Summer 2009, Tennessee Home and Farm

Tenne T enne sse e

Home & Farm tnhomeandfarm.com Summer 2009

URBAN OASIS

Crabtree Farms brings agriculture to the heart of Chattanooga SEE VIDEO ONLINE

A-CAMPING WE WILL GO

Happy campers pitch their tents at parks across the state

SEE TENNESSEE

Win a trip to historic Maury County tnfarmbureau.org

Published for the 639,383 family members of the Tennessee Farm Bureau

Ten n e ssee

Home & Farm An official publication of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation © 2009 TFBF EDITOR Pettus Read CIRCULATION MANAGER Stacey Warner ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jessy Yancey COPY EDITOR Joyce Caruthers ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER Matt Bigelow CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carol Cowan, Catherine Darnell,

Rebecca Denton, Susn Hamilton, Anthony Kimbrough, Leslie LaChance, Jessica Mozo, Abby Selden, Ryan Vaden SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Brian McCord STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeff Adkins, Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier, Ian Curcio, J. Kyle Keener PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT Anne Whitlow CREATIVE DIRECTOR Keith Harris ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Christina Carden PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGER Katie Middendorf SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Laura Gallagher, Kris Sexton, Candice Sweet, Vikki Williams WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Brian Smith WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR Franco Scaramuzza WEB PROJECT MANAGERS Andy Hartley, Yamel Ruiz WEB DESIGN Carl Schulz WEB PRODUCTION Jennifer Graves COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN Twila Allen AD TRAFFIC Jessica Childs, Marcia Millar, Patricia Moisan, Raven Petty

Editor’s note

A Fresh Approach Summer brings a beautiful bounty of fresh produce, and anyone who’s ever dug potatoes or snapped beans knows the effort put into a garden makes the end result even better – just ask any farmer! That’s partly what inspired our new department, Farmside Chat, which shares a farmer’s perspective on their own operations and the agricultural industry as a whole. Read the Q&A on page 31, and then go online to tnhomeandfarm.com for more from our first featured farmer.

Seasonal freshness is plentiful in this issue. We highlight a Chattanooga farm that leases plots and sells whatever’s ripe; review a West Tennessee café that uses blackberries grown on the premises for its ice cream; and travel to Maury County, where local eateries serve up fried-green-tomato sandwiches and other summertime favorites.

The county offers more than good eats, though. This history haven is the state’s Antebellum Homes Capital – and one lucky family will win a two-night stay there by entering our See Tennessee contest. Learn more on page 39 or register online at our Web site. While you’re there, don’t forget that our photo contest is accepting entries until Aug. 1, 2009.

CHAIRMAN Greg Thurman PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Bob Schwartzman

Jessy Yancey, associate editor thaf@jnlcom.com

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Ray Langen SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT Jeff Heefner SR. V.P./SALES Carla H. Thurman SR. V.P./OPERATIONS Casey E. Hester V.P./SALES Herb Harper V.P./SALES Todd Potter V.P./VISUAL CONTENT Mark Forester

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING Sybil Stewart V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Teree Caruthers MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS Bill McMeekin MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY Kim Madlom

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Lacy Upchurch (Columbia) VICE PRESIDENT Danny Rochelle (Nunnelly)

MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM Kim Newsom PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Natasha Lorens PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Jeffrey S. Otto CONTROLLER Chris Dudley ACCOUNTING Moriah Domby, Diana Guzman,

DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE Jeff Aiken (Telford) Charles Hancock (Bumpus Mills) Linda Davis (Rutherford)

Maria McFarland, Lisa Owens ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER, CUSTOM DIVISION

Beth Murphy INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER Kelly McBrayer RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR Suzy Waldrip DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR Gary Smith INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Yancey Turturice NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR James Scollard IT SERVICE MANAGER Ryan Sweeney HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Peggy Blake

DISTRICT DIRECTORS Malcolm Burchfiel (Newbern) James Haskew (South Pittsburg) Eric Mayberry (Hurricane Mills) Dan Hancock (Smithville) David Mitchell (Blaine) STATE FB WOMEN’S CHAIRMAN Jane May (Newbern)

CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT Rachael Goldsberry

ADVISORY DIRECTORS Dr. Joseph DiPietro (UT-Knoxville) STATE YF&R CHAIRMAN Mark Klepper (Greeneville)

OTHER OFFICERS AND STAFF PERSONNEL CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Julius Johnson TREASURER Wayne Harris COMPTROLLER Tim Dodd

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation tnfarmbureau.org

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR Rachel Matheis EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT Kristy Duncan

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

Tennessee Home & Farm is produced for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation by Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Member

Magazine Publishers of America Member

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TENNESSEE HOME & FARM (USPS No. 022-305) Issued quarterly by the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, 147 Bear Creek Pike, Columbia, TN 38401, (931) 388-7872. Periodical permit paid at Columbia, TN, and additional entry offices.

POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: Tennessee Home & Farm Executive Offices, P.O. Box 313, Columbia, TN 38402-0313.

TO SUBSCRIBE OR CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS Contact your county Farm Bureau office. TH&F is included in your $25 Farm Bureau annual dues; no other purchase necessary.

ADVERTISING POLICY For advertising information, contact Kelly McBrayer at (800) 333-8842, ext. 277, or by e-mail at kmcbrayer@jnlcom.com.

All advertising accepted is subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume all liability for content of their advertising. Publisher and Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation maintain the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaint about advertiser service or product.

Publisher does not accept political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products.

Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in Tennessee Home & Farm.

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Table of Contents

Features 8 / An Urban Oasis

Crabtree Farms brings agriculture to the heart of Chattanooga

12 / A-Camping We Will Go Pitch your tent in Tennessee, and you’ll be one happy camper

16 / His Ducks in a Row Jackson artist carves wood into Tennessee wildlife

18 / Lessons To Learn

Tennessee scores big with new education initiative

22 /Shared Tastes

Savor the season’s offerings with a picnic on the patio

8 12 16

Departments 4 / From Our Readers

Members tell us what they think

5 / Read All About It

Reflecting on decades of pants fads

6 / Short Rows

Moose Creek spices up grilled goods

26 /Country Classics

Jane Jordan’s classic fried catfish

27/ Restaurant Review

West Tennessee’s Ja Ja’s Café

28 /Gardening

Colorful produce enriches diets

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31/ Farmside Chat

Meet Brandon Whitt, pig farmer

35 /To Good Health

Transitioning to individual coverage

36 /See Tennessee

Enjoy the magic of Maury County

40 /Events & Festivals

Things to do, places to see

48 /View From the Back Porch Writer goes deep into fowl territory

ON THE COVER Photo by Jeffrey S. Otto Joel Houser, farm manager at Crabtree Farms tnhomeandfarm.com

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From Our Readers Tenne sse e

FOOD & RECIPES

online TRAVEL

HOME & GARDEN

TENNESSEE LIVING

tnhomeandfarm.com > TENNESSEE LIVING

Mustaches and Movie Stars Howdy, Just wanted to thank you for the article on Littleton’s leatherworks [“Hide & Seek,” Spring 2009].

I grew up in Dyer County and lived 30 years in Hardin County. I now live in eastern Oregon but still have Farm Bureau (insurance) on the family farm in Hardin County. I’m a ranch hand now, and I make leather items to make it through the winters. It’s always good to see that leather workers haven’t been completely forgotten.

One more thing: Garry does not have a handlebar mustache! A handlebar mustache has an extension on each side that resembles the horns on a Texas longhorn.

Anyway, I sure enjoy the magazine and look forward to the next one.

Now That’s “Some Pig”

Tom Warmath

For more Q&A with Murfreesboro farmer Brandon Whitt, go online to read our expanded Farmside Chat, where he discusses life with Wilbur and more.

Regarding your story “A Trip Down Memory Lane” [Spring 2009], Hoot Gibson was an early cowboy film star and not an astronaut. He was the second-largest box office draw in the late 1920s.

Food & Recipes

Home & Garden

Have a seasonal sweet tooth? Head to our Recipe section to find desserts made with fresh fruits, such as Peach Melba that calls for both peaches and raspberries.

Brighten up your summer garden with some colorful underused bulbs recommended by Dr. Sue, including cannas, dahlias and caladiums.

Travel

Tennessee Living

Sign up for our See Tennessee giveaway to Maury County, Tenn., at the online entry form on our homepage.

Woodcarvings by H. Dee Moss inspire your artistic side? Check out our archives to read about other creative Tennesseans.

Only Online

Watch videos, find recipes, enter contests and more.

Rippavilla Plantation Visit our Video section to take a walk through history at Spring Hill’s Rippavilla Plantation, a carefully preserved antebellum mansion and museum.

Anonymous Editor’s note: Thanks to our readers, we’ve sure learned a thing or two about mustaches and movie stars! There was an astronaut named Hoot Gibson – he’s just not the former owner of Mike Barnett’s 1931 Cadillac LaSalle.

The antique car, which can be seen at Our Backyard Town B&B in Martin, belonged to Hoot Gibson the rodeo champion and actor. We’ve corrected both stories at tnhomeandfarm.com and apologize for the editing errors.

Questions, comments and story ideas can be sent to: Jessy Yancey, 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, or e-mail us at thaf@jnlcom.com.

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Read All About It

Getting Too Big for Their Britches DECADES OF PANTS FADS DON’T SUIT PETTUS own in the Sunshine State a few years ago, a lawmaker tried to get legislation passed to outlaw the sagging britches fashion from public schools. In fact, there was even a statewide campaign underway that said, “Pull up your pants! Need help? Here’s a belt.”

The goal was to collect new or used belts and distribute them to young men caught in public with droopy drawers. One thing for sure, those fellows couldn’t run away very fast with their waistlines at their knees.

The reason some folks wish to bring legislation against saggy britches is many believe it encourages delinquency. The fact is, there’s no found link between the lowboy jeans and delinquency – it’s a fashion that most of us with some gray hair and a whole lot different upbringing just really don’t like or understand.

I, for one, see them as something that has just got to be plain uncomfortable. I have reached the age where your waist either moves up under your arms or below your stomach, and I spend most of my time trying to keep mine from slipping below my stomach. If I’m not real careful, I could end up being part of the crowd the legislation is intended for.

Having grown up in the ’50s and ’60s, there haven’t been too many fashions of odd décor that I haven’t witnessed. I remember the jeans I used to wear as a grade-school student that had about three inches of cuff rolled up at the bottom. In the afternoon when I arrived home, you could pour a quart of dirt, grass and other items out of those cuffs.

Arriving in middle school, the jean look was the narrow-legged stovepipe variety being worn by my friends. You notice that I say

D

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“my friends” – because there was no way I could get a pair of those jeans over the calves of my legs. Maybe if they came in smokestack size I could get them to halfway fit.

I never liked those jeans that showed your waist and length size on the belt-loop patch on the outside of your pants. Mine always read “husky,” and that just doesn’t help one’s ego.

