2016 September/October Franklin Living by Franklin County

Livestock love Up with the chickens SSeptember/October eptember/October 2 2016 016 Vol. V ol. 6 IIssue ssue N No. o. 5

To market, to market

Contact Russellville City Hall at 256-332-6060

304 Jackson Ave. N Russellville, AL

Russellville City Councilmen Jamie Harris, Lanny Hubbard, Gary Cummings, William Nale, David Palmer & Mayor David Grissom

A Great Place to Live, Work & Raise a family.

FRANKLIN LHwy IVING

43 N. Hamilton, AL

(205) 921-2197

www.FikesChevy.com 3

Feathered friends

4-H Chick Chain teaches responsibility to county’s youngest poultry farmers

Cooking with Sam Serve up a delicious bite

Hands to the harvest

C County farmers markets p provide homegrown ffruits, veggies

6 Faces of Franklin County 22 What’s Hot 23 Classifieds 26 Faces of Franklin County 28 Looking Back

FROM THE MANAGER

spent a lot of summers at my grandparents’ house when I was growing up. My grandfather, Bill Blackburn, was a farmer. He, along with my Uncle Sonny, tended cattle, hogs, soybeans, corn and more – not to mention gardens in each of their back yards. I was there as mostly a witness to all of the goings-on. FCNI General Manager Nicole Pell with her I never was really husband, Hans. involved in any of the actual farming. The closest I got was snapping green beans or shelling dried butter beans. But when I think back on those times, I remember my grandfather and how he had such a strong work ethic and faith. I really don’t think you can farm without faith. You never know if this year’s crop will make it, or if it will be a dry season. Farmers just plant it, pray for the best and work it regardless. And the calves don’t always live, and the price of a head of cattle might be down this year. You just never know. But good years or bad years, he still worked just as hard and always had faith that it would turn out for the best – if not this year, then next year. In the realm of agriculture, I think to be great at it, you must have passion. Mike Madden obviously has a passion for cattle, as you will get to read about in this edition. Not only do we cover cattle farming but also chicken farming – not the poultry houses that are abundant here, which also take a lot of hard work and dedication, but the 4H Chick Chain. This great program is teaching our county youth how to handle responsibility and disappointment at an early age through growing and managing chickens. And then there is the farmer’s market, where those of us without gardens can reap the benefits of others’ hard work and green thumbs. Our county’s two farmer’s markets are truly a local treasure. I hope you enjoy this edition of Franklin Living and read it cover to cover. I also hope you have some steak, chicken or vegetables in your freezer to enjoy this winter. It will be here soon!

ON THE COVER: Mike Madden’s cattle farming operation is ﬁrmly established in the Spruce Pine area of Franklin County. Madden said he has always wanted to have cows. For more of his story, see page 8.

30 Parting Shot 4

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General Manager NICOLE PELL Managing Editor ALISON JAMES Sales PEGGY HYDE Circulation TOMMY MORRIS Photography ALISON JAMES

www.franklincountytimes.com

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FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY Sunshine and showers mingled throughout the weekend for the 36th annual Franklin County Watermelon Festival. Thousands of people thronged the streets of downtown Russellville in pursuit of live music, tasty treats and myriad attractions. Photos by Alison James

Rhonda Boyles and Eddie Britton

Luke, Joslyn and Lydia Garrison and Lara Gunderman

Mike and Jeanette Presley

Ava Oliver, Audrey Oliver and Lauren Sturdivant

Scotty, Joann, Kyle and Allie Wood

Tara McKelvey and Jessie Borden

Jessica Niemann and McCartney Moates

Carley Briles and Ellie Akers

Martha and James Ayers

Tom Morrison and Jane Richardson

Bobby Gregory and Ashlea Williams

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FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

Gracelynn Parker and Madison Fairley

Sabina Quim

Kaitlyn and Daniel Balding

Ciara and Tamla Whitten

Haley Vickery, Ellie Pounders and Stormie Gibson

Jordan Benford and Amber Chaney

Kelly Champion and Jessica Peppers

Lee and Glenice Willingham

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Til the cows come home

Mike Madden pursues cattle farming passion in Spruce Pine

Story and photos by ALISON JAMES

Mike and Sherry Madden married at age 16 and have worked together to build a successful life.

