Farm & Ranch Living February 2016

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Prune and prepare until after the big freeze By Jennifer Sheridan Palestine Herald-Press

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ow is the time to start pruning for early growth, according to local Master Gardener Pam Denson. She specializes in leafy plants, such as lettuce, spinach and kale. Denson lives in the Brushy Creek area, where she grows her personal garden. She also helps teach students at Elkhart about raised-bed gardens. Pruning helps stimulate new growth. Stems and leaves can be pruned to take off the winter freeze and old growth. Denson warns against pruning too early. “A lot of times the plant is hit by the winter freeze that is actually protecting the tender growth beneath it,” Denson said. “So there may be live plants underneath the protection, and if you take all of that dead stuff

off the top, you’re now going to have more freeze damage because you’ve removed the blanket.” One of the many plants usually pruned back in February is rose bushes. Denson has a knockout rose bush that she prunes back to about two feet. She said the bush can grow up to six feet during the summer and is well established after four years of being on her property. The placement of the bush is ideal because it is on the south side of her property where it is protected. Denson teaches that placement plays an important role in growth. “You want to watch out for having roses placed in the middle of a field where it could be hit by an ice storm,” Denson says. “If it’s placed on the south side where it’s going to get plenty of sunlight, you have wonderful growth. You just have to think about all of those things.” Another thing to consider this time of year is if you plan on putting in a hardscape, Denson

explains. Creating a hardscape entails putting in a new bed or creating a new space. “This is the time that is great for that,” Denson continues. “It’s cool weather to do that kind of construction stuff. That way it is in and ready to go for that first shipment of plants you’ve been dying to put in. This is kind of our preparation season.” Preparation for the new season happens in January and February, as growers await the last hard freeze, usually about March 15. Soil preparation also begins in February. Aspects such as bed preparation require gardeners to decide whether to add organic material or not. Denson suggests tilling the organic matter into the soil and adding mulch to tender plants. “The area has received a fairly mild winter until recently. However, it’s never too late to do it. It is actually going to be good for your soil as well, because it will decompose into the soil,” Denson added. Gardeners considering planting bare-root fruit plants or roses, need to transfer the plant since it is currently in the dormant stage. It shocks less during this time. “We usually have pretty good winter rains, so that’s another advantage right now,” Denson said. “It’s in place and growing. Even before it puts out shoots, it’s going to have roots. So it will be more capable of handling our stressful season, which is summer.” She explained that the winter season kills growth in plants in the northern part of the U.S., but here in Texas, it is the harsh summer heat that stops growth. Denson said, in her experience, East Texas receives more rain than most places in Texas. “It’s really true for all of Texas,” Denson said. “Because we are in the south, our heat tends to be our stressor. Comparatively, our winters are fairly mild.” Denson shared a couple of pages from the Texas Gardeners Magazine with specific growth information on several different plants. While looking at the list of plants, she jokingly pled for people not to try to grow dahlias

because they require a chill time, which becomes a “true labor of love.” Likewise, she said tulips, while beautiful, are the same way. “Tulips are fabulous, but for us they are a labor of love,” Denson explained. “You have to keep them in your refrigerator for the chill time and you plant them. Then they bloom once. Then the gophers eat them or they rot.” She went on to say that if you are dedicated to keeping tulips alive after the bloom, dig up the bulb and return it to the refrigerator in preparation for the next season. She called gardeners willing to pamper the plant “amazing,” but stated there are many other natural bulb plants she would use instead of keeping bulbs in her refrigerator. She went back to the magazine and said the publication puts out planting-guide dates for specific vegetables twice a year. Denson said Anderson County is located in Zone 4 according to the map. Most of our vegetables need to be plants by Feb. 15. “These are general guidelines. If you miss that date by a week or so, nobody is going to die,” Denson said with

a laugh. The book suggests planting leafy vegetables because the plants need to be started in the cooler weather. “They like like cool weather, because when it gets too warm, they bolt. They are going to put on a head and die. Other than kale, which is a perennial, all of your lettuce, cabbage and turnips are all cool-weather vegetables. Then when we get into the heat, depending on how early our bigtime heat is (usually the end of April or May), they are done. They will let you know it by putting on bloom spikes,” Denson said. Other tips Denson gave included not fertilizing until after March and pulling winter weeds. She also said, while waiting on spring, to do maintenance on equipment, particularly the lawn mower. Denson also suggested gardeners obtain a copy of Doug Welch’s “Texas Gardener’s Almanac.” The book has monthly tips for gardeners of all types and specific information for Texas growers.

Published January 28, 2016

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Growing season means insects are on the way By Rick Hirsch Henderson County Extension Agent

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roducing your own vegetables can be challenging. One of the greatest challenges is to successfully control insect pests. Fortunately, there are numerous management alternatives that vegetable gardeners may consider when dealing with insects and other pests. These include cultural, biological, and management controls and, last but not least, chemical controls. There are approximately 30,000 insect species in Texas. Fortunately, fewer than 100 species are routine pests in vegetable gardens. Most insects found in the garden are either incidental or beneficial, contributing to pollination, the balance of nature, or recycling of organic matter. A garden with an abundant supply of insects actually may be quite healthy and productive. However, insect pests can reduce the quantity of quality of the

vegetables produced and may transmit plant diseases. Consider using control measures when insects threaten the garden. Identify the insects in your garden to determine if they are beneficial, incidental or pests. Learn to recognize the common insects in your area, especially the pests and learn to recognize the type of damage associated with pests. Insect pests can enter vegetable gardens by walking or flying. Flight allows many insects to have great mobility and their movement in large numbers is possible. Also, certain pests, like aphids and mites, reproduce about once a week under good conditions and their populations can increase rapidly. When pests seem to appear in large numbers almost overnight, they have either moved in or are rapidly reproducing. As insects grow, they change in size and shape. This process is called metamorphosis. Some insects damage plants in both the immature and adult

stages. Because insects change, they may be difficult to identify and the type of damage they cause also may change. Young caterpillars may barely scrape the surface of a leaf when feeding, while the same caterpillar may eat great chunks of leaves when mature. An insect’s mouthparts can be a key to understanding the type of damage caused by a pest. Insects with sucking mouthparts feed by piercing leaves or fruit. Damage appears as pock marks or mottled leaves. Insects with chewing mouthparts chew holes in plants. If you can recognize the type of feeding, you can select the proper insecticides (I. E. stomach poisons for chewing insects). When planting a vegetable garden, anticipate the pests that may occur during the year. Consider all management practices that will help deal with the pests before they become problems. Then, develop a management plan and put it into use before problems occur. Use your past experience as a guide in anticipating

pests for the upcoming season. Integrated pest management, IPM, is a philosophy of managing pests using multiple control techniques. IPM balances the goals of economic production and environmental stewardship when implementing control practices. IPM is the overriding strategy for most of production agriculture today and is rapidly being adopted in home gardening as well. Monitoring or scouting crops for the presence and abundance of pests is an important part of IPM. Most IPM programs reserve the use of insecticides for situations when the pest is present in large numbers and the cost of return on the investment in control practices can be justified. Many specific insect control practices can be implemented as part of an IPM program; generally the use of insecticides is included as a control option. When alternate control practices are substituted for insecticides, the IPM approach is similar to organic gardening.