I’ll never forget meeting adults as a kid for the first time, and they would say, “Aren’t you a husky fellow?” They should have known that anyway, because it was printed right there on my pants. I bet when I leave this world my tombstone will say, “He was a husky fellow because it said so right there on his jeans.”

In later years, the bell-bottom pants came into fashion, and once again I had to avoid those. On me, you couldn’t tell where the bell started and ended. The only good I got out of those things was that they protected my shoes and kept the floor swept.

Nowadays, we are seeing jeans that look worn out and dirty the day they are bought.

The most embarrassing thing a kid had to go through back during my school years was when I would get a hole in my jeans and my mother would put a patch on them. Today, those same jeans would cost you $75, and every one of your peers would have to have a pair.

The fashion statements of teenagers really haven’t changed much when you think about it.

It is starting to look like it will not be long before baggy pants will be out, and something else will take their place.

But, as they say, and it is written somewhere, “Those who get too big for their britches will soon be exposed in the end.”

About the Author Pettus L. Read is editor of the Tennessee Farm Bureau News and director of communications for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.

SEE MORE ONLINE

Read his weekly blog of country wisdom and wit in the Tennessee Living section at tnhomeandfarm.com.

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Short Rows

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1 1/ Cherishing Cheese Sure, June is National Dairy Month, but what would a dairy month be without cheese?

Mark your calendars for National Cheese Day on June 4, and in commemoration, try some quality cheeses made right here in Tennessee.

Sweetwater Valley Farm between Chattanooga and Knoxville makes more than a dozen varieties of cheese – from cheddar to pepper jack – and sells directly to consumers. Waynesborobased Bonnie Blue Farm’s goat cheese won Best in Show at the American Dairy Goat Association competition last year. The blue-ribbon product is available at several retailers and restaurants throughout the state.

Specializing in flavored cheese

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4 appetizers, Savory Secret has catered for the CMA Awards, and its products have been featured on Top Chef.

Visit www.tnfarmfresh.com to find local cheese producers in your area.

dips or whatever your inner chef desires.

Now headquartered in Nashville, The Moose Is Loose LLC began mass distribution in 1998. Learn more at www.moosecreeksauce.com.

2 / Moose on the Loose

3 / How Does Your Garden Grow?

Summertime means grilling season, and Moose Creek Pepper Products can spice up any meal this time of year.

Their first pepper sauce started at the Moose Creek Beer & Bait House in Clarksville, and creator Tom Griffin knew it was something special by the strong response from his customers.

The original sauce is now joined by three other all-natural Moose Creek condiments: barbecue, green chili pepper and Bourbon Street grilling sauce, which can be used as marinades,

Use that green thumb to crack open the latest edition of Mid-South Garden Guide, a publication of the Memphis Garden Club.

This book offers gardeners a variety of tips, including monthly guides and sections on woodland gardens, hydrangeas and flower arrangements.

Regardless of experience level, “many gardeners use [the] book as a ‘go-to’ guide,” says Cary Brown of the Memphis Garden Club. tnfarmbureau.org

TN FARM FRESH Sixty-four thousand copies of the book’s first six editions have been sold since its original release in 1954.

The seventh edition, revised by Dr. Carolyn M. Kittle, is available at 40 locations throughout the Southeast, including Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Memphis and Nashville.

4 / The Bridle and Groom Horseback weddings of the Old West unite with the mountains of East Tennessee at a ranch near Sevierville.

Walden Creek Stables strives to sustain the spirit of frontier America, even during matrimony.

Couples enjoy ceremonies at this family-owned facility because of “good people, good horses and good value for their money,” says Don Cox, the overall ranch manager at Walden Creek. Cox is also an ordained wedding minister.

With its quarter horses ready, the ranch customizes wedding ceremonies to suit any number of guests in either formal or informal settings. “We can go just about as far as anybody wants – from the most simple, intimate type of wedding to the grandest,” Cox says.

Visit www.waldencreekstables.com for more information.

Hand-Picked Success The pickings certainly aren’t slim at Culbertson Farms, a Tennessee Farm Fresh member in Hardin County about 15 miles outside of Savannah.

This 210-acre farm offers its seasonal produce at an on-site market from late spring through early fall.

Strawberries kick off the season at the end of April, and you can pick your own juicy red fruit right off the plant. Potatoes arrive at May’s end, and tomatoes and blueberries ripen in mid-June.

Randall Culbertson bought what he calls “the old cattle farm” in 1993 after earning his degree in plant and soil science. “We built it up from what it was to what it is now,” he says.

Only 10 acres of the farm are used for production, meaning there’s plenty of room to expand. Last year, Culbertson planted a 1-acre apple orchard that he hopes will begin to bear fruit by the end of this year’s season. This past winter, he added peach trees.

The farm offers a break from hectic supermarkets; much of the produce is sold right underneath the Culbertsons’ carport. There’s also a tent next to the crop patches, complete with a table, chairs and water to refresh customers on a hot summer day. In addition, Culbertson Farms provides buckets for visitors to carry their hand-picked berries or tomatoes.

Since becoming a Tennessee Farm Fresh member, Culbertson has enjoyed meeting new customers and receiving a lot more business, he says. The market is open Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until dark and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Saturdays). Contact the farm at (731) 925-4872 for more information.

SEE MORE ONLINE

Tennessee Farm Fresh helps our state’s farmers market their products directly to consumers through an organized marketing program. For more information about the program and more Tennessee farm products, visit www.tnfarmfresh.com.

5/ A Stately Site School may be out, but learning never ceases on the Tennessee History for Kids Web site.

The site, www.tnhistoryforkids.org, teaches youngsters about state, county and city histories as well as civics, geography and notable Tennesseans.

Dividing its material into elementary, middle and high school levels, Tennessee History for Kids stretches young minds through educational stories, videos and interactive quizzes.

Bill Carey, a former reporter and author of multiple Tennessee and Nashville history books, writes the content for the online resource.

Tennessee history experts review and edit the information. tnhomeandfarm.com

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Food

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AnUrban

Oasis CRABTREE FARMS BRINGS AGRICULTURE TO THE HEART OF CHATTANOOGA

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY S. OTTO

C

ity farming might sound like an oxymoron, but that’s the idea behind Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga.

Located on 22 acres near downtown, Crabtree Farms has the uncanny ability to make you think you’ve been transported to the rural countryside. Colorful vegetables and flowers pop up from rich black soil, farmers carefully tend to a diverse variety of plants, and green space prevails all around.

“It’s a great thing for Chattanooga, because it shows what you can do with land

even within city limits,” says Sarah Malone, development and outreach manager for Crabtree Farms. “We’re able to feed families using land in an urban area, and we have a wonderful central location so people can come appreciate agriculture without having to travel far. It’s an urban oasis.”

Crabtree Farms is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1988 to promote sustainable agriculture. The property has been in agricultural use since the early 1800s and was donated to the city by the Crabtree and McGauley families with the

Farm in the City Crabtree Farms is located at 1000 E. 30th St. in the Clifton Hills area of Chattanooga.

The farm’s summer hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but call (423) 493-9155 for tours and appointments. Visit www.crabtreefarms.org for more information.

A bountiful summer harvest at Crabtree Farms includes green beans, tomatoes, squash, okra and garlic.

Above: Shannon Bontekoe sows arugula seeds during her sustainable agriculture internship at the farm. tnhomeandfarm.com

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Food

Farm Facts

CSAs Spelled Out Community Supported Agriculture, known as a CSA service, connects consumers looking for fresh foods with growers in their own community.

Instead of shopping in a grocery store’s produce section, people preorder shares of a farm’s harvest. In return, they pick up a box filled with seasonal fruits, veggies and herbs at a specified meeting location and time, usually weekly.

Crabtree Farms’ CSA program goes by the name FOOD Box and costs around $30 per week to feed a family of three, and you can learn more on their Web site.

Look for a CSA in your area by going online to www.picktnproducts.org and searching for “CSA.”

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stipulation that it must retain its agricultural heritage. Today, the city leases the land to Crabtree Farms for $1 per year.

The property features a 5-acre urban demonstration farm cultivated by employees, volunteers and interns. There’s also a 1-acre community garden divided into 41 plots that Chattanooga residents can lease from March through November. Each plot is 200 square feet, and community gardeners have access to tools, compost and water.

“The community garden is strictly organic.

People can harvest crops for themselves or for their whole family, and a master gardener is here three or four days a week to answer questions,” Malone says. “It’s fun to see the huge variety of plants and everyone’s techniques. There are folks with perfect rows, and others use twigs and branches for trellises. There are flowers and herbs and unusual vegetables.”

In fact, the Crabtree farmers pride themselves in producing a selection of uncommon crops.

“That’s our niche. For example, we grow five different varieties of lettuce, but never iceberg,” Malone says. “We try to grow things you wouldn’t find in a grocery store.

We have mint and other herbs, and instead of growing traditional spearmint, we grow chocolate mint and grapefruit mint – things that add a little more depth to the palate.”

Joel Houser is the farm manager at

Crabtree Farms and oversees the planting and harvesting.

“We grow a lot of hybrid and older varieties of crops,” Houser says. “Everything is organic, and probably 60 percent are heirlooms.”

Visitors to Crabtree Farms can participate in free workshops, such as Farmer for a Day, where they get to work side-by-side with farmers and learn about planting and harvesting different crops.

“We do a garlic planting day, and we also do it with strawberries and potatoes,” Malone says. “The idea is to get people’s hands in the dirt and empower them to do it at home. We’ve had people drive from Georgia and Alabama if they’re really interested in a specific crop.”

Crabtree Farms offers pick-your-own berries in May, June and July, and an on-site farm stand sells fresh produce, co-op items, herbs and flowers to the public Tuesday through Saturday from May to November.

“For a lot of people, it’s nostalgic – especially the older generation,” Houser says. “They like to come out to the farm and get fruits and vegetables like they remember from childhood.”

Crabtree Farms’ biggest fundraisers are two annual plant sales in April and September when they sell plants and veggie starts that grow well in the Chattanooga Valley. Group farm tours and classes are available for all ages upon request with a $40 flat rate for each educational hour.

“We’ve done classes on topics like canning, soap-making and gardening,” Malone says.

In August 2008, Crabtree Farms launched a Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign dedicated to educate consumers on the benefits of buying locally produced foods. The campaign includes the production of Chattanooga’s first local food guide in 2009, which allows consumers to find farm-fresh food within a 100-mile radius of the city.

Crabtree Farms’ success has prompted other cities to start urban farm operations, including Knoxville and Hixson.

“There are green spaces in every city that can be used for something like this,” Malone says. “It helps people get connected with agriculture.” tnfarmbureau.org

Crabtree Farms spans 22 acres in Chattanooga, including its 5-acre, certified-organic Urban Farm that grows 200 varieties of vegetables, flowers and herbs, from eggplant to sunflowers.

Top: Bontekoe and farm manager Joel Houser pick basil inside a greenhouse at the farm. tnhomeandfarm.com

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Travel

A-Camping We Will Go PITCH YOUR TENT IN TENNESSEE, AND YOU’LL BE ONE HAPPY CAMPER STORY BY JESSICA MOZO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

F

or many families, summer means it’s time to pack up the tents, coolers and sleeping bags and head for the great outdoors. And the beauty of Tennessee is that no matter which part of the state you live in, there’s bound to be a scenic, well-equipped place to camp nearby.