oday, it would be hard to argue against the assertion that Mike Madden has made something of himself. The owner of six farms plus multiple fruitful business endeavors, Madden is now a convincingly successful cattle farmer and businessman in the Spruce Pine community. And yet, he’s never forgotten his modest beginnings and with humility insists, “The only way I’ve been successful is with the Lord Jesus Christ coming into my heart.” When it comes to cattle-farming, what Madden thought at one time would be a fun sort of little side hobby became a business requiring intensive time and attention. “I love it or I wouldn’t do it,” said Madden, who began farming cows more than 22 years ago. “I always wanted to be in the cattle business. I bought six cows in 1994, and then two months later I went to Robertsdale and bought 31 registered Brangus cows.” He now lays claim to a hundred head of cows with calves, and he sells replacement heifers and bulls to other local farmers. With only a sixth grade education, Madden married his wife Sherry at age 16, and they set out to make life work. “We grew up as much as anybody you’ve ever seen in your whole life,” he said. “We didn’t have any money. We were just barely surviving.” The two rented a small farm and fed the pigs onsite to cover the rent costs. Years later – about four years ago – Madden was able to purchase that 250-acre farm where his meager farming life began.

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It’s just one of many indicators of the success Madden has been able to achieve. He’s also landlord for Innovative Hearth Products; winner of the 2015 Robert I. Rogers Award; owner of Inside Stone; and an advisory board member with Community Spirit Bank. And yet four to ﬁve hours a day, Madden can be found working – working hard – at a job with a small proﬁt margin. “If you’re in the cattle business, you just have to have a supplemental income or you cannot make this work,” Madden said. “People think if you’re in the cattle business, you’re in the money business, but you don’t make any money in the cattle business …

not much. People don’t believe that, but I’m telling you the truth.” Saw Mill Farm, Old Moses Farm, Buds Old Farm, Vaughn Farm, Old Bates Dairy Farm and Peach Orchard Farm are among the sites of Madden’s hard work. More grassland and more hayﬁelds mean more cattle. At his main farm, Madden’s work barn boasts an intricate series of pens with gates –“a working sweep” – that provides safety and allows Madden to work with his cows carefully – to give vaccinations, trim their feet and other routine care. Safety is of utmost importance to Madden, particularly after he suﬀered

Mike Madden’s work barn features an intricate series of pens to aid in safely caring for his cattle

Madden owns more than a hundred head of cows.

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Working his six farms is a daily job for Madden, in addition to working with his company, Inside Stone.

from a cow attack not long ago. “He stomped me in the head, the back, the kidneys. My eye had completely closed. When I got back up at the truck and looked at my face, I thought, ‘I’m going to die,’” Madden said. Cows are more dangerous animals than one might assume. “You want them to be scared of you … Cattle are not really mean. They’re big, and they’re fast. The Brahman, Brangus or anything with a Brahma inﬂuence will have some wildness, but every cow needs to be treated with respect.” Madden also makes use of a squeeze chute with a palpation cage to keep cows stationary for all kinds of purposes, like pregnancy testing. A unique “alleyway” fencing set-up allows him to work ﬁve of

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his pastures – a few hundred acres – into the work barn on his main farm. Madden uses about three tons of feed per year, relying on well-fertilized grass for the remainder of nourishment. “That’s the best way to feed,” he said. At the end of the day, cattle farming – like any business – is a numbers game. On a successful cattle farm, much of those numbers are about

genetics. Madden said he spends signiﬁcant time working to improve his stock. “Cattle is a hamburger or steak to you. It’s a commodity to us,” he said. “We want to make sure it gets better every year. You want your beef product to be better.” The Maddens have one son, Craig, who is married to Abby. Craig and Abby have three children: Shiloh, 7, Heidi, 5, and Cooper, 11 months.

Madden purchased his ﬁrst cows in 1994 as the start of a hobby. That hobby grew into a passion and business that consumes much of his time.

Madden feeds just about three tons of feed per year, relying on wellfertilized grass to nourish his cattle.

