‘What better way?’
A passion for dogs and hunting
leads Jody Ware to a dream
career training retrievers
Strategies for a
successful wheat
crop — p. 6
Find fall fun at
Tennessee corn
mazes – p. 26
Tennessee Cooperator
October-November 2008
1
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Tennessee Cooperator
TenneScene
Larry Dickey, Giles Farmers Cooperative outside salesman and Lynnville branch manager, snapped
this photo of a lone quail on his Campbellsville-area farm. Larry is an avid outdoorsman and member
of the Milky Way chapter of Quail Forever, a national organization devoted to the re-establishment
of the game bird in areas where populations have been depleted due to habitat loss. The chapter
will host a Nov. 13 banquet at Giles County High School to raise money and awreness about the
club’s mission. For more information, call Larry at 931-309-9466 or e-mail ldickey@gilescoop.com.
Cover story
Dickson County’s Jody Ware likes nothing better than
to be surrounded by dogs. Since 1999, he has carved
out a successful career for his Razor Sharp Retrievers kennel by training dozens of high-caliber dogs for
hunting and competition. The Dickson Farmers Cooperative customer feeds Pro-Pet Performance dog food.
Published by Tennessee Farmers Cooperative in the interest
of better farming through cooperation and improved
technology, and to connect the Co-op community through
shared experiences, common values, and rural heritage.
Editor Assistant Editor Communications Specialist
Contributing Editor
Advertising Manager
Art Director Graphic Designer Editorial Assistant Circulation Allison Morgan
Mark E. Johnson
Chris Villines
Jerry Kirk
Mack Barrett
Bob Gillespie
Shane Read
Polly Campbell
Beth Phillips
The Tennessee Cooperator is distributed free to patrons
of member Co-ops. Since each Co-op maintains its own
mailing list, requests for subscriptions must be made
through the local Co-op. When reporting an address change,
please include the mailing label from a past issue. Guest
subscriptions are available for $12.95 per year by contacting
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative at the address below.
Mailing address: Tennessee Cooperator, Tennessee
Farmers Cooperative, P.O. Box 3003, LaVergne, TN 37086
Phone: (615) 793-8339; E-mail: amorgan@ourcoop.com
NOTICE: This publication is for informational purposes
only. Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, its affiliates, subsidiaries,
and member Co-ops are not responsible for any damages or
claims that may result from a reader’s use of this information,
including but not limited to actual, punitive, consequential, or
economic damages. Tennessee Farmers Cooperative makes
no warranties or representations, either express or implied,
including warranties of merchantability or fitness of any
product/material for a particular purpose. Each article,
document, advertisement, or other information is provided
“AS IS” and without warranty of any kind. Tennessee Farmers
Cooperative reserves the right to alter, correct, or otherwise
change any part or portion of this publication, including articles
and advertisements, without detriment to Tennessee Farmers
Cooperative, its affiliates, subsidiaries, or member cooperatives.
Board of Directors:
Stephen Philpott, Shelbyville, Zone 2, Chairman
Bill Mayo, Tennessee Ridge, Zone 2, Vice Chairman
Larry Paul Harris, Wildersville, Zone 1
Amos Huey, Kenton, Zone 1
Larry Rice, Covington, Zone 1
Donald Jernigan, Christiana, Zone 2
Wayne Brown, Chuckey, Zone 3
Lowry “Whitey” Dougherty, Madisonville, Zone 3
George Smartt, McMinnville, Zone 3
Chief Executive Officer —
­­ Bart Krisle
Visit TFC’s Web site: www.ourcoop.com
®
Tennessee Cooperator
18 ‘What better way?’
COVER SHOT: As one of his golden retrievers shakes off the
water from his last splash in the pond, Jody prepares to throw
him the training “bumper” again. — Photos by Mark E. Johnson
Also in this issue
6 Turning green into gold
Intensive early-season management strategies can lead to higher wheat yields and better profits.
10 Reasons to celebrate
Sequatchie Co-op’s 75th anniversary and Knox’s open house stir interest and memories.
16 Big decisions
TFC’s newest director, Amos Huey, says farmers and their Co-ops could be at a crossroads.
20 Ringing the dinner bell
Montgomery County’s Wendell Kirkland says deer even forgo acorns for his clover and milo.
24 Positive steps
The 2008 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration wraps up a successful run.
30 Digging into ancient history
Gray Fossil Site museum offers discovery, education, and interaction.
35 Every farmer has a story
Minnesota native Roger Radel finds Southern hospitality in Sevierville.
Departments
4 As I Was Saying 15 Neighborly Advice
23 Tack Room Talk
28 What’s Cookin’? 29 Our Country Churches 33 New at Co-op
October-November 2008
3
A
s
I Wa s S a y i n g
By Jerry Kirk, contributing editor
A biased salute to the toots of a passing train
S
ome folks in Brentwood, where I live, are trying to get some sort
of “quiet zone” established in which trains wouldn’t be allowed to
sound their whistles as they pass through town.
Backers of this nonsensical tootless travel by trains are looking to a
1994 federal statute that says such quiet passings are permissible if the
local government has proper safety measures in place at critical crossings
to warn motorists that a locomotive is, indeed, coming through.
Not that anyone in town is apt to ask me, but as far as I’m concerned,
the trains can rumble through at any time of day or night and toot their
whistles whenever they need to. Having been raised a mere 50 or so
yards from the main line of Southern Railway in East Tennessee, I love
the sounds of the railroad: the rhythmic clickety-clack as heavy steel
wheels roll over the rails, the drone of the engine, and yes, the blatant
blaring of the whistle as the train approaches crossings.
Our house in Brentwood is a few blocks from the railroad, but we’re
close enough to hear those trains when we’re out in the yard, walking in
the neighborhood, sitting on our back porch, or have our windows raised.
The distinct and endearing sounds I hear are virtually the same as the ones
I came to get excited about as a youngster raised in a “house down on the
railroad” in Whitesburg.
I was about 4 when Mom and Dad moved from a rented house “up on
the highway [11-E]” to the one they were finally able to buy alongside the
railroad. Ours was one of four houses that sat, facing the railroad, on a
gravel lane — a wonderful place to grow up. Beyond the western end of
the lane stood a quaint little depot, a landmark in my small hometown.
From our front yard or porch, I never tired of watching a long, sometimes sluggish freight train rumble by or a sleek, shiny passenger train zip
past so fast that you could hardly see the people looking out the windows.
The noise never bothered any of us who lived down on the railroad.
It was a way of life. Even though the windows in our clapboard houses
4
October-November 2008
rattled and it was sometimes hard to talk
to one another when a train went by, it was
what we had become accustomed to.
Life along the railroad was simple but exJerry Kirk has been on the
citing for the few of us youngsters who lived
Tennessee Cooperator staff for
beside the tracks. We “knew” every freight
more than 35 years, serving
train engineer by the way he waved from the
as editor from November
open window of his engine. We’d usually see 1972 until his retirement in
April 2001. He continues as a
a hobo or two in empty boxcars and would
contributing editor today.
wave to the man in the caboose at the end of
the train.
As we got older, we explored the empty depot, the waiting room of
which, for some reason, was always unlocked. Inside was an ornate
ticket window, classic wooden benches, and a pot-bellied stove.
And then there was the daily mail drop. Some of the passenger trains
had mail cars to collect and dispense bags of mail for various small-town
post offices along the rail route. Near the railroad tracks outside our
depot was a tall pole to which Whitesburg Postmaster Harrison Horner
attached a heavy canvas sack of outgoing mail at least once a day. As the
train passed the pole, a horizontal rod extending from the mail car would,
in the blink of an eye, snatch the bag and pull it onto the train. Simultaneously, a bag of incoming mail would be thrown from the mail car. In a
cloud of dust, it would roll and tumble and skip and skid until it came to
a stop alongside the depot. Mr. Horner would pick up the bag, throw it
over his shoulder, and trudge back toward the post office.
Today, when it’s quiet and I can hear a train rolling down the tracks
through Brentwood, I find myself some 250 miles away, in a little town
where trains were allowed to be noisy — and to make memories.
Just like a train passing in the night, I want to be heard: Let the tooting
continue!
Tennessee Cooperator
Cigarette giant goes smokeless with acquisition of UST
By Allison Morgan, photo by
Mark E. Johnson
T
he tobacco industry in Tennessee is still awaiting word
on how the recent acquisition of smokeless tobacco manufacturer UST by Altria Group, the
parent company of cigarette giant
Philip Morris USA, will affect
farmers who grow dark-fired and
dark air-cured types of tobacco.
UST, formerly the United States
Tobacco Company, is the nation’s
largest smokeless tobacco maker
and commands nearly 58 percent
of the market share with its popular Copenhagen and Skoal brands
among other products. In early
September, Altria, the maker of
Marlboro cigarettes, bought UST for
$11.7 billion in an attempt to counteract declining U.S. cigarette sales
by entering the smokeless tobacco
business. Since the end of last year,
Altria had been test-marketing its
own smokeless products under the
Marlboro name with little success.
The tobacco for UST’s products
has been produced by growers in
Tennessee and Kentucky for more
than 70 years through contracts
with the company’s subsidiary,
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company,
which employs nearly 900 people
in the two states on a full-time or
seasonal basis.
“I think it is too early in the game
to say how much impact this will
have, but I understand why farmers
may be concerned,” says Paul Denton, University of Tennessee Extension tobacco specialist. “In general,
farmers who raise dark tobacco have
had a close relationship with their
buying companies for a long time.
Direct contracting started in dark
tobacco well before it did in burley,
and the dark companies, particularly
UST, have maintained close contact
with their grower base.”
After the tobacco buyout, which
began in 2004 as a way to help tobacco quota-holders and producers
transition to a free market system,
differences in dark and burley tobacco production have become even
more pronounced, adds Denton.
Dark tobacco companies like UST
chose to keep their production domestic and their prices high enough
to be profitable for growers, while
burley buyers like Philip Morris
lowered prices and outsourced some
production to South America.
“The fear of dark tobacco
producers is that the acquisition of
UST by Philip Morris will result in
Dark-fired tobacco producers in Tennessee who contract with UST, the nation’s
largest smokeless tobacco manufacturer, may be up in the air over the company’s
recent acquisition by the parent corporation of cigarette-maker Philip Morris.
the same sort of pricing philosophy
that has existed in burley and fluecured — in other words, try to buy
tobacco at the lowest price,” says
Denton. “But the dark situation is
fundamentally different from burley
in several ways, and I don’t think
the marketing situation will change
for producers, at least in the shortand intermediate-term.”
An increase in foreign burley
and flue-cured tobacco production,
particularly in Brazil, has allowed
cigarette companies to greatly
reduce their use of U.S. tobacco,
Denton explains. By contrast, there
is no good foreign source of darkfired tobacco.
“Plus, I think Philip Morris may
realize pretty quickly that they
actually have a pretty good situation here,” he continues. “They are
getting a good, consistent supply of
high-quality product from a grower
base that is skilled and attuned to
meeting industry demands. I think
this is a big advantage to them, and I
hope they won’t risk losing it to try
to save 30 to 50 cents a pound on
the price of their raw material.”
news briefs
Crop forecast updated after
storms bring late-summer rains
August rains arrived too late for the Tennessee’s corn crop, but cotton, pastures, and double-crop soybeans benefited from the precipitation
brought by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay, according to the latest
reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural
Statistics Service.
With yields varying widely across the state, the latest forecast shows
that all crops are outperforming last year but are still below average in
many cases. Here are the estimated final yields, based on farmers’ projections as of the first of September:
l Corn will average 115 bushels per acre, up 9 bushels from 2007 but
11 bushels less than the five-year average.
l Cotton will average 806 pounds per acre, up 241 pounds from 2007.
l Soybeans will average 30 bushels per acre, 12 bushels above 2007.
l Burley tobacco will average 1,900 pounds per acre, up 300 pounds
from last year. Dark-fired tobacco is expected to make 3,200 pounds
while dark air-cured is forecast at 2,700 pounds, both well above 2007.
Santa Gertrudis Association sets
sale for Oct. 25 in Cross Plains
The Mid-South Santa Gertrudis Association will host its annual sale
on Saturday, Oct. 25, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Cross Plains Livestock
Barn. The sale will include bred heifers, cow/calf pairs, and show heifer
and herd sire prospects.
A chili supper will be held on Friday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. with an opportunity to view the cattle before the sale.
For more information, contact Michael Smith at 731-549-5095, Mike
Sherrell at 931-270-9730, Richard King at 615-794-9482, or Angie Lane
at 931-728-7357.
Tennessee Cooperator
October-November 2008
5
pened, happened. But if you’re
going to grow wheat, you have to
get more serious about it, especially this year. You’re going to have
to make some really good wheat,
or you aren’t going to make any
money.”
l
Puryear
Turning green
into gold
Intensive early-season management
strategies can lead to higher wheat yields
Although agronomists expect wheat acreage planted this fall to be down from last year, favorable market prices still make it an
attractive addition to a grower’s crop mix. Steps taken early in the season can help get wheat on the right road for success.
Story and photos by Allison Morgan
F
rom carefree to careful, hohum to gung-ho, many Tennessee growers are changing
their ways when it comes to wheat
production.
Instead of an afterthought,
wheat is making its way to the
forefront as growers take advantage of higher market prices and
follow more intensive management
practices to achieve higher yields.
In 2008, those efforts paid off with
a state average yield of 65 bushels
per acre, the highest since records
began in 1866.
But when input costs are also
at their highest levels in history,
increasing yields beyond that average is going to be critical for the
upcoming season. The University
of Tennessee estimates that a yield
of around 55 bushels per acre will
be the break-even point for wheat
in 2009 when estimated production
expenses are factored with market
prices of around $5.50 per bushel.
The good news is that pushing
wheat yields to the next level is
possible with careful management,
says Phil Needham, an independent
crop consultant based in Calhoun,
Ky., and a recognized authority on
wheat production.
6
October-November 2008
“Today, the top third of producers are probably making 80 to 100
bushels, and the bottom third are
making 30 to 50 bushels,” says
Needham. “I’m going to suggest
that you need to be in the top third
to be sustainable and profitable
long-term. With a little attention
to detail and a little management,
I think a lot of producers can take
their 50-to-60-bushel wheat yields
to 80 to 100.”
A native of England, Needham
says when he relocated to Kentucky
in 1990 he was surprised to discover
how low wheat yields were in this
area compared to Europe.
“When I moved to this country, the Kentucky state yield was
around 35 to 40 bushels per acre,”
says Needham. “The average
English wheat yield is about 135
bushels per acre. There are a few
climatic differences, but a lot of it
is just management.”
Since then, through a cooperative effort of crops consultants and
agronomists in Kentucky working
with farmers and dealers, the state’s
average wheat yields have risen
into the high 60s and low 70s, says
Needham, who recently conducted
a training session with Tennessee
Farmers Cooperative and member
Co-op agronomy specialists to help
them encourage wheat growers in
this state to implement more intensive management practices.
“As a whole, we’re doing better
with our wheat management in
Tennessee, but there’s still a lot of
room for improvement,” says Bobby Hooper, TFC agronomy specialist. “It still doesn’t get treated as
good as a corn or soybean crop.”
