Taking to the skies Farm equipment co-owner shares his love of flying, agri-business By Haley Hoar Palestine Herald-Press
W
hile Brian Rucker runs a business filled with equipment and tools for the land, he also shares a passion for the sky. Rucker has co-owned Rucker Equipment Co. with his father since 1995, while also pursuing his love of flying as a pilot. Rucker said that he started in aviation with his father in 1989 after graduating with his degree in Ag Economics from Sam Houston State. He began pursing his private pilots license, but wasn’t able to complete his training until 2007. After receiving the correct training, Rucker was approached by a friend and mentor about what he wanted to do with his skills. “A good friend of mine brought my name up to a jet pilot and told him about me having my ratings,” Rucker said. “He contacted me two and a half years ago and asked me what my plans were. And I said that one day, I don’t know what that day is, but I would like to fly as a contract pilot. He said do you want to fly a jet and I said, let me think about it, absolutely! And that’s when it all started.” Rucker began training for the specific series of jet he would fly for and became type rated SIC which stands for Second in Command or co-pilot. “Over the last two and a half years, I’ve been flying, learning the jet, learning the systems and hopefully next year I will get to sit for my Captains flight exam and ground school,” Rucker said. While flying the jet, Rucker said he has been to
some very interesting locations including Colorado and Mexico. His favorite however is Kalispell Montana. Rucker explained that the location he was in he could see the Canadian border and the Glacier National Park. “When I was in Kalispell, I drove up to a community called Whitefish in the mountains and actually got to fly a float plane in the mountains, taking off and landing in the lakes in the mountains,” Rucker said. “That to me was just a really neat place and we’ve been to some cool places.” Rucker has been able to own some planes himself including a Beechcraft Baron 58 and a 1947 model Stinson Tail Dragger. “That’s a pretty neat airplane,” Rucker said. “It’s definitely interesting.” He explained his love for aviation as many would explain love for their own hobbies.
“Some people play golf and fish and hunt, I fly airplanes.”
Brian Rucker “I’m fortunate that I still have my dad here to help when I’m gone, making the jaunts around the country,” Rucker said. He said that he has made many friends and mentors in his time with aviation including Dr. Robert Pate he actually introduced him to high performance retract
type airplanes, Beechcraft, Banaza. Billy Brice, retired airline pilot and Gaylon Addkison who owns Palestine/ Athens Jet Center. When Rucker is on the ground, he works with his father to manage Rucker Equipment which provides equipment such as Kubota tractors, RTV side-by-sides, hay equipment, lawn, garden and harvesting equipment according to the website. Rucker Equipment also offers products from Stihl, Land Pride, Woods, Krone and Vicon. Rucker Equipment began as an international tractor dealership before evolving to focus on Kubota in the late 70s. As a business owner, he enjoys working with his customers who he describes as “salt of the earth people” and helping his employees work together as a team. One challenge he faces, as do many involved in the agriculture business is the weather. “For us, the lack of rain is a big issue. To much or lack of, farmers and ranchers are never satisfied with it,” Rucker laughed. “Lack of rain is a big hurdle in our business.” Rucker said that the main crop produced in the area is hay to feed livestock and if there is not enough rain, then it can be difficult to make sales for tractors or tractor repairs. “It has ups and downs and a lot of our business is directly tied to the oil field,” Rucker said. “But we’ve enjoyed it. We have some great people here.” Rucker Equipment is located at 3910 US-79 and is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon. More information can be found at www. ruckerequipment.com/ or by calling 903-729-6951.
Published February 25, 2016
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Simple way to improve gardening results By Rick Hirsch Henderson County Extension Agent
R
egardless of the soil in your garden, it can be improved by adding organic matter. This is one of the keys to successful EARTHKIND vegetable gardening. If your soil is heavy clay, the addition of organic matter improves both drainage and aeration and also allows better root development. Liberal amounts of organic matter help sandy soil hold water and nutrients. Where do you get organic matter? This magical stuff which improves soil and serves as a food source for soil fungi and bacteria comes in the form of peat moss, compost, hay, grass clippings, barnyard fertilizer, shredded bark, leaves or even shredded newspapers. When adding organic matter to soil, supply enough to physically change the soil structure. Ideally, at least one-third of the final soil mix should be some type of organic material. To accomplish this, spread a 2-to-4inch layer of organic material over the garden surface, and till it in a depth of at least 6-to-10 inches. Apply the recommended rate of fertilizer over the garden surface at the same time, and till it in along with the organic material. Some gardeners prefer a shovel or spading form to the rototiller for working garden soil, but many look
for an easier way to handle this choice. For gardeners with rototillers or those who are considering renting or buying one, here are some tips to make the tilling job much easier. Tilling the garden will be easier if you leave an untilled row between passes. Wide turns are easier to make with a tiller than “about faces.” Also, the machine won’t pull itself and you toward the next row, which it tends to do if you come close to overlapping rows. When tilling heavy clay soils or breaking ground for a new garden, reduce the tiller’s engine speed so that it turns the soil more thoroughly with less bucking and bouncing. When tilling ground for the first time, don’t try to work it to the maximum depth in the first pass. The first time around, set the brake stake to half the desired depth. Then set it for a full depth, and go over the ground a second time. Till only when the soil is slightly dry and friable. Tilling when it’s too wet leaves large clods which become rockhard when dry. Mud clumps clinging to tiller blades upset its balance, causing undue wear on you and the tiller. If you haven’t had much luck with gardening efforts in the past, your soil may be the problem. Tight, heavy, poorly-drained soils are common in many areas of Texas. With good management practices, and the addition of liberal amounts of organic matter, many of these soils can be