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Feathered

friends

4-H Chick Chain teaches responsibility to young poultry farmers Story and photos by ALISON JAMES

ou can’t keep these kids cooped up. They’re ready to rule the roost. Poultry jokes aside, a number of Franklin County youth have been getting up with the chickens since April – literally. These young chicken farmers are participating in the 4-H Chick Chain Project, designed to teach 4-H members recommended management practices for growing and raising chickens. At the end of April, each student received ten chicks, 1-2 days old – this year, Ameraucana and Silver Laced Wyandotte breeds – and they have been endeavoring to raise them into healthy, impressive chickens for the past ﬁve months. Carson and Landon Cox, students at Belgreen, each signed up to participate this year. Landon participated in the project last year but lost all his chickens to a dog attack in the ﬁnal week. This year some of their chickens lost a few toes to an unknown predator – but learning about loss is just part of it. Mom Melissa Cox said she has eagerly supported her sons in the project. “I thought this was something they would enjoy, and they have. And I think I’ve enjoyed it as much as they have,” she said. “They’ve learned responsibility … and about raising something from a baby and taking care of it. There’s danger, and there’s loss.” The Cox boys have a unique tractor-coop-on-wheels they can shift around their back yard to provide new feeding ground for the chicks. Taking care of the chickens is on their chore charts, right along with washing dishes, folding cloths and cleaning bathrooms. The ultimate event of the project is the show and auction at the Northwest Alabama State Fair. Each participant will choose his or her two best chickens to present at the fair for auction and a chance to win prizes. “Ours aren’t going to sell very well because of their toes,” Landon predicted.

When Colt Thomas discovered chicken farming, he discovered a passion he plans to pursue beyond 4-H.

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A peaked chicken coop houses Phil Campbell seventh grader Colt Thomas’ clucking, squawking flock. A back door feeds into a small caged area with thick foliage where his chickens can enjoy grazing. “I’ve always liked chickens. I love eggs,” Colt said. “Whenever you feed them, that’s the easiest part, but whenever you try to handle them, they run away from you and scratch you all up.” His least favorite part, though, is cleaning out the chicken coop. Nevertheless, “I’ve got some beautiful birds,” he added. Thomas took first place in showmanship the first year he participated, and mom Vero Thomas said she thinks that’s part of what gave him the drive to try it again this year. “It gave him an interest in something,” she said. “We love horses, but he doesn’t have any interest in the horses. His interest is chickens.” That interest has materialized in some unique ways. “The oddest thing I ever got him for Christmas – an incubator, and anything related to chickens,” she said with a laugh. Bo LeMay and his younger brother, students at Belgreen, decided to give the project a try this year as well. “We had some friends who did it, and they told us it was really fun,” Bo, 11, said. He has enjoyed “watching them grow up and getting to mess with them.” But although Kade LeMay, 9, agreed it’s been fun, he’s not sure he’ll try it again. “You can’t really

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ABOVE: Landon Cox cradles one of his Chicken Chain chickens. BELOW: Carson Cox interacts with the Cox 4-H chickens through their unique mobile coop.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Landon and Carson Cox work together to care for their chickens as part of their daily chores. Kade LeMay said chicken farming has been hard work. Bo LeMay enjoy interacting with his chickens and chasing them around his family’s back yard.

play with a chicken,” he said. “It’s too much work.” But dad T.J. LeMay has been happy to see them participate. “I think it instills a lot of values for the kids, taking care of the animals,” he said. Chicken farming isn’t just for boys. Chickens are nothing new to Maddie Pearson’s family, as hens, roosters and chicks roam freely about their property in Red Bay. This is Maddie’s second year to take part in the Chick Chain project. “It’s really fun,” said Maddie, a sixth grader at Red Bay High School. “They’re fun to play with. I try to get them to sit on

my shoulder – but they usually don’t. They’re fun to watch, too.” The show and auction are her favorite part. A total of 33 students have participated in this year’s Chick Chain Project – as compared to seven in 2014 and 11 in 2015 – for Franklin County, and the auction will show what they have learned and achieved through the experience. Extension Director Katernia Cole-Coﬀey said about 23 of those are participating in the show and auction. “We hope that 4-H teacher leaders, principals,