The Volunteer State has a whopping 37 state parks that offer camping, and there are also mountains of camping opportunities (pardon the pun) within the awe-inspiring Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elkmont Campground, the park’s largest campground, is also the closest to Gatlinburg’s amenities.

“Elkmont is great for camping and families because there are so many ranger-led activities as well as trout fishing and beautiful hiking trails,” says Tim Cruze, a park ranger at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “Kids can bring their bikes, and it’s a safe, family atmosphere.

You’re less than an hour from Cades Cove and just 15 minutes from Gatlinburg. It’s a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and get back to our roots.”

Until the 1920s, Elkmont was an actual town with a post office, general store and a church.

The logging community became a popular summer resort getaway for affluent East

More than 200 campsites attract folks to Elkmont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains.

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BY THE NUMBERS

37 Tennessee state parks that offer camping

48,000 acres encompass Natchez Trace State Park, Tennessee’s largest state park

228 campsites available at Fall Creek Falls State Park

75 years since the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was founded tnhomeandfarm.com

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Travel

Tennesseans with the building of the Wonderland Hotel in 1911 and an influx of vacation homes. The Wonderland Hotel closed in 1992 and has since been dismantled, but several abandoned vacation homes remain at Elkmont, testifying to the historic town’s role in bringing some of the first tourism to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Today, accommodations at Elkmont are much more primitive than they were in the town’s heyday.

“There are 220 campsites and restrooms at Elkmont, but for showers, you have to go into Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge,” Cruze says.

But the back-to-nature campground has its advantages – campers often catch glimpses of black bears, owls, deer and foxes, and a river runs directly through the campground.

“There’s nothing like the sound of natural running water, especially in the evenings,” Cruze says. “And there are plenty of beautiful trails, like the Little River Trail, which connects to other trails. You can go two or three miles and find the remnants of a

Fire Up the Campfire Depending on who packed the cooler, camping meals can range from GORP and PB&J to fancier fare such the kabobs made by Elkmont camper Chris Crooke, right.

He prepared a creative campfire-friendly variation of our Beef and Mushroom Kabobs, which can be found in the recipe section of tnhomeandfarm.com. Just marinate the beef cubes ahead of time, and bring along some cubed pineapple, new potatoes and any other fruits or veggies to replace the mushrooms. You can also view a video of the original recipe – intended for the grill – in our video section.

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railroad logging bridge.”

The Sinks Hiking Trail, less than five miles from Elkmont, is a huge tourist attraction in the summer.

Campers can also attend ranger talks at Elkmont’s amphitheater or ranger-led night hikes.

“We stop at campsites and invite people, and we also list ranger-led activities in the free Smokies Guide newspaper,” Cruze says. “The night hikes are nice because there are cooler temps and less traffic in the evenings when everyone’s settling in and fixing supper. You can get oneon-one with a ranger and talk about natural resources.”

Though many of Tennessee’s popular campsites are within the Great Smoky Mountains, there are plenty of other excellent choices across the state. Fall Creek Falls in Pikeville boasts the highest waterfall in the eastern United States and is blessed with thundering cascades, jaw-dropping gorges, gentle trickling streams and lush green foliage. It’s easy to see why Southern Living magazine

readers voted Fall Creek Falls the best state park in the Southeast.

“Fall Creek Falls has everything it’s the total package,” says Lesa Guy, administrative assistant to the park manager. “There’s hiking, horseback riding, natural beauty, an 18-hole golf course, swimming, a lake and a restaurant.”

The variety of accommo dations at Fall Creek Falls include cabins, villas, lodges, campsites and an inn.

“There are full hookups available with water, sewer and 50-amp electric service, and we have bath houses with hot showers,” Guy says.

“There are trails connecting to the campgrounds, and our 345-acre lake is used for fishing, paddleboats, canoes and kayaks. We also have mountain biking trails, tennis, basketball, sand volleyball, softball fields and an Olympic-size pool.”

Campers can take advantage of lots of educational programs at Fall Creek Falls, too. The kids might enjoy making a pinecone birdfeeder, while the teens and adults might like to take a ranger-led cave trip exploring

one of the park’s two caves.

“There are pontoon boat rides, ranger-led hiking and biking tours, and guided hikes to the base of the falls,” Guy says. “Program schedules are made every week, and guests can call the nature center to find out what’s going on.”

In Millington, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is one of several camping destinations and provides cabins and 49 campsites equipped with tables, grills, and electric and water hookups. The park is home to deer, turkey, beaver and 200 species of birds. Visitors can learn about wildlife at the Meeman Museum and Nature Center, which includes a fish aquarium, a live snake exhibit, a stuffed animal exhibit, a touch table and a Native American exhibit, and there are special programs on live birds of prey, reptiles, making bird feeders and homemade ice cream, deep swamp canoe trips and pontoon boat rides.

For a complete list of Tennessee state parks that offer camping, visit www.tnstateparks.com.

The peaceful Little River and the scenic Smokies attract thousands to Elkmont Campground in Gatlinburg each summer. Dozens of state parks across the state offer similar family-friendly activities, including places to fish, swimming holes and hiking trails. tnhomeandfarm.com

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His

Ducks in a Row JACKSON ARTIST CARVES WOOD INTO TENNESSEE WILDLIFE

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Tennessee Living

STORY BY ABBY SELDEN

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plucked a little space of nature and just set it on the table.”

Even when Moss carves miniature versions of animals, he makes sure they are large enough to retain lifelike details. But creating such detailed sculptures is a time-consuming process. Moss says a smaller sculpture can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to complete, while larger sculptures can take even longer. The centerpiece of Moss’ collection is a life-size sculpture of an eagle, appraised at more than $250,000, which took six years to complete.

Fortunately, his hard work and attention to detail have paid off, as he regularly receives awards at art competitions. “I’ve got a suitcase full of blue ribbons,” Moss says.

Rather than being recognized himself, he hopes those who see his art walk away with appreciation for the animals’ magnificence.

“I want them to see the beauty of nature that even man with his greatest abilities can’t really duplicate,” Moss says. “God has done an unbelievable job of making the smallest little things very beautiful.”

And no matter who walks into the studio, Moss can guarantee he will do all he can to ensure they leave happy.

“When I finish a piece, I want the people to be more than happy with the carvings I do,” he says. “I always go out of my way to make sure they have more than their money’s worth.”

Where To Buy Moss’ wildlife art, wood sculptures and decoys are available exclusively at his Wildlife in Wood studio, housed in a gazebo on the Village Green at Casey Jones Village in Jackson. For more information, call (901) 668-2782.

Staff Photos

here can you find every Tennessee game animal imaginable, peacefully coexisting in one room?

Welcome to the Wildlife in Wood Studio at Jackson’s Casey Jones Village, where sculptor H. Dee Moss creates magnificently realistic carvings of everything from elk and wolves to bears and birds of prey.

“Tennessee has always been my home, and because of the abundant game and the beautiful scenery we’ve got, it’s just been an inspiration all the time,” he says.

But Moss hasn’t always been the artist he is today, a master woodcarver whose pieces often sell for thousands of dollars. In fact, his goals as a young man couldn’t have differed more from his eventual career.

“When I was in high school, my ambition was to be a professional football player,” Moss recalls. “I never supposed I’d be, or thought I would be, an artist.”

But when an accident during his junior year of high school left him unable to play football, Moss had no choice but to explore other passions. He started as a pre-med major at Memphis State University, but quickly realized medicine was not the field for him and graduated with a degree in interior design.

Moss produced paintings throughout college, but a duck-hunting trip at Reelfoot Lake inspired him to make his first attempt at sculpture, creating duck decoys. That soon evolved into designing decorative decoys, and eventually Moss was making detailed carvings of Tennessee game animals.

Moss carves a variety of animals, but his main focus is Tennessee game birds.

His bird repertoire alone consists of mockingbirds, cardinals, eagles, ducks, geese, wrens, finches, goldfinches, bluebirds, robins, indigo buntings, pheasants, quails, wring neck doves and “just about every kind of lark you can imagine,” he says.

Each piece of animal art is crafted with strict attention to anatomical detail. Sometimes Moss will even study a feather of the type of bird he is carving, so he can more closely duplicate its barbs and other intricacies.

“I try to make them look lifelike,” he says. “I like for them to look like you just

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Tennessee Living

Lessons To

Bill Frist chairs Tennessee SCORE, a call-to-action campaign researching ideas on how to improve the state’s education system.

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Learn STATE SCORES BIG WITH NEW EDUCATION INITIATIVE

STORY BY JESSY YANCEY

Brian McCord

B

y now, you may have heard about the State Collaborative on Reforming Education, known as Tennessee SCORE, chaired by former U.S. Senator Bill Frist. But what you may not know is how this citizen-led, nonpartisan program’s success relies on the participation of people throughout Tennessee, no matter how education impacts you.

“This initiative brings together people from all across the state, all 95 counties, to look at best practices,” Frist explains.

“We’re going to shine a light on what works, celebrate it and take it across Tennessee.”

The effort aims to develop an environment to prepare students for a career or college when they graduate from high school, Frist says. “The world is changing, but our schools are not really changing at all,” he says, “It didn’t used to be that somebody would have to be prepared for 10 to 12 different jobs by the time they’re 38.”

Frist notes Tennessee’s ranking of 41st in national student achievement as a motive for SCORE, which is based on successful programs in neighboring states.

“I know it’s a solvable problem,” Frist says, citing the similar initiatives that have improved other states’ education systems.

As a one-year, planned-out discussion, Tennessee SCORE has three avenues to learn about what’s working to improve education across the state. A steering committee will oversee research and ultimately develop a strategic plan. Several project teams focusing on specific ideas,

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such as technology or school leadership, are hosting town hall meetings throughout the state to solicit ideas. But at the heart of the education initiative is a call-to-action campaign, in which anyone can contribute to the statewide conversation on how to improve the state’s educational system.

“We need to have a grassroots movement from thousands of Tennesseans,” Frist says.

“They don’t need to say, ‘Yes, it’s important.’

They need to say, ‘Yes, it’s important, and I’m going to do something about it.’”

The easiest way to get involved is to visit www.tennesseescore.org, a user-friendly Web site designed for Tennesseans to share their thoughts on the state’s educational system.

The site’s Promising Practices page gives parents the opportunity to explain programs that are working – or not working – for their children. The site also displays the upcoming town hall meetings, and anyone can play a role in bringing one to their community.

“If there’s not going to be a town meeting in a particular area, I encourage people to contact us,” Frist says. He says to let them know you want to hold a town meeting at your school and will invite parents, students, teachers and the business community to ask them what they think is working and not working. SCORE representatives will attend the meeting, record what’s discussed and share what’s working with other communities.

“We want to build on the assets that we already have in the state,” Frist says.

“That’s why building this coalition and this partnership is so important.”