Tennessee producer Lane Green,
who grows some 250 acres of
wheat in Puryear in Henry County
near the Kentucky state line, is
among those who has realized the
benefits of a solid management
strategy. He achieved impressive
yields for his wheat in 2008, with
his best fields making 88 bushels
per acre and his worst 81.
Although he admits favorable
weather conditions played a big
role, he also attributes this performance to the careful attention his
crop gets through Henry Farmers Cooperative’s wheat-scouting
program, a season-long service that
helps growers manage the timing
and application of fertilizer and
crop protection inputs.
“We never sprayed or did any of
these other things until we started
getting the recommendations from
the Co-op,” says Green. “We just
put it out there, and whatever hap-
Fellow Henry County grower
Joe Bill Fridy also recognizes the
need for more careful management
practices in wheat, though he readily admits that hasn’t always been
the case on his Puryear farm. He
grew around 250 acres of wheat
last year — the first he’d planted in
three or four years — and averaged
around 65 bushels per acre.
“When wheat was cheap, you
really weighed the cost of some of
the treatments,” says Fridy. “When
you’re getting the prices like we
have seen the last couple of years, a
few extra bushels per acre can pay
for the cost of those applications
pretty quick.”
Fridy, who also grows soybeans,
corn, and tobacco, says yield
potential and market prices have
now made wheat an economically
significant part of his crop mix.
He’s planning another 250 acres for
this fall.
“Used to, we just considered
wheat as a good rotation for everything — it brought in money
in the summer to pay our bills and
have some cash flow,” says Fridy.
“Now, I think wheat is really
important because it keeps us from
having all our eggs in one basket;
we’re more diversified.”
While input costs are certainly
a consideration, Needham agrees
that wheat, combined with doublecrop soybeans, is a wise choice for
minimizing risk, adding income,
and spreading out the workload.
“I hear from a lot of growers
that fertilizer is expensive, and it is.
And they say chemicals are expensive, and they are,” says Needham.
“But with 80-bushel wheat times
$6 plus 40-bushel beans times $10,
a grower can make pretty good
money from a wheat-beans combination if managed properly.”
Farmers must start now, at the
beginning of the season, to position their wheat crop for maximum
yields, says Hooper.
“At producer meetings, I
always begin by saying that 65
percent of a wheat crop’s yield is
determined when you pull the drill
out of the field,” he says. “Variety
selection, seed treatments, planting date, fertility, seeding rate,
weed control — all that has to be
done in advance of planting. If
Tennessee Cooperator
you mess those things up, you’ve
cut your yield before the crop even
comes up.”
Needham echoes that advice,
urging farmers to have high expectations for their wheat.
“You need to plant the crop like
it’s going to make 100 bushels,”
says Needham. “A lot of people
limit the potential of their wheat
right from the start, and then they
are disappointed when they only
make 50 bushels at harvest.”
Needham, Hooper, and UT experts have outlined these management tips that can help put wheat
on a profitable path and turn those
little green seedlings into harvest
gold:
Make careful variety
selections.
Start with quality, certified seed
instead of bin-run seed. This protects against poor germination and
introduction of weed seeds.
Select high-yielding, diseaseresistant, winterhardy varieties
such as Co-op’s Croplan 554 (formerly FFR 556), which was the top
yielder in UT Extension’s standard
wheat variety tests in 2008 with an
average of 82.3 bushels per acre. It
was followed closely at No. 3 by
Croplan 8302 (FFR 8302), which
boasted an average yield of 79.6
bushels per acre.
Both of these are proven varieties that have been in the top-performing group for the past several
years, says Hooper, who also points
out that it is always a good idea
to plant more than one variety to
spread risk.
Use seed treatments.
Treating seed with a good fungicide or a combination of fungicide and insecticide is also a smart
move, says Dr. Melvin Newman,
UT professor of entomology and
plant pathology. He says growers
can expect about a three-bushel
increase in yield just from the fungicide seed treatment, which will
increase germination and protect
the crop against loose smut and
powdery mildew, seedling diseases,
and later-season scab.
Seed can also be treated with a
combination of fungicide and insecticide, which will give advance
protection against aphids and other
damaging pests. In most Tennessee
fields, Newman says, an insecticide
seed treatment will at least pay for
itself by controlling early-season
aphid populations. Many certified
seed varieties can be ordered pretreated, and most Co-ops in wheatproducing areas have the capability
to treat seed on site.
Tennessee Cooperator
Observe recommended
planting dates.
Wheat should be planted between Oct. 15 and Nov. 10, which
is after the Hessian fly-free date
and before cold weather becomes a
limiting factor. Tennessee typically
doesn’t have significant problems
with Hessian flies, which can be
responsible for tremendous wheat
losses, but the pest did make an
unwelcome appearance in several
West Tennessee wheat fields last
year. In these cases, however, it
was volunteer wheat — not a disregard for the recommended planting
dates — that was the culprit.
“We had quite a few fields that
showed up with Hessian flies in
the stands about the time of stem
elongation,” says Scott Stewart,
UT professor of entomology and
plant pathology. “In all cases, it
was either planted into soybeans
that had a ton of volunteer wheat
or was right across the road from a
volunteer wheat field. When wheat
is growing in September like it did
last year and gets very big, those
first-generation Hessian flies are
building very high populations.
Even a late burndown didn’t help
in some cases because there were
already mature Hessian flies in that
wheat and allowed a second generation to appear in the spring.”
To help avoid these problems,
Stewart says growers should be
sure to destroy any volunteer wheat
prior to seeding and to plant after
Oct. 15. Flies emerge in late August
and September, but once it freezes,
they’re no longer active. Wheat
does, however, need to be planted
early enough to become well rooted
and develop three to four inches of
top growth before going into winter.
LEFT: Lane Green, who farms near the Kentucky state line in Puryear, believes in
carefully managing his wheat and relies on Henry Farmers Co-op’s scouting service.
RIGHT: His neighbor, Joe Bill Fridy, left, has also begun to manage his wheat better
with advice from Brooks Underwood, the Co-op’s Murray, Ky., store manager.
people who want to broadcast their
wheat, but if you look at the extra
fuel costs involved with working the ground two or three times,
they would be well advised to rent,
borrow, or buy a drill to plant their
wheat,” says Needham. “It’s much
more cost-effective to no-till, and I
think you will achieve equal or better yields with lower expenses.”
Fertilize efficiently and
effectively.
Growers should always start
with a soil test to determine the
fertility of the field and then apply
phosphate, potash, and lime according to the recommendations,
says Hooper. Lime should be
applied before planting; phosphate
and potash can be applied immediately before or at planting.
“Fertilizer is essential,” says
Hooper. “If growers aren’t going
to fertilize their crop, they don’t
need to be growing wheat. It takes
some dedication and financial commitments, but that’s the only way
to have a successful wheat crop.”
(See Wheat, page 8)
No-till instead of
broadcast.
No-till drilling wheat seed is
preferred over disking and spreading for a more uniform stand and
a yield advantage, says Needham.
Plus, no-till requires less fuel
by eliminating tillage. Growers
should apply herbicides for a complete burndown one to two weeks
before planting to get rid of any
volunteer wheat or vegetation that
can host insects or diseases.
No-till drills should be properly
calibrated to plant seeds at a depth
of 1 to 1.5 inches. Seeding rates
are 90 to 150 pounds per acre,
depending on seed size, which
can range from 10,000 to 16,000
seed per pound, depending on the
variety. The desired population
should be 1.5 to 1.7 million plants
per acre.
“There are still quite a few
October-November 2008
7
Wheat
(continued from page 7)
Even though nitrogen is the most
expensive variable cost in wheat
production, it is a key factor in highyield wheat management. The trick
is to provide the essential amounts
of nitrogen at critical growth stages
for the most efficient use.
“I know fertilizer is expensive,
but for high yields farmers need a
robust fertility plan,” says Needham. “That includes nitrogen,
which must be applied evenly, accurately, and at the right rate.”
He recommends applying 20 to
30 units of nitrogen in the fall to
stimulate plant growth followed
by one to two top-dressed applications in the spring, depending on
plant health, planting date, and the
variety. Spring rates should be
an additional 90 units for a single
application and up to 120 units for
split applications, usually from
Feb. 15 to March 30. To encourage
more tillering, use the earlier date
if the wheat stand is thin. Needham says he prefers liquid nitrogen
for a more uniform application.
pearing. Because of their tolerance
to glyphosate, controlling these
“weeds” is difficult with traditional
burndown methods, but leaving the
problem unchecked can hurt yields.
“In University of Kentucky trials
last year, volunteer Roundup Ready
corn that went untreated cut wheat
yields by 11 percent,” says Hooper.
“UT found that the most effective
control is a high rate of Gramoxone.”
After getting the crop off to
the right start in the fall, growers
should remain vigilant into the
spring, keeping a close watch for
signs of weeds, diseases, and in-
sects. Foliar fungicides may need
to be applied to protect wheat from
disease, but their use and timing
should be based on such factors
as type of disease, yield potential,
moisture conditions, and temperature. Generally, the most effective
time to apply fungicides is from
flagleaf emergence to early heading. Spring weeds that may need
control include wild onion, cheat,
and henbit.
Admittedly, there is extra effort
and cost associated with most of
these practices, but Needham emphasizes that growers must focus
on the potential payoff that comes
with added yield and treat wheat as
the primary crop it’s become.
“The ironic thing is that it doesn’t
cost much more money to make
100-bushel wheat than 60-bushel
wheat,” he says. “If you look at the
incremental costs to take you from
40 to 60 and then 60 to 80 or 80 to
100, the additional bushels you get
from proper management really
don’t cost very much money. It
costs an insecticide or a fungicide or
a little bit more nitrogen.
“There is a huge opportunity
to make more money with wheat
if you are willing to manage your
crop properly.”
Wouldn’t you know it? Effective relief
from fuel costs comes in a barrel.
Control insects and weeds.
One of the most damaging
wheat diseases is barley yellow
dwarf, which is actually caused by
the aphids that transmit a yieldlimiting virus as they feed on the
plants. Symptoms of the disease
don’t appear until early spring
when the plant starts growing, and
by that point, it’s too late to prevent
the disease, says Hooper.
Insecticide seed treatments will
usually control aphids until spring,
he adds, but if seed is not treated,
a foliar application somewhere
around a month after planting is
effective as well. A second spray
may be justified in early spring,
usually in February, if the threshold
is there.
Weed control in wheat should be
successfully accomplished before
the onset of winter to maximize
yield potential and prevent lessthan-acceptable control when temperatures are cold or weeds become
too large. Annual ryegrass is the
most significant problem in the fall
and can be controlled with herbicides sprayed between the middle
of November and late December.
Waiting until the spring to control
ryegrass isn’t very effective, says
Hooper, who adds that a good selection of ryegrass-control products
is available on the market this year.
With wheat planted behind
corn, Hooper says, there’s also a
growing problem with volunteer
Roundup Ready corn plants ap8
October-November 2008
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7/31/08 4:03:29 PM
October-November 2008
9
Reasons to celebrate
Sequatchie Co-op’s 75th anniversary, Knox’s open house stir interest, memories
LEFT: Raymond Blevins, left, and his father, Glenn, take a look at one of the antique tractors on display during the 75th anniversary celebration at Sequatchie Farmers
Cooperative on Sept. 5. RIGHT: Harold Blevins, a former Sequatchie Farmers Cooperative director, reminisces as he looks at a photograph of him and his fellow directors taken
at a Tennessee Farmers Cooperative annual meeting in the early 1970s. The Whitwell resident, now retired, served on the board for some 20 years and farmed 800 acres.
Story and photos by Chris Villines
T
wo East Tennessee Co-ops,
one commemorating its
longevity in the community
and another showcasing its new
home, had plenty of reasons to celebrate as they hosted events at their
respective locations recently.
Sequatchie Farmers Cooperative
in Dunlap marked its 75th anniversary with a two-day celebration
on Sept. 5 and 6. Knox Farmers
Cooperative treated customers to a
“BBQ, Bluegrass, and Ice Cream”
open house on Aug. 23, an event
that doubled as a belated grand
opening for the branch’s move
in October 2006 from Willow
Street in downtown Knoxville to
Asheville Highway near I-40.
Entertainment, food, vendor
displays, door prizes, and in-store
discounts were among activities
that drew regular customers and
newcomers alike to both Co-ops.
Sequatchie turns 75
Before it officially became
known as Sequatchie Farmers
Co-op in 1947, folks in these parts
knew their local farm supply store
as Sequatchie Farm Bureau Supply
Association, which was formed on
Sept. 27, 1932.
Dunlap
l
The first board meeting of what
would eventually become the
Co-op was on Oct. 1, 1932 at the
Sequatchie County Courthouse in
Dunlap. Among those attending
were directors D.L. Griffith, W.L.
Kelly, J.J. Lasater, C.W. Condra,
I.V. Kelly, L.C. Gray, and J.W.
Stephenson. Lasater was elected
the board’s first chairman and
Stephenson its president, and Griffith was named the first manager as
the store set up shop in downtown
Dunlap, where it would remain for
the next 35 years.
“I remember going to the old
location with my dad and granddad
when I was a little boy,” recalled
Gene Barker, current president of
the Co-op’s board. “Back then,
everyone knew each other, so not
only would you go there to buy the
things you needed, but it would
be a kind of social gathering, too.
ABOVE: Mae Land, whose husband, Arcie,
and son, Thomas, previously served on
the Sequatchie Co-op board, is in charge
of handing out free hot dogs. RIGHT: This
year marks the 40th anniversary of the
Co-op’s move to a new building on Heard
Street. FAR RIGHT: Manager Stanley
Moore, far left, is joined by current and
former directors at the event. In front
from left are Harold Blevins, current board
president Gene Barker, and W.L. Johnson;
back row, Randall Harvey, Thomas Land,
Ben Condra, and Glenn Barker.
10
October-November 2008
Tennessee Cooperator
LEFT: Seth Sutton, 10, son of Knox Farmers Cooperative
employee Christy Sutton, greets attendees at the Co-op’s
“BBQ, Bluegrass, and Ice Cream” open house on Aug. 23. Seth
and his sister, 8-year-old Alisha, and Jordan Campbell, the
12-year-old son of general manager Philip Campbell, were
just some of the youngsters who helped out during the day’s
activities. ABOVE: Vehicles line the Co-op’s parking lot the
afternoon of the event. Golf carts were used to shuttle people
back and forth from an adjacent overflow lot.
Guys would sit on the front steps to
talk, whittle, and chew.”
The business joined Tennessee
Farmers Cooperative in October
1945 and in January 1947 changed
its name to Sequatchie Farmers
Cooperative. In May 1968, the
growing Co-op moved about a
mile away to its present location
on Heard Street. The complex
included a new store that boasted
a 2,360-square-foot showroom,
car care center, and warehouse
space. There was also a separate
3,858-square-foot fertilizer building.
As times and farming practices in the Sequatchie Valley area
changed, so did the Co-op, said
Stanley Moore, current manager of
Sequatchie Farmers.
“Farming is not as prominent as
it once was in Sequatchie County,
said Moore, who began working
at the Co-op as a 15-year-old in
1972. “Just about all of the dairies
are gone. There are probably more
beef cattle farmers than anything,
but horse-owners and homeowners
who have hobby farms are starting to do a larger percentage of the
store’s business. It’s a struggle to
find the right product mix.”
