In photo: Chamber President Crystal Branham and Vice President Jennifer Madden purchased the town's first goose from Mrs. Opal Harr of Harr Pottery, which has been in business for more than 75 years.
OLIVE HILL, Ky. — The City of Olive Hill has officially chosen a new symbol to represent its community, and it’s one that residents are already rallying behind—the goose.
The initiative, led by the Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce, was designed to be more than just selecting a mascot. It became a community-driven project that brought together residents, local businesses, and students to create something meaningful and lasting.
“The idea came from wanting to create something unique that people could immediately associate with Olive Hill,” said Crystal Branham, President of the Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce. “We wanted it to be more than just choosing a mascot. We wanted it to be a community-wide project that everyone could take ownership of.”
The concept began earlier this year as the Chamber explored new ways to build engagement and establish a tradition unique to Olive Hill.
A key component of the effort was involving students from the West Carter Middle School Chamber Chapter, giving them an opportunity to help shape a symbol that will represent their hometown for years to come.
“One of our biggest goals was to engage our middle school students because they are the future of our community,” Branham said. “We wanted to give them an opportunity to help shape something lasting, and they truly embraced the project and ran with it.”
According to Emaley Russell, the WCMS Chamber Chapter teacher leader, students were involved from the very beginning of the process.
She says they brainstormed a list of animals that could represent Olive Hill, researched the history, symbolism, and local significance of each option, and discussed how each animal reflected the character of our community.
Additionally, she said her students helped develop the public survey used to gather community input, ensuring that residents had a voice in selecting the mascot.
“Their ideas and research laid the foundation for a community-driven decision,” Russell said. “This project provided students with an authentic learning experience that extended far beyond the classroom. They developed skills in research, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and civic engagement while seeing firsthand how ideas move from discussion to implementation.”
Community members were invited to vote on the mascot, and the response exceeded expectations. Since the goose was announced as the winner, excitement has continued to grow across the city.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Branham said. “We’ve seen so much excitement from residents, businesses, and especially the students who helped make this happen.”
The goose stood out as a natural choice for many voters, not only for its personality but also for its connection to the local landscape.
“The goose just seemed like a natural fit for Olive Hill,” Branham said. “Not only is it fun and full of personality, but geese are also a familiar sight around Tygart Creek, making them something many residents already associate with our community.”
Beyond its local ties, the goose carries deeper meaning for the town.
“The goose represents community, loyalty, resilience, and togetherness…qualities that reflect the people of Olive Hill,” Branham said.
Branham hopes the mascot will become a unifying symbol that continues to bring people together for years to come, while also creating new opportunities for community events, local business engagement, and creative expression.
Both she and Russell say the project highlights the importance of investing in younger generations and giving them a voice in shaping their community’s future.
“Giving them a voice in shaping an element of Olive Hill’s identity instilled a sense of pride, ownership, and responsibility,” said Russell. “It also showed students that their voices matter and that they have the ability to positively influence the future of the place they call home.”
“We hope they’ll look back years from now with pride, knowing they helped create a tradition that continues to grow,” Branham added.
As excitement builds around the new mascot, the Chamber is also preparing to release details about a unique opportunity for residents to own a piece of Olive Hill history. Custom goose carvings, created by chainsaw artists during the city’s July 4th celebration, will soon be made available for purchase.
With strong community support and growing enthusiasm, the Olive Hill goose is already taking flight as a lasting symbol of pride, creativity, and connection.
For updates and more information, follow the Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.