Get Involved Parent or grandparent, business leader or community member, Frist offers several ways for you to participate: • Spend an hour a night helping your child with their homework.

• Attend a town meeting to discuss what’s working or not working.

• Write a letter to a local newspaper or go on a local radio show to talk about the importance of education.

• Sign up at www. tennesseescore.org to join the statewide conversation.

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Food

Shared

Tastes

SAVOR THE SEASON’S OFFERINGS WITH A PICNIC ON THE PATIO

STORY BY CAROL COWAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY S. OTTO FOOD ST YLING BY KRISTEN WINSTON CATERING

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h, the fresh flavors of summer – chicken grilled to smoky perfection; cool chunks of sweet, juicy melon; colorful vegetables just plucked from the vine. Sure it’s hot outside, but that’s what makes for sun-ripened taste sensations.

So fire up the grill, unfurl the patio umbrella, call the neighbors and pass the sweet tea. We’ve cooked up a menu of summertime favorites just right for your backyard shindig.

Our Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe was made for grilling. Chicken breasts are immersed in olive oil and lime juice and spiced with garlic, red pepper and cilantro for some Southwestern flair. Marinating in a zipper-seal bag is an easy way to infuse flavor, as well as tenderize your poultry and keep it from drying out. Using a meat thermometer ensures that your moist, juicy chicken is fully cooked.

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The sweetness of the honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon and grapes in our fruit salad provides a perfect balance for the zesty chicken and tastes even more refreshing splashed with our honey-limemint dressing.

Vegetables proliferating in gardens across the state – such as jewel-green zucchini and yellow summer squash – turn into gourmet delicacies when tossed on the grill with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Add some asparagus spears and mushrooms and drizzle with our basil vinaigrette just before serving, and your vegetables will be dressed to impress.

Finally, our Mediterranean orzo salad also makes use of summer’s bounty, adding crisp red and yellow peppers, diced cucumber and tender spinach leaves to orzo pasta, olives and feta cheese, and tossing it all with a tangy lemon-oregano vinaigrette.

Enjoy!

TN FARM FRESH

Summer Bounty Using fresh ingredients will only make your menu taste better. If you don’t have a garden of your own, you can find a local farmer online at www.tnfarmfresh.com.

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Food

½ cup fresh lime juice

Fresh Fruit With HoneyLime-Mint Dressing

2

Cilantro Lime Chicken teaspoons kosher salt

1

cantaloupe, chopped

½ teaspoon fine pepper

1

honeydew, chopped

1

teaspoon crushed red pepper

½ seedless watermelon, chopped

2

teaspoons minced garlic

½ cup chopped cilantro

1½ cups red seedless grapes, washed and plucked from stem

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup fresh lime juice

6

¼ cup honey

6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Place chicken breasts in zipper-seal bag.

Mix marinade ingredients and pour over chicken.

Marinate at least two hours or overnight.

Remove from bag.

On gas grill over medium-high heat, grill chicken breasts with lid down for six minutes. Turn and grill with the lid up six to 10 more minutes or until chicken reaches 170 degrees Fahrenheit on a meat thermometer.

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¼ cup fresh spearmint, washed, dried and chopped Mix dressing ingredients, pour over fruit and toss gently right before serving.

Don’t feel limited to melons and grapes. This dressing gives a flavorful kick to many other types of fruit, including berries, peaches and kiwi.

tip

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Grilled Vegetables With Basil Vinaigrette

Mediterranean Orzo Salad 1

pound orzo pasta

8

zucchini and yellow squash (4 of each), cut crosswise into slices 1/2-inch thick

1

yellow bell pepper, diced

1

red bell pepper, diced

bell peppers, cut into slices

1

English cucumber, peeled and diced

3

12 ounces fresh mushrooms, washed and dried

½ cup kalamata olives

24 asparagus spears, trimmed

2

cups baby spinach leaves

4

ounces feta cheese, crumbled

Olive oil, salt and pepper

Basil Vinaigrette:

Lemon Vinaigrette:

¼ cup red wine vinegar

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

1

shallot, finely chopped

¼ cup olive oil

2

teaspoons Dijon mustard

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper ½ cup olive oil 2

tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Whisk vinegar, shallot, mustard, salt and pepper.

Add oil slowly, stirring constantly. Add basil.

Heat gas grill to medium high. Toss zucchini and squash with olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.

Grill with lid down for two minutes and open for one minute. Remove. Follow the same process for the peppers and mushrooms. Brush asparagus with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill with lid down two minutes and one minute with lid up. Remove. Arrange all vegetables on serving platter and drizzle with vinaigrette. tnhomeandfarm.com

½ teaspoon dried oregano To prepare vinaigrette, whisk lemon juice, salt and oregano. Add olive oil in a slow, steady stream while whisking constantly.

Cook orzo according to package directions.

When cooked, run under cool water until room temperature. Drain completely.

Toss orzo with vinaigrette and salt to taste.

Add remaining vegetables and adjust seasonings, if necessary.

Serve at room temperature topped with feta cheese.

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Country Classics

She’s Got Fish To Fry JANE JORDAN SERVES MOM’S CORNMEAL-COATED CATFISH horses, as well as Jane and Ed’s grandchildren.

“I’m very thankful my kids live close enough that we can see them,” she says. “We always try to celebrate a birthday, and of course at Christmas they always come to my house for Christmas Eve.” Naturally, food is involved, although Jane says she doesn’t cook daily like she used to. “I use mixes and things as I get older,” she says. “I still like to cook a good breakfast and a pot of white beans. The grandchildren like fried chicken.”

As for the catfish, she makes that “whenever I want to,” she says. “My husband likes whole catfish. Most of the time I get fillet and make it for supper or lunch.” She uses garlic powder in her recipe. “Some people like it that way, some do not,” she says. With it she serves french fries, a broccoli dish, fresh squash in the summertime, rice or a baked potato.

Jordan enjoys recipes she finds in Country Classics. “I use it a lot if I want to look up a good recipe about anything. You can usually find it in the book.” But then, like her mom and other good country cooks, “A lot of the recipes I have in my head.”

– Catherine Darnell

any good Tennessee cooks learned the hard way: from their mistakes.

Then there are other good Tennessee cooks who had the good fortune to learn the easy way: from their mothers’ mistakes.

Jane Jordan is one of those cooks.

“My mother was a music major in college, but she had four children and she was a wonderful cook,” says Jordan, who lives in Rutherford County. “In fact, she belonged to the home demonstration club which was very helpful for young women who married and lived on the farm.”

Jane’s recipe for Classic Fried Catfish, included in Country Classics II, published by the Tennessee Farm Bureau Women and now in its second printing, was handed down from her mother, the late Ruby Lynn Batey.

“It really is a good recipe for fried catfish,” Jordan says. “It is the way I have cooked it for years, and my mother cooked it the same way.”

Jordan and her husband, Ed, were dairy farmers from the mid-1950s until about five years ago, when they sold their farm and bought another where their two sons, Buddy and Will, live and raise Black Angus cattle and

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Want More?

Each issue of Tennessee Home & Farm highlights a selected recipe from Country Classics Volume II. Copies of the cookbook are available for $17 each, including shipping and handling, from county Farm Bureau offices, or by calling the Tennessee Farm Bureau home office at (931) 388-7872, ext. 2217.

Classic Fried Catfish 4

catfish fillets cooking oil

1½ cups yellow cornmeal 2

teaspoons salt

1

teaspoon pepper

Brian McCord

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

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Rinse fillets. Do not pat dry. Preheat cooking oil to 350 degrees in heavy skillet. Combine all dry ingredients in shallow dish. Place fillets into cornmeal mixture. Coat fillets evenly; shake off excess coating. Fry in hot oil, rounded side down, for 3 to 4 minutes. Turn fillets and cook 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towel. Serves 4. tnfarmbureau.org

Restaurant Review

Staff Photos

The Dish on Ja Ja’s Café

Berry Delicious ENJOY A TASTE OF WEST TENNESSEE AT JA JA’S CAFÉ or a taste of nostalgia mixed with some fresh sweet cream and local fruit, hop on over to Ja Ja’s Café.

It’s easy to guess that the eatery was once a general store. Built in 1946, it served the Green Frog community for decades. After it closed, the building was moved two miles to its present location at Green Frog Village, a historic attraction just outside of Bells, where it was reborn as Ja Ja’s in 2005.

When Timm Johnson bought the café in 2008, he kept the original antique fixtures that had moved with the building. “I wanted to preserve that bit of local history,” he says.

“There are a lot of older folks around here who remember Scammerhorn’s store.”

Johnson wants to emphasize local culture in his food as well, so he makes sure that Ja Ja’s ice cream offers a taste of West Tennessee.

It’s made with fresh cream produced by a

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neighboring Mennonite community and flavored with local fruit in season – peaches from nearby orchards, strawberries from the fields up the road, and blackberries from the patch right out back.

There are a few more exotic ice cream flavors to choose from as well – spicy chai tea, cotton candy, cookie monster (it’s blue and chock full of cookie crumbles), chocolate raspberry Zinfandel, banana pudding and birthday cake, made with yellow cake mix and colored candy bits. Double your sweet-eating pleasure with a scoop over a fried pie or a hunk of homemade peanut butter fudge.

Deli sandwiches, soups and chili round out the menu. Johnson cooks up the mild chili in five-gallon batches on a gas burner outside, and when it gets to bubbling, outdoor critters are lured to Ja Ja’s by the wonderful aroma wafting over the landscape.

Another specialty is Johnson’s signature “fricken” sandwich. “I just took two of my favorite tastes, fried pickles and grilled chicken, and put them together in a sandwich,” he says. The mix may sound a little strange, but the unique combination is actually quite popular among patrons.

Ja Ja’s coffee is a special blend, too, using beans from Gusta Java, a roaster in nearby Jackson. Gusta Java’s earnings support an orphanage in Nicaragua, so when you order a cup of Ja Ja’s java, you’re helping to make the world a better place.

To brighten your own day, head over to Ja Ja’s for a big scoop of creamy local goodness in a cone. The flavors will melt in your mouth and leave you smiling.

– Leslie LaChance

Throughout the year, our team travels the state in search of good food and friendly service. In each issue, we feature one of Tennessee’s best eateries, and in our opinion, the best dishes to try.

Ja Ja’s Café is located on U.S. Highway 412 between Bells and Alamo in Green Frog Village.

They are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The eatery also offers free wireless Internet access. For more information, visit www.greenfrogtn.com or call (731) 663-2800.

Visit the Food section of tnhomeandfarm.com for more Tennessee restaurants worth visiting.

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Veggie Tales

COLORFUL, STRAIGHT-FROMTHE-SOURCE PRODUCE ENRICHES A NUTRITIOUS DIET

SEE MORE ONLINE

For some garden-fresh salad and appetizer ideas, visit tnhomeandfarm.com and click on Recipes.

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Home&Farm |Summer 2009

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Gardening

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’ve been on my soapbox touting the great physical and psychological benefits of gardening. Now I offer even more good news about the benefits of gardening: Eating fresh garden produce is good for you!