During the 75 th anniversary
celebration, Harold Blevins, one of
the oldest living former directors
of the Co-op, perused the aisles of
the store and obviously liked what
he saw.
“They’ve diversified a whole
lot and added some products they
didn’t have while I was still farming,” said Blevins, who served
some 20 years on Sequatchie’s
board and raised soybeans, corn,
wheat, cattle, and hogs on the
nearly 800 acres he farmed near
Whitwell. “It’s a good place for
farmers to come. I know I couldn’t
have gotten by without the Co-op.”
Knox event ‘a great thing’
Although they moved into their
new location at 6616 Asheville
Highway two years ago, Knox
Farmers Cooperative’s employees
weren’t able to hold a grand opening because work was still being
done on part of the 5,300-squarefoot showroom and 10,000-squarefoot warehouse. The wait was
worth it.
More than 350 people turned out
for Knox’s open house, or “delayed” grand opening, on Aug. 23.
Dubbed “BBQ, Bluegrass, and Ice
Cream,” the big event was held to
express appreciation to customers
for their continued support and to
show visitors the wide variety of
products and services available to
them. As they entered the store,
guests registered for a chance at
one of the numerous door prizes
given away throughout the day.
l
Knoxville
As the event’s name connotes,
free barbecue and entertainment —
which included not just bluegrass
music but free camel rides courtesy
of nearby Circle G Ranch — received top billing. But, said Knox
Farmers director Glyn Underwood,
the residual positive impact the
open house will have for the Co-op
is the real headline.
“It’s a great thing for our store,”
said Underwood. “We wanted to
make people more aware of what
the Co-op is all about because a
lot think it’s a feed-and-seed store
only. I’ve seen a lot of new faces
here today, and that’s encouraging.”
Co-op leaders said the move
from an urban setting to a more
centralized part of Knox County is
another plus.
“In this new location, we’ve had
a lot more walk-in traffic and a lot
more visibility,” said General Manager Philip Campbell. “We’re now
able to offer our member owners a
better place to shop, more products,
and better service. We’re excited
about the direction we’re headed,
and our directors have been very
supportive.”
Marianne Satterfield, whose
family owns a horse farm in
Knoxville, said she has been a
Knox Farmers customer for 38
years. As she browsed the Co-op’s
showroom, she commented on how
the new store benefits a diverse
audience.
“There’s more selection for different types of animals,” she noted.
“It’s not just for cattle or horses
anymore.”
In the week after the event, those
associated with the Co-op were still
abuzz over its success.
“It went really well,” says
Campbell. “We had no idea what
to expect, but lots of customers
have already called back to thank
us and tell us how much they enjoyed themselves.”
ABOVE: Directors of Knox Farmers Cooperative are, seated
from left, Glyn Underwood, Jerry Price, Don Reagan, and Jim
Jarnagan. In back are Kim Holden, Doug Dawkins, Tommy
Everette, and D.J. Krahwinkel. LEFT: Reagan, right, serves
Ed Butler a scoops of homemade strawberry ice cream as a
bluegrass band plays in the background.
Tennessee Cooperator
October-November 2008
11
12
October-November 2008
Tennessee Cooperator
Tennessee Cooperator
October-November 2008
13
Abernathy named TEPA executive director
The board of directors of the
Tennessee Egg & Poultry Association (TEPA) has selected Donna
Abernathy of Murfreesboro as the
organization’s new executive director, effective Sept. 1. She succeeds
Ann Cox Eastes, who retired from
the position she held since 1997.
Abernathy provided communications services to TEPA throughout Eastes’ tenure.
“Ann leaves big shoes to fill,
but I am confident that my years of
working with her on many TEPA
projects and events have prepared
me to take the lead,” said Abernathy.
At TEPA, Abernathy, a former Tennessee Cooperator staff
member, will develop and maintain
industry-building partnerships with
poultry growers and processors,
agri-business companies, and educators and researchers as well as
the University of Tennessee and the
Tennessee Department of Agriculture. She will also provide membership services such as frequent
updates on trends and legislation
relevant to Tennessee’s poultry
industry.
Poultry is a major contributor
to Tennessee’s economy and the
fastest-growing sector of animal
agriculture. TEPA members are
Three Tennesseans
up for Farm Credit
director positions
Three Tennessee farmers are
among the nine candidates nominated to fill four director positions at Farm Credit Services of
Mid-America (FCS), one of the
largest ag lending cooperatives in
the nation and serving farmers and
agribusinesses in Kentucky, Ohio,
Indiana, and Tennessee.
Donald Blankenship of
Murfreesboro, John Collins of
Greeneville, and Bob Willis of
Hillsboro are listed on the ballots
that were mailed in mid-September
to more than 58,000 voting stockholders of FCS for the cooperative’s annual elections. Election
results will be announced Oct. 10.
The board is composed of 16
elected directors — four from each
state the association serves —
along with two independent directors. Board members meet monthly to set policy and provide overall
direction for the association. Board
terms are generally four years.
For more information about Farm
Credit or the nearest FCS office, call
1-800-444-FARM (3276). More
information about the candidates is
online at www.e-farmcredit.com.
14
October-November 2008
breeders, growers, processors, educators, researchers, and allied businesses involved in the production
of chicken for retail consumption.
The new executive director
has a long history of working
with commodity groups and rural
organizations. After earning a
degree from UT Knoxville in communications with an emphasis in
agriculture in 1984, she joined the
communications staff of Tennessee
Farmers Cooperative. In 1990, she
founded her own company, DLF
Communications Services, special-
izing in communications, marketing, and event management services for commodity associations,
agricultural agencies, and cooperatives throughout the nation.
She is an award-winning writer
and the 2007 recipient of the H.E.
Klinefelter Award, the highest
career achievement honor given by
the Cooperative Communicators
Association.
To learn more about membership in TEPA, call the new office
phone at 615-896-2372 or e-mail
dabernathy@tnpoultry.org.
Donna Abernathy
The Bull Market
Is Coming
Introducing Co-op’s New Cattle Mineral Line.
Based on Tennessee forages.
Available by mid-October.
Tennessee Cooperator
N
eighborly
Advice
By Dr. Paul Davis
New Co-op mineral line benefits cattle producers
In an era of rising costs for fuel and other farm inputs, increasing efficiency should become a cornerstone practice for cattle producers. Often, a
very small input can have a great effect on efficiency. Supplementing with
the right minerals, in the proper amounts, can greatly enhance feed efficiency and the opportunity for increased profitability.
For a nominal daily cost, cattle mineral supplements offer numerous positive economic benefits, including improved rate of weight gain; decreased
calving intervals; increased milk production; slicker, shinier hair coats; and
better overall health. Mineral supplements not only help fulfill the nutrient
requirements of an individual cow but also benefit the rumen “bugs” in her
digestive tract that begin the complex process of turning grass and hay into
meat and milk. On the other hand, cattle without supplementation are at risk
of deficiencies and subject to decreased performance.
Recognizing the importance of this type of supplementation to the profitability of our cattle producers, Co-op is introducing a new line of minerals
designed to complement Tennessee forages, which make up the nutritional
foundation of beef operations in the state. A multi-year study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Tennessee to characterize
the state’s naturally occurring mineral content in grasses and other forage
species. The results allowed us to include the right minerals at the right
concentrations to best help cattle glean more nutrition from pasture and hay.
This study indicated that focusing on copper, zinc, and selenium could
greatly improve the mineral status of grazing cattle. Copper is important,
according to Dr. Warren Gill, director of Middle Tennessee State University’s School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, because “much of the grazing land in Tennessee and surrounding states is affected by sulfur produced
from the burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal. Increased sulfur levels
can interfere with copper absorption and utilization.” Additionally, selenium-deficient feedstuffs are common in Tennessee and most of the eastern
U.S. Selenium is known to be very important for reproductive health and
Tennessee Cooperator
immunity. While the zinc content of our forages is considerable, most cannot meet the zinc
requirements of cattle without supplementation.
The new Co-op cattle mineral line offers
Paul Davis holds a doctorate
products that include Zinpro’s Availa-4®, which
provides copper, zinc, manganese, and cobalt in a in ruminant nutrition and
highly absorbable organic form. Minerals in that is a nutritionist in Tennessee Farmers Cooperative’s
form are less subject to interference from antago- Animal Nutrition Division.
nists, meaning more of the mineral that you paid
for benefits the animal. Likewise, using selenium yeast, a more available
form of selenium, allows this nutrient to be better utilized by cattle. All
products in the new Co-op mineral line contain at least 33 percent of the
selenium content as selenium yeast, and our Supreme and Ultimate minerals contain 66 percent and 100 percent as selenium yeast, respectively.
Because no two cattle operations are identical and producers’ goals also
vary, Co-op offers mineral supplements with a variety of feed additives to
help meet individual needs. Our new mineral line includes options with
Rumensin®, Aureomycin®, Bovatec®, and Altosid® IGR. These additives
can help with feed efficiency, disease prevention, and control of horn flies.
In addition to these special-use and fly-control minerals, Co-op offers
nonmedicated pasture minerals and hi-mag formulations to use during the
threat of grass tetany.
The new Co-op cattle minerals are packaged in recyclable poly bags that
are proudly made in the U.S. These poly bags are more durable and less
subject to unwanted tears and subsequent spills, again adding to on-farm efficiency by delivering more of the purchased product to the mineral feeder.
We are confident that a selection from the new Co-op mineral line will
help meet the needs of your operation. For more information on this exciting new offering or for help designing a mineral program, visit your Co-op
feed specialist.
October-November 2008
15
Big
decisions
TFC’s newest director, Amos Huey,
says farmers and their Co-ops could
be coming to a crossroads
With his 800-bushel grain wagon brimming with shelled corn, Obion County row-crop farmer Amos Huey says he is happiest during harvest season. As the
newest — and youngest — director on Tennessee Farmers Cooperative’s board, Amos is poised to help make tough decisions about Co-op’s future.
Story and photos by Allison Morgan
H
arvest is often one of
the most stressful times
for farmers as they race
against the elements to reap the rewards of the crops they’ve nurtured
all season long.
But for Amos Huey, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative’s newest
director, harvest is simply “happy
time.” From early September until
the end of November, he, brother
Daniel, and brother-in-law Jimmy
Dunagan, will “run wide open”
until the last of their 5,000 acres of
corn, soybeans, and cotton is harvested and their wheat is planted.
And that’s just the way Amos
likes it.
“This is what West Tennessee
is all about,” says Amos, grinning
widely as he maneuvers his tractor and grain wagon alongside
the combine in one of his Obion
County cornfields. “It isn’t work
when you love what you’re doing.
Everyone gets worried and stressed
out, but I love this time of year.
There’s just something about fall.”
Amos is TFC’s youngest director, elected last November to a
four-year term representing Zone
1 on the nine-member board. At
the time, he was serving as Obion
Farmers Cooperative’s board president, a role he says prepared him
16
October-November 2008
well for a leadership position at the
state level.
“After being on Obion’s board
for six years and two years as
president, it’s not really been that
big a difference to serve on the
TFC board,” says Amos. “Instead
of representing the county people,
now I get to represent farmers all
across the state. I hope I’ve been
able to bring some fresh ideas
to the board. I think that’s what
we’ve got to have for the future.”
l
Mason Hall
Raised in the largely row-crop
area of northwestern Tennessee,
Amos says his narrow view of agriculture has been widened tremendously as he joins the other directors in making decisions to meet
the needs of the diverse customer
base served by Co-ops across the
state.
“It’s been enlightening,” says
Amos. “East, Middle, and West
Tennessee are so different. Farming here in Obion County, where
just about everything revolves
around agronomy, I didn’t realize
how much urbanization was affecting farms in other areas. We have a
lot of 20-acre farms out there, and
that’s going to have an impact on
Co-op.”
As such changes continue, Amos
says he believes farmers and their
Co-ops may be coming to a crossroads.
“Co-ops have to grow to what
their clientele is going to be, and
that varies so much from county
to county,” he says. “That’s
something I’ve learned over the
past year. Each Co-op has to find
its little niche and be diversified
enough to handle each segment.”
While recognizing the diversity
of the Co-op system, Amos maintains that the agronomy business
must continue to be a strong focus
for TFC, especially as farmers face
crop production expenses that have
increased exponentially over the
last few years. He says he relishes
the chance to represent the interests
of today’s row-crop farmers on the
TFC board.
“Farming is big business out
here in West Tennessee, and the
Co-op has to cater to our larger
farmers,” says Amos. “If they
were to go somewhere else, what
would that do to a member Co-op’s
bottom line? Growers have gotten
so big, a Co-op can’t afford to lose
even one of these major accounts.”
For Amos and his family, crops
have always been the cornerstone
of their operation. He and Daniel
grew up farming with their father,
McKinley, on about 1,500 acres
near Kenton, where they grew the
same diversified mix of crops as
the brothers raise now — just on
a smaller scale. McKinley, now
92, still likes to be involved in the
farm, but these days he’s usually a
passenger on the equipment rather
than a driver.
“Seems like we’ve been farming
forever, and we are getting bigger
all the time,” says Amos. “Even
though we’re doing pretty much
the same things as we were when I
was a kid, we’ve had to grow and
change with the times. Now everything’s GPS [global positioning
systems]-controlled, variable-rate,
and Roundup Ready. You’ve got
to make these changes; otherwise,
you’d just get in a rut.”
Amos began farming full time
right out of high school and then
was joined by Daniel, his younger
brother by 19 months.
“Everything’s been in partnership with my brother since we
started farming together,” says
Amos, who lives in Mason Hall
with his wife, Vicki, and their
children, Crystal, Samantha,
Felicia, and Dylan. “We get along
really well and can get so much
more done together with both of
us combined and the other family
members, like my brother-in-law
and my nephews, who help out.
That’s what you’ve got to do these
Tennessee Cooperator
days — you can’t really depend on
anyone else.”
Even with a lifelong experience
in agriculture, Amos says he could
never have predicted the unprecedented challenges that he and
other farmers are facing right now.
Factors such as record-high input
costs, fluctuating markets, resistant
weeds, and ever-changing technology are making efficiency and
smart decision-making more important than ever before, he adds.
“2009 is going to be our hardest
year yet,” says Amos. “Costs are
getting so high, and farmers are
going to have to be able to become
more efficient and control their
expenses. And if you don’t do a
good job at growing and marketing
your crop, you’re not going to be
here. Simply put, you can’t forget
how to farm. There is no room for
mistakes. You have to do a good
job at everything you do.”
For Amos, doing a “good job”
includes strategically marketing his
crops, using best practices such as
soil-testing and variable-rate fertilizing, running high-tech equipment, staying diversified, managing
his financial risk, and relying on
the Co-op for products and advice.
“To me, your banker, your crop
insurance guy, and your Co-op are
the three most important things
you’d better consider,” says Amos.
“If your financials aren’t in order,
if you aren’t protecting your crop
with insurance, and if you’re not
buying your inputs from a place
you can trust, you’re in trouble.”
A staunch Co-op supporter,
Amos says he can’t understand why
any producer would choose not to
purchase farm supplies through one
of TFC’s 58 member cooperatives.
“To me, it’s the only way to buy,”
says Amos. “A farmer has everything to gain when he buys from
Co-op. Plus, I don’t trust my operation to anyone else. I trust Co-op.”