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TOP: Bo and Kade LeMay have learned responsibility from the Chick Chain program, according to their father. BOTTOM: Maddie Pearson is participating in Chick Chain for the second year.

superintendents, classmates, family and friends will come out to support 4-H participants,” Cole-Coﬀey said. “This is a great program and helps open the door to careers in agriculture. There are numerous job opportunities in the poultry industry, such as broiler processing plant manager, ﬂock service technician, quality control manager, feedmill manager, hatchery manager, poultry veterinarian, nutritionist, agricultural engineer, geneticist or marketing specialist. “All 4-H projects and activities help to open the doors to career readiness and workforce development.”

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Events and Activities Ol Wild Old W West Ride, Rock Bridge Canyon, September 10 Red Re Bay's Founders Fest, Red Bay, September 17 Kudzu Klassic, September 24 Spirit of Hodges, October 8 Spruce Pine Day, October 15 Creatures in the Canyon, Rock Bridge Canyon, October 22 Community Trunk or Treat, Downtown Russellville, October 31

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FOOD

Cooking with Sam Recipes by SAM WARF

Potato Soup 3 cup water 4 lb. red potatoes 1 lg. onion 1 clove garlic 1/2 cup celery chopped fine

1/2 cup carrots chopped fine 1 can chicken stock 1 cup milk 1 cup instant potatoes salt & pepper

just to sweat items. Cut potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes, cook in broth. Add onions, celery, carrots, roasted garlic, salt and pepper. Cook about 30 minutes, until potatoes can be cut with a fork. Add milk and instant potatoes. Serve with cheese, Cook celery, onions, carrots in olive oil, bacon and green onions on top.

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Turnip Slaw 3 cup shredded turnips 1 1/2 cup shredded carrots 1/2 cup raisins, optional 1 tsp. lemon juice 3/4 cup mayonnaise 2 tbsp. vinegar 2 tbsp. olive oil salt & pepper 1/8 tsp. onion powder Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Cover and chill.

Macaroni-Chicken Salad 2 cup uncooked, seashell macaroni 2 cup celery 1 1/2 cup diced cooked chicken 1/2 cup onion 1/2 cup green pepper 1/2 cup sweet pickle cubes 1/2 cup pimento stuffed olives, sliced 1 cup mayonnaise 2 tsp. prepared mustard Cook macaroni according to package directions. Rinse and drain again. Combine macaroni and next 6 ingredients. Combine mayonnaise and mustard. Spoon over salad. Toss gently. Cover and chill.

Congealed Green Pea Salad 1 (3 oz.) package lemon gelatin 1 3/4 cups hot water 1/2 cup nuts 1 cup small green peas, drained 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup sliced green olives 1/4 cup chopped basil leaves Dissolve gelatin in hot water. Cool and when it begins to thicken, add other ingredients and mold. Serve with mayonnaise on lettuce.

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Brunswick Stew 1 (6 lb.) baking hen 2 lb. of chicken breasts 3 quarts water 2 bay leaves 4 small onions 3 tsp. salt 1 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. red pepper 2 tbsp. sugar 1 tbsp. worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. hot sauce 2 pkgs. frozen sliced okra 4 cups fresh or 2 (16 oz. each) can tomatoes 2 16 oz. cans corn

Spinach and Apple Salad

3 medium potatoes, diced 1 (16 oz.) English peas Cut chicken into pieces and simmer in 3 quarts of water seasoned with bay leaves, onions, salt, black and red pepper, until meat can easily removed from bones - about 2 1/2 hours. Remove chicken, dice and set aside. Add vegetables except potatoes and seasonings to broth and cook slowly for 6 hours. Add diced chicken, cook another hour. Thirty minutes before serving add potatoes and cook until potatoes are tender in stew. This stew benefits from slow cooking. Its flavor improves if it sets overnight refrigerated and then reheated. cored, quartered and thinly sliced cheese (variety of your choice), optional

