Cooking with Stacy Lyn

Fresh Herb Frittata

Ingredients:

8 large eggs 2 teaspoons Kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 Tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped 2 Tablespoons sage leaves, chopped 1/2 cup Italian parsley leaves, chopped 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped 1 shallot, diced 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded 4 Tablespoons butter 1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped Goat cheese, for serving Fresh mint, for serving

1. Place rack in oven close to the broiler and set broiler on high. 2. In a large bowl, blend eggs with salt and pepper until frothy. 3. Add thyme, sage, parsley, basil, shallots and cheese to egg mixture and blend. 4. In an 8- to 10-inch sauté pan, heat butter until it begins to bubble. Add the egg mixture and cook over low heat for up to 15 minutes or until it is set on the bottom and sides of pan. Transfer pan to the oven and broil for about 3 minutes or until the eggs are puffed and lightly browned. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Now, if your mother/wife likes something sweet for brunch, here is the perfect dish!!! The first time I made this dish, I was in love! I remember walking in my herb garden one sunny Sunday afternoon looking at the light hitting the juicy fresh strawberries.

About Stacy Lyn Harris

Stacy Lyn Harris is a best-selling cookbook author, blogger, TV personality, public speaker, wife and mother of seven children. She currently lives in Pike Road, Alabama, with her husband Scott and their children. Stacy Lyn regularly appears on cable and broadcast television as a guest chef and sustainable living expert. Her critically-acclaimed “Harvest Cookbook” was published in 2017 and contains many of her family’s favorite recipes, along with stories from her life growing up in the Black Belt and tips she’s learned along the way.

A MOTHER’S DAY SPOTLIGHT All in a

Day’s Work

BY JESSIE SHOOK

Jordyn Upchurch has many job titles, including cattle rancher, chicken farmer, bookkeeper and social media manager, but her favorite of all is Mother.

Mothers in agriculture are some of the hardest working people – from raising children, to raising livestock and crops, these women have a far-reaching impact on feeding the world and raising the future of agriculture. If you ask Jordyn Upchurch, motherhood and farming go hand in hand. Jordyn works alongside her husband Chris while raising their two-year-old son Charlie at Rockin’ U Farm, in Lineville, Alabama. At Rockin’ U Farm, the Upchurch family raise commercial poultry broilers for Koch Foods, along with a SimAngus cow/calf operation. The farm recently added a direct-to-consumer freezer beef business, while also being involved in a trucking and poultry clean-out

You can always find Charlie in the buddy seat of the tractor with Jordyn or Chris. (Photo credit: Jordyn Upchurch)

business with Jordyn’s father.

If motherhood doesn’t impress you alone, Jordyn is active in the day-to-day operations of the farm. “I’m exclusively in charge of the care of our freezer beef calves, feeding and checking our other cow/calf herds daily, keeping records of the cattle and the bookkeeping of the trucking/cleanout business,” Jordyn explained.

From experience, Jordyn knows the value of growing up on a farm. “My father had commercial poultry houses growing up and I always helped him with set up and checking chickens,” Jordyn said. “That was our quality time together.”

Jordyn’s mother worked as a nurse, but anytime she wasn’t at work, she was helping Jordyn’s father at the poultry houses. “I saw her love of agriculture grow through her relationship with my father and that was something I always wanted,” Jordyn said.

Jordyn found exactly that when she married her husband Chris. Chris started Rockin’ U Farm in 2011 when he built the poultry houses. Chris and Jordyn married in 2015 and have been farming together ever since. “I knew I wanted a future in agriculture, I just wasn’t sure of what that would look like until I met my husband,” Jordyn added.

Jordyn is grateful that their son Charlie will get to grow up with some of the same experiences and lessons she had on the farm. “Chris and I actually tend to call our parenting philosophy ‘free-range parenting,’ but within reason, with safety as a priority, we tend to let him have free range of wherever we are at the farm,” Jordyn said.

These experiences have taught Charlie independence and the value of working hard. “He has the best imagination that comes from growing up outside and learning to entertain himself,” Jordyn added. “He is also learning about where his food comes from on a firsthand basis and has learned the responsibility that comes with that.”