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Timber consultants — worthy of their hire!

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here are plenty of stories about folks selling timber — and then regretting the deal. Most landowners know how to raise cattle and improve their property. But selling timber is a new world! In the first place, a timber sale is infrequent — every few years or so. That’s where a professional consulting forester is worth a lot. They know the market and they know the folks who will bid to buy the timber. Best of all, they follow through to make sure every part of the sale benefits the landowner. Both before the sale and after, consultant foresters make sure the landowner is paid for all the timber harvested from the tract. Also, the forester follows through to make sure cleanup is done and roads and crossings

are restored after harvest. What does it cost? Most consultants charge a flat fee — generally 10% of the gross timber sale price — for their expertise. Time and time again that fee is covered by a better price for the timber sold and by the forester spending time and effort to produce quality timber from your land. The local Texas Forest Service offices have a list of consulting foresters who work our area. It is generally best to meet with two or more of the foresters before contracting their services. Like all business relationships, you will find that being comfortable with the forester you pick can make a big difference in years to come. Some immigrants to the U.S. and Canada have come with an arrogant attitude that we will bend to their

whims and beliefs. A judge in Montreal, Canada, was on the bench when a

woman in Muslim attire faced the court. Asked by the judge to remove her head wrap, the woman refused — said it was her “right” to keep it on. The judge disagreed — pointing out everyone coming into her courtroom had to remove hats and any other headgear. The Muslim lady then changed the subject, saying she was poor, that she was on welfare and a mother of three without a husband. The judge interrupted and told her she was in Canada now — and if she preferred, there are 57 Muslim nations she could go to where her religious beliefs might be welcomed in the courtroom. But Canada is not one of them, said the judge. We need more judges like this one! That’s –30—Horace@valornet.com

Trinity River flooding tough on ranchers By Rich Flowers Athens Daily Review

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igh water left over from torrential rains in 2015 have created a major hardship for ranchers along the Trinity River in southern Henderson County. Mark Stiles told the Henderson County Commissioners Court he and others like him are in need of help. “We don’t come in very often, and we hate to come in with our hat in our hand, but we have a severe problem down in the river bottom in Henderson County Levee District No. 3,” Stiles said. Stiles said of his 3,600 acres, about 3,000 acres are under water. To save his cattle, he’s had to drive them across the water to safety. Cattle and cover crops have been lost. “There are thousands of acres we can’t get to now on different ranches and farms,” Stiles said. “Because of the way the cutoff is, until the river goes down, there won’t be much drainage.” The severe problems began in October when heavy rains caused conservation levees to break. “We’d had a problem earlier in the year,” Stiles said. “I think there was a patch done.” The Levee District which was formed in the 1930s, is funded by a property tax. The tax levy last year was a little over $30,000. The severe flooding caused Stiles and others to look into the activities of the district. “I called Austin, and talked to the Texas

Environmental Quality Board, and found out that the registered agent was a gentlemen who’s been deceased for several years,” Stiles said. After gathering information about the Levee District, they contacted Precinct 1 County Commissioner Scotty Thomas for help. He placed it on the Commissioners Court agenda to discuss appointing new members for the Levee District board. The levee board is made up of three commissioners. William Lipsey of Oakwood said his problem is even more severe than those farther north. Photos by Chad Wilson “We need lots of help down there,” Lipsey said. “I The flooding in late May 2015 caused havoc for ranchers in and probably have places that have 14 feet of water that are around Trinidad. Pictured are scenes from the flooding that trapped. There’s a levee on caused Highway 31 to be shut down just east of the city. the Trinity River side that problems,” Thomas said. “I’ve talked with some other won’t let it out.” Lipsey said he would like to serve on the Levee people who’d live to serve on the board.” District No. 3 board to help come up with a solution. Anyone interested in serving should contact “I’ve met with several gentlemen who live and have property in that area who have suffered extreme Thomas or the county before the Feb. 9 meeting.

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When it’s in the blood Nicholsons share generations of farming, ranching By Deanna Kirk Corsicana Daily Sun

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long-standing tradition dating back 50 years in Navarro County at the Wednesday Rotary Club is honoring the Farmer of the Year. And in a year that proved challenging for farmers, with record flooding in the county that garnered disaster declarations, a standing-room only crowd turned out to honor one family who personifies hard work and integrity in the farming and ranching industry in Navarro County. Patriarch Steve Nicholson of Barry, along with sons Brandon and Zane,

and their 3N Farms, were honored in November by the Rotarians as Farmers of the Year. “They have farming in their blood dating back to the 1860’s in Navarro County,� said Michael Hickerson, Rotary member. Steve was born into it, the son of Clyde and Macel Nicholson. He was 16 when he started working. The family farms 3,000 acres in Navarro County, as well as running a top-quality cow herd of mostly Brangus cows with Hereford bulls. They also run stockers to supplement their yearlings, and sell directly to the feed yard. Steve and his late wife Denise added to their family with a daughter, Kristal,

then Brandon, and finally Zane. All were raised on the farm, and showed in the major agricultural shows — Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio — and even won a few county shows. “I still have my toe in, I have a couple of cows,� Kristal said, “But I got my degree, taught a couple of years, and I’ve been at Navarro College ever since.� Kristal serves as the financial aid director at the Navarro College Corsicana campus, and helps out her dad whenever possible. Brandon earned a degree in animal science from Sam Houston State University, where he met his wife Amy, who is a program coordinator at Navarro College. They have two sons,

Photo by Michael Kormos The Nicholson family was given the Farmer of the Year honor by the Rotary Club at the Corsicana Country Club. Pictured from left to right are, Matthew, Kristin, Brandon, Amy and Stephen Nicholson. Presenting the award to the family is Rotarian Michael Hickerson.