For the salad dressing: 1/4 cup minced sweet onion 3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar 3 tbsp. white vinegar 2 tbsp. sesame seeds Pinch paprika 3 tbsp. sugar, divided 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil salt & pepper, to taste

1. For the salad dressing: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the onion, vinegars, sesame seeds and paprika. Mix well. 2. Add the 2 tablespoons of the sugar to the mixture and mix until combined. 3. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the olive oil in the mixture. 4. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside. 5. For the buttered almonds: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. 6. Add the almonds and cook, stirring constantly, until For the buttered almonds: the almonds are lightly browned and fragrant, 2 tbsp. unsalted butter about a minute or so. 7. Add the remaining 3/4 cup sliced almonds tablespoon of sugar to the almonds and gently toss to coat. 8. Continue to cook until the sugar For the salad: melts, about 1-2 minutes more. 9. Remove the 10 oz. bag of pre-washed, ready to use almonds from the heat and set aside to cool. 10. spinach leaves Assemble the salad as desired, and drizzle with 2 medium apples (variety of your choice), salad dressing.

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Classifieds To place an ad in Franklin Living, call 256.332.1881

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Hands to the harvest County farmers markets provide homegrown fruits, veggies Story and photos by ALISON JAMES

Home Petree uses a pea sheller to prepare his produce for customers.

he season is now winding down, but the open pavilion next to the A.W. Todd Centre in Russellville came to life this summer with the return of the Franklin County Farmers Market, and the Red Bay Farmers Market offered similar bounty to fruit- and veggie-lovers. Gary Stanford in his first year as market manager for the Franklin County Farmers Market “needed something to do,” over the summer while he wasn’t working as a Phil Campbell bus driver. The market manager job, of course, continued past the first day of school, and it’s an responsibility Stanford said he’s enjoyed. “I’m from the country; I grew up growing stuff with my parents. I have a little bitty garden – nothing like these folks have,” Stanford said. In Red Bay, Regina McKinney manages the farmers market, ensuring all operations run smoothly throughout the season. Like Stanford, McKinney is in her first year of managing, but she and her husband have been sellers at the market since they moved to Red Bay five years ago. “I enjoy it. I’ve learned a lot. You get to meet a lot of people,” McKinney said. “A lot of people who don’t farm, or they work all day and don’t have time for a garden, they come and get quantities of stuff and can it for later months. It’s fresh stuff – whereas when you go to the grocery store it’s usually all frozen, or there isn’t a whole lot of quantity for canning.” A dozen or so farmers, depending on the day, set up at the Russellville market four days a week to entice shoppers with bright red tomatoes, mounds of squashes and beans, little cartons of juicy berries, heaps of melons and all manner of fresh produce. Minnie Taylor has been coming to the Franklin County Farmers Market for the past five years. She sells jars of jam and salsa, corn, blackberries, potatoes, squash and cucumbers, along with her specialty – green beans. “I really appreciate having a place to do this. It’s extra money for me,” she said. “I enjoy it. I have a lot of fun down here.” Homer Petree has been selling at the market since even before the pavilion area was built. “I’ve been here a long time. I’ve seen a lot come and a lot go,” Petree said. “You meet a lot of good people … You can sell what you grow.” It’s what Franklin County Extension Coordinator Katernia Cole-Coffey sees as a mutually beneficial