As he completes his first year
on the TFC board, Amos says he’s
enjoyed the chance to interact with
Co-op representatives from across
the state — especially his fellow directors, who he describes as “a good
bunch of farmers and people.” He
also says he takes his job as a TFC
leader just as seriously as he does
his own farming operation.
“We’ve got some big decisions
about what to do — as farmers
and TFC directors,” says Amos.
“Across the board, 2009 is going
to be the most challenging year
we’ve had in agriculture. I want to
help make decisions that are best
for the whole Co-op system and for
the farmers out there like me who
are relying on their Co-ops to help
them get through the coming year.”
Tennessee Cooperator
LEFT: Amos, right, and his younger brother, Daniel, center, grew up farming with
their father, McKinley, who, at 92, still likes to be involved in the operation. The
family farm has expanded considerably since the brothers started farming in
partnership and now totals some 5,000 acres of owned and rented ground.
ABOVE: Amos keeps the grain wagon positioned for one of the Hueys’ combines
to unload corn as their other combine waits its turn.
October-November 2008
17
‘
‘
?
What
better
way
A passion for dogs
and hunting leads
Jody Ware to a
dream career
training retrievers
Story and photos by
Mark E. Johnson
Dickson Countian Jody Ware sends one of his “client” dogs to retrieve a bumper — a device used to simulate a downed bird —
during a training session. Jody’s Razor Sharp Retrievers kennel has a 22-dog capacity and is usually full year-round.
J
ody Ware has arguably one of
the best jobs in the world, and he
knows it. Looking over some of
the rolling 400 acres of his Dickson
County property, he gestures in awe.
“This is my office,” he says. “I’m
blessed to have this life.”
l
Charlotte
While many other farmers in Tennessee can say the same, Jody’s got
something extra: the energy, humor,
and unconditional love of nearly two
dozen dogs.
Owners from across the southeastern U.S. send their dogs — mostly
retrievers and setters — to Jody for
18
October-November 2008
expert training in hunting, hunt tests,
and general obedience. After less
than 10 years in business, his Razor
Sharp Retrievers kennel has become
one of the most respected names in
the hunting-dog industry.
“I work really hard at this because
I enjoy it so much,” he says. “I think
that shows in the results.”
Since 1999, Jody has successfully trained dozens of high-caliber
hunting and competition dogs. Since
2003, 17 have completed the American Kennel Club (AKC) regional
testing necessary to qualify for the
organization’s Master Nationals, considered the “Super Bowl of hunting
dog competitions.”
As opposed to traditional dog
shows or livestock competitions,
dogs “running” in an AKC hunt
test don’t earn first, second, or third
placements. Instead, they either pass
or fail and compete against AKC
standards rather than other dogs. The
tests simulate hunting conditions,
and the dogs must prove their ability
to find and retrieve birds. At the
Master Nationals, six of Jody’s dogs
have passed. At this year’s upcoming event in Hibbing, Minn., he will
enter six qualifying dogs.
“I’m very proud of these accomplishments, both for myself
and the people who have helped me
along the way,” says the soft-spoken
trainer, a customer of Dickson Farmers Cooperative.
Training dogs professionally,
while an unusual occupation, wasn’t
exactly a stretch for Jody. Raised
in Marion County, the 41-year-old
grew up around hunting dogs, mainly
beagles and bluetick and black-andtan hounds.
“We did a whole lot of rabbit- and
coon-hunting,” Jody recalls. “As a
kid, I couldn’t wait till the weekends
when I could take the beagles out.”
In the early ’90s, one of Jody’s
friends took him duck-hunting,
something he’d never done. It was a
trip that would change the direction
of his life.
“I just fell in love with it,” Jody
says. “The funny thing is, my friend
didn’t have a dog with him. We
were in a ‘honey-hole’ — there were
ducks everywhere — and as we
shot them, he’d have to wade out to
get them. Well, I wasn’t going to
do that. I was always real partial to
dogs, so I thought, ‘I’ve got to have a
dog if I’m going to duck-hunt.’”
Jody returned home and purchased a yellow Labrador retriever
puppy and a well-known dogtraining book titled “Water Dog” by
Richard Wolters.
“I would read a little bit and then
run out and try it out,” he laughs. “I
actually did a pretty nice job with the
puppy. She turned out to be a good
hunting dog.”
After that first dog — named
Dusty — was properly trained, he
bred her to a proven stud animal and
sold all the puppies but one. He kept
it to train, and again, was happy with
the results. Soon, hunting buddies
began to take notice.
“Friends of mine and people in the
community began asking me to train
their hunting dogs,” he says. “That’s
how it all got started.”
By 1998, Jody was working
full time for a cookware manufacturer in South Pittsburg and training
hunting dogs as a hobby.
“I knew just enough to be dangerTennessee Cooperator
Jody pauses from training to visit
with his wife, Leigh, and their children,
Nicholas, 4, and Emily, 2. The children
“absolutely love” being around the
dogs, he says, and help him feed and
water the animals twice a day.
LEFT: At his kennel, Jody visits with his enthusiastic students. RIGHT: A yellow Lab chases a bumper into one of Jody’s eight
ponds. He estimates that roughly half of his trainees are competition dogs and the rest are working hunters.
ous,” he says. “I was real interested
in training and wanted to learn a lot
more.”
At a regional hunt test competition, Jody met Phyllis Garner, a
veteran trainer from Georgia who
would become his greatest influence
and teacher.
“She basically took me under
her wing,” he says. “Together, we
took a dog I had previously trained
and redid everything. We took him
all the way through the basics. I
drove an hour every day to her house
so she could show me how to do
everything. She told me, ‘You are
going to be very good at this if you
will stick with it.’ She inspired me to
consider training as a career.”
After nearly a year of training
with Phyllis, Jody decided it was
time to strike out on his own. But he
knew he couldn’t do it without the
support of his wife, Leigh, who was
working as a computer teacher at a
Marion County elementary school.
“We didn’t have kids at that time,
and I told her I was ready to pursue
[training dogs] full time,” he says.
“She said, ‘If that is what you want
to do, I’m behind you all the way.’ I
can’t tell you how much that meant
to me.”
Jody admits it was a risk to quit
his steady job to enter the uncharted
waters of professional dog-training.
“I kind of dove into it headfirst,”
he says. “I bought us an eight-hole
dog trailer, and we had only one dog
in training. I told Leigh, ‘We’ve got
to fill this trailer up. This is how
we’re going to make a living.’”
As a new trainer who needed
some experience under his belt, Jody
was forced to take on many dogs that
had already been through training —
unsuccessfully.
“In many ways, this is what
helped me get started and build a
good reputation,” he says. “I’d take
a dog, and [the previous trainer]
Tennessee Cooperator
would say, ‘You might as well make
this a family pet; it’ll never be a
hunting dog.’ But I was patient,
changed my program a little to fit the
animal, and made some of them into
great hunting dogs.”
As time went on, word began to
spread throughout the industry that
Jody was turning these “washouts”
into premium hunting dogs, and
his clientele base expanded accordingly. In addition to Tennessee, he’s
trained dogs from Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, and as
far away as Colorado, where Major
League Baseball player and hunting
enthusiast Todd Helton, a former
University of Tennessee baseball and
football star, was referred to Jody.
“He called me out of the blue one
day,” Jody recalls. “We talked for
about 45 minutes, and the next day,
he put his dog, Abby, on a plane to
Nashville. At the time, I’d only been
training for about two years, so it
was a nice boost.”
In the years since, the once-empty
stalls of Jody’s trailer have become
filled to capacity with quality retrievers, and now there is a waiting list
for his services. Successful hunt
tests and word-of-mouth advertising
have solidified Jody’s reputation as a
thorough and honest trainer.
“The simple fact is, not every dog
is going to be good,” he says. “If
they were, they’d be a dime a dozen.
Sometimes, you have to be straight
with an owner and say, ‘We’ve done
all we can, but it’s just not going to
work out.’”
Luckily, Jody says, the vast
majority of his “client dogs” become
successful hunting dogs and “good
citizens.” And, he adds, while most
owners are looking for a highly
skilled hunting animal, some people
just want their dogs to fulfill their
potential.
“Sending your dog to me is like
sending your child to college,” Jody
explains. “You want the best for
them. You want them to be as smart
as they can and learn as much as possible. Most people work five or six
days a week and simply don’t have
time to give the dog what it needs to
achieve a high level of discipline and
training.”
Jody says his favorite part of training is teaching the fundamentals to
young dogs.
“It usually takes about six months
to get these basics completed,” he
says, adding that training doesn’t
usually begin until a puppy is 6
months old. “If you don’t focus on
the basics, it will come back to haunt
you forever. I like the teaching part
of it, going out and showing them
how to get a bird, bring it back, sit, or
hit the water. I think you can learn so
much about a dog when you’re doing
the basics. I really enjoy it.”
In addition to the proper socialization of puppies, regular land and
water training sessions, and plenty of
positive reinforcement, Jody stresses
the need for good nutrition. He says
Co-op’s Pro-Pet Performance Formula dog food (#99853) fits the bill
for his kennel.
“These animals don’t spend a lot
of time just laying around,” he says.
“They are extremely active, working
dogs that are running and swimming
every day. We’ve been feeding ProPet for close to two years now and
are very happy with the results.”
He says the formula — containing
30 percent protein, 20 percent fat —
provides ample fuel for activity and
growth and results in a shiny coat.
“These dogs look like somebody
poured oil on them,” he says. “They
love to eat this feed, too. Believe
me, there is nothing left in the bowl
when they’re done.”
To burn those calories, Jody’s
dogs now have more room than ever
to run. In 2006, after a year of preparation, he and Leigh, along with
their children, Nicholas, 4, and Emily, 2, moved from Marion County
to the Dickson County home farm
of Leigh’s parents. Although his
first kennel was destroyed by a tornado soon after it was constructed
— luckily, it was empty at the time
— he rebuilt immediately. He says
the former beef cattle farm is perfect
for training hunting dogs.
“Just the way the land is set up is
great,” he says. “There is plenty of
room for the dogs to train for land
work, and we’ve installed several
ponds for water work.”
Although the kennel and training
are predominantly a one-man operation, Jody gets plenty of eager help
from Nicholas and Emily.
“They absolutely love it,” he says.
“They come into the field with me
every day and help me feed every
night. Nicholas is even learning how
to train his own dog.”
“I feel privileged to be able to be
this close to my family and do something that I enjoy so much,” he adds.
“I feel like I have the best of both
worlds. It’s a lot of hard work and
long hours, but I wouldn’t trade it for
anything. I mean, what better way is
there to spend your days?”
For more information about Razor
Sharp Retrievers, call Jody Ware at
423-718-5042. To learn more about
American Kennel Club hunt tests,
visit the organization’s Web site at
www.akc.org.
Jody discusses his kennel’s dog food —
Co-op’s Pro-Pet Performance Formula
— with Dickson Farmers Cooperative
equine/pet specialist Amanda Tidwell.
October-November 2008
19
the dinner bell
-ONTGOMERY#OUNTYS7ENDELL+IRKLANDSAYSDEER
EVENFORGOACORNSFORHISCLOVERANDMILOFOODPLOTS
Montgomery County landowner and wildlife enthusiast Wendell Kirkland, a retired tobacco grower, planted this field of Pennington’s Rack Master Durana white clover in
February. Since 2001, Kirkland has planted wildlife food plots for a local hunting club.
— Photo by Keith Earhart
By Mark E. Johnson
W
endell Kirkland is visibly proud of the long,
eight-acre field of milo
tucked away in a remote bottom of
his neighbor’s property.
“Isn’t that pretty?” he comments
as his trusty old GMC pickup
squeaks to a halt alongside the lush
field situated on the back side of a
Woodlawn farm. “One end stays
wet —good for ducks — and the
other end stays dry — good for
deer. Milo will attract deer even
when there’s a good acorn crop,
like this year.”
l
Woodlawn
With six two-acre fields of white
clover, milo, and winter wheat,
Kirkland, a devoted member of
Montgomery Farmers Cooperative, is one of an increasing number
of Tennessee hunting enthusiasts
and landowners who are planting
wildlife food plots. Popular crops
include grains like milo grain sorghum and seed corn; cool-season
grasses like annual oats, rye, and
wheat; and native warm-season
grasses like German millet, big and
little bluestem, and orchardgrass.
20
October-November 2008
Craig Harper, University of Tennessee Extension wildlife specialist, says food plots can provide
an important nutritional resource
for white-tailed deer, ducks, wild
turkeys, mourning doves, and other
wildlife.
“When incorporated into a welldesigned habitat management plan,
quality food plots can help wildlife
grow and develop to previously
unattainable levels,” says Harper.
“However, food plots are a small
component of habitat management and should be used only to
augment the quantity and quality
of food occurring naturally in an
area.”
Although he is not a hunter,
Kirkland began installing food
plots as a hobby after he was
forced to retire from tobacco farming in 2001 due to health problems.
“I just wanted something to
piddle with and really enjoyed it,”
he says. “After a few years, I put
together a small hunting club to help
offset the input expenses. Some of
the largest deer and turkey in the
area have been taken on my plots.”
In addition to Kirkland’s milo
(FFR 318 grain sorghum, #81849),
white clover is his crop of choice.
He prefers Pennington’s Rack
Master Durana (#80144), Reso-
Montgomery Farmers Cooperative salesman Keith Earhart, left, and Wendell
Kirkland examine a field of milo grain sorghum. Kirkland, a longtime member of
Montgomery Farmers Co-op, planted the eight-acre field for a neighbor.
lute (#84887), and Will Ladino
(#80291) white clovers.
“About four years ago, as an
experiment, I took four of my
clover plots and split them — clover on one side and corn on the
other,” says Kirkland. “Later in the
year, I’d go check them regularly.
There’d be nothing in the corn, but
the clover would be covered up
with deer. I even knocked the corn
over with my tractor to make it
easier to reach, and they still stayed
in the clover. That sold me.”
To prepare a clover plot, Kirk-
land starts with a soil test to determine pH, fertilizes accordingly, and
then works up his ground “as you
would to plant tobacco.”
“I try to sow between the first
and 20th of February,” he says.
“For me, 10 to 12 pounds of seed
per acre works best. The better
stand of clover you get, the more it
will choke out other vegetation.”
When possible, Kirkland says,
the best way to sow clover is the
old-fashioned way: sow on snow.
“I learned that trick from the oldtimers,” he notes. “I get my ground
Tennessee Cooperator
prepared and wait on a snow, then
I sow the clover seed right on top.
When the snow melts, it sucks that
seed right into the ground at the perfect depth, and it seems like every
plant germinates. Of course, if it
doesn’t snow, you just proceed anyway. If the ground is well-prepared,
you’ll still get a good stand.”
Kirkland plants his winter wheat
early in September so it will be
available for deer during archery
season, which opens the fourth Saturday of that month.
“I just rip the ground, sow the
seed, and disk it in lightly,” he says.
“Wheat doesn’t need a real deep
seed bed — just a couple of inches.”
Timing is key to the success of
milo, Kirkland adds. He never sows
before July 15 and then staggers his
planting.
“Plant half an acre, wait a week
or 10 days, and then plant that much
more,” he advises. “That way, you
can make it last a lot longer in the
fall when the acorns are falling.”