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Colton and Trent. “Brandon’s boys showed here (at the county show) for the first time last year,� Kristal said. “They showed goats and pigs. This year they will have sheep and pigs. My brothers and I always showed steers and lambs.� Youngest sibling Zane graduated from Blooming Grove High School and was one of the first graduates of the John Deere program at Navarro College. He tried his hand a couple of years in the panhandle working for a John Deere dealer, but the lure of home and his Navarro County roots pulled him back to his family heritage, and he and wife Kristin have one son, Wyatt. Zane was named to the Texas Agriculture Lifetime Leadership Program in 2015, and his activities and leadership have made him a Who’s Who in Texas Agriculture. The entire family attended the Texas AgriLife Master Marketer Program in Plainview, Texas in 2012. “Dad was farming and raising cattle while the boys were gone, and now they all do that,� Kristal said. “They each have personal farm land, then also parts of 3N farm land; same with cattle.� Their corporation began in 2000 with the Nicholsons combining their knowledge, financial and labor resources to form their family corporation, and today the headquarters is located in the former E.O. Barham Grain Elevator in Blooming Grove. “They all use it for 3N and for personal business,� she said. “It’s just for their personal use, not open for public use. Brandon and Zane farm some land in the Dawson area, they manage the Allison Ranch and the Bennett Ranch, which is all in Navarro County. “We were all raised in it, helping out doing whatever needed to be done.� ————— Deanna Kirk is a Daily Sun staff writer. She may be reached at dkirk@ corsicanadailysun.com.

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Gerald Two Bears and Billy Strike Gerald Two bears was the foreman of the tribal branding crew. Lots of Indians who were cowboys came to do what they could do. Billy Strike was good at roping and his medicine was strong, And he roped ‘em automatic ‘til misfortune came along! He roped a good-size heifer calf, but he roped her ‘round the neck. She ran behind his horse’s butt and put’em both in check! The rope slid underneath his tail which

His horse was snorting up the dirt like he was sweepin’ mines And kickin’ himself sideways like a spring when it unwinds!

spooked the pony some, So, of course, he went to pitching! ‘Cause the nylon chafed his bum! Now like I said, that Billy’s tough and wouldn’t quit his dally, The rope was holding him down tight! Made every peak and valley!

Billy blew his left hand stirrup, so he leaned against the tide But his saddle got some cockeyed, slippin’ off the other side. His dally peeled off the horn! His anchor chain had broke! Billy flew like Humpty Dumpty and came down and broke his yolk!

Gerald Two Bears ran to Billy who lay still upon the ground. He said, “Billy, are you alright?” Billy never made a sound. He listened for his breathing but he lay so awfully still He said, “Billy, can you hear me?” Then with superhuman will Billy’s eyelid raised, his eyeball turned and swiveled toward the source Gerald leaned up close and whispered, “Billy, can I have your horse?” www.baxterblack.com

Calving season dictated by breeding By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@jacksonvilleprogress.com

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t may be the thick of calving season for area ranchers, but they’re already thinking ahead to breeding season. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, the start of calving season is dictated by the breeding season, which takes into consideration numerous factors, AgriLife beef cattle specialist L.R. Sprott notes in “Choosing the Time of Year to Breed and Calve Beef Cows in Texas.” A producer must realize “that there is no single date that is best for the start of calving,” although differences in climate in regions throughout the state “can affect the availability and condition of pasture needed for nutrition of pregnant cows and calves,” he said. A good rule of thumb, however, is that “fall-born calves will be marketed in the spring and calves born in the spring will be marketed in the fall,” Sprott said, noting that “cows calving in the fall normally need more supplemental feed in the winter, unless cool season pastures are used, than do cows that calve in the spring.” A rancher has the option to use natural methods or artificial insemination to breed his herd, at varying cost. Dr. Jason Banta, a beef cattle specialist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Overton, has led bull selection workshops at the university in past years. For producers looking to go the natural route, a herd bull is a key investment, he said in an AgriLife article, “Cattle producers hear latest on herd bull selection at workshop.”

Matching a prospective bull to herd size is a primary consideration, and “part of this decision is the age of the bull and its previous breeding experience,” he said. “A bull that has bred before as a yearling will cover more cows than one without previous experience. Acreage size is another thing to consider or how much a bull can cover to breed a cow. Hilly terrain can affect breeding coverage, so also keep this in mind.” Testicle size is a factor that impacts a bull’s fertility, too. “Once a bull starts puberty, scrotal size grows, and slows down as they get older. It’s not uncommon to see a centimeter to two centimeters change per month,” he said. In measuring the circumference of a bull’s scrotum, a cattle owner has a good idea of the type of sperm production and testicular volume, as well as sperm quality, puberty of bull, puberty of daughters and is a heritable trait, Banta said in the article. “The probability of a bull having satisfactory semen quality increases from 30-38 centimeters; circumference is highly correlated to total sperm output, moderately correlated to normal sperm morphology,” he said. “The thing you need to realize is care should be taken in avoiding bulls with extra-large scrotal circumferences. Injury can occur while out in the pasture,” Banta said. AgriLife Extension will offer artificial insemination and pregnancy determination schools this year to “provide practical and relevant education and service to ranchers,” according to the Animal Science web page on the TAMU website. AgriLife Extension “works closely with industry groups to offer educational programs in artificial insemination and pregnancy determination in cattle,” the site states. “In addition to the actual, hands-on training using live cattle in these two techniques, participants will devote half of their time to classroom instruction in herd management.” Topics include: • anatomy and physiology of reproduction • principles and techniques of artificial insemination, • management application and techniques of pregnancy determination, • semen handling and thawing, • estrous synchronization, • selection and time of the breeding season to optimize fertility, • successful feeding and mineral programs for the

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin breeding her, • genetic selection and record keeping programs, • replacement heifer development and management, • management to avoid calving problems, and • herd health programs. Participants must have had previous AI training or be concurrently enrolled in AI training. Training received from any of the major AI companies or a college/university course will satisfy this requirement. American Breeders Service will offer the program Sept. 26-29 in Clarendon. For more information, contact Vernon Friedrich, 940-727-1056 or fbsvern@ntin.net, or Max Payne, 806-669-4284 or mkpayne@wildblue.net. Bovine Elite, LLC, will host schools in College Station on the following dates: Feb. 2-5 (full); March 8-11 (full); April 5-8 (full); May 10-13; June 7-10; July 12-15; Sept. 13-16; Oct. 11-14; Nov. 8-11. Contact Carl Rugg, 979-6930388, or visit www.bovine-elite.com/aipalp.asp to learn more. Cost varies between $450 and $1,000, depending on the classes taken.

INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE With the passing of Mr. Wallace,

THE BUSINESS IS FOR SALE We have tractors for that Spring Garden and for Summer Mowing. Lots of equipment •Hay Forks & Spikes •Disc Harrows •Cutters •Box Blades •Far m Blades •Post Hold Diggers •Much More We even have some concrete statues for the yard, patio furniture and plant baskets.

Once IT’S GONE, IT’S GONE!! Call Brenda or come by

Wallace Garden Center & Equipment 1800 S. Loop 304 • Crockett

(Across from Houston County Electric Co-op)

936-544-2127

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Dr. Joe Paschal

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EVERYONE HAS THEIR FAVORITES! WE WANT TO HEAR YOURS! It’s easy to vote, just 2 simple steps!         1. Vote for your Favorite East Texas Business under each category.         2. Mail your Ballot back to East Texas Farm & Ranch.               Â

Rules:Â All entries must be a business in the East Texas Area. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Must fill out at least 20 categories. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Entry Form must be completely filled out & signed. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rules that are violated will void entire ballot. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No photocopies, emails, or faxes will be accepted. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â All results are final as deemed by East Texas Farm & Ranch.

Official “Readers’ Choice� Entry Form Full Name______________________________________ Address________________________________________ City, St., Zip_____________________________________ Phone #________________________________________ Signature_______________________________________ All Ballots must have a signed entry form to be eligible. One Ballot per person please! Mail Your Ballot to:

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION! WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN OUR SPECIAL “READERS’ CHOICE� SECTION PUBLISHED WITH EAST TEXAS FARM & RANCH LIVING ON MARCH 31ST!

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January-February 2016

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Farm brings students and kids together Local breeder offers Boer goats for shows By Haley Hoar Palestine Herald-Press

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arlene Chaffin spends her mornings and afternoons taking the students of Elkhart Independent School District to and from their education in a big yellow school bus. In between shifts, she returns home to take care of a different kind of kid. Chaffin owns Okie Dokie Farms, located off FM 319, home to a small herd of boer goats that she sells to local students. “You have a lot of goat farms that run hundreds of heads of goats; I’m a smaller operation,” Chaffin said. “I like to help any of the 4-H kids or FFA kids. I’ve got kids right now that I’m helping, who didn’t even buy from me, but call me up and ask me questions. I’m willing to help the youth in any way I can.” Chaffin began raising boer goats with her grandchildren 13 years ago when her granddaughters decided to join 4-H. “They wanted to show something easy that they could handle,” Chaffin said. “So we started doing the market wethers, in market classes for the county show here in Anderson County, and other shows, and we did that for about five years when we thought, “We’ll raise our own.’” Okie Dokie Farms is now home to show wethers and breeding stock. Chaffin said her farm tries to assist students with their pursuits, offering lower prices for their animals. “I try to keep my prices down, reasonable,” Chaffin said. “Some of these show wethers can get up into the thousands of dollars. A lot of people don’t realize that. People think, ‘A goat’s a goat. Oh you know $50.’ Not anymore. These boer goats, depending on what kind of genetics you have, they can go up into the thousands of dollars.” Chaffin said she offers students a chance to work with a lower-maintenance animal, to help introduce them into the world of 4-H and FFA, where they can work with other types of livestock. “In East Texas boer goats are unique,” Chaffin said. “There are a lot more goats in East Texas than I would say five years ago, and the youth side of showing, county shows and everything has really just expanded. Parents and students have learned that they can take a goat and have a small pen and raise it for show, instead of having a big expense out. Of course these goats can be expensive when you buy them, but it’s not like a major expense, like when they’re doing a steer.”

She described a day taking care of her herd as dedicated work. Chaffin goes out at least once a day to check the herd, making sure they have food and water before maintaining their appearance with hoof trimmings and checking for any blemishes, bumps or bruises. She laughed as she explained that some days she has to help the goats get their head out of the fence as well. Though boer goats can be easier to deal with than larger animals, Chaffin said raising goats can be a difficult experience as well. Due to their rarity in the East Texas area, Chaffin said there are not many veterinarians who know how to work with goats, so that, should an issue arise, many times she must rely on other goat farmers for help. “A lot of vets around here are not really knowledgeable on goats, most of them do cattle,” Chaffin said. “If you find a vet that knows about goats, it’s wonderful. Usually most of us goat breeders in this area, if we get a problem, the first person we call is another breeder, then we call the vet.” One issue Chaffin faces with her herd are parasites. Due to East Texas’ wet and humid climate, parasites such as the Barber Pole Worm, a blood-sucking worm, seek out the

UPCOMING EVENTS lufkin: • February 6: Corks and Forks - Lufkin’s finest chefs and caterers showcase their tastiest appetizers and desserts paired with great wine and Champagne. 110 S. First St. For details, call Phone: 936/633-0359 or visit them on the web at visitlufkin.com

Crockett: • February 19: The Piney Woods Fine Arts Association presents, “Driving Miss Daisy” 1100 Edminston Drive. Phone: 936/544-4276 or www.pwfaa.org

jacksonville: • February 26-28: Jacksonville Annual Crawfish Anniversary Ride Mud Creek Off Road Park, 3971 CR 4209. Contact Information: Cary (903) 586-6972. www. mudcreekoffroadpark.com

nacogdoches: • March 1-31: Nacogdoches Azalea Trails - Annual event features 25 miles of self-guided driving routes, guided tours of the azalea gardens on Saturdays through the month of March. With over 7,000 azaleas, the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden is the largest azalea garden in Texas! Come see the breathtaking kaleidoscope of color every year March 15 - April 15! www. visitnacogdoches.com

palestine: • March 26-27: PALESTINE OLD TIME MUSIC & DULCIMER FESTIVAL takes place on the last weekend in March at the Museum for East Texas Culture. The festival is three-days filled with live performances, jamming sessions, concerts & workshops. Some of the best dulcimer and old time music artists from around the country serve as headliners for the concerts and lead the workshops. For details visit: Palestine Visitor Center, 825 W Spring St. (903) 723-3014 or check it out on the web at: VisitorCenter@palestine-tx. org

animals and can cause health issues and even death. “You have to be diligent in checking them on that, and a lot of new people that get into buying goats, that’s usually what gets a lot of their stock,” Chaffin said. “You have to learn what to look for. The signs, what kind of wormers work for you or don’t work for you. If you get a goat that gets a heavy infestation of that, you can lose one within a week. You just have to study, join knowledgeable groups to help.” Chaffin said one helpful organization is the East Texas Goat Raisers Association, where she serves as a board member. The association organizes educational programs, shows and sales. More information about the association can be found on their website at www.etgra.com Once students decide to work with boer goats, Chaffin said she selects the right goat for each student in hopes of the student succeeding with the animal. During her time raising and showing animals, Chaffin said the quality of the animals have improved in shows thanks to genetics and proper care of the animals.