improved so that they grow satisfactory vegetables. But if you are interested in a quick, highly-productive vegetable garden, consider constructing a raised garden. Raised gardens are often the simplest solution to a difficult soil problem. This system has many advantages. Vegetable yields are increased because the depth of topsoil is increased. Raised gardens filled with a good soil, or soil mix drain faster and warm up quicker. Water usually soaks in rather than running off, and soil compaction is eliminated or reduced. Weeds, soil insects and soil-borne diseases are moire easily controlled since recommended treatments are more effective in raised gardens. Raised gardens do not have to be expensive. Construct frames of railroad ties, bricks, flagstones or other materials. Small raised bed gardens may even be constructed from 2x8s or 2x10s. Wood ashes from fireplaces are a good soil amendment. Excessive amounts,
however, can be detrimental. Wood ashes are highly alkaline and high in potassium, calcium and magnesium. Numerous other elements are also present, but in much lower amounts. Essentially no nitrogen is present because it vaporizes during the burning process. If ashes are spread on garden soil, a general rule of thumb is to apply five gallons per 1,000 square feet. Flower beds should receive half that much. To be safe, make only one application per year. Excessive amounts may make the soil too alkaline, and thus inhibit crops from assimilating certain key elements. Should your soil have a high pH like 7 or so, don’t use wood ashes. The bottom line is that wood ashes are in general good to put on Henderson County vegetable garden soils. Just remember not to get carried away, and apply too much. Rick Hirsch is the Henderson County Extension Agent - Agriculture for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
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Welcome rain was just right
O
ur livestock producers with some green grazing growing in the pastures were happy with the rains earlier in the week. Though the ground has plenty of moisture a couple inches down, the topsoil needed the rain event. Especially for folks with ryegrass, clover and other greenery, the moisture will stimulate more growth. That is if the winter pasture has received much-needed fertilizer in the last month or so. Onions are a delicacy in our kitchens and on restaurant menus. And nothing beats a Texas legend, the 1015 onion. Developed by Texas A & M researchers, the 1015 has the reputation of the real Texas onion! Here at home, plenty of plants are available and ready for planting. It is a sweet onion — works wonders on burgers and as onion rings. Restaurants love the 1015, because it has
only one central stem — and means you can peel off the rings for cooking one at a time. Some folks call the 1015 the “Noonday” onion, others just a Texas sweet or the 1015 — whatever you call them, they are a Texas tradition! Most of us are sick and tired of paying tax bills that seemingly increase every year. The Texas comptrollers’ office says Texans paid almost 49 BILLION dollars in taxes for the 2014 year. Of this figure, the more than 1,000 school districts in Texas levied $27 billion dollars of the total. Counties taxed property owners $8 billion and cities took in another $7.8 billion. Then there are over 1,200 “special districts” in the state that taxed residents another $6 billion. When we look at the number of taxing entities in the 254 Texas counties, the average is 14 different taxing authorities per county. Where does it stop — and is all that
money necessary to keep the wheels of progress turning?
It may be wet in East Texas now, but if some Texas lawmakers get their way in the 2017 legislative session, much of our water could be taken without our permission. A few days ago, the Texas House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to talk about water marketing. Not one of the dozen invited witnesses represented agricultural interests — and none represented East Texas. San Antonio Representative Lyle Larson was an ardent advocate at the hearing to take East Texas water for use in other parts of the state. He pointed out that East Texans seem unwilling to market (or give) their water to San Antonio and other needy cities. So, look for the Texas Legislature to figure out a way to demand our water — with or without compensation! That’s –30— Horace@valornet.com
Making her mark Stovall named president of Texas Junior Angus Association By Deanna Kirk Corsicana Daily Sun
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mily Stovall is no ordinary girl. She’s one of those people who goes at everything she tries with everything she’s got and then some. The Stovall family is from the rural town of Kerens, a firefighting family, and Emily always excelled in the food division at the Navarro County Youth Exposition as well as the creative arts division. But she also wanted to show cattle. “Everyone in my family showed cattle,” Stovall said. “But we lived in town, so I had to figure it out. My mom knew J.D. Johnston, and my first calves came from him. He and his son Cody taught me everything I knew. They and Emily Cooper, the 4-H leader at the time. I was around 13, 14 years old then.” Emily began spending so much time hanging out at the Johnston’s barn and traveling with them, she became a “third child.” She competed in the major livestock shows in San Antonio, Houston, San Angelo, Fort Worth, as well as the Navarro County Youth Exposition.