Dan Hicks, Tennessee Wildlife
Resources Agency information
officer for Region 3, says natural
conditions such as rainfall and the
nut, or “hard mast” crop, can affect
the usefulness of food plots.
“If there are plenty of acorns and
hickory nuts, you might not see as
much activity on a food plot,” he
says. “If the mast crop is light, a
plot can make a big difference for
wildlife.”
Kirkland says he’s found the
deer in his area to be interested in a
variety of plant species.
“I see deer in my plots even when
the acorn crop is heavy,” he says.
“After the acorns have been on the
ground for several days and maybe
rained on, they begin to deteriorate
and, I believe, become less palatable
to deer, which drives them into the
clover, milo, and winter wheat. I
also think they simply get to where
they want some variety.”
“You know, if all we ate was
chocolate pie, we’d get tired of it
eventually,” he adds with a grin. “I
think a lot of wildlife is that way,
too. Why not change up the menu?”
For more information on installing wildlife food plots, visit these
Web sites: www.plantbiologic.com,
www.whitetailinstitute.com, or
www.buckforage.com.
UT Extension’s comprehensive
publication “A Guide to Successful Wildlife Food Plots” can be
downloaded at www.utextension.
utk.edu/publications/wildlife.
Popular wildlife plot species
Seeding rate
Species
(lbs./acre)
Planting date
Ladino white clover (perennial)
Alfalfa (perennial)
Oats (annual)
Rye (annual)
Wheat (annual)
Iron-clay cowpeas (annual)
Lablab (annual)
Soybeans (annual)
Corn (annual)
Grain sorghum
German millet (annual)
Chicory (perennial)
Chufa (annual)
Sunflower (annual)
9/1 - 10/1; 2/15 - 4/1
8/15 - 9/15; 3/1 - 3/1
9/1 - 10/15; 2/15 - 3/15
9/1 - 10/15
8/15 - 10/15
5/1 - 6/15
5/1 - 6/15
5/1 - 6/15
4/1 - 5/15
4/15 - 6/15
4/15 - 6/15
4/1 - 5/15
4/15 - 6/15
4/15 - 5/15
8
20
100
100
100
75
20
85
13
10
25
10
50
25
Source: University of Tennessee Extension publication #PB1769
BEEF PRODUCING
And Now the
Gloves Are Off!
What are Fellow Tennesseans Saying about the Champ?
“Marshall Ryegrass has been a top, consistent yielding variety in the
testing program here at The University of Tennessee. With its cold
tolerance never being in question, Marshall’s late maturity advantage
brings increased yield and beef gains. That’s why it is the standard in
Tennessee.”
Dr. Gary Bates
Forage Extension Specialist
University of Tennessee
This year Marshall is priced even
lower compared to Gulf than ever
before, and compared to branded
ryegrasses, Marshall may even be
the lowest price!
“We sell lots of Marshall Ryegrass because it is an excellent value
as an annual ryegrass for hay and livestock production.
You’ve always wanted
Marshall... and now you get
the best for less!
Tater Daniels
Lawrence County Co-Op
Lawrenceburg, TN
For a dealer near you e-mail:
info@marshallryegrass.com
It also out-performs other improved ryegrasses available today.”
“We plant Marshall Ryegrass to complement our TMR in the fall and
spring. When our cows are on Marshall, we get a boost in the milk
production and their health improves along with reducing our feed
cost. Being an aggressive ryegrass, it reduces our weed population
greatly. Marshall is our mainstay, that is why we plant it every year.”
Whitey Dougherty
Madisonville, TN
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative
The Wax Company 888 CALL WAX
Marshall... America’s #1 Ryegrass !
Kirkland displays a milo grain sorghum
seed head. He says that in a season
of good growing conditions, milo
will attract deer even when acorn
production is heavy.
Tennessee Cooperator
*
*For grazing. According to university grazing studies - AL AR LA MS ©2006 The Wax Company, LLC
October-November 2008
21
Longer name, more family fun
Music, molasses, arts, crafts featured at annual ag museum festival
Just as its name has been
lengthened to better reflect what it
offers, the vastly popular Music &
Molasses Arts & Crafts Festival in
Nashville is adding numerous new
attractions this year.
“We’re adding ‘Arts & Crafts’ to
our name to let people know that,
indeed, we offer much more than
music and molasses,” says Anne
Dale, director of the Tennessee
Agricultural Museum, which stages
the annual event.
This year’s festival is Saturday,
Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and
Sunday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. on the spacious grounds at
Ellington Agricultural Center. Admission is $5; children 4 and under
are admitted free.
At this 16th edition of the popular
festival, of which Co-op is a sponsor, Dale promises that visitors “will
find added attractions everywhere.”
“It really is a country celebration for the entire family,” she says.
“This year, there’s simply more to
see and do.”
For instance, Smokey Bear
makes his first appearance at the
festival. He’ll be hanging out at
a special exhibit of the American
Chestnut Foundation, which is
promoting the re-establishment of
chestnut trees in Tennessee forests.
Franklin author Lisa Wysocky
will be on hand, too, from 1 to
4 p.m. Sunday to sign copies of her
new book, “My Horse, My Partner:
Teamwork on the Ground.”
Although new activities are
planned, reliable standbys — many
of them favorites year after year —
will also be there to entertain and
educate visitors of all ages.
Just as they have since the
inaugural festival back in 1993,
Mark Guenther and his family from
Mossy Pond in Overton County
will set up their molasses-making
operation in their usual place — a
shady spot in the main activity
area. A horse will plod methodically in a circle to turn the mill that
squeezes the juice from sorghum
stalks. Workers will continuously
cook the liquid into molasses. The
Guenthers will have their molasses
and other sweet treats for sale.
As for music, visitors will have
their choice of numerous attractions — from the Front Porch Pickers to entertainers on the Country
Hollow stage. Square dancers and
cloggers will also perform throughout the festival, and the New Wine
Gospel Singers will be featured
Sunday afternoon.
22
October-November 2008
Literally dozens of demonstrators will be on hand to show how
a wide array of home and farm
chores were handled in times
past — from butter-churning and
broom-making to beekeeping and
blacksmithing.
Likewise, hundreds of items
made by area artists and craftsmen
will be sold by a record number of
vendors at the festival.
Children can once again take
part in the hands-on “Farmer for a
Day” program, see and touch farm
animals, and pick a pumpkin from
a patch to decorate.
Food choices will include fixin’s
from an authentic chuck wagon and
such offerings as pulled barbecue,
grilled turkey legs, and fried pies.
For additional information on
the festival, including directions to
the museum, call 615-837-5197 or
visit tnagmuseum.org.
Fay Heathco of Burns will demonstrate
candle-making again this year at
the Music & Molasses Arts & Crafts
Festival Oct. 18 and 19 in Nashville.
Tennessee Cooperator
T
ack
Room Talk
By Kim Smith, equine specialist
A new reason to ‘celebrate’ Co-op feeds
amino acid, energy, mineral, and vitamin
Glowing spotlights, fancy gowns and tuxedos, roaring cheers from the
requirements are met.
crowds. No, this wasn’t the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of a
Hall of Fame 2800 (#336) is manufactured
new Matthew McConaughey movie — it was center ring of the TennesA lifelong equine enthusiast,
in a 1⁄8-inch mini pellet form. This balancer
see Walking Horse National Celebration. For the first time, Tennessee
Kim Smith has a master’s
pellet contains complete vitamin and minFarmers Cooperative was a premier sponsor of the “Celebration” during
degree in animal science
eral supplementation, including added yeast
its 10-day run in August. In addition, Co-op horse feeds were named
from West Texas A&M,
culture, organic trace minerals, selenium
the “official feed of the Celebration.” Before this announcement, we did
where her academic research
yeast, biotin, lysine
some research about what some owners and
focused on horse nutrition.
In 1999, she joined Tennessee
and methionine, vitatrainers want in a feed. We found that several
Farmers Cooperative as a
min C, and added fat
farms feed oats (or other grain-based diets) and
statewide equine specialist.
from rice bran. These
provide some type of supplement. As a result,
additions to the diet
we are introducing a new equine feed product to
will help improve dry matter digestibility, immune
help fill this need — Hall of Fame 2800 (#336).
response, hoof quality, and protein quality and proYears ago when families used real horsepowvide the extra energy the horse needs to perform.
er to plow fields, those horses were fed simple
Feeding recommendations will vary depending
grains and forage. Today, many farms still base
on what type of work the horse is doing. For an
their feeding practices on grains such as oats,
average working horse being fed between six and
corn, and barley. It is important to remember
eight pounds of oats each day, we would recomthat horses now live and work for many more
mend adding Hall of Fame 2800 (#336) at the rate
years than they did back in the old days. This
of one to two pounds daily. However, if you have
longevity can largely be attributed to owners
broodmares, we recommend two to three pounds
and trainers learning more about nutrition and
of Hall of Fame 2800 (#336) balancer pellets with
the role of proper minerals and vitamins in the
Kim Smith, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative equine
specialist, was on hand to present awards during
up to 10 pounds of oats daily.
health and performance of horses.
“Co-op night” Aug. 22 at this year’s Celebration.
If you are feeding grain-based diets, why don’t
Feeding a performance horse a diet of oats
and fescue hay, the most common forage in this state, will not meet many you give our Hall of Fame 2800 (#336) balancer pellets a try? We bet you
of the horse’s nutrient requirements. However, if a nutritionally balanced will like it! If you have any questions, contact me at 615-714-3202 or
e-mail me at kimsmith@ourcoop.com.
pellet like Co-op’s Hall of Fame 2800 (#336) is used, then the horse’s
Busy people
need good service.
Busy DOGS
need good food.
Whether you are a professional
or a everyday dog owner,
CO-OP will get it done.
CO -OP
Tennessee Cooperator
for Service and Quality
October-November 2008
23
Positive steps
The 2008 Celebration deemed a ‘success’
as Co-op becomes a premier sponsor
By Allison Morgan
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative debuted as a premier sponsor of the 70th Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration,
which wrapped up a successful 11-day run on Aug. 30. Co-op was also named the “official feed of the Celebration.”
T
hough normally not associated with glitz and glamour,
the Co-op name seemed right
at home as Tennessee Farmers
Cooperative assumed its new role
as a premier sponsor at the extravagant Tennessee Walking Horse
National Celebration (TWHNC).
This was the 70th anniversary
of Tennessee’s longest continually
running event, which takes over its
hometown of Shelbyville every August. The 2008 Celebration, which
ran from Aug. 20-30, featured 2,188
different horses — 36 more than
last year — and paid attendance of
216,253 for the 11-day show.
With its new sponsorship, Co-op
had a strong presence at this year’s
Celebration, from a prominent
lighted sign inside Calsonic Arena
to a booth at the trade fair to banners proclaiming Co-op as “the
official feed of the Celebration.”
TFC Chief Executive Officer Bart
Krisle, Board Chairman Stephen
Philpott, equine specialist Kim
Smith, and Bedford Moore Farmers
Cooperative Manager Vickey Stewart were also featured as award
presenters during “Co-op Night” on
Friday, Aug. 22.
For Stewart, who has a frontrow view of just how much the
event impacts Bedford County
each year, TFC’s sponsorship was
a welcome and logical move. She
said the Celebration is historically
and economically significant to the
community and its residents, not
just those directly involved in the
walking horse industry.
“It’s not only horse people who
enjoy and benefit from the Celebra-
24
October-November 2008
tion,” said Stewart. “Many of our
local farmers and customers will
attend the show, and most of our
civic organizations use this as their
main fundraiser. I think this is a
good opportunity for us and good
publicity for the Co-op.”
Shelbyville
l
Held annually during the 11
days and nights prior to Labor Day,
the Celebration is the signature
show for the Tennessee walking
horse during which the breed’s
coveted World Grand Champion is
named along with some 20 World
Champions. This year, more than
$650,000 in prizes and awards was
given out in 167 classes.
Lewisburg trainer Link Webb
took home the top honors on San-
tana’s El Nino as the 2008 World
Grand Champion, crowned the last
night of the event before a crowd
of more than 22,000. Among those
fans was John Houston, TFC retail
feed and animal health specialist
and Bedford County resident who is
a walking horse enthusiast. He attends the Celebration every year and
said seeing Co-op become part of it
just reinforces his connection to this
community tradition.
“I’ve owned and ridden walking
horses, and I’ve been coming to the
Celebration for the past 25 years,”
said Houston. “I’m thrilled that
Co-op is now officially involved,
too. These trainers and riders feed
all different kinds of feeds, and we
have some that will suit their needs
for sure. I’m excited about the
exposure that the Celebration will
give us.”
Houston joined Kim Smith, TFC
staff veterinarian Kevin Cox, and
other TFC personnel in staffing the
Co-op booth at the huge Celebration
trade fair inside Calsonic Arena.
TFC took the opportunity to introduce Co-op’s new Hall of Fame
2800 (#336) supplement, which is
designed specifically for performance horses (see related article on
page 23).
“Whether it’s presenting ribbons
on Co-op night or talking to people
at our booth in the trade fair, being
part of the Celebration is a wonderful opportunity for us to reach the
riders and trainers who are decisionmakers about their horses’ feeding
program,” said Smith. “This will
be the first time anyone has gotten a
look at our new Hall of Fame supplement, which is a good fit for a lot
of the walking horse farms that are
feeding oats along with some sort of
balancer pellet or concentrate.”
Securing TFC’s involvement
with the Celebration was one of the
first actions of the TWHNC’s new
chief executive officer, Dr. Doyle
Meadows, who was a staunch
Co-op supporter throughout his
previous 20-year role as a University of Tennessee Extension equine
specialist and leader of the statewide 4-H Horse Program.
“Having had a lot of experience
with Co-op in the past, I’m really
proud for them to be a corporate
partner with us here at the Celebration,” said Meadows, who
was named to his new position in
April. “I feel like there are plenty of
opportunities to strengthen that relationship even more for next year.”
Even though Meadows was no
stranger to the Celebration — he’s
attended for more than 20 years and
even watched his daughter, Caroline, show in 2006 and 2007 — he
said his inaugural Celebration as the
head of the TWHNC was certainly
one to be remembered.
LEFT: TFC and member Co-op leaders were featured as award presenters on “Co-op Night” Aug. 22 at the Celebration.
Waiting for their turn in center ring are, from left, TFC Board Chairman Stephen Philpott, TFC Chief Executive Officer Bart
Krisle and wife Kim, and Bedford Moore Farmers Cooperative Manager Vickey Stewart and husband Chris. RIGHT: As a premier
sponsor, Co-op is prominently promoted on a lighted sign inside Calsonic Arena, which is used for equine events year-round.
Tennessee Cooperator
ABOVE: John Houston, left, TFC retail feed and animal health specialist,
and Kim Smith, TFC equine specialist, staff the Co-op booth at the
Celebration Trade Fair inside Calsonic Arena. RIGHT: TFC Board Chairman
Stephen Philpott, second from right, presents the premier sponsor ribbon
for the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-14 on Walking Ponies class.
Eagle’s Finesse, ridden by Tyler Baucom, was the winner. Also presenting
awards are, from left, Marissa Jones, Nancy Davis, Whitney Davis, Kaitlyn
Rippy, Virgil Johnson, and Shelby Beam.