“It’s just a fun project and goats have such a personality that people really enjoy being around them,” Chaffin said. “It makes them fun to raise.” She said as students get interested in these programs, she encourages them to seek out local farmers and breeders. “They may not buy their animal from this area, but they should talk to a local breeder that would help them, and encourage them and show them how things are done if they run into problems,” Chaffin said. “To me, 4-H and FFA give a kid responsibility, and they have to learn how to handle themselves. Not just in a show ring, but by conducting meetings. I think it helps them. I’ve seen a lot of children that were shy when they first get in the programs and kind of standoffish, and they just grow and develop and learn to be more out there with people just with being with their animals. There’s just so much they can learn from the program.” Chaffin can be reached by contacting Okie Dokie Farms on their Facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/OkieDokieFarm-826194847465198/timeline

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More than cows, plows, cookies and pies By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@jacksonvilleprogress.com

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he 4-H and FFA programs are “much more than cows, plows, cookies and pies” – said Cherokee County Extension agent Willie Arnwine – these youth programs instill traits participants will take with them long after they’ve grown up. The coordinator of the county’s 4-H and Youth program, Arnwine said the two programs, which have similar goals in creating youth leaders, help instill real-world skills such as responsibility, confidence and respect.

“Very little of that gets taught through school anymore,” he said. “You look at the kids who are not involved in anything – the kids in our programs have no problem standing up, they’re the movers and shakers of the future, the people running programs. The kids who come from solid foundation backgrounds, they are the people who are going to succeed. They’re the small business owners, the ones who will take risks, the ones who will be involved in their community. Because without them, we won’t have people who get involved with the Chamber of Commerce or the Lions Club or be involved with a booster club just because they want to give back to the community. “Our programs teach them that you get so much more when you are willing to give back,” he said. “They’re definitely learning leadership skills.” Brian Martin, a Rusk ISD agriculture teacher who oversees the high school FFA program agrees.

“The number one things we try to promote are honesty and integrity,” he said. “We also promote strong work ethic, leadership skills and team work.” According to www.4-h.org, 4-H is “the youth development program of the Cooperative Extension System of land-grant universities” and the nation’s largest youth development organization that has impacted the lives of six million youths throughout the country. Its roots trace back to 1901, when an Ohio school principal named A.B. Graham began promoting vocational agriculture in rural schools as part of extracurricular club offerings, and by 1914, clubs were operating in most states, according to the site. Members strive to live up to the 4-H motto, “To make the best better,” taking to heart the 4-H Pledge: “I pledge: My Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.” Notable members include former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Roslyn; actress Julia Roberts; musicians Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and Jennifer Nettle; Dallas Cowboy Herschel Walker; astronaut Alan Shepard; and TV talk show host David Letterman. In Cherokee County, there are seven 4-H Clubs, with about 270 enrolled members, Arnwine said. Rusk FFA has as nearly many members, at total of 253, according to fall membership rolls, Martin said. “FFA” stands for Future Farmers of America, but the focus is not solely agriculture, Martin said; the name is now National FFA Organization, according to the website www.ffa.org. “FFA is an inter-curricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. It is one of three components of agricultural education,” the site states. According to the site, “the roots of FFA originate from a time when boys were losing

Above, Cloverkids hard at work recently at the courthouse in Rusk. Contributed photo interest and leaving the farm,” in 1925, a group of Virginia educators proposed to form an organization “that offered farm boys ‘a greater opportunity for self-expression and for the development of leadership.’ ” The idea drew the interest of other leaders throughout the country, and “in 1928, 33 students from 18 states gathered in Kansas City, Mo., to form the Future Farmers of America,” the site states, noting that today, there are 629,367 FFA members, aged 12 to 21, in 7,757 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Notable members include “Garfield” comic strip creator Jim Davis; musicians Trace Adkins, Don Henley, Lyle Lovett, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift; President Jimmy Carter; actor Tom Wopat; and world champion PRCA bull rider Richard “Tuff ” Hedeman. The FFA motto, “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve,” guides members as they work and serve in their communities. “It’s not just raising farmers and ranchers – that’s the misnomer about both programs,” Arnwine said. “Yes, we have ag-based projects,

Above, during a county-wide 4-H service project in Jan. 2015, youth planted more than 700 trees on state property in Fairchild State Forest. Photo contributed by Willie Arnwine

but we also have kids who are involved in their community, like my Shooting Sports Club, who are tremendous advocates of community service, and who were recognized by the Marine Corps League for the support of the Toys for Tots drive.” Likewise, “most of our students do a lot of community service activities,” Martin said. “Rusk FFA worked with other FFA programs in the county in a ‘Kids Against Hunger’ project, where 20,000 meals were sent to Guatemala and to our food pantry. And in the last three or four years, they’ve been part of the local cancer awareness program. “Every chapter has a community service program that ultimately produces students who become a positive impact on society because they are productive,” Martin added. In fact, a research study done about a decade ago regarding FFA revealed that the program has a strong economic impact on a local economy. “It was determined that FFA generated about $1 million to the economy for the Cherokee County (livestock) show,” he said. “they did the study two years in a row, and got the same data.” Overall, because these programs teach work ethic, leadership and teamwork skills, “we think those are going to translate in every area” as students go into the real world, Martin said. “They will take principles learned through the program and adopt them into their lives as they go down different paths.” For Arnwine, it’s this knowledge that assures leaders that the work they do touches the face of the future. “It honestly doesn’t matter to me or to ag teachers whether the kids excel and become the best at what they’re doing, because what we’re trying to do is give them the tools to apply throughout their lives to become the best person they can be,” he said. Martin agreed. “People get a visual of kids showing calves or student building ag-mechanic projects, but I hope that the vision they ultimately have is of kids who do it the right way, who do things with honor and integrity,” he said. “We want them to have a positive image that FFA is beneficial to the community.”