Charlie comes to work with Jordyn almost every single day and already has his own chores. He feeds the barn cats and has learned to brush his pony. He even helps Jordyn scoop feed for their direct-to-consumer beef calves. “You’ll always find him riding in the buddy seat of the tractor, whether it’s while we’re baling hay or feeding hay,” Jordyn said. “He loves to ride through and

Charlie has the best imagination from growing up outside and learning to entertain himself. (Photo Credit: Jordyn Upchurch)

These passions within Jordyn for agriculture and motherhood are important traits for someone in this industry to have. “We take responsibility of feeding the world and caring for our animals very seriously,” Jordyn assured. “Agriculture has given so much to us – our lifestyle, our home, our friends and community; having a small part in something big isn’t lost on us.” Jordyn also uses their farm to be an active advocate for agriculture. From their local community to outreach online via their Instagram account, Jordyn shares their story to put a face with agriculture. “So many people don’t trust real food because farmers have been made into villains by the media,” Jordyn said. “Our social media account allows me to talk directly with consumers and they can see how deeply we care for our animals and our land.” By connecting with consumers on social media and sharing their lives, Jordyn hopes consumers will see that Rockin’ U Farm is a family affair and not a corporate farm. “Social media just helps people realize that check the cows, and whenever we are working cows farmers are real people, too,” Jordyn added. or calves through the chute, you’ll find him in the alley The Rockin’ U Farms Instagram page is a great place pushing cows up.” to witness Jordyn and Charlie’s adventures around the

This mother-son duo usually starts the day by car- farm and what everyday life looks like for them. Jordyn ing for their cattle herds. This includes feeding, check- speaks fondly of some of her favorite memories so far ing water, assessing health and putting hay out. By the with Charlie on the farm. “A special memory I have of time Jordyn and Charlie finish checking the cattle, it’s Charlie is when he was almost two years old and he about time for Charlie’s midday nap. This gives Jordyn realized that he could call the cows up and they would the opportunity to work on the books for their trucking/ come to his cow call/voice,” Jordyn said. “The elated cleanout business. “After nap time, we usually head out look on his face when he realized that the cows were to the farm to do any catching up that needs to be done,” coming up for him was just so special and his cow call Jordyn said. “Every day starts with the same goals, but was hilarious!” no day is the same and I think that is why I love this life that we live on the farm.” By experiencing day-to-day life on the farm, Jordyn and Chris are teaching Char“Children thrive when they are raised lie knowledge through agriculture he may outdoors, with responsibilities and seenot have the opportunity to learn other- ing their parents work hard.” wise. “I want him to learn the kindness and empathy that caring for animals bring, – Jordyn Upchurch the responsibility and hard work, and how rewarding that can be,” Jordyn explained. “Children thrive when they are raised outdoors, with re- While Jordyn, Chris and Charlie have many more sponsibilities and seeing their parents work hard.” memories to make on the farm, Jordyn said that her

Motherhood and farming have many similarities. biggest hope for the future is that Charlie has a place Mothers and farmers are ushering new life into the in agriculture. She also hopes they are able to preserve world, whether that be from seed or egg and then caring this way of life for her son and future generations. “I for it the best they can – hoping it grows to its full po- hope that we can continue to raise quality food for our tential, be it vegetable, animal or human. Jordyn takes country and that future generations can enjoy it the on motherhood and farming sharing the same care and same way we have,” Jordyn said. “And I also hope that passion. “The joy of seeing a newborn calf walk for the Charlie, if he chooses, can continue to operate our farm first time or nursing a sick animal back to health, bring and be a proud fifth-generation farmer.” out the same feelings in me as when my son took his To see more of Jordyn, Chris and Charlie, follow @ first steps,” Jordyn said. RockinUFarm on Instagram.

Stacey Gaston caught this flathead on the Alabama River. It weighed 65 pounds.

BY CAROLYN DRINKARD

tacey Gaston has been catfishing all his life, just

Slike his daddy and granddaddy did before him. “I have always loved to fish,” he said. “I grew up hunting and fishing. It was just part of my heritage. “

About 12 years ago, he set his sights on using rods and reels to catch trophy catfish. The challenge was first to find the big cats and then bring them into his boat. Many thought this couldn’t be done. When he started to catch 40-50-pound cats, he took pictures of these trophies, but some skeptics still did not believe him. To prove that he could use a rod and reel to catch these big cats, he used his cellphone to record his catches, and then he posted the videos to YouTube. That’s when viewers started to take notice.

While fishing on the Tennessee River, Stacey learned about going live on Facebook. Each time he snagged a big fish, he went live and yelled, “Smackdown!” His exclamation caught on and soon became his signature!

“I’m just a redneck with a cellphone,” he laughed, “but people started watching and ‘smackdown’ caught on!” Now, most of his thousands of fans even call him “SmackDown.”