MORE SERVINGS, MORE BENEFITS Eating fresh fruits and vegetables every day is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Research continues to show that many essential nutrients in fresh produce may protect you from cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, and they also give you more energy, help reduce weight gain and may even reduce the effects of aging.

Did you know the average American eats only one to two servings of vegetables per day, around five times below the recommended amount? To maintain proper health, men should eat up to nine servings per day, while women are encouraged to have at least seven daily servings. And it’s the veggie’s unique phytochemicals that promote our good health.

Staff Photo

MIGHTY PHYTOCHEMICALS Phytochemicals are powerful food factors that elicit profound effects on human health maintenance and disease prevention.

Usually related to plant pigments, they are the reason we promote eating your colors.

Yellow, orange, red, green and purple fruits and vegetables generally contain the most phytochemicals, with more than 900 found in plant foods, according to my colleague Dr. Dean Kopsell, an assistant professor of plant physiology at the University of Tennessee. His research focuses on producing vegetables loaded with beneficial phytochemicals and identifying the phytochemical content of vegetables based on their genetic make-up and how the crop is grown. Factors such as light, water and fertilizer can greatly impact how nutritious your fruits and veggies can be.

Kopsell’s preliminary findings indicate tnhomeandfarm.com

that using less water and fertilizer can make for more nutritious produce, but more in-depth study is needed. For those concerned about artificial inputs over the course of agricultural production, remember that when you’re growing your own food, you’re also controlling what pesticides or fertilizers are used.

KEEP THE CRUNCH Kopsell’s take-home message is that the best source for phytochemicals is fresh garden produce. Once you cook produce, you quickly lose the beneficial qualities.

If you want to cook your veggies, Kopsell recommends only lightly sautéing or steaming them – you want to keep them crispy and crunchy. Once veggies lose their crunch, they have also lost their nutritional value. For example, his research has shown that steaming broccoli for longer than three minutes reduces its nutritious value. Check out his Web site at http://plantsciences.utk. edu/kopsell.htm to learn more about his studies on nutrition.

While you may purchase many phytochemical compounds as over-thecounter supplements and herbal tablets, Kopsell says fresh fruits and veggies provide the greatest benefits, especially consumed in their natural state.

About the Author Dr. Susan Hamilton is an associate professor in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences and director of the UT Gardens. The gardens are a project of the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, with locations in Knoxville and Jackson: http://utgardens. tennessee.edu.

GROWING INSPIRES EATING Gardening not only provides you with fresh fruits and vegetables, it also encourages you to eat them. Once you are blessed with a bushel basket of tomatoes, you will have newfound interest in finding recipes for tomatoes.

What’s more, picking fresh produce from your garden is a great way to get children to eat fruits and vegetables. My son would not eat tomatoes until he was able to grab his own cherry tomato off the vine. He and his sister have loved to eat salads since they were very young because it was fun for them to pick their own lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers – and then eat them.

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Farmside Chat

Meet Brandon Whitt RUTHERFORD COUNTY FARMER DISCUSSES THE SWINE LIFE AND MORE randon Whitt considers his path to becoming a farmer an unusual one, but one that he appreciates each day.

Unlike many young farmers who follow their fathers’ footsteps, Whitt became a full-time farmer through marriage. He and his fatherin-law, John Batey, grow crops and run a farrow-to-finish hog farm near Murfreesboro.

Whitt and his wife, Katherine, feel fortunate to be raising their two daughters on the sixthgeneration family operation, which garnered national fame in 2006 when one of their piglets was photographed for a new edition of the children’s book Charlotte’s Web.

Q A

Did you expect to receive such feedback from the Wilbur experience?

The Charlotte’s Web experience was a wonderful opportunity to not only teach children, but to educate the entire community about what goes on at a hog farm. I love having people come out to the farm. Typically, they come initially to see Wilbur, but it also gives us a chance to talk about the farm.

Q A

What kind of questions are you asked by farm visitors?

A lot of people don’t understand why we raise hogs inside buildings rather than in pastures. Pigs can’t sweat, which means they can’t cool themselves off. Most children’s books illustrate pigs as always laying the mud.

There’s actually a purpose for that! When pigs are kept outdoors, they need the mud to keep them cool and prevent sunburn. And in the winter, the mud creates a blanket almost to keep them warm. That’s one of the reasons we raise them indoors. Indoor facilities offer cleaner, more controlled environments that are as disease-free as possible.

Q

Being so close to Murfreesboro, has urban sprawl affected your farm?

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Jeff Adkins

B

If it’s not a road that borders our property, it’s a subdivision. Urban sprawl is a double-edged sword. We get to have modern conveniences close to us, but when your farm has been in the family for generations, it’s tough to see it all change around you. Urban sprawl does increase land values, but unless you have plans to capitalize on that, it becomes more of a burden to bear. And it really limits you from expansion.

A

BY THE NUMBERS

57 average age of a U.S. farmer

29 Brandon Whitt’s age

140,000

What would you encourage any Tennesseans to do if they want to learn more about their food sources?

hogs raised on farms across the state

Get to know your local farmer. Sit down and talk. If you have a question about why your local farmers do certain things, stop by and ask. More often than not, you’ll leave with a better understanding of Tennessee farming and agriculture. And that’s a good thing.

Tennessee farm is home to the now-famous Wilbur

Q A

1

Learn more about animal care and wellbeing at www.conversationsoncare.com.

Read our expanded interview with Whitt at tnhomeandfarm.com.

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Exclusive Farm Bureau Member Savings Did you know that your membership with the Tennessee Farm Bureau offers you exclusive savings with each of the products and services listed here at no additional charge?

It is our goal to save our members more than the cost of their annual membership by taking advantage of just one of these special discounts. Farm Bureau values your membership and hopes these benefits will prove to be of value to you!

Looking for information on these benefits?

Toll-Free: (877) 363-9100 • Visit us online at www.tnfarmbureau.org/valueplus

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Choice Hotel Discounts

To make reservations, call (800) RENT-A-CAR (800-736-8222)

Call or go online: (800) 258-2847 www.choicehotels.com

or go online at www.enterprise.com.

Farm Bureau ID# 00800606

Corporate rate plan 56MFARM PIN # - TEN Prices will reflect your member-only discount. Posted Internet rates and 1-800 rates may differ. 5% discount at airport locations.

Advance reservations required. Blackout dates and other restrictions apply.

10% Discount For the latest Value Plus information and more discounts for Tennessee Farm Bureau members, call the hotline at (877) 363-9100. Visit our Web site at www.tnfarmbureau.org/valueplus.

20% Discount

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American Cellular Free phone & accessories headset, car charger, carrying case or 20% off cell phones, smart phones & air cards

• Available only by calling toll-free (877) 832-6701 • Smoke detector and burglary protection included. $2 off ADT’s standard monthly monitoring rate

• Call (888) 653-8323 or visit your local American Cellular location

• 15% discount on camera systems • Ask about our new Dish Network Offer

*36-month monitoring agreement required at $31.99 per month ($1,151.64). $99 customer installation charge. Form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account. Offer applies to homeowners only. Local permit fees may apply. Certain restrictions may apply. Offer valid for new customers only. Other rate plans available. Cannot be combined with any other offer. PowerLink, LLC TN. Cert. #C-0332.

FREE Security System

• Phones shipped directly to your door

Offer applies to new activation. 10% cell phones, smart phones and air cards with recommitment to existing contract. www.americancelluar.net (user name and password: tfbf). Available only by calling or visiting American Cellular location.

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7% discount on Home & Home Office products - including Electronics and Accessories

• 25% off frames and lenses • Call (800) 340-0129 or visit Eyecare Centers of America on the Web @ www.ecca.com.

www.dell.com/TFBF, select the Shop Full Catalog

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Discounts cannot be combined with insurance benefits, coupons, promotional offers or any other offer.

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Member ID: PS92261593

UP TO 60% SAVINGS!

Present Farm Bureau membership card to participating pharmacy to receive discount.

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Visit the Agelity section of www.tnfarmbureau.org/valueplus to locate pharmacies, print card and obtain drug pricing.

• Save 10% through Lands’ End Business Outfitters • (800) 916-2255 • ces.landsend.com/TNFB

FB MEMBER ANY COUNTY MEMBER NO. 99-12345

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When you buy from local farmers you ... s 3UPPORT LOCAL ECONOMY s %NJOY A FRESH PRODUCT s +EEP LOCAL AGRICULTURE VIABLE

VISIT www.tnfarmfresh.com for a listing of local farmers near you!

Or call (931) 388-7872 ext. 2763 34

Home&Farm |Summer 2009

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To Good Health

They’re All Grown Up FAMILY PLANS ALLOW EASY TRANSITION FROM PARENTS’ HOME TO COLLEGE, CAREER ith some friendly advice and counseling from her pastor, my sister-in-law identified the problem and enlisted her husband’s help to work through it. After all, he was at least equally responsible.

And so, a year later, she summed it up to us this way: “I had no identity. I would come home after work and expect to go somewhere, and there would be nowhere to go. I was Kyle’s mother, and he was gone. And before that, I was Matthew’s mother, and he was gone.”

We soccer moms and dads listened to my sister-in-law as she warned us that our days are coming. Those little dependents we transport and chase from one place to the next will someday be gone. While they’re spreading their wings at college or in the workplace, we’ll be left to decide what to do when no children are around to make that decision for us.

She’s right. The family unit is dynamic; it changes, and probably none of those changes is bigger than when a youngster leaves home.

Aside from the emotional baggage to unpack and sort through, there is stuff that just has to be done.

One aspect that matters significantly is how that independency affects health-care coverage for an individual. Of the 180,000+ lives we cover at TRH Health Plans, thousands are children and young adults covered on a family plan. Generally, dependents are eligible as long as they are under age 24, are a fulltime student and don’t earn more than 51 percent of their financial support. So when something changes – if Matthew gets a fulltime job or turns 24 – his parents’ health-care

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coverage requires them to notify us. (Similar notification is also required when other “family status” changes occur. Notification is important so that claims are not denied when it has been determined someone no longer meets the dependent eligibility guidelines.)

But here’s the good news about this transition period: When Matthew leaves home for good or turns 24, with TRH Health Plans he has a soft place to land. An individual on a TRH family plan who becomes an ineligible dependent has 60 days to apply for his or her own individual coverage, without underwriting and without being subject to waiting periods.

That means Matthew is guaranteed coverage with TRH, regardless of any health condition or any previous claims.

The same goes for children’s plans. Once a child covered by a children’s policy turns 18 and becomes ineligible for that coverage, he or she can transfer to an individual coverage without underwriting. This portability is one of the strongest features TRH Health Plans offers, and it’s why many families should take a look at our children’s plans, even if they have a family plan through an employer. Many employers offer no family plans, or only offer them at very high rates. A TRH children’s plan could save that family considerable money.

We can’t keep your children young forever, but we can cover them forever, if you let us.

About the Author Anthony Kimbrough is vice president of marketing and government relations for TRH Health Plans. His e-mail is akimbrough@trh.com.