Above, members of Cherokee 4H Shooting Sports during the 2015 Toys for Tots campaign. Contributed photo

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January-February 2016

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Palestine’s hidden gem By PennyLynn Webb community@palestineherald.com

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ucked away, just outside the Palestine city limits, lies a beautiful oasis for residents and community visitors to enjoy. Bar-S Ranch Resort is a nice weekend getaway spot for anyone needing to get out of town and enjoy a slower pace. Tucked away in the piney woods of East Texas, this 23-acre ranch is the perfect venue for family staycations, reunions, wedding, girls’ weekend trips, Boy Scout troop camping, corporate events and much more. According to co-owner Caroline Mills, “Our 1891 ‘Dogtrot House’ Bed and Breakfast is adorned with antiques, including farm implements. The B&B has three rooms — the Cowboy Room, the Country Room and the LaGrange Room — each with its own full bath.” Mills said a country, continental-style breakfast is served in the shared kitchenette, allowing guests to dine at their convenience. Outside there are wagons, a 1934 tractor and a 1915 Model-T in the flower garden. There is an old-fashioned bunkhouse with an old-West theme. The entire house that features a room with four bunk beds sleeps up to 12 people. Mills said their resort also offers corporate housing. For those looking for a home away from home, be it for a week, month or longer, need look no further than this venue. All houses are fully furnished with satellite television and wireless internet. There are laundry facilities on site. There are currently four corporate houses, and they are in the process of adding more. Bar-S offers picturesque settings for birthday parties, weddings, reunions, photo shoots and more. There is a beautiful 1927 chapel on site, and they also have a banquet facility. There is also an open-air pavilion built from cedar

trees as well as an outdoor wedding stage. While you are welcome to bring your own decorations, decorations and furnishings for weddings are available for rent. They also keep a list of local caterers, DJs and other event services on hand to make things easier for people hosting events at their venue. “Our ranch is a perfect getaway for parents who just want to get away for the weekend. We have couples who tell their family they are going out of town and they just stay here for the weekend. That way they are close if their family needs them but they can enjoy some down time together. We also have friend groups who have girls’ weekends here. They rent out one of our houses. We hear a lot of giggling throughout the evening and the next night we find wine bottles around the campfire. They seem to really enjoy their time out here together and they come back once every year,” said Mills. “We also have a lot of locals who like to use our venue for photography sessions. They like some of our rustic outdoor settings and the chapel for wedding and senior pictures. And some women like to use our LaGrange Room for boudoir shoots.” Outdoors they offer a stocked fishing lake along with tackle. Walk the grounds, choosing one of their many walking trails, or enjoy sitting a spell in one of their many swings or porches. They have a playground for the kids, as well as an area for horseshoes. Children can also enjoy a ride

on a mini-train called the Bar-S Express. At night visitors can tell stories and roast marshmallows around a campfire. This resort can also accommodate tent campers. Campers are welcome to pitch a tent anywhere on the property that will not interfere with other events. A bath house with men’s and women’s restrooms and two showers are available. “We had a group of 50 Boy Scouts that camped here back in November. We hope to get more groups like that. We want everyone to feel like this is a place they can come and enjoy the outdoors,” said Mills. What’s a ranch without a few animals? At the Bar-S Ranch there are chickens in a coop, several dogs and a couple of cats for visitors to enjoy as well. Being that this is a rustic ranch, there are critters of another kind as well. The staff offers ample warning that guests run the risk of encountering snakes, spiders, scorpions and other wild animals and must exercise caution at all times when visiting. Bar-S Ranch is located at 2001 ACR 156 (FM 2419 & Old Camp Road) in Palestine. For more information or to book an event, contact Bar S Ranch at 903-729-6975 or log onto their website at www.barsranchresort.com or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BarSRanchResort/

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January-February 2016

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Striped Horses i Y’all. Well, we’re already a few haul animals around in. Now my folks have weeks into 2016 and I’m won- a real nice aluminum one, but it doesn’t dering if this year will be as busy have living quarters up front like so many as the last one was. Probably so. I over- fancy horse trailers I see. There were heard Mama making reslots of cowboys working ervations to some events cattle back in the pens that we go to each year. Acday,but when they drove tually by the time you get up their horses were ready this we’ll have been to for work not the show ring. the YO Ranch and FredMost were already saddled ericksburg for New Year’s when they jumped out of and the Fort Worth Stock the trailer. Maybe the differShow for the ranch rodeo. ence is that cow folks make Those are both fun trips. a living using those horses The one to the YO always and trailers and show horse comes with some advenfolks do their thing for a tures for yours truly and hobby. What’s your thought this year was no different. on the subject? I saw some small horses Well Mr.Squirrel has an with black and white accomplice when it comes stripes on them. No joke to stealing my luscious peand I hadn’t been lapping cans. I saw him a few nights up any alcoholic beverago when I went out for ages either if that’s what my before bedtime stroll. you’re thinking. We were He was much bigger than on a walk one morning Mr. Sq. , kind of gray in and there’s always lots of color and even had a mask deer and the like to see. around his eyes. Like I said, You might even remema thief. One look at me ber my encounter with the evil Emu last though and he took off around the house year. Well, all of a sudden I saw four small with me in hot pursuit. Daddy was right horses and they had stripes! Now who behind me shouting,” Kodi, leave that would have painted those on and why? raccoon alone. If that thing turns on you, They didn’t hang around for very long it’ll give you a whippin’ you won’t soon once they spotted us, but I sure got a good long look at them. My folks didn’t seem to think anything was out of the ordinary, like they see striped horses everyday. Now they were lots smaller than ol Sug, but sure looked like horses never the less. And Sug’s mane lays over on her neck, but these horses’ manes kind of stood up. Anyway, I never know what I’ll run into next. I forgot to mention a sale/ gathering we went to over at Cavender’s Neches River Ranch a while back. I love those outings cause I get to see my human To advertise here, friends from all over the country and sometimes their dogs as contact well. My Arkansas friends, Vegas and Edward, made the trip this Lezlie Hoover year and I always enjoy seeing at 903-729-0281 them now that I know they’re all bark and no bite. I made an obor email lhoover@ servation that day and wondered if you agree with me. There’s a palestineherald. difference between cow people com and horse people and it has to do with the kinds of trailers they