“I went to Tulsa in July 2015 and placed seventh out of my class with my heifer calf,” she said. “I also got third in sales talk with my team, and placed eighth in judging Angus cattle.” There are multiple competitions at nationals that do not rely solely on the animal, and Emily tried her hand at several. At a state show, she entered a photo of one of her first cows and her baby in a contest. It was chosen to be on the cover of the Texas Junior Angus Association Directory, and Emily received a royalty check. Leadership skills have always been something Emily pursued, so when she saw an opportunity to run for an office in the Texas Junior Angus Association, she jumped. “I talked to kids in the barn, talked to kids I knew and let them know I would love to serve as their president,” Emily said. “Leading is something I’m interested in, and this year was a good opportunity. Being in college, I’m able to travel a little more freely, and I felt I was able to take on a leadership position. “We’re kind of a girl power team this year with only one boy.” Having just been elected president of the 2016 Texas Junior Angus Association in January, Emily will get to lead the officers as they lead the junior directors and TJAA members, help facilitate the State Angus Show and banquet, assist with the major Junior Angus Shows throughout the state and preside over the TJAA meetings. The officers will also represent Texas Junior Angus Association at the National Angus Show that will be held in Grand Isle, Nebraska this year.
Stovall is currently a freshman at Texas A&M University, majoring in animal science. She received $4,000 in scholarship funds from the Texas Junior Angus Association. What are her biggest concerns with her grueling schedule? The school workload, the travel required for this new office, or how to get all her classwork covered while traveling for TJAA? No. It is fire, or lack thereof. “I can bake like no other, but cooking and not burning down my apartment ....?”
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Local FFA members exhibit in Fort Worth Staff Report Jacksonville Progress
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uring January, Jacksonville FFA members exhibited three heifers at the Fort Worth Livestock Show, Jan. 22 to 25. JHS Junior Lauren Fitts exhibited an eleven-month-old Beefmaster heifer, placing 16th in her class. Fitts said she was “pretty happy� about her results. “I like raising my heifers,� she said, adding her favorite part of the livestock competition is getting her heifer ready to show. Senior Kate Magee exhibited a one-year-old Angus heifer, placing 9th in her class. “My favorite part of the Fort Worth Stock Show was seeing all the different breeds of cattle and seeing what the judges were looking for,� Magee said. “I love the environment and experience you get from it (the program).� And JHS Senior Shelby Partin exhibited a two-year-old Angus heifer, placing 7th her class. “I got her two years ago, so I could go to majors. I got a purple ribbon and seventh place. I would have had a better chance if my Angus was bred,� she said. Partin said that her favorite part of showing an animal is bonding with her animals and other FFA members. The Fort Worth Heifer Show had the most entries this year in its long history, with 1,800 heifer entries. Rachel Robinson is the Jacksonville FFA sponsor.
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Dog Emotions I
t is my observation that dogs feel certain basic emotions like affection, fear, confusion or joy. I’m not sure they’re capable of feeling sadness or jealousy or if they can get their feelings hurt. But I believe a dog can get embarrassed! Take the Sunbeam clippers to a long haired dog and see if he doesn’t slink off behind the barn. We bought a few acres out in the country but rented in town ‘til we built our house. Boller, my good cowdog and companion, stayed in the backyard but LIVED to go out to the place! He would know when I was fixin’ to leave. He’d wait by the front door vibratin’ like a bow string! I’d tease him a little, then say, “Go git in the pickup!” I’d open the door and he’d streak across the grass, across
the driveway and catapult up into the back of the pickup! One winter morning I was preparing to drive out and split some wood. Boller was tuned up and tickin’ like a two-dollar watch! I peeked out the door when I released him. We’d had an ice storm. The trees hung heavy with icicles and the concrete driveway was like a mirror. Boller shot across the frozen
grass, reached the driveway, set his hind legs to spring skyward, hit the ice and slid like a statue of a dog praying, flat into the side of the pickup! He didn’t know what happened. He glanced over his shoulder, saw me watching, and walked, red faced, around the back of the pickup. Bill said Booker was one of the dumber dogs they’d ever had on the ranch. He didn’t have much cowdog in him, so, other than entertainment, he wasn’t much use. To his credit, he did make an effort, but it was usually a disaster. Booker grew up to the sound of regular outbursts, curses and colorful epithets directed his way! One hunting season Bill and a friend winged a buck. They drove the truck as
close to the brush as possible then went looking. Ever hopeful, Bill said, “Booker, find the deer!” Well, to everyone’s amazement, big ol’ slobberin’ Booker found it! Bill heaped praise on him...”Good dog! Good dog!” Booker was so pleased he was beside himself! He grinned a big ol’ loopy grin and was overcome with this unaccustomed acclaim! In his exuberance, he raced for the pickup, made an Olympic leap, cleared the entire bed, hooked his hind paw on the far side, and nosed dived into the dirt! They found him up the road about a half a mile...acting like nothing happened! www.baxterblack.com
Expo gets face lift in time for big show By Jennifer Miller Corsicana Daily Sun
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ans of the Navarro County Exposition Center are in for a real treat. Over the last several months, the facilities have been modernized. “We feel these updates allow us not only to maintain our facilities, but increase what we are able to offer in terms of events to the public,” said Mike Gage, chairman of the board. Gone are the old cattle panels and bucking chutes covered in dirt and rust. Replaced with brand new inventory, they are now glossy gray and bright blue. The Fannie Mae Vernon room received a facelift too. The walls are a deep yellow pine, and the wood floors are so shiny, reflections can be seen. Even the bathrooms are updated and are now handicap excessible. Perhaps the most unique addition to the facilities are the huge ceiling fans hanging from the roof of the indoor arena. Now competitors and fans alike can feel a breeze in the arena despite the heat of summer. While most of the changes are noticed cosmetically, there is at least one that is purely for safety concerns. A new return alley has been constructed and relocated to the east side of the building. The previous alley obstructed fire exits and caused evacuation concerns. “In 2013, the board began exploring funding options and cost estimates to replace some of our aging and weathered equipment,” said Gage. “Several bids were submitted to be certain the monies we spent were appropriated responsibly.” With the help of grants and donations, the renovations are nearing a stage of completion. In 2013, the event center hosted 68 events with participants numbering in excess of 28,000 people. Some of its most popular attractions include the annual Navarro County Youth Expo, various livestock and horse shows, and more recently, the Lonestar High School Rodeo Finals. Not all of the events at the center focus on farm and ranch. It is also host to drill team competitions, awards banquets, circuses and dog shows. The Vernon building can be rented for private gatherings such as birthday and
anniversary parties, family reunions, and quinceaneras. Gage has been involved with the Expo for 35 years. He remembers darker days. “We have had times we really struggled to keep paying the bills, but the community has always come through for us. I cannot think of a facility in this area that has brought more people together than the Expo Center,” said Gage. “It’s because of the people in our community who give both their time and donations that we are able to continue being used in this capacity.”
