(BENTON, Ky.) — Benton Mayor Rita Dotson will serve as grand marshal of the 2026 Tater Day Parade, organizers have announced, honoring a mayor who has led the city for more than a decade and is set to retire at the end of her current term.
Dotson, who has served as mayor since 2015, joins a distinguished list of past grand marshals that includes former Benton Fire Department Chief Harry Green, basketball legend Barney Thweatt and beloved storyteller Judy Jaco.
“It’s very exciting and very flattering,” Dotson said of the honor. “My first reaction was, ‘don’t you have a better candidate?'”
The parade is part of the 182nd annual Tater Day celebration, one of Kentucky’s oldest festivals. Dotson noted the event’s deep historical roots — Marshall County was formed in 1842 when it split from Calloway County, and the first Tater Day followed just a year later in 1843.
Before her tenure as mayor, Dotson spent eight years on the Benton City Council. Now, with her retirement on the horizon, she reflected on more than two decades of public service.
“I’ve loved every minute of it, the good and the bad, and I’ve loved serving the community,” she said. “I’m just ready to put it in someone else’s hands, with fresh ideas and a different outlook, and hopefully continue the progress that we’ve made so far.”
Among the highlights of her time in office is a major renovation of the city’s deteriorating street infrastructure, including a significant overhaul of U.S. Highway 641 — which runs through the city as Main Street and Poplar Street. The city also acquired land south of the town square, formerly home to First Missionary Baptist Church, where an expanded park is now planned.
Dotson said Benton has seen substantial growth during her tenure and that managing that growth responsibly has been a priority.
“We’re growing every day,” she said. “We’re having a lot of housing come in, and so we’re having to grow our infrastructure to provide for the new housing. It’s a good problem to have.”
She acknowledged that much of the city’s infrastructure investment happens out of public view, but stressed its importance.
“It’s a lot of money we’re going to have to spend over the next two or three years,” Dotson said. “We have tried very hard to be conscious of everybody’s tax dollars and putting them to the best use that we possibly can.”
Beyond her work in Benton, Dotson has been active in statewide municipal leadership, serving as president of the Kentucky League of Cities after previously holding the role of first vice president.
Tater Day, held annually in Benton, draws visitors from across the region and is considered one of the oldest outdoor trade days in the United States.