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forget”. Mr. Rc made it to a tree before I could cut him off and that was the end of that. I headed back to go inside, but I dreamed of furry tailed thieves all night long. The next morning Mama said,” Look at the mess that raccoon made with these pecan shells. He’s scattered them all over the patio. Guess I’d better put that bucket in a safe place till I can get them cracked. There’s not many this year as it is”. I thought,”Yea you’d better, cause I can’t be on pecan guard duty 24/7”. Guess I’d better sign off for now. These winter days sure seem shorter than those in the summertime. I know they’re not, but it does get dark earlier in the afternoon so we have to go do our late day check of ‘my girls’ while it’s still light out. It’s also become a good time to count all the deer grazing in the place Daddy planted some special grass for them to munch on. He also puts out some yellow stuff that they seem to love. Sometimes I think it would be fun to jump out of the Ranger and give them a good chasing and see those white tails of theirs pop up, but I know better. I did that one time when I was a reckless young pup and got fussed at big time. So now I just ride shotgun and watch them

from afar. I know not everyone enjoys this chilly weather like me, since I love snoozing by the fire, but it won’t be long before the AC will be running full blast again. So we’d better enjoy it before then. I’m thinking a little nap is in my future when we get back from the pasture. Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. So long. Your friend, Kodi Ps: Think SNOW for the mountains of New Mexico. We’re headed there pretty soon for some fun in the white stuff. I overheard Mama say she was going to buy me some bootie things so my feet would stay warm when I’m out playing in it. I’ll let you know how that turns out. I’ve never had any before so it might be interesting learning how to walk in them. Seems there’s a place close by where we’re going to stay that let’s critters like yours truly run along the trails with their people and my folks think I would have a grand time. It does sound like fun, but I’m not too sure about the boot things. Course if they keep the snow from balling up in between my toes then they may be useful. I’ll see.

FARM & RANCH CLASSIFIEDS

EAST TEXAS ANDERSON CO. LIVESTOCK Updated: 1/20/2016 Head Count: 396 Buyers: 34 Sellers: 52

STOCK PRICES EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC. Updated: 1/19/2016 Cows: 180 Bulls: 15 Buyers: 59 Sellers: 130

STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.55-$2.50 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.45-$2.27 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.35-$1.93 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.25-$1.65 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.20-$1.53 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $0.95-$1.30 lb

STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $260-$370 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $210-$249 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $185-$214 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $165-$180 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $150-$166

HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.50-$2.37 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.35-$2.17 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.30-$1.83 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.25-$1.50 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.15-$1.35 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $0.90-$1.25 lb

HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $240-$345 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $200-$226 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $168-$184 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $152-$170 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $138-$155 SLAUGHTER Cows: $56-$82 Bulls: $81-$90

SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.55 - $0.85 lb Bulls: $0.75 - $0.95 lb

PAIRS $1950 - $2400

PAIRS $1050 - $2600

BRED COWS $1650 - $2100/hd

Stocker Cows: $875 - $2200 hd Goats: $45 - $150 TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 1/23/2016 Head Count: 449 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.80-$2.60 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.70-$2.30 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.60-$2.10 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.55-$1.85 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.45-$1.63 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.35-$1.55 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.65-$2.50 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.55-$2.00 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.45-$1.90 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.35-$1.55 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.25-$1.60 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.10-$1.40 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $47 - $87 Heavy Bulls: $81 - $95 Pairs: $1800 - $2150 Stocker Cows: $1100 - $1700 Baby Calves: $175

NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EX. Updated: 1/21/2016 Head Count: 389 Buyers: 47 Sellers: 95 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.70-$3.50 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.55-$2.30 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.40-$2.07 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.15-$1.72 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.55-$3.40 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.40-$2.09 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.25-$1.60 lb 500 lbs - UP: $0.95-$1.53 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.50 - $0.85 lb Bulls: $0.75 - $1.00 lb PAIRS $875 - $2100 Stocker Cows: $675 - $1900 hd Baby Calves: $45 - $250 hd Goats: $45 - $175 hd

HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE Updated: 1/18/2016 Head Count: 460 huntlivestockexchange.com STEERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.69-$3.00 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.80-$2.33 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.50-$2.09 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.30-$1.83 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.40-$1.63 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.27-$1.47 lb 800 lbs - 899 lbs: $1.34-$1.37 lb HEIFERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.59-$3.00 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.40-$2.03 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.20-$1.73 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.05-$1.71 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.29-$1.50 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.29-$1.35 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.64 - $0.87 lb Bulls: $0.61 - $0.89 lb PAIRS Pairs: $1000-$1825 Stocker Cows: $595-$1850 Baby Calves: $255-$355

ATHENS COMMISSION CO. Updated: 1/22/2016 Head Count: 571 Sellers: 115 Sale EVERY Friday At 11am STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.60-$2.75 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.50-$2.50 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.40-$2.30 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.30-$2.05 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.50-$2.60 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.40-$2.35 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.30-$2.00 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.20-$1.82 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.50 - $0.85 lb Heavy Bulls: $0.80-$1.07 lb PAIRS Top: $1500 - $2000 Low Middle: $1000 - $2000 Stocker Cows: $0.70 - $1.70 lb Baby calves: $25 - $550 hd Horses: $100 - $500 hd Goats: $50 - $100 hd

This report is a GUIDE only. It is provided to show market trends and is NOT INFLATED to deceive producers or the general public.

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Davis named chairman of Beef Committee By Rick Hirsch Henderson County Extension Agent

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he Henderson County Beef Cattle Committee started 2016 off with its annual installation and awards banquet on Jan. 7. Adam Davis of Athens was installed as the 2016 Chairman of the 18 member committee. He will oversee the activities of the county-wide committee as they work towards developing educational programs designed to bring about solutions to problems common to the beef cattle industry. Other officers installed to help direct the committee were Vice-Chairman Mike

Bradshaw of Brownsboro, Secretary Laura Downe of Tennessee Colony and Treasurer Cliff Smith of Brownsboro. Korey Brown, Cory Collier and Adena Wilder all of Athens, Chuck Stone of Eustace, Wade Braddock of Malakoff, Jason Fawns of Ben Wheeler and Sharon Adams of Palestine were installed as new members to assist the committee in various programs. B oth the officers and new members were officially installed by Henderson County Leadership Advisory Board member Bob Miars of Murchison. Newly installed Chairman Adam Davis stated that the committee has several programs slated for this year including a Cattleman’s Cow-Calf Clinic, Forage Field Day Cow-Calf Roundtable, and a Winter Pasture Seminar.