Jennifer Miller is a Daily Sun staff writer. She may be reached by email at jmiller@corsicanadailysun.com ————— Want to “Soundoff ” on this story? Email: soundoff@ corsicanadailysun.com
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Rodeo benefits from star athletes Special to the Athens Review
A
s I watched ESPN last week, I came upon a catchy commercial for an NBA game that featured the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant. The ad struck a chord with fans because it showed how two NBA all-time greats would go head-to-head. By comparison, rodeo has benefited from featuring star athletes such as 23-time world champion Trevor Brazile, four-time world bareback riding champion Kaycee Feild and threetime world bareback riding champion Will Lowe. But this year, it is highly unlikely that fans will see the three icons on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit. That’s because Brazile, Feild and Lowe are shareholders in the newly formed Elite Rodeo Association. As a result, they have been denied PRCA membership because they are deep in the ERA. On Feb. 4, the ERA lost a lawsuit against the PRCA as the ERA attempted to make it possible for its shareholders to legally compete on the PRCA and ERA circuits at the same time. U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn ruled in a Dallas courtroom that the PRCA could enforce bylaws that will keep its members from owning shares in the new ERA. The lawsuit brought by ERA sought a court order to temporarily and permanently stop the PRCA from enforcing the new
bylaws. Though the PRCA won the case, the association has lost Brazile, who is the rodeo equivalent to James. The PRCA also has lost Feild and Lowe, two other big timers. The PRCA can get away with losing multiple marquee athletes, probably a lot better than the NBA. Its rodeos, for the most part, draw fans mainly because the rodeos have a longtime tradition. For example, a lot of fans do not merely attend the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo to see all-star competitors, although it’s a great feeling to attend a performance and a see a Brazile or a Field or a Lowe compete because he’s been drawn up that night. Though the PRCA can move on and draw great crowds at its iconic rodeos without Brazile or Feild or Lowe, it’s sad to know fans are being denied seeing them. The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas still will be filled to the brim in December, mainly because it’s so tradition rich, but there could be a big void if numerous superstars will not be on the card. I appeal for unity between the PRCA and the ERA, which plans to go forward with a $4.6 million tour and has scheduled stops in eight cities, including a Nov. 9-13 championship show at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Historically, the PRCA’s top riders annually have competed in high-profile shows that are not approved by the PRCA such as the Professional Bull Riders
Iron Cowboy/RFD-TV’s The American (scheduled for Feb. 27-28) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Windy Ryon Memorial Roping in Fort Worth or the Roping Fiesta in San Angelo. A deal should be worked out where the sport’s elite ride in the ERA and PRCA at the same time with both associations feeling great about feeding off of each other. Price riding tough Taylor Price of Huntsville has advanced to the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo’s semifinals in bareback riding. Price made the cut after earning $3,422 in the
preliminaries (Bracket 2). Price is attempting to earn his first berth in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The 2016 San Antonio Rodeo, which runs through Feb. 28, is offering competitors $1,480,500. In recent years, it has been the PRCA’s highest paying regular season rodeo. PBR update On the Professional Bull Riders’ Built Ford Tough Series, veteran Shane Proctor clinched the title at last weekend’s tour stop in St. Louis. He was the only cowboy who stayed on all four bulls. Meanwhile, Proctor’s brother-in-law, defending world champion J.B. Mauney, finished fourth. Mauney is ranked second in the world title race with 1,355 points. Paulo Lima is ranked No. 1 with 1,362.5. This weekend, the tour stops in Kansas City, Mo. The tour also stops in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 27. Lane Frost award Cleo Hearn, a longtime PRCA tiedown roper who had headed up Cowboys of Color Rodeo shows for many years, received the 2016 Lane Frost Award. The award is given annually to a notable who has helped promote rodeo. 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.