— Photo provided by TWHNC
“I’ve been there for many years,
but this was the first time to sit on
the other side of the fence, so to
speak,” said Meadows. “I definitely
had a steep learning curve, but I was
very pleased with the total success
of the program.”
Total attendance was similar to
2007, which Meadows said was
encouraging since two nights of this
year’s competition were soaked by
remnants of tropical storm Fay.
“With high fuel prices and the
overall state of the economy, we
are pleased with our attendance
this year,” he said. “I can’t thank
the fans enough. It tells us that the
product we’re presenting is what the
public wants to see — beautiful and
talented horses, great riders, and a
terrific overall atmosphere.”
Meadows said he’s also encouraged by the compliance among
trainers and owners with the
Celebration’s stringent inspection
measures implemented in 2007
after allegations of “soring” —
techniques that inflict pain for the
purposes of performance enhancement — overshadowed the 2006
event and caused the World Grand
Championship to be cancelled.
During the 2008 show, the Celebration reinforced its commitment to
such measures as drug screening,
proper shoeing, random inspections
of the barn area, and enforcing the
Tennessee Anti-Soring ordinance.
These actions are “a step in the
right direction” and continue to
restore confidence in the walking
horse industry, according to Meadows, who says he’s already looking
forward to the 2009 event, planned
for Aug. 26 through Sept. 5.
“After two years of a successful show, little by little, piece by
piece, we’re moving forward,” said
Meadows. “All of these things
help us have a better horse to present in the ring.”
Photos, show results, and more
information about The Celebration
can be found at www.twhnc.com.
Tennessee Cooperator
W
C
inner’s
UP
NEW
HALL OF FAME
the balancer supplement
Hall of Fame 2800, Co-op’s balancer supplement, is formulated to solidify the nutritional requirements of your trusted companion. The mini pellet is manufactured
with high-quality ingredients and fortified
with Selenium Yeast, Biotin, Yeast Culture,
Amino Acids, Vitamin C, and Organically
Complexed Trace Minerals to mix with your
oats and/or other grains. You will find this
product beyond compare.
www.ourcoop.com
Simply a superior technology for the life of your horse.
October-November 2008
25
who might not otherwise have the
chance to come visit a real farm.”
“It’s a lot of fun,” she adds. “I
hope we can continue this for years
to come.”
Brown’s Farm Corn Maze is
located at 7125 Cainsville Pike in
Lascassas. For more information,
call 615-273-4300. It’s just one of
many corn mazes and other fall agritourism activities across the state.
Here are those we are aware of at
press time. Most are open throughout October, but we suggest you call
ahead to confirm dates and times.
More information is available at
www.picktnproducts.org by clicking
on “Farm Fun & Activities.”
East Tennessee
Ballinger Farm Crazy Maze
2738 Renfro Road
Jefferson City, TN 37760
865-475-7513
Beck Mountain Corn Maze
116 Corn Maze Lane
Elizabethton, TN 37643
423-543-1045
www.beckmountaincornmaze.com
This fall promises to be a good season for corn mazes
Suzanne Brown peeks around a row in the middle of the corn maze she and her
husband, Ernie, are hosting at their Lascassas farm this fall. It’s one of many such
agritourism activities across the state.
— Photo by Mark E. Johnson
By Mark E. Johnson and
Rachel Boreing
F
armers in Tennessee are making things as confusing as
possible.
At least, that is, farmers who are
creating corn mazes.
With much more favorable
growing conditions this year than
drought-marred 2007, the fall is
shaping up to be a good time to get
lost in Tennessee. More than 40
operations have listed their corn
mazes with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), and
agritourism coordinator Pamela
Bartholomew says there is a noticeable sense of excitement for this
year’s fall harvest season.
“Corn mazes are going full blast
this year,” says Pamela. “Last year
at this time, most corn patches were
only waist-high if they survived at
all. Many people gave up on their
mazes. I think others had plenty of
time to figure out what they wanted
to do this year because there are
more operations and more activities
than ever, from hay rides to scavenger hunts. Consumers can expect
plenty of bang for their buck.”
One operation that is gearing up
for business is Brown’s Farm Corn
Maze in Lascassas. Owned by
Ernie and Suzanne Brown, mem-
26
October-November 2008
bers of Rutherford Farmers Cooperative, the operation features an
11-acre maze — four total miles of
walking — on the couple’s 70-acre
corn, soybean, beef cattle, and
quarter horse farm.
“We’re really excited about what
we’ve got this year,” says Suzanne.
“Our theme is ‘The Headless
Horseman.’ Not only will that be
the corn maze shape, but we will
have an actual headless horseman
riding around!”
Lascassas
l
In addition to the spooky equestrian, Brown’s Farm will offer
pumpkins, individual campfires
and cookout “goodies,” a 30-foottall round-bale hay mountain for
climbing, a hayride, and a tour of a
real haunted cemetery. There will
also be a square-bale straw maze
just for toddlers. Suzanne says the
entire operation is geared toward
families with children.
“About four years ago, we were
involved in a farm day at Lascassas Elementary School,” she says.
“When I realized that many kids
didn’t know the difference between
a horse and a cow, I figured we
needed to do something. Our operation provides a place for people
Brush Creek Farms
Walkertown Road
Dayton, TN 37321
423-775-4484
www.brushcreekfarmstn.com
Cookson Creek Farm and
Greenhouse
1226 Sand Mountain Road
Ocoee, TN 37361
423-338-5914
Mason-Mayfield Corn Maze
257 Highway 307
Athens, TN 37371
423-744-4866
www.mayfielddairy.com
Myers Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze
3415 Gap Creek Road
Bulls Gap, TN 37711
423-235-4796
www.myerspumpkinpatch.com
Oakes Farm
8240 Corryton Road
Corryton, TN 37721
865-688-6200
www.oakesfarm.com
The River Maze
173 Welcome Valley Road
Benton, TN 37307
423-338-8314
www.therivermaze.com
River Ridge Farm
220 Mike Miller Lane
Clinton, TN 37716
865-457-6774
www.riverridgefarmtn.com
Shull’s Farm and Cornmaze
4249 Roan Creek Road
Mountain City, TN 37683
423-291-1117
www.shullsfarm.com
The Stickley Farm
531 Timbermill Drive
Bluff City, TN 37618
423-360-4809
www.thestickleyfarm.com
Middle Tennessee
Echo Valley Farm Corn Maze
1548 Groseclose Road
New Market, TN 37820
865-591-7343
www.echovalleycornmaze.com
Amazin’ Acres of Fun
2857 Old Kentucky Road
Sparta, TN 38583
931-761-2971
www.amazinacres.com
Enchanted MAiZE by Rock City
271 Old Chattanooga Valley Road
Flintstone, GA 30725
706-820-2531
www.enchantedmaze.com
Autumn Acres
1096 Baier Road
Crossville, TN 38571
931-707-0103
www.autumnacres.net
Fender’s Farm
254 Tennessee Highway 107
Jonesborough, TN 37659
423-753-4469
www.fendersmaze.com
Boyd Farm
1425 Highway 76
Clarksville, TN 37043
931-216-8250
www.boydspumpkinpatch.com
Kyker Farms Corn Maze
938 Alder Branch Road
Sevierville, TN 37876
865-679-4848
www.kykerfarmscornmaze.com
Cedar Rock Corn Maze
1326 Warner Bridge Road
Shelbyville, TN 37160
931-684-9814
www.cedarrockfallfest.com
Maple Lane Farms
1040 Maple Lane
Greenback, TN 37742
865-856-3511
www.tncornmaze.com
Cedarwood Pumpkin Patch
6794 Nashville Highway
McMinnville, TN 37110
931-939-3960
www.cedarwoodnurserytn.com/
Tennessee Cooperator
The Farm at Hollow Springs
9190 Hollow Springs Road
Bradyville, TN 37026
615-848-2822
Keller’s Corny Country
542 Firetower Road
Dickson, TN 37055
615-441-4872
www.kellerscornycountry.com
Gentry’s Farm
1974 Highway 96 West
Franklin, TN 37064
615-794-4368
www.gentryfarm.com
Grandaddy’s Farm
1165 Highland Ridge Road
Estill Springs, TN 37330
931-967-8628
www.grandaddysfarm.com
Holiday Acres Farm
346 Campbellsville Pike
Ethridge, TN 38456
931-829-2660
www.holidayacresfarm.com
Honeysuckle Hill Farm
1765 Martins Chapel Church Road
Springfield, TN 37172
615-382-7593
www.honeysucklehillfarm.com
Maize on the Hill
2605 Ezell Road
Chapel Hill, TN 37034
931-212-3690
www.maizeonthehill.com
Owen Farm
825 Crocker Road
Chapmansboro, TN 37035
615-428-2702
www.owenfarm.com
Patterson Place Farm
2480 Patterson Road
Woodlawn, TN 37191
931-553-0639
Pumpkin Hill
431 Benders Ferry Road
Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
615-758-5364
www.pumpkinhill.org
Pumpkin Place
6944 Highway 25 East
Cross Plains, TN 37049
615-654-3625
Ring Farm
2628 Greensmill Road
Columbia, TN 38401
931-486-2395
www.ringfarm.com
Rippavilla Plantation Corn Maze
5700 Main Street
Spring Hill, TN 37174
931-486-9037
www.rippavilla.org
Riverview Mounds Farm
1711 Boyd Rinehart Road
Clarksville, TN 37043
615-495-8185
www.riverviewmoundsfarm.com
Shuck-n-Shack Farm
7721 Valley View Road
Lascassas, TN 37085
615-812-8788
Walden Pumpkin Farm
8653 Rocky Fork Road
Smyrna, TN 37167
615-220-2918
www.waldenfarm.biz
West Tennessee
Cotton Museum of the South
Corn Maze at Green Frog Village
Highway 412 South
Bells, TN 38006
731-663-3319
Duncan Christmas Tree Farm
186 Hester Road
Selmer, TN 38375
731-645-5769
Fletcher Farm
8343 Munford Giltedge Road
Burlison, TN 38015
901-476-9257
Jones Orchard Corn Maze
6880 Singleton Parkway
Millington, TN 38053
901-873-3150
www.jonesorchard.com
Mid-South Maze at
Agricenter International
Memphis, TN 38120
901-870-6338
www.cornfieldmaze.com
Tennessee Safari Park
637 Conley Road
Alamo, TN 38001
731-696-4423 or 901-734-6005
www.tennesseesafaripark.com
Tom’s Farm
1665 Murrell Road
Rossville, TN 38066
901-853-0997
www.tomsfarm.net
Tennessee Cooperator
October-November 2008
27
W
hat’s
Cookin’?
By Allison Morgan, editor
Making meals for many
A
s the holidays approach,
so do the occasions when
we find ourselves cooking
large meals for houseguests, family
get-togethers, and other seasonal
gatherings.
Whether you need to feed an
extended family or an entire army,
there’s no need to fear those feasts.
Just try these super-sized recipes from our “What’s cookin’?”
readers, like Pat Farley of Pleasant Shade. Her submission for
“Williamsburg Inn Turkey Soup”
not only makes a large quantity of
hearty soup, but it also is a great
way to use leftover Thanksgiving
turkey. Plus, our Cook-of-theMonth for October/November says
the soup can be frozen and easily
reheated for future use.
Other recipes featured are
Icebox Vegetable Salad, Baked
Potato Casserole, Quick Cake and
Filling, Chicken Spaghetti, Sloppy
Joes for 100, Taco Meatball Ring,
The Night-Before Breakfast, and
Harvest Ham.
Enjoy!
seasonings to taste. Heat slowly to
serving temperature.
Yield: 4 to 41⁄2 quarts.
Pat Farley
Pleasant Shade
Smith Farmers Cooperative
v
Icebox Vegetable Salad
1 (16-ounce) can French-style
green beans, drained
1 (17-ounce) can tiny green
peas, drained
1 (16-ounce) can whole kernel
corn, drained
1 (4-ounce) jar chopped
pimentos, drained
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 medium onion, finely
chopped
1 medium green pepper, finely
chopped
1 cup sugar
⁄2 cup vinegar
1
⁄2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1
⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
Combine first seven ingredients
in a large bowl. In a saucepan,
combine sugar, vinegar, oil, salt,
and pepper. Bring to a boil; cool
slightly and pour over vegetables.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Salad may be stored in refrigerator
for up to one week.
Yield: 8-10 servings.
Dorothy Jean Beckham
Waynesboro
Wayne Farmers Cooperative
v
1
Baked Potato Casserole
5 pounds red potatoes, cooked
and cubed
Williamsburg Inn Turkey Soup
1 turkey carcass
4 quarts water
3 large onions, chopped fine
3 stalks celery, chopped fine
2 large carrots, chopped fine
1
⁄4 cup uncooked long grain
rice
1 cup butter or margarine
11⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
1 pint half-and-half
3 cups diced cooked turkey
1
⁄2 teaspoon poultry seasoning,
if desired
Salt and pepper to taste
In a large kettle, cook turkey
carcass with water for 45 minutes to
1 hour to make three quarts stock.
Remove bones; reserve meat for
soup. Strain stock; set aside.
In a saucepan, combine onions,
celery, carrots, rice, and one quart of
the stock. Cook for 20 minutes; set
aside.
In a large soup kettle, melt butter
or margarine. Blend in flour, and
heat until bubbly. Add half-and-half
and remaining two quarts of stock
to butter/flour mixture; cook and stir
until bubbly. Stir in the reserved
vegetable mixture, turkey, and
28
October-November 2008
Co-op cooks have a long
tradition of sharing recipes in
the “What’s cookin’?” column,
which has been a regular
feature of the Tennessee
Cooperator since June 1978.
1 pound sliced bacon, cooked
and crumbled
4 cups (1 pound) cubed
Cheddar cheese
4 cups (1 pound) shredded
sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 tablespoon minced chives
1 teaspoon salt
1
⁄2 teaspoon pepper
In a large bowl, combine potatoes and bacon. In another bowl,
combine the remaining ingredients;
add potato mixture and toss gently
to coat.
Transfer to a greased 41⁄2-quart
baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at
325° for 50-60 minutes or until
bubbly and lightly browned.
Yield: 20-24 servings.
Carolyn Devers
Southside
Montgomery Farmers Cooperative
v
Quick Cake and Filling
2 boxes white cake mix
6 eggs
6 tablespoons water
1 (8-ounce) package cream
cheese, softened
2 (21-ounce) cans cherry pie
filling or fruit of your choice
Mix first four ingredients. Swirl
in pie filling. Pour into two 9-x-13inch pans and bake at 350° for 40
minutes. Top with a scoop of ice
cream before serving.
Yield: 30 servings.
Jerri Miller
Athens
Valley Farmers Cooperative
v
Chicken Spaghetti
“Williamsburg Inn Turkey Soup” is a great way to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey
and feed a big family. The recipe was submitted by Pat Farley, our Cook-of-the-Month
for October/November. — Photo by Mark E. Johnson, food styling by Allison Morgan
6 to 8 large chicken breasts
Salt to taste
1 (8-ounce) package spaghetti
1 stick butter, melted
1
⁄2 cup chopped onion
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup mushrooms
Tennessee Cooperator
1 cup chopped bell pepper
1 cup sliced water chestnuts
1 (14-ounce) jar pimentos
1 cup salad black olives
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom
soup
1
⁄2 soup can of milk
11⁄2 pounds Velveeta cheese
Place chicken breasts in large
pot, add salt to taste, and cover with
water; boil until tender. Remove
chicken and reserve the broth.