FRANKLIN LIVING

arrangement. “To me, it’s great for the local farmers because they get to showcase the items they grown. In return the local citizens are able to purchase those items,” Cole-Coffey said. “It’s a good place to come and fellowship while getting your fresh fruits and vegetables, and you’re helping the income of the community in which you live.” The Extension authorizes each local farmer to sell with a basic growers permit. An additional benefit offered to senior citizens 60 and older is the income-based Farmers Market Nutrition Program, a coupon booklet that entitles the spender to about $30 of fresh produce. The federally-funded program opens to sign-ups in January of each year online, and the Extension can also help people get signed up. “It’s a really good opportunity to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. They really have some beautiful gardens this year,” Cole-Coffey said. “And since they’re grown locally, you know what you’re getting.” The market is a hidden gem in Red Bay, but the discerning market-goer will find signs leading them to the spot, just outside the Red Bay Waterpark. There, about eight growers provide produce for the community. McKinney said she still sold produce this year, in addition to managing the market – picking from dawn until dusk when each crop was ready. “You’ll go to the garden the next day and it’s like you haven’t even touched it,” she said. “It’s a handful when it all comes in. It won’t sit and wait on you.” Across the board, market managers and farmers alike share a common fear: that the farmers market is a dying art. “Young people don’t grow anything, and the older people are dying out,” Petree said. “These young ones are not going to take over. They’re just not interested in it.” “Our young people need to get out and learn to do this, because when us older people are gone, (farmers markets) are going to be gone,” Taylor added. But despite the potential for the end of the tradition, Stanford and McKinney are hopeful. There is plenty of room for growth, for greater numbers of farmers to cart their produce to the market and share their harvests with the community, and they urge the community to patronize these local growers each year. “We want more people to get out and support the local farmers markets,” Cole-Coffey said. The Franklin County Farmers Market is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon, and the Red Bay Farmers Market is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., June through September.

“It’s a good place to come and fellowship while getting your fresh fruits and vegetables, and you’re helping the income of the community in which you live.” ~Katernia Cole-Coffey

Minnie Taylor and Elbert Parker are regular faces at the farmers market in Russellville, where farmers and gardeners share okra, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, squash, watermelons and more with fruit and veggie lovers.

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Norma Manzanarez and Jennifer Monteon

Eric Young and Phyllis Leonard

Melissa Meyers and Bo Lemay

Carley Franks & Ema-Lee Brannon

Maggie Pinkard and Carson Petree

Chalea Clemmons and Jenna WhitďŹ eld

Diana Gandy and Judy Pennington

Danny, Sandy and Heath McKinney

Lupe and Francisco Hernandez

Tyrus and Gabriel White

RPD Chief Chris Hargett and Capt. Mike Prince

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FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

Dianne Patrick and Lilly Hood

Brittany Scott and Jayson Walker

Allison, Chad and Annslie Moses

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LOOKING BACK

Looking back photos courtesy of the Franklin County Archives.

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LOOKING BACK

Looking back photos courtesy of the Franklin County Archives.

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PARTING SHOT

“Our deep respect for the land and its harvest is the legacy of generations of farmers who put food on our tables, preserved our landscape, and inspired us with a powerful work ethic.” ~James H. Douglas Jr.

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TifÀn Motor Homes

105 Second Street NW • Red Bay, AL 256-356-8661

Trent TifÀn Trent TifÀn has only been working at TifÀn Motorhomes full time since January, but his history with the company extends much further back. The UAB graduate worked at TifÀn every summer from age 14 until he graduated from Mars Hill Bible School in 2011, working in the warehouse, prepping appliances, unloading the furniture truck – “whatever they wanted me to do.” As the surname suggestions, TifÀn

Motorhomes isn’t just any company for him – it’s the family business. He is Tim TifÀn’s son, Bob TifÀn’s grandson. “I always enjoyed it. I fell in love with this place,” Trent TifÀn said. “It’s a challenge. It’s a hard challenge, but it’s fun.” He now works in the marketing department, interacting with TifÀn’s advertising agency and making the occasional sales call, as well as

working with dealers – “always trying to come up with new ways to do better things,” where Mark Richardson leads the department and Andy Baer works as sales manager. What he loves most about TifÀn Motorhomes is the people, both the customers he works with – “You meet a lot of interesting people. Too many to count. It’s cool to see how they love our product – how they live in it full-time, and how much it means to them” – as well as his coworkers. Trent TifÀn majored in advertising and business management at UAB, and before graduation in December 2015, he said he considered going to work elsewhere, but “at the end of the day, I really wanted to come back,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it so far. I think it’s a different culture, a different feel. It’s not a corporate thing. It’s not a faceless entity. You know who’s here, and you know everything about them. Everybody knows each other.” He particularly enjoys the opportunity to be with family, seeing the way they work hard and treat people well. He’s eager to “learn as much as I possibly can and be half as good as they are” in a company he plans to stay with for the long haul. “I hope I’m here forever.”