Walnut Grove Farms Newsletter
Stephanie hard at work!!
What I’ve learned about farming!
Stephanie Halcomb
Since I started working on the farm on February 1st, I was asked to write an article on what I have learned on the job so far. I think the
more appropriate question would be what haven’t I learned about farming?
Inspecting wheat for freeze
damage!
Top 10 Things I’ve learned About Farming:
9. Touchdown, Headline, and Status are pesticides (before farming I associated these words with football, newspapers and providing
an update to my boss).
8. How to plant beans (with a JD 2030 and 10 ft. drill), and appreciate tractors with air conditioning and auto-steer!
7. A corn plant that looks like it has 5 leaves usually only has 3 (you have to count the collars).
6. How to find the anthers in wheat and determine whether they have freeze damage or not.
5. It is possible for a girl to haul anhydrous wagons, but it sure is nice to have help hooking them up!
4. When in doubt…use tractor to pull truck out of mud.
3. What hedge to arrive, basis, futures, and DP mean.
2. Ten years in manufacturing were a lot like farming…without as many variables.
Observing the professional
planting beans!
A Place Called Schochoh
I left a job in Caterpillar’s Supply Chain department focused on ensuring parts for Wheel Tractor Scrapers, Off Highway and Mining
Trucks were available when they were needed on the production line. Since joining the farm, I have learned to work in several different
departments including Human Resources, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Inventory Management, Operations, IT, and Accounting. Since I
don’t have enough space to go into everything, I’ll try to summarize what I’ve learned in the past five months.
10. What henbit, rye grass, and aphids look like, and why I don’t want them in the wheat crop.
Planting beans!
343 Sulphur Springs Road
Adairville, KY 42202
270.726.7768 phone
270.726.1274 fax
1. I thoroughly enjoy learning about the farm, working with my family, and watching our son grow up!
Schochoh Book Review
Summer Edition
2012
Inside this Issue
Walnut Grove in a Nutshell
P.1
Louisiana Agriculture
P.2
Crop Updates
P.2
Gregory Family Highlight
P.3
Schochoh Book Review
P.3
What I have learned about farming
P.4
We would like to thank
the Walnut Grove Team
for thei r hard work &
dedication!
Don Halcomb
Usually when looking for a book to read, I am drawn to
While Sams is best known for his semi-
it because of the subject. I want to learn something!
autobiographical trilogy, which I greatly enjoyed, his
most recent work, Down Town, is my selection for this
Team Recognition
Charles Chaney
But sometimes, it is fun to read a story that will not let
review. Set in a small town near expanding Atlanta,
you stop because of its sheer enjoyment. Ferrol Sams
Down Town uses a host of characters we might all
Michael Davenport
is one of the best at telling stories of his Southern rural
recognize to tell a town’s history. From Reconstruction
Robert Davenport
youth -- and creating characters so familiar to my youth.
through its absorption into a modern city, we watch a
Kenny Dickerson
town grow through the eyes of “calculating politicians,
Tyler Garrison
Sams, born in rural Georgia in 1922, grew up in the
ruthless businessmen, nosey spinsters, manipulating
Heath Hayes
Depression. He went to Emory Medical School and
wives, Southern belles, morticians, and the good
served in World War II. Along the way, he observed
doctor”. We watch the Depression, both world wars,
enough of human nature to also become a first-rate
racial integration, land speculation, and economic
story teller and author.
change.
Phillip Cox
Joe Wayne & Cathie Hendricks
Jennifer Moore
Brian Rouse
Jeramie Stratton
Harold Yates
A great, hilarious read available at Amazon.com
Walnut Grove in a Nutshell
Rotary International
On July 1st I completed my one year term as
President of the Rotary Club of Franklin. Many have
heard of Rotary, but fewer know its history or its
purpose. So, I thought you might be interested in
hearing how I have spent some of my time this year.
Rotary was started in Chicago in 1905 by Paul Harris,
who felt communities needed an organization
committed to service. Its name came from the
practice of rotating meetings among the members’
different offices.
Rotary is based on the Four-Way-Test
1. Is it the Truth?
2. Is it Fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build Goodwill and Better
Friendships?
4. Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
Don Halcomb
Today Rotary International has 1.2 million members
in 34,000 cities worldwide. Rotarians are people of
goodwill, across all faiths and languages, willing to
volunteer to support education, provide clean
water, and combat hunger. Our largest and most
notable project, however, has been the eradication
of polio.
Another goal of Rotary International is to increase
international understanding. Our club supported
this goal by helping to sponsor three Chinese
teachers in our local schools this year. In addition,
we have supported our Boys and Girls Club, local
Habitat for Humanity, and other community needs.
“The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the
ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.” If
this interests you, let me know and you may soon
be a Rotarian!