What is a Master Gardener? By April Barbe editor@jacksonvilleprogress.com
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ots of folks garden, especially in a state like Texas where the winters are not typically harsh. But what makes someone a Master Gardener? According to local AgriLife Extension agency officials, Master Gardeners are local volunteers in a community who work with their office to increase the availability of horticultural information and improve a community’s quality of life through various horticultural projects. “It is open to people of all ages, regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, handicap or national origin,” the agency’s website states. “The program is designed to increase the availability of horticultural information and extend horticultural projects throughout the community. These goals are implemented through the training and employment of local volunteers known as Master Gar-
deners.” A garden enthusiast can become a Master Gardener by being active in horticulture, expressing an interest in joining and entering a training program. If accepted into the Master Gardener program in your county, a participant will attend a Master Gardener training course. Classes are taught by Texas AgriLife Extension specialists, agents and local experts. “The program offers a minimum of 50 hours of instruction that covers topics including lawn care, ornamental trees and shrubs, insect, disease and weed management; soils and plant nutrition, vegetable gardening; home fruit production; garden flowers; and water conservation,” coordinators said. The training is offered at various times during the year at various locations across the state. Check with the Cherokee County Extension office for specific locations, dates and times, if interested in joining! Still not sure if becoming a Master Gar-
dener is for you? Maybe these questions from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service will help: • Do I want to learn more about the culture and maintenance of many types of plants? • Am I eager to participate in a practical and intense training program? • Do I look forward to sharing my knowledge with people in my community? • Do I have enough time to attend training and to complete the volunteer service? If you answered yes to these questions, the Master Gardener program could be for you. The Cherokee County Master Gardeners hold numerous events for the benefit of the public, including semi-annual plant sales, spring conferences, home garden tours, scarecrow trails and more. Master Gardeners are representatives of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M System. The title “Texas Master Gardener” can be used by volunteers only when engaged in Extensionsponsored activities. To learn more about the Cherokee County Master Gardeners, contact Kim Benton at (903) 683-5416.
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Safety for Senior Farmers By Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Special to the Palestine Herald-Press
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t a time when many seniors are cashing in on Social Security or retirement accounts, senior farmers are looking forward to 10 to 20 more years of productivity. The average age of an American farmer is 57 years, significantly higher than in any other occupation. Farming and ranching is a not only an occupation, but a way of life which offers financial, physical, emotional and spiritual rewards. This helps to explain why many farmers continue farming well into their 70’s and 80’s until they are either physically unable to perform essential tasks or it becomes too much of a risk to continue. Agriculture is consistently among the most dangerous employment industries. Data from the 2003 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the agriculture industry has the highest fatality rate among industry sectors (31.2 per 100,000 employees) and ranks third behind construction and transportation industries in total number of fatalities in 2003 (707 fatalities). Considering the physical and cognitive limitations that develop with aging, and the inherently dangerous farming environment, it is not surprising that senior farmers are at particular risk of injury. Physical strength, eyesight, hearing, balance, and reaction time is significantly reduced in the aging process, yet the dangers of farm equipment, tractors, and livestock typically remain the same. Thus, it is important that senior farmers understand the physical challenges and increased risks of aging, and make the appropriate changes in work tasks and activities to ensure the safety of themselves, co-workers, and family members. AGE-RELATED RISK FACTORS Failure to recognize diminishing physical and sensory abilities and to take corrective actions to accommodate these losses puts senior farmers at considerable risk. On farms, where the worksite is also the homestead, these risks also extend to co- workers and family members who may be working with or around farmers operating machinery and equipment. Following is a discussion of some of the most common agerelated factors that affect senior farmers. Hearing Age-related hearing loss is called presbycusis (presby = elder, cusis = hearing). Everyone who lives long enough will develop some degree of age- related hearing loss. Those who damage their ears through noise develop it sooner and people who live and work in noisy environments have more presbycusis than those who live and work in quiet environments.
Farmers exposed to continuous or frequent loud noises from farm machinery, tractors, or confined livestock operations will typically experience some level of short-term and long-term hearing loss. Presbycusis is the most common form of hearing loss and is thought to be due to the combined effects of aging of the peripheral or central auditory systems, and the accumulated effects of wear-and- tear. Most cases of presbycusis include high- frequency sensitivity loss, which disrupts speech comprehension in proportion to the sensitivity loss. The condition worsens with age. The ability to hear is an important part of farm safety. Farmers who lose their ability to hear may be unaware of machinery malfunctions, approaching vehicles or animals, warning calls of co-workers, or nearby children or co-workers in the vicinity of tractors or other loud, moving equipment.