With his fishing partner, Joey Kirby, Stacey started a weekly Facebook live show, called “SmackDown Catfishing.” His goal was to help anyone else getting into this sport. The show airs each Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube. Thousands follow to comment, ask questions and even win prizes, of-

fered throughout the show. Stacey often has guests join him virtually to share their success stories and offer advice. He passes along tips on catching the big cats on rods and reels, using the best equipment and choosing the right bait to bring them in.

Stacey has become a social media sensation with thousands of followers from all over the U.S. and Canada. He has even created his own line of fishing products, which he sells on SmackDownCatfishing.net.

One of his inventions has redefined this growing sport, giving sportsmen the ability to work with more rods and bring in more fish. Stacey uses Meat Hunter rods, made in Arkansas, but developed in the rivers and lakes of the South for heavy-duty fishing. Needing a holder for the rods, Stacey used his welding and fabricating skills to design something that would grasp when a 100-pound catfish struck the line. It took him three years of designing, fabricating and then fishing with the holder to get it just like he wanted. He mounted the holders on his own Tracker Targa 20 boat and demonstrates their value to serious big cat fishermen. He now offers seven different colors and a choice of bases that fit nearly every boat.

Stacey Gaston is passionate about fishing for the big cats, and he has enjoyed great success. This love of the sport, along with his infectious enthusiasm, makes him an entertaining and knowledgeable speaker. He often headlines Fishing Expos and Conferences, and he is a crowd favorite at wild game dinners and fundraisers. He has appeared in numerous fishing and outdoor magazines, and has been a popular guest on “Gettin’ Outdoors with Big Daddy Lawler.”

Stacey Gaston is a busy family man. He lives in Greenville, Alabama, with Dawn, his wife of 28 years. He has three children, two grandchildren and one on the way. He teaches welding at Reid State Technical College in Evergreen and serves as the pastor of Goodland Baptist Church.

Every weekend, Stacey Gaston can be found on the Alabama River between Camden and Montgom-

Stacey has become a social media sensation with thousands of followers from all over the U.S. and Canada. He has even created his own line of fishing products, which he sells on SmackDownCatfishing.net.

Joey Kirby (l) caught this 91 lb. blue catfish. Stacey Gaston holds a 99 lb. beauty.

Cayden Wise is living that Smackdown Catfishing lifestyle. He is one of Stacey Gaston’s biggest fans. He caught two big cats on a fishing trip with his Pawpaw, Scott Childres. Cayden and his family use many of the SmackDown products such as the rod holders in the background.

ery, looking for the illusive big flatheads and blue cats. In the last two years, he has put the “SmackDown” on six fish, all weighing over 80 pounds. One was over 100 pounds. The Alabama blue cat record is 120 pounds, and he once caught a big blue that weighed 103. While fishing one night, he and his buddy caught a 99 pounder and a 91 pounder back-to-back.

For Stacey, the Holy Grail of big cat catching is the illusive 100-pound club. “The thought of catching a monster catfish appeals to me,” he laughed. “The adrenaline rush of 80-100 pounds of fish ‘done got the best of me’!”

Stacey practices only “catch and release,” putting anything over 15 pounds back into the water. He protects the environment and all the creatures that live therein, so that future generations can enjoy these things as much as he has.

“I do a lot of fishing,” he explained. “Whenever I catch these big fish, I put them back in the reservoir. It’s up to you and me to protect that which we love to do. I like to look after what I love to do!”

Stacey Gaston fishes with energy, enthusiasm and excitement. He enjoys competing in fishing contests all over the South. Another great pleasure is carrying others out in the waters to catch the big cats. Some of his favorite guests are veterans and children. About 50% of the time, however, Stacey is on the water by himself.

“I just love gettin’ out on the water,” he said. “I could sit there hours on end. When you get on the water, your mind goes to another place. It’s very relaxing and fun, and the peacefulness there is unbelievable!”

In addition to his busy schedule, Stacey does a live video each Sunday morning, encouraging everyone and offering support for those in need.

Stacey Gaston loves the Lord, his family and catfishing! He’s living that SmackDown lifestyle, and he’s lovin’ every minute of it!

“I’m really a blessed man to have caught so many,” he said. “All of this is just the favor of the Lord!”

Troy Smith holds up two large cats caught while on a Smackdown excursion with Stacey. Stacey shows off a large catfish caught from his boat. He has a “catch and release” policy and puts anything over 15 pounds back into the water.