Walnut Grove
Farms
Gregory Family Highlight
Meredith Halcomb
In 1943 the couple moved to the Gorrell Farm in
Todd County, near Guthrie. It is here that they
Louisiana
Agriculture
Crop Updates
raised four daughters, Sandra, Nan, Laverne,
and Coleen, in the historic Civil War era home
John Halcomb
Wilbur and Nannie on their 37th
located on the property.
Wedding Anniversary.
Joe Wayne & Cathie Hendricks
In
early
March,
as
soon
as
Located
at
the
intersection
of
Nannie and Wilbur never dreamed of being able
by perfectly level flooded fields that, if
December 27th, 1973
From a mild winter into an
early spring, both winter and
spring crops progressed at
an extremely accelerated
pace this year. All was well
until freezing temps moved
in April 11th and 12th which
was devastating to wheat
that was flowering at that
time.
miscanthus harvest wrapped up in
Interstate
49,
it were not for the abundance of
to purchase this beautiful farm and homestead,
Schochoh, it was time to begin
Lafayette is at the northern edge of
buoys (actually crawfish nets) you
but with the untimely death of Wilbur in a 1975
planting
sugarcane
would think were rice fields.
miscanthus
in
southern
10
and
country,
swamp
Interstate
borders
(the
the
The
Louisiana. As many of you know, for
Atchafalaya
largest
crawfish are sorted, sacked, and
the last three years, I worked for
swamp in the US), and is 45 minutes
weighed (30-35 lbs per sack). The
Mendel Bioenergy Seeds conducting
north of Avery Island, the home of
buyers pick them up at the farm for
agronomy and yield trials across the
Tabasco. The local farmers raise a
distribution to restaurants, specialty
southeast.
few soybeans, a little bit of corn, beef
stores, and peeling houses. The
cattle, a significant portion of the total
crawfish we had were as fresh as
In early March, I packed my bags
US rice production, and nearly all of
you can get -- caught just hours
and headed to Lafayette, Louisiana,
the US crawfish!
earlier.
located about an hour west of Baton
They were cooked with
onions, potatoes, corn-on-the-cob,
The people down here love their
Rouge, in the heart of Cajun country!
mushrooms, and a variety of Cajun
food, and these little mud bugs are
I was there to plant miscanthus trials,
spices.
After a few minutes in the
top of the list from January to June. I
The early spring led to a
grain harvest and double
crop bean planting
approximately two weeks
ahead of normal. The corn
crop has pollinated and most
double crop beans have
emerged with satisfactory
stands. We now need
continuing timely rains for
corn and soybean
development.
but found the “traditional” agriculture
boiling water, the crawfish were
had the pleasure of joining one of the
in this part of the country to be quite
In this issue we wanted to highlight a landlord
At age 17, Nannie met Wilbur Gregory and they
whose ties to the Halcomb family go back
were married one year later (1936). Wilbur was
several generations. The Nannie Hendricks
a childhood friend and neighbor of Don’s father,
Gregory story is one we should all know – hers
Will Frank Halcomb. Nannie’s father-in-law,
is a life of inspiration, determination, and
Sewell Gregory, was a lifelong friend and
tremendous faith in God.
business
partner
of
Don’s
Faulconer Halcomb.
-- ready for peeling and eating! For
anyone
who
isn’t
familiar
with
was! His house was surrounded
crawfish, they look like miniature
lobsters, are peeled by hand, and the
tail meat is the prize.
Some other
Cajun treats that I have enjoyed:
REAL jambalaya, boudin (a rice,
sausage, and spice combo in a
sausage casing), and cracklin’.
This is truly a different part of the
world with its own very unique
Louisiana Livestock – Crawfish!
culture.
Nannie couldn’t bear to leave the land she knew
and loved. She dug in her heels and made it
happen. She purchased the farm!
At age 93, she is still going strong and
conducting business as usual. Her life has been
Nannie Hendricks along with her siblings, Joe
and Margaret, grew up on a farm in Simpson
In the 1940’s and 50’s Sewell and Faulconer
County. They were the children of Clemuel and
traveled many miles with their mule teams –
Edna Hendricks. Her brother Joe was the father
showing sorrels and always vying for First
of our crop advisor and friend, Joe Wayne
Place! They also became partners in a bulldozer
Hendricks!
business which continued for many years.
drained and dumped out on the table
boil, and what an experience that
They had lived on the farm for 32 years, and
grandfather,
one of hard work, dedication, and love of her
family and the land. Remaining in her home to
this day, Nannie has continued to watch over
her farm. As her tenants, we strive to be good
stewards, keeping it in the best condition
possible.
local farmers for a family crawfish
extraordinary.
truck accident, she had to make a decision.
From a very early age Nannie worked with her
As a young couple starting out, Nannie and
family on the Hendricks’ farm and developed a
Wilbur Gregory knew farming was the only life
work
for them. They worked in partnership with land
ethic
that
throughout her life.
has
remained
with
her
owner Roy Gorrell in Schochoh producing row
crops and beef cattle.
We thank you, Nannie and family, for allowing
us to be a part of your inspiring story!