Cook spaghetti in chicken broth;
drain and add all ingredients except
the cheese. Pour into a large,
greased pan. Top with thick slices
of cheese. Bake at 350° for 30
minutes. Can be frozen.
Yield: 20 servings.
Kathye Jackson
Charlotte
Dickson Farmers Cooperative
v
Sloppy Joes for 100
20 pounds ground beef
4 large onions, chopped
4 large green peppers,
chopped
4 cups chopped celery
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup spicy brown mustard
4 cups ketchup
2 (12-ounce) cans tomato paste
4 (15-ounce) cans tomato
sauce
6 to 8 cups water
1 cup vinegar
2
⁄3 cup Worcestershire sauce
100 hamburger buns
In a large Dutch oven, brown the
beef, onions, peppers, and celery
in batches. Remove with a slotted
spoon to a large roaster.
Add the next eight ingredients.
Cover and simmer for three to four
hours. Serve on warmed buns.
Yield: 100 servings (12 quarts).
Shirley L. Revis
Adams
Montgomery Farmers Cooperative
v
Taco Meatball Ring
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded
Cheddar cheese, divided
2 tablespoons water
2 to 4 tablespoons taco seasoning
1
⁄2 pound ground beef
2 (8-ounce) tubes refrigerated
crescent rolls
1
⁄2 head iceberg lettuce,
shredded
1 medium tomato, chopped
4 green onions, sliced
1
⁄2 cup sliced ripe olives
2 small jalapeno peppers,
seeded and sliced
Sour cream and salsa
Tennessee Cooperator
In a bowl, combine one cup
cheese, water, and taco seasoning.
Add beef and mix well. Shape into
16 balls. Place 1 inch apart in an
ungreased 15-x-10-x-1-inch baking pan. Baked uncovered at 400°
for 12 minutes or until meat is no
longer pink. Drain meatballs on
paper towels.
Reduce oven heat to 375°. Arrange crescent rolls on a greased
15-inch pizza pan. Form a ring
with pointed ends facing the outer
edge of the pan and wide ends
overlapping. Place a meatball on
each roll; fold point over meatball
and tuck under wide end (meatballs
will be visible). Bake for 15-20
minutes or until rolls are golden
brown.
Fill the center of ring with
lettuce, tomato, onions, olives,
remaining cheese, jalapenos, sour
cream, and salsa.
Marie Delffs
Normandy
Franklin Farmers Cooperative
v
and molasses. Mix well and set
aside.
Use a baking pan with a bottom
rack, and coat both with nonstick
cooking spray. Place ham in center
of baking pan, which should be
large enough for the ham not to
touch the sides. Slighty separate the ham slices. Drizzle the
prepared glaze over the ham and
between the slices.
Place in center of oven. Bake
for two hours at 200°, basting occasionally. Increase heat to 400° and
continue baking for approximately
30-45 minutes or until lightly
brown.
Cool slightly before removing slices from the bone. Arrange
slices on a serving platter, garnishing as desired with pineapples and
red cherries, orange slices and
orange peel twists, or apple slices.
Serve hot with the pan drippings as
a sauce.
Lucille Harrison
Greeneville
Greene Farmers Cooperative
Our Country Churches
The Night-Before Breakfast
8 to 10 slices of bread
Butter or margarine
11⁄2 pounds sausage
5 eggs
21⁄2 cups milk, divided
3
⁄4 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound sharp Cheddar
cheese, shredded
1 can cream of mushroom soup
Coat a 9-x-13-inch pan with
vegetable oil or nonstick cooking
spray. Remove crust from bread
and butter each slice. Place bread
in bottom of pan.
Cook and drain sausage; cool
and sprinkle over bread. Beat
together eggs, 2 cups milk, mustard, and salt. Pour over casserole.
Cover with shredded cheese. Refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, add 1⁄2 cup
milk to cream of mushroom soup
and spread over top of casserole.
Bake for one hour at 325° to 350°.
Mattie C. Kelly
Dunlap
Sequatchie Farmers Cooperative
v
Harvest Ham
1 (10-pound or more) spiralsliced, fully cooked, bone-in
ham (with glaze package)
4 tablespoons prepared yellow
mustard
1
⁄2 cup honey
1
⁄4 cup molasses
Desired garnishes
In a small mixing bowl, stir
together glaze mix, mustard, honey,
167th in a series of photographs to show where our rural Co-op friends worship
Neboville United Methodist Church in Gibson County
Established in 1823, Neboville United Methodist Church on Neboville-Yorkville
Road four miles south of Yorkville in northern Gibson County was first housed
in a log structure built in 1846 to serve as both a church and school. The
present church was built in 1880, and classrooms, a kitchen, and restrooms
were added in the mid-1950s. Services are at 9 a.m. on Sundays with Pastor
Jim Wolfgang officiating.
— Photo by Rebecca Scott; information submitted by J.B. Scott
Editor’s note: If there’s a “Country Church” you’d like us to feature, send us a recent,
good-quality picture along with pertinent facts and history about the church, to:
Country Churches, Tennessee Cooperator, P.O. Box 3003, LaVergne, TN 37086
Super Bowl snacks for January
Whether your favorite football team is playing or not,
Super Bowl Sunday is a good excuse to gather with
friends and family, sit around the television set, and
enjoy a variety of foods prepared especially for this
unofficial American holiday.
To help you with recipe ideas for those game-time goodies, we’re featuring Super Bowl snacks for our January “What’s cookin’?” column. The
person submitting the best recipe will be named Cook-of-the-Month and
receive $10. Others sending recipes chosen for publication will receive $5.
Monday, Dec. 1, is the deadline for submitting your Super Bowl
recipes.
Don’t forget: Only recipes that include complete, easy-to-follow instructions will be considered for publication. Several recipes are disqualified each month because they do not contain all the information needed
to prepare the dishes successfully. Recipes featured in “What’s cookin’?”
are not independently tested, so we must depend on the accuracy of the
cooks sending them. Always use safe food-handling, preparation, and
cooking procedures.
Send entries to: Recipes, Tennessee Cooperator, P.O. Box 3003,
LaVergne, TN 37086. You can submit more than one recipe in the same
envelope. You can also e-mail them to: amorgan@ourcoop.com.
Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, and the
Co-op with which you do business. It’s important that your Co-op be
included because we want to give it recognition if your recipe is printed.
Recipes that appear in the “What’s cookin’?” column will also be published on our Web site at www.ourcoop.com.
October-November 2008
29
DIGGING
into
ancient
history
Joey Brown, left, and Gavin Brown of Mandeville, La., “dig” for fossils inside the permanent exhibit hall at the Natural History Museum at the Gray Fossil Site near Johnson
City. The brothers were in Tennessee with their parents, David and Debney Brown, after the family evacuated from Louisiana due to Hurricane Gustav.
Year-old Natural History Museum at the Gray Fossil Site is an amazing blend of discovery, education, and interaction
Story and photos by Chris Villines
R
oad crew workers from the
Tennessee Department of
Transportation (TDOT)
were awestruck.
Here, in the middle of a May
2000 project near the small Washington County town of Gray between Kingsport and Johnson City,
crew members inadvertently uncovered fossilized bones in a deposit of
soft black clay. TDOT geologists
— called in to examine the find and
give technical advice — made an
epic discovery.
l
Gray
The fossils were of a nearly
complete rhinoceros skeleton and
part of the largest Miocene-age fossil site found east of the Mississippi
River, meaning they were formed
4½ million to 7 million years ago
— long before dinosaurs and man
roamed the earth. The Miocene
era is known in historical circles as
“the golden age of mammals.”
The dig site is thought to be the
location of a sinkhole that expanded into a small lake bed, which
then served as a watering trough
for thirsty animals over the course
of many years. This sinkhole now
holds the remains of ancient species of plants and animals.
As a result of this momentus
stroke of fortune, then-Gov. Don
Sundquist ordered the road-widening
project to be realigned to protect
the find, and nearby East Tennes30
October-November 2008
see State University (ETSU) began
a paleontology program that has
developed into one of the country’s
largest in the quest to unearth more
relics. And in August 2007, the
33,000-square-foot Natural History
Museum at the Gray Fossil Site,
which also doubles as a research facility, opened its doors to the public.
In its first year, the museum more
than doubled its projection of 50,000
visitors as 115,000 people flocked to
get a glimpse of creatures that once
inhabited this land, including tapirs,
saber-toothed cats, camels, shoveltusked elephants, and alligators.
“I think the story of how these
fossils were found captures people’s
imagination,” says Jeanne Zavada,
director of the museum. “That and
the fact that we have this extraordinary facility right here in little bitty
Gray, Tennessee, that is on par with
some of the bigger, more wellknown museums in Washington,
D.C., or New York City. As far as
I know, we are the only museum in
the world that has the resources we
have here with the fossil site just out
back on the same property.”
The excitement in Zavada’s
voice is palpable. Fresh off the
ultra-successful opening year, the
museum just unveiled its latest find,
a new species of red panda. A full
skeletal cast of the animal is currently displayed under glass, and the
real skeleton is almost 70 percent
complete. The skeleton was found
by Gray Fossil Site Director of Paleontology Dr. Steven Wallace and
his team in the “spoil pile” — the
sizeable mound of soil and sediment
dug during the construction of the
museum itself .
“We have the most complete red
panda skeleton in the world,” says
Zavada, who was part of an unveiling ceremony for the new find that
coincided with the museum’s first
anniversary on Aug. 31. “The cast is
the only one in the world of its kind.
The original habitat of the red panda
is the Himalayan Mountains in Asia,
so the occurrence of a red panda
here means that it had to cross over a
land bridge from Asia all the way to
North America.”
The red panda is just upstairs
from the other animals on display
in the permanent exhibit hall, which
has no admission charge although
a small donation to the museum is
suggested. Guided tours are also
recommended so visitors can gain
the full scope of the experience. The
permanent hall is chock-full of informative, hands-on exhibits including
push-button kiosks, animal sounds,
and a simulated “dig” site that is
immensely popular with children
as they “discover” hidden treasures.
These are features, Zavada explains,
that can’t be fully experienced
through television or the Internet.
“The visitor is the most important
person in this building,” she says.
“We want them to walk away feeling
ABOVE: The museum rises above the surrounding rural
landscape. General Shale Brick donated all of the bricks used
in building the facility, which opened Aug. 31, 2007. Since the
opening, more than 115,000 people have toured the museum
and dig site, far exceeding expectations. RIGHT: Dr. Steven
Wallace, director of paleontology at the museum, examines a
recent find inside the onsite laboratory.
Tennessee Cooperator
do that. If you
can see it, hear it,
touch it, explore
it, and use it to
create something,
then it is a real
learning experience you won’t
forget.”
After taking
in the permanent
exhibit, visitors
can make their
way to the traveling exhibit hall.
In its debut, this
special, limitedengagement
exhibit featured
Sue, the largest
T-Rex skeleton
ever found (on
loan from its
permanent home
at the Field Museum in Chicago)
and “The Scoop
on Poop: The
Science of What
Animals Leave
A red panda, with its likeness pictured in the background,
Behind,” which
is the museum’s newest find. Today, red pandas are on the
ended this past
endangered animal list and found only in southeastern Asia.
month.
“Ocean
Gems,”
the
traveling
their needs have been met. More
exhibit currently on display through
and more museums have become
Oct. 19, showcases the underwater
more centered on visitor activities
and being user-friendly institutions.” photography and preserved ocean
specimens of marine biologist Dr.
“In many natural history muDiane Nelson.
seums in the world, when you
“Dr. Nelson, a former professor
walk through them there are just
at
ETSU,
has traveled all over the
shelf after shelf of bones,” Zavada
world
and
has captured some truly
continues. “They’re certainly not
amazing underwater photographs,”
hands-on. That was one thing we
Zavada says. “Along with the
had an opportunity to change here,
photographs, we have brought in
and fortunately, we’ve been able to
Tennessee Cooperator
a state-of-the art aquarium that has
some really fascinating sea life. It’s
a great opportunity to bring attention
to the talent and expertise we have
right here in our region.”
The early part of next year’s
traveling exhibit schedule has been
solidified as well. In January, an
exhibit on extinction will move in,
and three months later a rain forest
exhibit — complete with the re-creation of an actual rain forest — will
make its debut.
In the museum’s downstairs
classroom, aspiring paleontologists
can view fossils with magnifiers and
microscopes, and upstairs, visitors
can watch crew members processing the latest finds in the on-site lab.
Guides explain the activity as the lab
worker picks up the fossil to show
visitors what is being done.
For those who not only want to
see what is unearthed but are also
anxious to get their hands dirty, the
“Dig for a Day” program offers
the opportunity. Participants, who
must preregister and be at least 10
years old, will work alongside the
paleontologists and crew at the dig
site, learning how to “wet-screen”
for fossils and “dry-screen” for
micro-fossils. They’ll also practice
techniques in the lab for preservation
of fossils.
With only one year in the books,
the museum offers more exciting
times ahead. Expansion plans have
already been approved and are in the
“design phase.” And ETSU paleontologists, who estimate that less than
2 percent of the fossils at the fiveacre site have been recovered, say
there are many, many more discoveries to come.
As director of paleontology Wallace aptly puts it, “There will be
people digging here long after my
lifetime.”
See the past
The Natural History Museum at the
Gray Fossil Site is open seven days a
week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The museum is located at 1212
Suncrest Drive in Gray. From Interstate
81, take I-26 south to Exit 13. Turn
left at the light, and the museum is 1.8
miles ahead on the left.
For more information, visit online
at www.grayfossilmuseum.com or call
toll-free at 866-202-6223.
Behind the museum is the dig site where the first fossils were found. Scientists say
that enough fossils remain unearthed to keep digs going for the next 100-plus years.
October-November 2008
31
TSU farm to host
events Oct. 17, 18
Two separate events — a field
day for farmers and a fall celebration for younger folks — will
be held on the third weekend of
October at Tennessee State University’s Agricultural, Research, and
Extension Farm on River Road in
Ashland City.
Farmers from across Tennessee
attending the field day on Friday,
Oct. 17, will learn about innovative ways to market their produce
as well as add value to their crops.
The event features experts from
Extension, Tennessee Department
of Agriculture, and the University
of Tennessee’s Center for Profitable
Agriculture.
The following day — Saturday,
Oct. 18 — will find youth and
children enjoying a fun “Fall on
the Farm” day that features such
attractions as a 4½-acre corn maze
as well as a petting zoo, pumpkin
patch, and inflatables.
“Purpose of the field day on
Friday is to provide farmers with
the latest information about fall
vegetable crop production, innovative marketing, and agritourism,”
says Chris Robbins, farm agent
for the picturesque TSU facility.
“We will discuss vegetable varieties, how to extend the season later
into the fall, and the advantages of
beginning production earlier in the
spring using techniques like hightunnel production, plastic culture,
drip irrigation, row covers, hot-bed
production, and variety selection.”
Field day registration will begin
at 8:30 a.m., and lunch will be
provided at 11:45. Participants are
asked to pre-register no later than
Friday, Oct. 10, by calling Elisha
Holt at 615-963-5016.
The Saturday fun day for
kids begins at 8 a.m. and lasts
until noon. Proceeds will go to
Cheatham County’s 4-H program.