For more information about TRH Health Plans, call (877) 874-8323 or visit www.trh.com.

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Travel

Maury County Courthouse

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Home&Farm |Summer 2009

tnfarmbureau.org

The

of Magic Maury County VISIT THIS MIDDLE TENNESSEE SPOT FOR ANTEBELLUM HOMES, MULE DAY AND UNIQUE DINING

STORY BY REBECCA DENTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

V

acationers who find their way to Maury County are sure to linger awhile – and come back often.

This Middle Tennessee county, about an hour’s drive south of Nashville, offers the best of country living, with stately historic homes, century-old magnolia trees, rolling farmland, one-of-a-kind restaurants, boutique shops and plenty of outdoor fun.

Columbia, the county seat and largest city, is famous for its annual Mule Day celebration and features a charming and vibrant downtown where visitors can shop, dine – and even take a scenic stroll along a paved trail by the Duck River.

1/ TIES TO HISTORY Often called the Antebellum Homes Capital of Tennessee, Maury County is home to more than 300 houses and historic sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the most famous is the former residence of James K. Polk, the 11th president of the United States, in Columbia. Built in 1816

by Polk’s father, the James K. Polk Ancestral Home is furnished with personal and tnhomeandfarm.com

household items used by the former president.

Also in Columbia is the Athenaeum Rectory‚ which was built in 1835 in Moorish-Gothic architectural style. The rectory is all that stands today of the girls-only school, which taught young women everything that welleducated young men would have learned at that time. The site hosts an annual week where young girls dress in 1861 period costumes and take classes that would have been offered when the Athenaeum was in full operation.

Spring Hill boasts several antebellum homes‚ including Rippavilla Plantation‚ an 1852 Greek Revival antebellum home where five Confederate generals ate breakfast just before they were killed in the Battle of Franklin.

Rippavilla also offers a popular corn maze that attracts about 20,000 people each fall.

Behind Rippavilla Plantation sits the Tennessee Museum of Early Farm Life, where visitors can see horse- and mule-drawn equipment dating back to the early 1800s.

The museum, located inside two salvaged barns, is open Fridays and Saturdays from April through October.

Other history-related attractions include

SEE TENNESSEE One lucky family will win a trip to historic Maury County! Learn about the details in the entry form and official rules on page 39. You may also register online at tnhomeandfarm.com.

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Antony Boshier

Travel

Mt. Pleasant Grille serves up Southern classics. Right: Mule Day has been an April tradition in Columbia for more than 150 years.

the Mount Pleasant/Maury Museum of Local History, Zion Church and Cemetery and Maury County Archives.

2 / FUN FOR THE FAMILY A springtime tradition in Columbia since the mid-1800s, Mule Day is the city’s best-known attraction. As many as 300‚000 people stream into the city each season for a four-day weekend that includes working-mule shows‚ arts and crafts‚ a liars’ contest‚ a beauty pageant‚ a pancake breakfast and square dancing. The highlight is a Mule Day Parade on Saturday morning.

Events abound year-round, with the Columbia Spring Jubilee Walking Horse Show held in late May or early June, while fall offers the Spring Hill Country Ham Festival and the Southern Fried Festival, a weekend filled with live music and Southern cooking.

Most children love trains, and plenty of adults do, too. In Columbia, folks of all ages can ride miniature versions of the venerable engines at Maury County Park. The Mid-South Live Steamers group brings its scaled-down trains to the park for free public rides on the park’s track each fall and spring.

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The Duck River, which flows through Maury County, offers plenty of opportunities for canoeing and fishing. This waterway is deep and quick-flowing enough for experienced paddlers, but it’s easily managed by beginners.

For anglers, the Williamsport Lakes Management Area features four fishing lakes with boat rental available.

Maury County is also home to some of the most scenic and enjoyable hiking and cycling areas around. Cyclists can choose from scenic back roads, the Natchez Trace Parkway (which runs 400-plus miles through Maury County to Natchez, Miss.), or a challenging mountainbike trail at Chickasaw Park.

3 / GOOD EATS Visitors won’t leave hungry. Dining options in Maury County range from meat-and-threes to upscale cuisine.

Square Market & Café in downtown Columbia is a bustling place with a menu of gourmet favorites including fresh panini club sandwiches, homemade tomatoartichoke soup, roasted pear salad, baked salmon salad, and its signature dish, the Tennessee Hot

Brown. The restaurant also features regular live entertainment.

Down the street on the square in Columbia is Killion’s Coffee & Creamery, which offers specialty coffees, muffins and other treats in a cozy corner spot.

Nett’s Country Store & Deli in Santa Fe, just north of Columbia, is the kind of homey place where you’ll find a mix of people dressed in their Sunday best or hunting gear. This popular meat-and-three offers fried chicken and catfish, frog legs, homecooked green beans, slaw, grilled chicken-topped salad and other Southern staples. There’s also a regular karaoke night.

Steaks are the specialty at the Ole Lamplighter Inn in Columbia, where diners can get steaks cut right at their table.

Mt. Pleasant Grill in Mount Pleasant offers a range of fresh fare, from jambalaya and ribeyes to burgers and fried-green-tomato sandwiches.

Visitors can also enjoy a seasonal snack at the farmers’ markets in Columbia and Spring Hill.

To learn about even more attractions in Maury County, visit www.antebellum.com. tnfarmbureau.org

Quantity: ______ @ $9.95 ____________

Tennessee Home & Farm presents:

Sales tax Quantity: _____ x $0.92 sales tax ______ (TN residents add 9.25% sales tax) Postage: first book @ $3.99 ___________ additional books ____ @ .99 ___________ Total amount: ________________________ Make check payable to Journal Communications 1 book = $14.86

4 books = $50.44

2 books = $26.72

5 books = $62.30

3 books = $38.58

Includes shipping & sales tax

Send to: Name: _______________________________ Address: _____________________________

As author Pettus Read puts it, “country has been around for a long time.” In this book of his favorite Read All About It columns from the past 30-plus years, Read discusses pulley bones, the disappearance of stick horses, Christmases at Mop-Ma’s and the ever popular Uncle Sid and Aunt Sadie. Full of Read’s wisdom and wit, this Rural Psychology Primer will likely stir up your own feelings of nostalgia for the country way of life.

City: _________________________________ State: ________________ Zip: __________ Daytime phone #: _____________________ By mail: Journal Communications Inc. c/o Retail Fulfillment Center 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400 Franklin, TN 37067

Portion of proceeds to benefit Tennessee 4-H and FFA programs.

SEE TENNESSEE Entry Form: Name: Address: City: Daytime phone number: (

State: )

ZIP:

Win a Getaway to Maury County!

The Tennessee Farm Bureau and Tennessee Home & Farm want to send one lucky family to Maury County. The prize package includes two nights at the Jameson Inn in Columbia, free admission for four to the James K. Polk Ancestral Home in Columbia, Rippavilla Plantation in Spring Hill and the Southern Fried Festival in Columbia on September 25-26, 2009, plus lunch for four at the Mt. Pleasant Grille in Mount Pleasant.

Enter online at tnhomeandfarm.com or complete the official entry form and mail. Must be received by Aug. 7, 2009. One entry per household – open to Tennessee Farm Bureau members only.

E-mail address: County of Farm Bureau membership:

Mail to: See Tennessee Giveaway c/o Tennessee Home & Farm 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400 Franklin, TN 37067

tnhomeandfarm.com

Official Rules: No purchase necessary. Contest is open to all members of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation age 18 or older. Entrants must use the official entry form printed in the magazine or submitted online at tnhomeandfarm.com. The winner will be selected by random drawing at Journal Communications, and all decisions are final. Winners are responsible for their own transportation to/from Maury County.

Sponsors are not liable for any incidents (including injury/death or lost, stolen or damaged property) that may occur at any time during the trip.

Employees and immediate family members of Journal Communications Inc., Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, the sponsors, or their subsidiaries, affiliates or agencies are not eligible to enter.

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Events & Festivals

Ride the Ferris wheel, enjoy a funnel cake and stroll the midway at the many county fairs held throughout the state this summer.

Tennessee Events & Festivals This listing includes events of statewide interest scheduled in June, July and August as provided by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

Dates were accurate at press time but are subject to change; please call the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend.

To include your local events in our listing, please call the Tennessee Department of Tourism at (615) 741-7994. Events are included as space permits. Additional information on Tennessee events is also available online through the department’s Web site, www.tnvacation.com.

JUNE

enthusiasts of all ages. CONTACT: (865) 458-7525, www.loudonparks.com

JUNE 2-6

COKE OVENS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

GERMANTOWN CHARITY HORSE SHOW Germantown Horse Show Arena, Germantown Eight hundred horses, including show jumpers, hunters, gated, walking horses and Hackney ponies. CONTACT: (901) 754-0009, www.gchs.org JUNE 4-7

SMOKY VALLEY MOTORCYCLE RALLY Loudon Municipal Park, Loudon All makes and styles for motorcycle

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JUNE 5-6

JUNE 5-6

SMOKY MOUNTAIN POTTERY FESTIVAL Townsend A juried pottery festival with over 30 booths, demonstrations, Cherokee potters, Raku firing, children’s tent, music, food and more.

CONTACT: (800) 525-6834, www.smokymountains.org JUNE 5-7

ROCKY TOP BONSPIEL Ice Chalet Arena, Knoxville This Olympic sport is a curling tournament featuring 24 teams from the U.S. and Canada. CONTACT: (865) 966-5996, www.curlknoxville.com JUNE 6

DOYLE OLD TIMERS DAY CELEBRATION

Coke Ovens Park & Museum, Dunlap Features regional bluegrass bands at a beautiful historical park. CONTACT: (423) 949-3483, www.cokeovens.com

Doyle Parade, auction, tall tales, husband calling, hog calling, horseshoe competition, quilting and butter churning demonstrations, music and much more. CONTACT: Tina Fults, (931) 657-2459, www.sparta-chamber.net

JUNE 5-6

JUNE 6-7

BLUE PLUM ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL

SYCAMORE SHOALS NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL

Johnson City Outdoor music and art festival in downtown Johnson City. Includes children’s entertainment, music and more. CONTACT: (423) 928-3479, www.blueplum.org

Elizabethton Come and discover the arts, music, dance, crafts, legends and stories of Native Americans. CONTACT: (423) 543-5808, www.sycamoreshoals.org tnfarmbureau.org

JUNE 6-7

JUNE 17-20

JUNE 20

CRAFT FAIR ON THE PLATEAU

SUMMERFEST

Crossville The 7th annual event has over 750 vendors and crafters. CONTACT: (931) 707-7291

Riverbluff Park, Ashland City Features live concerts each evening, food, arts and crafts, games and midway rides.

