January 14, 2026 12:00 PM –1:00 PM
Lunch & Learn: Cookbook Authors Who Rose to Fame Through Modern Media
Overview
The Bartow History Museum welcomes Cartersville native Dr. Valerie Holt for a special presentation, Cookbook Authors Who Rose to Fame Through Modern Media.
Dr. Holt will explore how television, blogs, and social media transformed home cooks into household names. The program highlights figures like Joanna Gaines, Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman), Barbara Costello (Brunch with Babs), and Georgia native Trisha Yearwood, examining how each leveraged modern platforms to build massive audiences. Guests will also get a peek at some of their popular recipes - with samples available.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and enjoy the presentation.
About the Speaker
Dr. Valerie Holt, a Cartersville native, has a lifelong passion for education and food. She spent 30 years teaching public school, including 17 years in Home Economics, and competed in national cooking competitions such as the Pillsbury Bake-Off, National Cornbread Cook-Off, and National Beef Cook-Off. She has authored two cookbooks and now serves as a professor in the School of Education at Berry College, teaching graduate-level courses for future educators.