Admission is $5 per family, and
organizers say they expect at least
200 people to attend. Each child
will receive a free pumpkin while
supplies last, a wagon ride, and
admission to the corn maze. Additional fees will be charged for the
petting zoo and an inflated bouncer.
For more information on Saturday’s events, call 615-792-4420 or
615-792-2005.
Here are directions to the farm
site: From the Cheatham County
Courthouse in Ashland City, take
Highway 49 across the Cumberland
River Bridge. Make a left onto
River Road (immediately past Riverview Restaurant). The farm is
at 3101 River Road (look for blue
TSU signs before the entrance).
32
October-November 2008
Latest group of TFC trainees visit LaVergne
Tennessee Farmers
Cooperative’s current crop of
management trainees were
recently at TFC’s LaVergne
headquarters for educational
sessions. Listed with the
member Co-ops where they’re
training are, in front from left,
Adam Pearson, Knox; Matt
Crisp, Southeastern; Emily
Cathey, Giles; Kim Scott,
Gibson; Emily Clark, Henry;
and Stephen Jones, Foothills.
In back are John Reuschel,
Cocke; Ben Bradley, Jefferson;
Sidney Jessee, Claiborne;
Kurt West, Overton; Kiril
Galloway, Southeastern; and
Josh Little, Lincoln.
Tennessee Cooperator
N
e w at co-op
®
In an effort to better serve our diverse mix of customers, Co-ops are continually offering new products and informative publications. This special
section is designed to keep our readers informed about what’s going on “down at the Co-op.” Here are a few new items that can be found at your
participating Co-op. Always check with your Co-op for availability and price. Some products may require a short delivery time.
#710870
On Time Tomahawk™
Tripod Feeder
For simplicity in a game feeder,
the On Time Tomahawk Tripod
Feeder offers fast setup, easy loading, and simple control. Its conical
polyethylene hopper holds 25 gallons and is designed to keep feed
fresh and flowing.
Bonide Spider Killer
Long-lasting, indoor/
outdoor insect control
is available in Bonide’s
Spider Killer, available
in a convenient aerosol
format. The combination of S-Bioallerthrin
plus Deltamethrin kills
on contact and provides
residual action. The
water-based formula
will not stain carpets or
floors.
#161904 - 2-inch drop
#161905 - 4-inch drop
#161906 - 6-inch drop
#712377
Poulan 34-cc Chain Saw
Poulan’s 34-cc, 2-cycle gas chain
saw features a 16-inch steel bar,
automatic chain oiler, super-clean
air filter system, and primer bulb for
easy starting. Comes fully assembled and has a one-year warranty.
#119114
Poulan 40-cc Chain Saw
The Poulan 40-cc, 2-cycle gas
chain saw features an 18-inch steel
bar, automatic chain oiler, super
clean air filter system, and primer
bulb for easy starting. Comes fully
assembled with case, and has a
one-year warranty.
#119063
Poulan Gas Blower/Vac
This combination blower and
vacuum from Poulan features a
16:1 mulch ratio, 200-mph wind
velocity, and a 25-cc, 2-cycle gas
engine. Vacuum kit is included.
#712376
Poulan Hedge Trimmer
The Poulan hedge trimmer has
a 19-inch cutting width, 25-cc,
2-cycle gas engine, and a Comfort
Touch® handle. It cuts branches up
to 3⁄8 inch in diameter.
Tennessee Cooperator
QuietRide™ Solid Aluminum
Tightening Ball Mount
The only aluminum three-axis
tightening ball mount on the market, this QuietRide product has a
patented corner wedge and tightening hitch pin to eliminate slack and
clanking sound. Made from forged
and heated treated solid aluminum.
Accepts 1¼-inch or 1-inch ball
shanks.
#161901 - 2-inch drop
#161902 - 4-inch drop
#161903 - 6-inch drop
QuietRide™ Steel Tightening Ball
Mount
This QuietRide ball mount
offers the same features as the
aluminum model above except that
it is made of robotically welded,
powder-coated steel.
Noromycin 300 LA
The first new
antibiotic available
over-the-counter
since the 1980s,
Noromycin 300 LA
is a nonprescrip- #712557 - 100 cc
#712558 - 250 cc
tion 300 mg/ml
#712559 - 500 cc
oxytetracycline.
It is ideal for treating pneumonia,
shipping fever, pinkeye, foot rot,
wounds, and infections in beef cattle, nonlactating dairy cattle, calves,
and swine. It can be administered
intramuscularly or subcutaneously.
Can Smasher
Manufactured by The
Designers
Edge, Inc., this
can smasher
is perfect for
#712372
recycling
aluminum cans up to three inches
in diameter. It is constructed of
heavy-gauge steel with a soft-grip
handle and comes complete with
screws for easy wall mounting.
Access Racks™
Dura
Bike
Rack
The
patented
parallelogram design of
Access Racks’ Dura Bike
Rack allows for easy rear
vehicle access. It holds
four bikes or 160 pounds.
Other features include removable
arms, a spring-loaded pull pin
release handle, powder-coated steel
for maximum strength and corrosion resistance, and reinforced steel
top-plate. Available for 1¼-inch or
2-inch hitch receivers.
#161909
#161900
QuietRide™
Tightening Hitch Pin with Lock
QuietRide’s patented two-axis
tightening and locking hitch pin
eliminates the clanking sound that
occurs while towing. It can be
used with any hollow 2-inch ball
mount or hitch-mounted accessory.
Access Racks™
Element Bike Rack
Compact and lightweight, the Access Racks’
Element Bike Rack holds
four bikes or 120 pounds.
Features include adjustable folddown arms, a spring-loaded pull
pin release handle, and powdercoated steel construction for
maximum strength and corrosion
resistance. Available for 1¼-inch
or 2-inch hitch receivers.
Croplan Genetics 8868 Wheat
This medium-early maturity
variety has good winterhardiness,
good test weight, and medium
height. It is awnless, nonbearded,
and has excellent standability.
LaCrosse Professional
Home Weather Center
The LaCrosse Professional Home Weather Center displays a
host of weather-related
information, including
outdoor temperature and wind chill
in both Fahrenheit and Celsius,
humidity, and wind speed. Storm
alarms also help you stay prepared.
Winner’s Cup Hall of Fame 2800
Co-op’s Hall of Fame 2800
balancer supplement is formulated to solidify the nutritional
requirements of working horses.
The mini pellet
is manufactured
with high-quality
ingredients and
fortified with
selenium yeast,
biotin, yeast
culture, amino
acids, vitamin C,
and organically
complexed trace
#336
minerals. It’s
designed to be mixed with oats
and/or other grains. Available by
mid-October at your local Co-op.
Co-op Cattle Minerals
With updated formulations and
redesigned packaging, Co-op’s new
cattle mineral line is specifically
designed to complement Tennessee
forages. Products in the line are
Pasture, Hi-Mag,
Fly Control,
and Special Use
minerals. They’re
packaged in new
poly bags that are
easy to handle and
durable. Available
by mid-October at
your local Co-op.
October-November 2008
33
Don’t ‘fall back’ now; spring forward for beautiful plants next year
After spending the last six
months digging, planting, weeding,
mowing and trimming, the thrill of
gardening is gone. It’s time to sit
back and let nature do all the work.
For a while.
Truth is, you know that come
March, that old yearning will be
back—wouldn’t it be nice to have
some of the work already done?
And get better results? Autumn is
actually the best time to plant some
of a home environment’s most important assets: perennials, shrubs,
and especially trees.
Putting these plants in the
ground during the fall serves
several purposes. Most important,
it gives them a chance to get their
roots established in a new site,
an adjustment they won’t have to
make in the spring and summer
when their energies are better spent
growing, blooming, and resisting insect pests and diseases. Fall
planting gives these plants a head
start, which leads into the second
benefit: They’re much more likely
to bloom the first year if planted in
the fall instead of the spring.
Fall plantings succeed well
from October right up until the
ground freezes, which in Tennessee could easily be December. So
which plants are best? A thorough
checklist of personal preferences
and environmental restrictions can
answer that question: How much
space will this tree eventually take
up? How much sun will it need?
Will it drop some unwanted seed
or fruit? Will the roots tangle into
underground pipes or cause mowing problems? Will it grow well in
this region? Locally grown plants
ensure that purchases have the best
chance of surviving in Tennessee,
since they haven’t been stressed by
being transported for long distances
and they are already accustomed to
this climate. Choosing plants not
appropriate to Tennessee can be an
expensive mistake.
Among the trees proven to
stand up to Tennessee’s sometimes
extreme conditions are redbud,
sweet bay magnolia and Milky
Way dogwood. Smart choices for
shrubs include Annabelle, Tardiva,
and oakleaf hydrangea varieties;
Conoy, Shasta, and Mohawk viburnum varieties; and Winterberry
holly.
Other small trees often chosen
for their autumn beauty include the
Pacific Sunset maple, amelanchier,
and sourwood. Small trees with a
better chance of flowering in spring
if planted in the fall include white
fringetree, crabapple, and saucer
magnolia.
34
October-November 2008
No matter which trees are chosen, some basic guidelines apply.
Watering is very important, especially in early autumn before the
fall rains begin. Use mulch to help
trees retain moisture. Go ahead
and fertilize with a root stimulator
when planting, especially in the
fall, because roots can still develop
and grow during the winter even as
the rest of the tree rests.
Some traditional lines of thinking have changed in recent years,
so be sure to ask for the latest
planting information. For instance,
root balls are made so much
broader now that a shallower hole
is recommended. The top of the
root ball should be at the top of the
ground, so be careful not to plant
too deep. Also, research shows that
staking trees is detrimental. Tree
trunks actually become stronger
when the trees are allowed to sway
and resist winds. If necessary, use
stakes through the root ball to help
pin the tree in position.
Now, while temperatures are
mild and existing plants still have
their foliage, look carefully at the
effect plants create in your home
environment. Decide where re-
placement trees will go and where
more texture and color are needed.
Then, enjoy a final outdoor planting
project before cold weather drives
everyone indoors. You’ll be guaranteeing that springs and falls will be
even better for years to come.
For a list of local growers or
more information, visit www.pick
tnproducts.org and click on Nursery Products or call the Tennessee
Department of Agriculture at 615837-5160. For advice on products
you need to fertilize and care for
your new plants, check with the
experts at your local Co-op.
Tennessee Cooperator
Just as Sevier County has grown significantly since Minnesota native Roger Radel moved here in 1983, so has his stature
within the agricultural community. He currently serves on the boards of Sevier Farmers Cooperative, Sevier County Farm
Bureau, and the local Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association chapter. Roger raises cattle on some 200 acres near Sevierville.
T
ennesseans have long been
known for being hospitable.
But when Roger Radel
moved from Michigan to Sevierville in 1983, his inexperience with
Southern slang had him wondering
if his new co-workers were taking
things a bit to the extreme.
“At the end of the day someone
came up to me and said, ‘Let’s go
to the house,’” says Roger, who
worked for a hotel management
company and relocated to Tennessee to serve as general manager of
the Holiday Inn in Pigeon Forge.
“I didn’t know the terminology yet,
so I told the person, ‘I’m not going
to your house; I’m going to my
house.’ It took me a while to figure
out sayings like that.”
Sevierville
l
In the 25 years that have transpired since the Minnesota native
set foot in the Volunteer State,
however, Roger has adjusted just
fine. Under his leadership, the hotel in Pigeon Forge was chosen one
of the top 20 Holiday Inns in all of
North and South America on three
occasions, and in 1999 he was
selected the top general manager in
the Americas.
Tennessee Cooperator
When he speaks, there’s no
mistaking where he grew up, but the
part-time farmer and Sevier Farmers
Cooperative director has become as
much a fixture in the area as biscuits
and red-eye gravy. And he gained
familiarity the old-fashioned way
— by earning it.
“Nobody knew who I was when
I came here,” says Roger, who “retired” from the hotel management
company in 2003 but soon went
back to work in operations at the
Music Road Inn in Pigeon Forge,
where he’s still employed. “Farmers certainly didn’t know me since
I was in the hospitality industry.
When my family and I moved to
Sevierville and put our roots down
here, I made the conscious decision to support the community the
best I could. There are people from
so many different segments of the
community that I’ve had a chance
to meet and count as friends.”
He applies this same type of
can-do attitude to his farming. He
started the farm from scratch —
with no cattle and no equipment —
soon after moving to East Tennessee. Now, whether it’s the crack of
dawn or well past dusk, Roger will
crank up the tractor and go to work
on the more than 200 acres he owns
and leases for hay and with his
herd of 135 Angus, Hereford, and
Charolais-cross cattle.
“When I was managing the
Holiday Inn, I would put in 14hour days plus work on the farm,”
explains Roger, who was raised on
a dairy and beef cattle farm an hour
south of Minneapolis. “I’m probably one of the only farmers around
who farms with after dark. One
night this summer, I was baling at
11 o’clock.”
It’s during these hours of solitude, when it’s just man and machine, that Roger says he finds the
most fulfillment and clarity.
“If I have a bad day at work, I
can just go home, get on the tractor,
and solve all the world’s problems,”
he says. “When I’m out there walking around with the cows, there’s
no stress or frustration. Don’t get
me wrong; there’s always going to
be some challenges in farming. But
dealing with the human environment is a heck of a lot worse than
dealing with a tractor or cattle.”
True to his nature, Roger has
become extremely active in local
agricultural organizations. In addition to serving as a director of the
Co-op, he’s also on the boards of
the Sevier County Farm Bureau and
the county’s chapter of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA).
It’s only fitting that TCA’s annual
convention and trade show have
been held at the Music Road Hotel
the past three years and will take
place there again in January.
“I started out by joining the
cattlemen’s association, and that
helped people get to know who I
was and led to me getting involved
with the Co-op and Farm Bureau,”
says Roger, who also serves in an
advisory capacity with the Sevier
County Fair board. “It’s gratifying that people have shown enough
faith in me, as someone who’s not
originally from here, to put me in
these leadership positions.”
That faith has paid off in spades,
according to Sevier Farmers
Co-op’s general manager, Anthony
Hastings.
“With Roger’s successful career
in the hospitality industry, he brings
a perspective for success to the
Co-op that includes being very
service-oriented and progressive for
the future,” says Anthony. “That
is very beneficial in these evolving
times in the farm supply business.”
When he decides to call it a day
from the Music Road Inn, and then
Roger plans to turn his full attention to farming. He’ll also no doubt
spend time shining up his collection
of antique tractors, which currently
numbers eight, and helping with
community causes.
“I don’t know if I could ever fully retire,” he says. “It’s not unusual
for me to get up at 5 in the morning,
mow for a couple of hours, come
in and clean up, and go to work. I
have to be doing something. I can’t
just sit and watch TV.”
One thing the 65-year-old does
know for sure is where he and wife
Madeline will call home during
their golden years — their tranquil
farm on Harrisburg Road.
“I go back to Minnesota and visit
my brothers every once in a while,
but after we got here, we knew this
was where we were going to stay,”
Roger says. “We’ve made some
wonderful friends, I’ve got the farm,
and the weather cooperates most of
the time. Plus, there aren’t any sixfoot snow banks and no snow on the
ground in April!”
October-November 2008
35
36
October-November 2008
Tennessee Cooperator