CONTACT: (615) 792-2655, www.cheathamchamber.org

BELL BUCKLE RC & MOON PIE FESTIVAL

JUNE 6-7

LENOIR CITY ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL Lenoir City More than 200 craftspeople and artisans, food and a beautiful setting along Fort Loudoun Lake. CONTACT: (888) 568-3662 JUNE 8-13

CLAY COUNTY FAIR Clay County Fairgrounds, Celina County fair with entertainment, rides, games, food and more. CONTACT: Don Sherrell, (931) 243-2256 JUNE 11-13

DUMPLIN VALLEY JUNE FEST Dumplin Valley Farm, Sevierville Three days of bluegrass from rising stars and legends. CONTACT: Mitzi Soward, (865) 397-7942, www.dumplinvalleybluegrass.com JUNE 12-13

HOG-EYE COOK-OFF & FESTIVAL Livingston Courthouse Square Features ice cream contest, antique car cruise-in, music festival, beauty pageant, crafts and more. CONTACT: (931) 823-2218 JUNE 12-13

40th ANNUAL DIANA SINGING Diana Over 5,000 visitors attend to listen to beautiful a cappella singing. CONTACT: ((931) 363-3204, www.dianasinging.com JUNE 12-14

PARKER’S GREATEST KNIFE SHOW Sevierville Events Center, Sevierville Antique pocket knife show. CONTACT: (423) 892-0448, www.bulldogknives.org JUNE 13

6th ANNUAL TOUR DE WAYNE

JUNE 19

TENNESSEE HERITAGE BBQ FESTIVAL Sam Davis Home & Museum, Smyrna Professional and amateur barbecue cooks vie for cash prizes. Includes entertainment, crafts, food, living history demonstrations and more. CONTACT: (615) 459-2341, www. tennesseeheritagebarbecuefestival.com JUNE 19-20

SECRET CITY FESTIVAL

JUNE 20

ROSE MONT RENAISSANCE Historic Rose Mont Mansion, Gallatin Built in the 1830s, Rose Mont is recognized as one of Tennessee’s outstanding Greek Revival houses. Features food, auction and mansion tours. CONTACT: (615) 451-2331, www.sumnercvb.com

A.K. Bissell Park, Oak Ridge Join us for this citywide celebration featuring the largest multi-battle WWII re-enactment in the South! Features tours of Manhattan Project sites, children’s area, Euro Bungy, rock climbing, antique dealers and more. CONTACT: Jane Gibson, (865) 425-3610, www.secretcityfestival.com

JUNE 20

JUNE 19-20

DOWNTOWN CROSSVILLE DEPOT DAYS

MOUNTAIN MEMORIES QUILT SHOW Cumberland County Community Complex, Crossville Showcases over 200 quilts in categories of bed quilts, wall hangings, wearables and accessories. Features vendors, door prizes and demonstrations by quilters. CONTACT: (931) 484-8444, www.ccpiecemakers.com JUNE 20

11th ANNUAL LAVENDER FESTIVAL Historic Jackson Square, Oak Ridge Herb fair featuring the farmers market, music throughout the day, food, vendors, cooking demonstrations, handmade soap, jewelry, pottery and more. CONTACT: Barbara Ferrell, (865) 483-0961

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION Veteran’s Square, Dyersburg Food, fun, fellowship and live entertainment around the Courthouse Square. CONTACT: Michael Parr, (731) 286-0894 JUNE 20-21

Crossville Features live music, crafts, food, games and more. CONTACT: (931) 787-1324, www.golfcapitaltenn.com

JUNE 20-21

63rd ANNUAL RHODODENDRON FESTIVAL Roan Mountain Celebrating blooming of rhododendron gardens, crafters, folkways, musicians and food.

CONTACT: (800) 250-8620, www.roanmountain.com

JUNE 20

JUNETEENTH 2009

Wayne County One-hundred mile bike tour through scenic Wayne County. CONTACT: (931) 724-4337, www.waynecountychamber.org

McLemore House Museum, Franklin Music by various churches and groups.

Features games, pie strut, cake walk, children’s games and more. CONTACT: (615) 794-2270, www.historicfranklin.com

JUNE 13

JUNE 20

LOUIE BLUIE MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

LIONS CLUB WALKING HORSE SHOW

Cove Lake State Park, Caryville Features Appalachian string band music, storytelling, food and more. CONTACT: (423) 566-3641, www.louiebluie.org

Clay County Fairgrounds, Celina Features 23 classes of walking horse competition. CONTACT: Don Sherrell, (931) 243-2256

tnhomeandfarm.com

Bell Buckle Celebrate the South’s finest tradition.

Country and bluegrass, clogging, games, crafts and the ever popular “Synchronized Wading Extravaganza.” Cutting of the world’s largest Moon Pie rounds out the day.

CONTACT: (931) 389-9663, www.bellbucklechamber.com

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Events & Festivals

JUNE 25-27

JULY 3-4

PARKFEST CARNIVAL

38th ANNUAL SMITHVILLE’S FIDDLERS’ JAMBOREE & CRAFTS FESTIVAL

South Fentress Community Park, Clarkrange Featuring local musicians, games, fireworks, vendors and all the makings for the ultimate down-home carnival experience. CONTACT: (931) 879-9948 JUNE 25-27

LYNCHBURG-MOORE COUNTY FRONTIER DAYS Town Square & Wiseman Park, Lynchburg Three nights and two days of family fun!

Parade, rodeo, rides, games, street dance, fireworks, contests and more. CONTACT: (931) 759-4111, www.lynchburgtn.com JUNE 26

SPARTA FILM FESTIVAL “UNDER THE STARS” Sparta Amphitheater, Sparta Bring seat cushions; concessions available.

CONTACT: (931) 836-2326, www.sparta-chamber.net JUNE 27

ENGLEWOOD’S JUNE DAYS Englewood Town Square Pancake breakfast, antique tractor show, live music, entertainment, food and more.

CONTACT: Cecil Reed, (423) 887-7718

Smithville State and national championships in 24 categories plus seven categories for country music beginners; more than 240 juried craft exhibitors. CONTACT: (615) 597-8500, www.smithvillfiddlersjamboree.com JULY 3-5

REELFOOT LAKE TRASH ‘N’ TREASURES YARD SALE National Guard Armory, Tiptonville Features yard sales around Reelfoot Lake.

CONTACT: Reelfoot Lake Tourism Council, (888) 313-8366, www.reelfoottourism.com JULY 4

ANVIL SHOOT AND CELEBRATION Museum of Appalachia, Norris Old-fashioned celebration with musicians, craftspeople and demonstrations of old-time activities. CONTACT: (865) 494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org JULY 9

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE

SUMMER CELEBRATION LAWN & GARDEN SHOW West Tennessee Research & Education Center, Jackson A gardener’s paradise in West Tennessee.

Features seminars, garden tours, plant sales and dozens of unique exhibits. CONTACT: Ginger Trice, (731) 425-4768 JULY 10

OAK GROVE FISH FRY Oak Grove Methodist Church, Hohenwald Fish fry. CONTACT: (931) 796-5518, www.hohenwaldlewischamber.com JULY 10-11

26th ANNUAL LAUDERDALE COUNTY TOMATO FESTIVAL Ripley City Park, Ripley This festival pays honor to the area tomato growers with carnival rides, petting zoo, baby crawling contest, food, crafts, tomato contest and more. CONTACT: (731) 635-9541 JULY 10-11

MAURY COUNTY SHERIFF’S RODEO Maury County Park, Columbia From calf-roping and bull-riding to the onearmed bandit and Rodeo Queen, this rodeo is great family fun. CONTACT: (931) 375-8603, www.maurysheriffsrodeo.com

JUNE 27

A STAR-SPANGLED EXTRAVAGANZA Historic Crockett Theatre, Lawrenceburg The Nashville Pipe & Drums will present a traditional bagpipe and patriotic concert.

CONTACT: Anne Morrow, (931) 762-7617, www.cityoflawrenceburgtn.com JUNE 27-28

CIVIL WAR LIVING HISTORY DAYS AT RAMSEY HOUSE Knoxville Civil War encampment with drills, demonstrations, a skirmish each day, period cooking, music and more. CONTACT: (865) 546-0745, www.ramseyhouse.org

JULY

JULY 10-12

32nd ANNUAL UNCLE DAVE MACON DAYS FESTIVAL Cannonsburgh Village, Murfreesboro National championships in Old-Time Banjo, OldTime Buck Dancing and Old-Time Clogging, as well as juried arts and crafts, specialty foods and impromptu jam sessions. CONTACT: Gloria Christy, (615) 893-2369, www.uncledave macondays.com

JULY 2-4

LIBERTYFEST Lawrenceburg Each year the community salutes a different state from the Southeast. In 2009 we salute Georgia, celebrating 70 years of “Gone with the Wind.” Special guests, food, fireworks and fun. CONTACT: Anne Morrow, (931) 762-7617, www.cityoflawrenceburgtn.com

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Events & Festivals

JULY 10-18

KINGSPORT FUN FEST

JULY 16-18

Kingsport Enjoy sports, concerts, plays, children’s activities and more, leading to the grand finale with hot air balloons and fireworks.

CONTACT: (423) 392-8800, www.funfest.net

QUILTFEST

JULY 11

SUNSET SYMPHONY Historic Elm Springs Lawn, Columbia Enjoy an evening of music under the stars.

A lovely dinner is available by reservation.

CONTACT: Steve Fuston, (931) 490-4651, www.sunsetsymphony.com

Johnson City & Jonesborough The largest quilting event in the region, with exhibits, classes and lectures. CONTACT: (423) 753-6644, www. tennesseequilts.com

JULY 11

GRAVEYARD TALES Rocky Mount Museum, Pine Flats Performing members of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild share stories that will make you shiver. Not recommended for children under six. CONTACT: (423) 791-3981, www.storytellersguild.org JULY 11

INDEPENDENCE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

JULY 17-18

JULY 18-19

40th ANNUAL TENNESSEEKENTUCKY THRESHERMAN’S THRESHING SHOW

WHITE OAK MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

Independence Community Center, Allons Bluegrass and music festival. CONTACT: (931) 823-4476, www.overtonco.com

Bell School Grounds, Adams Features steam engines, antique tractors, wheat threshing, sawmilling, live music, food and petting zoo. CONTACT: (931) 237-1680, www.adamstennessee.com

JULY 12

JULY 17-18

HALF MOON MUSIC FESTIVAL

BLUE SUEDE SHOES ‘N’ BARBECUE COOKOFF

Ten Mile Come by water or land and enjoy live entertainment on Watts Bar Lake.

CONTACT: Dr. Wayne Tipps, (865) 717-0584, www.halfmoonfest.com JULY 16-18

SCOPES TRIAL & FESTIVAL Dayton Dramatic reenactment of the 1925 Scopes Evolution Trial held in the original courthouse.