Gone Fishing with Jerry Miller

Martin Creek now has Hydrilla A

bout twenty years ago Martin Creek had an abundance of hydrilla, lily pads and other aquatic plants. Huge stringers of bass were being weighed in. Twenty-five pound stringers were being weighed in during tournaments. Bass fishing was great until the decline. It seemed like the grass disappeared overnight. For whatever reason over time the hydrilla was completely eradicated and the bass fishing plummeted. Fishing got tough. Last week I teamed up with Frank Lusk to fish Martin Creek. Lusk had told me about a recent trip he had taken to Martin Creek where he had encountered hydrilla. All of the hydrilla he found was

on the cold side of the lake. Martin Creek is a power plant lake and there is a railroad trestle that divided most of the hot water from the cold water. The cold side normally has colder water temperature. The further you travel east and south of this barrier the more rapidly the surface temperature plummets. In other words, you can find surface temperatures in the hot water discharge area ranging in the low to high 70s. At the other side of the lake near the intake, temperatures are often in the 50s. Although we haven’t searched the entire lake, all the hydrilla we’ve seen is on the cold side of the lake. It is thick and grows out to about seven feet deep. The lake is completely full and maybe

6 inches high. There is plenty of flooded cover to target. Bass fishing is good but spotty. As always, bass tend to concentrate in certain areas. We started fishing bridges, and Lusk picked up a couple of two-pound bass on a black & blue Sienko in about 15 feet of water. Early on the bite was slow. Lusk was crawling his lure painstakingly slow, often pausing for several seconds. Lusk said, “The bite was very light. One of the bites felt like I was rubbing the line against a rock.� About 8:00 a.m. we left the bridge area and headed for the hot water slip that separates the hot water discharge area from the cooler side. There was a lot of current coming through this narrow slot. At one end of the slot in a shallow flat just outside of the current where bass bend to congregate and feed. As soon as Lusk pulled up to this area in his new Ranger boat he fired a Nichols’ 1/2 oz. chartreuse and white spinner on to the flat. He was immediately rewarded with a two-pound bass. I watched Lusk land six bass off of this flat in about 30 minutes! Lusk was fishing with willow leaf blades and I was using Colorado blades. Lusk was using a different retrieve than usual. Lusk said, “I’m slow rolling the bait and letting it bump the bottom or the edge of the drop.� The bass were in one to two feet of water and positioned on the edge of the current. Next we fished a stumpy point, and Lusk hung up for a while. Eventually he was able to break free and discovered he had hooked a rod and reel someone had lost! Later we moved to a creek point bank and mostly worm fished. Fishing was slow here. I finally decided to tie on a Nichols’ black & blue Chatter Bait with a matching craw fish. I was immediately rewarded with a five-pound female bass

that engulfed the lure. We were not very far from the hot water discharge. After lunch we moved back to the cold water side and began fishing an area that had lots of hydrilla and flooded shore line grass. We switched to Wacky Worm, Baby Bass Sienkos and got several bites. Lusk landed six more bass in the one to two pound range. We ended up with 16 bass up to five pounds. We were excited to find a lot of flooded cover including the hydrilla. Remember that bass spawn early on this lake due to the moderated surface temperature. No matter how cold it gets you can always find warm water on power plant lakes. ------------------------------Jerry Miller may be contacted at: gonefishing2@suddenlink.net

Bull riders steal the show Special to the Athens Review

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hen the Professional Bull Riders began their 2016 Built Ford Tough Series tour last weekend in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, a trio of Brazilian riders stole the show. They were Wallace Vieira de Oliveira who finished No. 1, Joao Ricardo Vieira who came in second, and Valdiron de Oliveira who wound up in with the bronze. Wallace de Oliveira (of Goiania, Brazil) clinched the title at the Chicago Invitational on Sunday after turning in a final round score of 88.25 aboard bull named Cracker Jack (Rocking I Rodeo Co.). The clutch short round ride came after the 36-year-old cowboy conquered two prelim bulls-Ram It (K-C Bucking Bulls) in Round 1 for 86.75 points, and Bluegrass (K-C Bucking Bulls/Spark-lin Acres) in Round 2 for 83.5. He clinched the title after earning 550 points throughout the two-day show. Second place finisher Joao Ricardo Vieira earned 322.5 and third place finisher Valdiron de Oliveira earned 242.5. Wallace de Oliveira left Rosemont with $36,700. He’s also ranked No. 1 in the PBR’s 2016 world title race. This weekend, the PBR’s Ford Series, which is the association’s top tier tour, will

go to New York. It is the 10 consecutive year for the tour to stop at Madison Square Garden.

Fort Worth rodeo The 2016 Fort Worth Stock Show will offer its fans six different rodeos within a 23-day span. Cowtown’s traditional western riding celebration is scheduled for Friday through Feb. 6 at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. The six rodeos range from a ranch rodeo to

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bull riding to the traditional Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association show. The Best of the West Invitational Ranch Rodeo is Jan. 15-16, the Best of Mexico CelebraciĂłn is Jan. 17, the Cowboys of Color Rodeo is Jan. 18, the Bull’s Night Out-PRCA Extreme Bull Riding is Jan. 1920, the Fort Worth Super ShootOut is Jan. 21 and the traditional PRCA rodeo is Jan. 22-Feb. 6. For die-hard rodeo fans, the two best performances are expected to be conducted on Jan. 21 and Feb. 6. They are the ShootOut Rodeo and the PRCA rodeo’s final round. Both shows will feature a heavier concentration of world class competitors within the allotted two-hour performance. The Jan. 21 ShootOut Rodeo is an “invitational all-star rodeo.â€? The show features an array of credentialed riders who will compete in bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing and steer wrestling. The PRCA rodeo final also is expected to offer fans any big name riders. The performance features the top 12 in each event after 28 preliminary shows and a couple of slack performances (tie-down roping and steer wrestling). For ticket information, visit fwssr.com or call 817-877-2420. Steer roping update Shane Suggs, who is from the North

Texas town of Granbury, clinched the steer roping title last weekend at the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo in Odessa. According to the PRCA, he finished the rodeo with a four-run time of 46.0 seconds, 2.1 seconds better than reserve champion Trevor Brazile. Suggs earned $7,638. The Odessa rodeo runs through Jan. 16. Hall of famers Justin McBride, who earned PBR world titles in 2005 and 2007, and the Gatlin Brothers, a renowned country/western singing group, was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in the Fort Worth Stockyards on Jan. 14. For more information, call 817-626-7131. He said it “We have to figure out how to fail 40 percent of the time and still be OK with that. Any time you think you are the biggest or baddest guy, (rodeo) will bring you down to size pretty quick.� -Two-time PRCA champion Sage Kimzey telling the Odessa American about the challenges of bull riding. Brett Hoffman, a Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame member, has written a rodeo column for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram over the past quarter-century. Email him at HYPERLINK “mailto:bchoffman777@ earthlink.net�bchoffman777@earthlink.net.

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