Vision Vision impairments can develop gradually over a period of years, affecting our ability to recognize objects at different distances, distinguish colors and patterns, adapt to changing light levels, and focus clearly on an object. For example, many 45-year- olds need four times as much light to see objects as clearly as they did when they were 20. By age 60, the light needed to see clearly is double that required by 45-year-old’s. Vision difficulties are also responsible for many accidents and injuries on the farm. Farmers often work early-mornings or late into the evening when light is already limited. Vision impairments only compound the problem. Farm work also involves careful manipulation of controls, levers, and gears on tractors and machinery. Farmers must quickly recognize and negotiate potential hazards to avoid injury. Falls, the most common cause of injury among seniors, is often attributed to poor vision due to the inability to see obstacles and the loss of balance. Balance Balance (or equilibrium) is controlled in a portion of the inner ear. Fluid and small hairs in the semicircular canal (labyrinth) stimulate the nerve that helps the brain maintain balance. As you age, your ear structures deteriorate. The eardrum often thickens and the inner ear bones and other structures are affected. It often becomes increasingly difficult to maintain balance. This is a major cause of falls in seniors, especially senior farmers. Proper body balance is essential to perform many farm and ranch activities, such as mounting and riding a horse, mounting and operating a tractor, climbing fences, loading and stacking hay, and carrying sacks of feed. Loss of one’s sense of balance can mean falling from a high vertical distance, or finding oneself in a dangerous environment. For example, falling from a tractor is especially serious, since one may land in the path of tractor tires or towed implements. Strength and Flexibility As we age, our physical strength and flexibility limits us from doing the same tasks we have always done in the same manner. Flexibility in the spine and joints is also reduced, leading to pain and discomfort when the muscles are exerted. This results when collagen, the main supportive protein in the skin, tendons, joint cartilage, and connective tissues become irregular in shape. Over time, a farmer’s ability to manipulate machine and tractor controls, pick up bales of hay or sacks of feed, and climb ladders and steps becomes more difficult, making somewhat ordinary tasks relatively more difficult and hazardous. Senior farmers who regularly operate tractors may find it difficult to peer behind them to check towed implements or turn their bodies around to check for oncoming traffic before entering a roadway. Combined Impairments Decreased hearing, vision, balance, strength, and flexibility abilities that are a part of aging often combine to significantly reduce a person’s reaction time in hazardous situations. Senior farmers often find that they can still do the same farm tasks as they did when they were younger; however the tasks often take longer, sometimes increasing risk of injury to themselves, co-workers, and family members. In these situations, experience in recognizing and limiting hazards is essential to offset the increased risks due to limited physical abilities. SAFTEY TIPS FOR SENIOR FARMERS Reducing farm hazards and risk of injury and death is generally no different for senior farmers than for any other age group of farmers. The most effective way to minimize farm hazards is to re-design the work environment, machinery, or methods to perform work tasks to lessen the exposure to injury and make safety a priority. It is much more difficult to change attitudes and behaviors, especially in senior farmers who have many years of experience where risky behavior has become acceptable and
has had positive results. In light of the limited physical abilities that may be encountered, the following suggestions are especially important to the safety and health of senior farmers. • Increase light levels in barns and other work environments • Equip stairs and steps with handrails and non-slip surfaces • Make sure all paths in barns and building remain clean and free from obstacles Ensure all corrals and animal confinement areas are structurally secure and equipped with escape routes • Equip gates with easily accessible and workable latches and locks • Use hearing protection while operating loud equipment and in noisy animal confinement areas • Limit particularly hazardous tasks to daylight hours where light is brightest • Use powered lifts and mobile material carts to transport hay bales, feed, etc. around the farmstead • Equip all tractors with rollover protection structures (ROPS) and seat belts • Limit tractor operation to daylight hours Refrain from operating machinery and tractors while under the influence of prescription drugs which have side affects that limit your reaction time, sense of balance, and that interfere with your ability to perform work safely. ASSISTIVE DEVICES Farmers are unique in that they often remain productive much later in years compared to men and women in other occupations. One reason for this is their innate ability to modify their worksites or restructure their work tasks to accommodate their diminished physical abilities. Contributions from farm family members also play an important part in helping older farmers continue to be a major part of the farm enterprise. Farmers are typically good problem solvers, adept at modifying equipment, tools, and machinery to make farm tasks easier. This ability to adapt prolongs a farmer’s productivity. Recognizing the need for assistive devices and the large market potential, numerous existing and start-up companies now offer a range of products that make historically difficult and labor-intensive tasks much easier to perform. No only do these products allow senior farmers
and farmers with disabilities to continue being productive on the farm, they can benefit farm workers of all ages. The National AgrAbility Project administered by University of Wisconsin and Easter Seals maintains a database of farm and ranch related assistive technology products and manufacturers on their web site: http://www.agrabilityproject.org. History shows that although aging does pose certain limitations, farmers can continue to be productive well into their later years by adapting the work environment, restructuring or reassigning difficult and hazardous tasks, and making use of assistive tools and devices. The key to safety is to acknowledge these limitations and take the appropriate actions to minimize the risk of injury to oneself, one’s co-workers and family.
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
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February-March 2016
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Cooking Wisely
EASY MEATLOAF Ingredients 2 lb. Ground Chuck (I used ground venison) 1 large egg 1 can Campbell’s Tomato Soup 1 pkg. McCormick Beef Stroganoff Seasoning ½ Cup Italian Bread Crumbs Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ingredients. 2. Mix well and place in a loaf pan. 3. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
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hen trying to come up with a recipe this month honestly I had no idea what it was going to be. I rarely ever have any idea what I am going to cook for dinner unless something is requested the day before. I usually take something out to thaw and set it in the sink before I leave for work. My husband gets a big kick out of me. He will ask what I am cooking for dinner and I reply back something with hamburger meat or what ever the meat may be that is currently in the sink that day. At times I probably look like the mad scientist in the kitchen adding a little of this and little of that. My latest creation (if that is what you want to call it) was rather tasty. I thought you might enjoy it as well. I love meatloaf. If is such an easy meal and always goes over well with just about anyone. Served with mashed potatoes and green beans. Yummo!