Crafts, food, car show, children’s area, music and more. CONTACT: (423) 775-0361, www.rheacountyetc.com

Tiptonville Barbecue cook-off and entertainment for all ages. CONTACT: Kay Forrest, (731) 253-0031, www.tiptonville.org JULY 17-26

GATLINBURG CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR Gatlinburg Over 200 of the finest artisans. Bluegrass and country music shows daily. CONTACT: (865) 436-7479, www.craftsmenfair.com

RIVERFRONT RANCH

Tri-State Exhibition Center, Cleveland Local, regional and national bluegrass bands, children’s area and more. CONTACT: (423) 476-9310, www.whiteoakbluegrass.com JULY 20-25

DEKALB COUNTY FAIR DeKalb County Fairgrounds, Alexandria The “Grandpa Fair of the South” with rides, pageants, food and more. CONTACT: (615) 597-4163, www.dekalbtn.com JULY 20-25

72nd ANNUAL OVERTON COUNTY FAIR Overton County Fairgrounds, Livingston Features rides, beauty contests, carnival, contests and more. CONTACT: Tina Williams, (931) 823-6959 ext. 241, www.overtonco.com JULY 24-26

GRAINGER COUNTY TOMATO FESTIVAL

• Almost One Mile of All-Accessible Riverfront • Private 61 Acres

Rutledge Events include Civil War encampment, Arts & Cultural Exposition, tomato wars, 5K fun run, artisans, entertainment on three stages and more. CONTACT: (423) 231-5954, www.graingercountytomatofestival.com

• Rolling Hills

JULY 25

• Calfkiller River in White Co. Just off the Caney Fork River

ANNUAL STREET DANCE

$995,000 (931) 260-6068 or (931) 526-3759 orthopod@frontiernet.net

Downtown Newbern Food, music and dancing. CONTACT: Doug Tyler, (731) 589-2404 JULY 25

SWISS HERITAGE FESTIVAL Stampfli Farm, Gruetli-Laager

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Home&Farm |Summer 2009

tnfarmbureau.org

Visit Our Advertisers Aquacide Company www.killlakeweeds.com Chalet Village Properties www.chaletvillage.com Farm Credit Services www.e-farmcredit.com GM Chevy Dealers Gold Medal – Nashville/Knoxville Jack’s Roost Ranch John Deere – Atlanta Branch Land Between the Lakes www.lbl.org Littleton Coin www.littletoncoin.com Maury County CVB www.antebellum.com Oak Ridge CVB www.oakridgevisitor.com Tennessee 811 www.tnonecall.com Tennessee Farm Bureau www.tnfarmbureau.org Tennessee Farm Fresh www.tnfarmfresh.com Tennessee Rural Health Plans www.trh.com Tennessee State Fair www.tennesseestatefair.org The Gorilla Glue Company www.gorillatough.com Your Man Tours

tnhomeandfarm.com

Home&Farm

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Events & Festivals

Music, home-cooked food, hayrides and more at a 33-acre 1870s farm on the plateau.

CONTACT: 703-622-7895, www.swisshistoricalsociety.org

Staff Photo

Phil de Nobriga

JULY 25

FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL Warriors’ Path State Park, Kingsport Enjoy a day full of old-time music, games, tales, demonstrations and contests.

CONTACT: (423) 239-6786 JULY 25-26

It’s Time to Enter the 14th Annual Tennessee Farm Bureau Photo Contest Pull out your camera and start snapping! Submit your best photos in our annual contest, and you could be named the grand-prize winner.

To enter, fill out the form below and mail your prints to us. Or, visit tnhomeandfarm.com to upload your digital photos and enter online.

Winners will be announced in the winter issue of Tennessee Home & Farm. First-place winners in each of three categories will be awarded $100 cash prizes; the grand-prize winner receives $200. Entries must be postmarked (or submitted online) by Aug. 1.

Name ___________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________ City __________________________ State _______ ZIP ________ Phone ___________________________________________________ County of FB Membership _________________________________ Category: ❒ Tennessee Churches

❒ Things on a Fencepost

❒ Just Kids

Mail entry to:

Tennessee Farm Bureau Photo Contest P.O. Box 313, Columbia, TN 38402-0313 OFFICIAL RULES: Only original photos or high-quality reprints will be accepted via mailed entries. Color or black-and-white photos are acceptable in any size. Attach this entry form to the back of the photo (copies may be made of entry form if more than one is needed). No CD-ROMS (or other digital media storage) will be accepted via the mailed entry option.

To submit a digital photo, visit tnhomeandfarm.com and click on the photo contest entry form.

Digital files must be high quality – minimum of 5x7 size at 300 dpi resolution. An online tutorial for testing file size can be found at tnhomeandfarm.com. To avoid legal entanglements, make certain permission has been given for use of photos.

We offer three categories: Tennessee Churches, Things on a Fencepost and Just Kids. Only one entry per person per category. Only Tennessee Farm Bureau members and their immediate family (parents, children, siblings) are eligible to enter. Employees of Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Farmers Insurance Cos., county Farm Bureaus or their families are not eligible to win.

This is an amateur photo contest. Professional photographers are not eligible. Entries must be postmarked by Aug. 1, 2009. Photos will not be returned and will become property of Tennessee Farm Bureau. Images may be used in TFBF publications with photo credit given. For additional information, call Tennessee Farm Bureau, (931) 388-7872, Misty McNeese, ext. 2211. For questions about the online entry form, call Jessy Yancey at (800) 333-8842, ext. 217.

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Home&Farm |Summer 2009

MONTEAGLE MOUNTAIN MARKET ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW Monteagle Features 120 arts and crafts vendors.

Ironwork and pottery, handmade clothes and hand-blown glass will be displayed.

Live entertainment, train rides, children’s activities and more. CONTACT: (931) 924-5353, www.monteaglechamber.com

AUGUST AUG. 1-2

CHEROKEE DAYS OF RECOGNITION Red Clay State Historic Park, Cleveland Features Cherokee dancers, storytelling, living history demonstrations and more.

The annual Red Clay Open Blowgun Tournament is scheduled for Sunday.

CONTACT: (423) 478-0339 AUG. 3-8

SUMNER COUNTY FAIR Sumner County Fairgrounds, Gallatin Old-fashioned county fair with blue ribbon contests for homemade goodies, crafts, livestock and carnival rides.

CONTACT: Foster Brooks, (615) 417-5146, www.sumnercountytnfair.com AUG. 6-8

ROCKABILLY FESTIVAL Jackson The world’s largest gathering of Rockabilly artists and musicians, featuring Rockabilly pioneers well as new artists. CONTACT: (731) 427-6262, www.rockabillyhall.org AUG. 7-15

WILLIAMSON COUNTY FAIR PRESENTED BY TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY Ag Expo Park, Franklin Fun-filled family event offering rides, competitive events, entertainment and much more. CONTACT: (615) 794-4386, www.williamsoncountyfair.org tnfarmbureau.org

AUG. 8

JAMESTOWN JAMBOREE Mark Twain Park, Jamestown Celebrates local musical heritage and talents. CONTACT: (931) 879-9948 AUG. 10-16

FENTRESS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR Fentress County Fairgrounds, Jamestown County Fair with rides, food and more.

CONTACT: (931) 879-9948 AUG. 11-23

CUMBERLAND COUNTY FAIR Cumberland County Fairgrounds, Crossville Award-winning fair and midway with pageants, contests, live music, food and livestock/best in show judging contests.

CONTACT: (931) 484-9454, www.golfcapitaltenn.com AUG. 13-15

TROUSDALE COUNTY YOUTH & COMMUNITY FAIR Hartsville Features exhibits, concert, auto show, health fair, poultry show and sale and more!

CONTACT: Judy Woodard, (615) 374-2295 AUG. 15

YORKVILLE’S INTERNATIONAL WASHER PITCHIN’ CONTEST Yorkville Games, music, food, washer pitchin’ contest and family fun. CONTACT: Jim Payne, (731) 643-6220 AUG. 21-29

WILSON COUNTY FAIR James E. Ward Agricultural Center, Lebanon County fair with nine days of family entertainment on four stages. CONTACT: (615) 443-2626, www.wilsoncountyfair.net AUG. 22-23

BEERSHEBA SPRINGS ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR Beersheba Springs Features over 150 artisans and food vendors. CONTACT: (931) 692-3733, www.grundycountytn.net AUG. 26-SEPT. 5

71st ANNUAL TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE NATIONAL CELEBRATION Historic Celebration Grounds, Shelbyville The world championship show of Tennessee’s native breed of show horse.

CONTACT: (931) 684-5915, www.twhnc.com tnhomeandfarm.com

Home&Farm

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View From the Back Porch

The Egg and I WRITER’S ROOTS TAKE HER DEEP INTO FOWL TERRITORY About The Author Catherine Darnell is a former Tennessean columnist who moved to the country to raise tomatoes, chickens, three cats and a dog named Cooter Brown, who spends most of his time harassing the chickens by trying to dig his way under their fence. It’s a wonder they lay any eggs at all.

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Home&Farm |Summer 2009

hen I was a little kid, my parents would ship me off to my grandparents’ house for a week in Hickman County. As far as I know, I was the only one of their 40-something grandchildren that paid such a visit. Why, I do not know.

I guess I was just that adorable.

Grandma was a hard worker with little to say.

But I do remember clearly what she said one day while we were putting away the eggs we’d just gathered from her henhouse. She held up what she called a “banty” egg – smaller than the eggs I was used to – and said, “This one is just your size.” She gave me a rare smile that I treasured.

Finally, after being burdened with a houseful of little sisters who must be shared with, I had something that was mine, all mine.

I had Grandma’s smile and an egg of my own.

Today, I have many eggs of my own. When I decided a city life was no longer in my future, that I longed for a screen door to let in fresh air, I moved to my farmhouse in the country.

That was more than a year ago. It was always my dream to raise 12 laying hens so there would be eggs to share with my mother, who lives nearby and still bakes at 84, and

W

my Aunt Martha, who does the same at 95.

Getting there took several months of adventure.

Some of the mistakes I choose to share: Too busy to go, I sent my mother – with her hearing aid and walker – to an auction to buy 12 baby girl chicks. Confused, she came back with 25 bantam roosters. I took them to Tractor Supply and begged them to take them off my hands.

I actually expected the babies I bought myself to turn out to be hens. Silly me. I began to notice that three of the chickens were growing inordinately large combs and tail feathers.

Mama, Aunt Martha and I determined that three of my 12 chickens were actually roosters. I gave away two of them and kept one (the happiest rooster alive, in my opinion), thinking someday I might like to let one of the chickens “go to set,” as we say in the poultry business.

My biggest success was hiring Billy, a longtime family friend and excellent carpenter, to build my chicken house and run. He liked my idea of using recycled materials – my house’s original wood siding and barn wood he had on hand. The result, with a red tin roof and delightful decorations, is absolutely charming.

It is also well thought out. Billy did his research via the Internet and built the house and run the size necessary for the number of chickens I had. The house is 6-by-6. The adjoining 6-by-16 run faces east, which was also recommended, as were windows flanking the human door to the house, four nesting boxes and plenty of perch space inside.

At the rear of the house near the roofline is a ventilation opening, which can be open or shut.

The chicken entrance from the house to the run has an eave over it for shelter and a gangplank with strips of wood nailed to it for good footing. That entrance has a door that I shut after they have gone to roost at sundown, to further protect from varmints. In the morning, I let them out to feed and water.

A lot of hassle? Sure. Worth it? You bet.

Because, somewhere, Grandma is smiling at me. tnfarmbureau.org