidents and general chairmen of the Strawberry Festival, roles that left a lasting impact on Humboldt’s signature event and Tyler’s life. Now, Tyler, along with his wife Emily and their children, will carry that torch forward.

“Tyler is following in his parents’ footsteps,” Wade said. “Now, he gets to continue the groundwork his parents helped lay for future generations to come.”

Gamble says that the Strawberry Festival has been a formative part of his life since childhood, and notes that this relationship with the festival is common among Humboldt citizens.

“I’m incredibly honored and humbled to be named the General Chairman,” Gamble said. “The best childhood memories that anybody that grew up in Humboldt has is from the Strawberry Festival. Anytime you think back, most memories revolve around the festival at some point, whether it’s the parades, or going to see the horse show, or the fried honey buns, funnel cakes, things that mom and dad don’t let you have all the time. They’re really special.”

A 2002 graduate of Humboldt High School, Gamble attended Rhodes College in Memphis before returning home to work alongside his father. He is now an owner-operator of 11 McDonald’s restaurants across West Tennessee. His deep ties to the community and longtime support of the festival made him a standout choice, according to Wade.

“You want somebody that’s got Humboldt in their heart, and his whole family has that in spades. You don’t want somebody to come in here and just halfway do it and just kinda go through the motions. You want somebody that’s gonna get in here and say, ‘Let’s get this thing rolling.’”

Though Gamble has never served on a festival committee in an official capacity, Wade said his family’s long-standing involvement, and Tyler’s own behind-the-scenes contributions, more than made up for it.

“I had a list of six or seven people who could do the job, but Tyler was number one,” Wade said. “I had to fight for him a little bit, because he hasn’t officially been on a committee, but I knew he was the right fit. When I asked him during festival week this year, I saw his eyes light up.”

When asked about specific aspects of the festival that appeal to him, Gamble said the sense of magic inherent in Strawberry Week is something he hopes to help preserve and pass down to future generations.

“During festival week, Humboldt feels like something straight out of Mayberry or Stars Hollow. Everyone comes home, the streets are full of familiar faces, and there’s this incredible sense of community and pride. It’s one of those rare times Twhere life slows down just enough for us to really enjoy being together —and I think that’s what makes it so special,” he said.

Gamble also sees the festival as a chance to shine a light on Humboldt for those outside the community. The Strawberry Festival is not just a Humboldt celebration, after all; it draws thousands of participants and attendees from across West Tennessee and beyond.

“And so I’ve always enjoyed the festival as a time when we could bring people from the surrounding communities that may not always have, you know, the best thoughts or views of Humboldt, and they come. There’s everybody out on the street talking to each other. Just the energy around the town is is incredible. I’m just really excited about playing a part in it, just making Humboldt shine all around.”