Turkeys make turnaround By Rich Flowers Athens Daily Review
chapters including a small local chapter in Athens. “Right here, within the city limits last
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ild turkey numbers have declined nationwide in recent years. The National Wild Turkey Foundation was formed in 1973 to help reverse that trend. Now, more than four decades later, there’s still much to be done. For that reason, NWTF Regional Director Shaine Nixon stays on the road, pleading his case for conservation and preservation of the hunting heritage. “Hunters are under attack these days,” Nixon said. “Hunters are the people who spend money for conservation.” Nixon was in Athens recently on his speaking trail. Nixon said 89 cents of every dollar raised by NWTF goes to conservation. The conservation efforts have an overall favorable impact on the habitat, aiding more than the turkey population. “We do as much for mule deer, elk, pheasant and quail as for anything,” Nixon said. The NWTF is particular about where their funds go. Some of the programs include women’s days, a youth event called Jake’s Day and an event called Wheel in Sportsmen for special needs hunters. The Texas chapter oversees 63 local
year, there were three gobblers and five hens and only a half-a-dozen people knew they were there,” Nixon said. “We put those birds out a few years ago and they did well in some places, but not so well in others.”
The plan in those days was to place turkeys in various locations around the state in hopes they would be fruitful and multiply. “They’ve learned that turkeys like to travel” Nixon said. ”Turkeys can travel 7 to 15 miles in a day.” Nixon said. One turkey they tracked left Anderson County and went to Dallas. She didn’t much care for Dallas and returned. Nixon said they learned that to be successful they must create a favorable habitat for the birds. “We can put birds here, here and here, but if there is nothing for them to eat, no place to sleep and no place for them to lay their eggs, they’re not going to be successful,” Nixon said. The Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area is located in northwest Anderson County, 21 miles northwest of Palestine. In 2014 the area received a “super stocking of Eastern Turkeys.” A total of 80 birds were released at a cost of $525 each. The National Wild Turkey Federation took care of the transfer of the birds between states. Another super stocking took place recently in the Angelina National Forest of East Texas. Nixon said the birds were brought to the area from Iowa. The relocated fowl are Eastern Turkeys. “If we took them to Kerrville, they would die,” Nixon said. “They need the trees and habitat of East Texas. The dividing line is about I-45.” The Turkey Federation’s slogan is “Save the habitat, save the hunt. Nixon said even those who aren’t interested in hunting turkeys, or hunting at all benefit when the turkey habitat is protected or restored. The NWTF goals include slowing the
loss of habitat by conserving and enhancing 4 million acres. “If you like looking at birds, watching deer or fishing streams, you should like what we do,” Nixon said. Nixon said NWTF plans to increase access to 500,000 new acres of public hunting lands. “We leased close to 8,000 acres last year, here in Texas that Texas Parks and Wildlife didn’t have,” Nixon said. “We were able to get it and work with the land owner. We got Texas 8,000 acres they didn’t have to go hunting.”
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February-March 2016
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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Hirsch speaks about agriculture’s importance By Kathi Nailling Athens Daily Review
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wenty-two million American workers produce, process, sell and trade the nation’s food and fiber. But only 4.6 million of those people live on the farms-- slightly less than 2 percent of the total U.S. Population. According to Henderson County Agrilife Extension Agent Rick Hirsch, the cattle industry is big business in Henderson County. Hirsch said cattle lead the way in local
agriculture production. Hirsch was at the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake in late January talking about the importance of the agriculture industry in Texas and Henderson County. Hirsch has been the face of the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension office in Henderson County since 1992. He said for decades agriculture was associated with production of basic food crops. Today besides farming and ranching agriculture includes forestry, fruit cultivation, dairy, poultry etc. Today agriculture may be defined
as the production, processing, market and distribution of crops and livestock products. Hirsch told members of the Rotary Club agriculture plays a crucial role in the life of an economy. It may be the backbone of our economic systems. Agriculture not only provides food but also employment opportunities to large proportion of the population. A prolong drought in Henderson County plagued struggling farmers. In 2015 Henderson County had just the opposite with 85 inches of rain the farmers and ranchers will once again suffer.
According to Hirsch there was $40 million in damage due to the rainfall. “It was a historic year for rainfall,” he said. Henderson County was among a group of Texas counties included in a declaration by Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday in connection with late December storms that swept through North Texas. Abbott said, “The severe weather that swept through Texas in December devastated many homes, businesses and lives. A disaster declaration will provide Texans the resources needed to begin rebuilding after this tragedy.”
BIG BOAT = BIG BASS East Texas couple reels in top prize in Bass Champs team event by Matt Williams Outdoors Writer
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ike Gibbs can’t help but chuckle when he recalls the conservation he had with his wife, Ashley, as they awaited the morning blast off of the Bass Champs team tournament held Feb. 13 on Toledo Bend Reservoir. The Gibbs’ were bobbing around amongst 309 of the fanciest bass bass boats you have ever seen, several of them occupied by some of the region’s top hands at wrangling big sacks of bass from the sprawling 186,000-acre reservoir along the Texas/Louisiana border. “Ashley looked at me and asked, ‘well, are you embarrassed?’” Gibbs said. “Looking around and seeing all those shiny, $70,000 rigs, I thought ‘well, yeah, sort of.’ They were all staying pretty far away from us. I guess they thought I might scratch up their boats or something.” Gibbs, 45, doesn’t own a bass boat. His rig of choice is a 2013 422 FCR South Bay “Tritoon.” The boat is similar to the typical party barge except that it floats on three foamfilled aluminum pontoons instead of two. It’s a 22-footer with a and a 115 horsepower Saltwater Series Honda outboard strapped to the transom. Revved to the max in chilly air and mild chop, Gibbs says the barge will lumber along at a top speed of 36 m.p.h. “It’s not the fastest boat on the water that’s for sure,” Gibbs said. “But it sure is nice and comfortable.” More importantly, the boat is roomy. Being a family man, Gibbs says he needs all the deck space he can get. “Man, I’ve got six kids ages one to 26 and we’ve got grandkids, too,” he said. “I’ve got to have a floating play pen out there.” Reeling in the Big Ones It’s not that often you see a party barge waiting to blast off in a weekend bass tournament, but the Gibbs’ rig has become somewhat of a fixture at Toledo Bend derbies over the last couple of seasons. The big boat has carried the couple to some outsize fish and helped them reel in some healthy pay checks in the process, too. Most recently, the Hemphill couple used their pontoon boat to take the top spot in Bass Champs tournament event earlier this month with a five-fish sack totaling 28.13 pounds. The win earned them $20,000. They also pocketed $4,200 in two Bass Champs events last year with 4th and 13th-place finishes, and $735 for a 31st place finish in the Texas Team Trail, also on Toledo Bend. “It’s kind of been a good luck charm for us,” says Gibbs, who also won a boat and truck after catching a tagged redfish from a Galveston fishing pier during the 2015 CCA Texas Star Tournament. “We’ve earned quite a few pay checks of that boat since we got it. Sometimes it can be a pretty good chore just getting around out there, especially when the wind gets hold of it. It definitely needs a
Courtesy Photo Mike and Ashley Gibbs have reeled in nearly $25,000 cash in local bass tournaments during the last year while fishing from their 22 foot South Bay Tritoon boat (in background). The couple won $20,000 with a 28.13-pound limit in the Toledo Bend Bass Champs event held Feb. 13. bigger trolling motor. I’m thinking momma is going to let me upgrade after winning that $20,000 though.” Maybe so. But the 45-pound thrust Minn Kota currently bolted to the bow of the rig was all the trolling motor the couple needed to slip up on their winning sack of bass on that memorable Saturday morning. According to Gibbs, they drew out as boat No. 7 and it took them about 20 minutes to motor to their sweet spot. Interestingly, the spot is located roughly 300 yards from their lakeside
Courtesy Photo Mike Gibbs (left) has been on a roll in recent times. Last May, he won a boat and truck when he caught this tagged redfish off a fishing pier near Galveston during the CCA Texas Star saltwater tournament.
home. “I can set and look at it out my window,” Gibbs said. The angler described the spot as a 14-acre flat located at the confluence of an old road bed, a 12 foot underwater ditch and a major creek channel that drops to 35 feet deep. The flat is about five feet deep when the lake is full. “I’ve been fishing this particular spot for about 15 years,” Gibbs said. “When it’s dead in there, it’s dead. But this time of year it can be magical. The fish pour in there once the spawn gets underway.” No sooner had Gibbs shut down his outboard than he learned that the magic was happening. In fact, there was a blood bath underway. “They were schooling on shad, really working them over,” he said. “We could see them ahead of us and you could tell they were big fish. Ashley was telling me ‘go, go, go’ and I was on the trolling motor trying to get to them before they went down. Then, all of the sudden, another big bunch started blowing up all around the front of the boat. I dropped a watermelon/red Zoom Fluke down right beside the trolling motor and a six pounder grabbed it. A couple of casts later I caught another six pounder.” The angler said the feeding frenzy lasted for about 45 minutes before coming to an abrupt end, but not before the couple had collected limit of thick shouldered bass that they estimated to weigh around 24-25 pounds. Gibbs estimates the biggest weighed around eight pounds. The smallest, somewhere around two pounds. “When they quit, they quit,” he said. “It was definitely a timing thing. Obviously, we couldn’t have timed it any better. It was definitely one of those days.” With plenty of fishing time remaining, the Gibbs’ went to another one of their honey holes about a mile away. There, they culled the two pounder with a bigger fish that helped them squeak into the winner’s circle by slightly less than a pound. Not surprisingly, Gibbs said the experience was one that he and his wife won’t soon forget. My guess is the 600-plus anglers who comprised the remainder of the record field won’t forget it, either. If you think pontoon boats and bass tournaments don’t mix, you better think again. Mike and Ashley Gibbs are sure to agree. Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches. He can be reached by e-mail, mattwillwrite4u@yahoo.com.
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February-March 2016
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Longer seasons for Texas dove hunters? U.S. Fish and Wildlife loosens framework governing migratory birds By Matt Williams Outdoors Writer
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he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has loosened the noose on federal frameworks governing migratory game birds and Texas Parks and Wildlife officials are looking to take advantage of the leniency by adding nearly three full weeks to the 2016-17 Texas dove season. TPWD staff recently proposed that Texas hunters be allowed a 90-day dove season next fall and winter. That’s 20 days longer than the 70 day-season hunters have enjoyed for years. If the extended season is approved at the March 24 TPW Commission hearing, it would be the longest Texas dove season 80 years, according to TPWD reports.
Additionally, the state is recommending changes to the upcoming duck season that call for a later opener, fewer days between season splits in the North Zone and a later season overall in the South Zone. The proposed 2016-17 season dates for doves, ducks are as follows: DOVE • North Zone: Sept. 1-Nov. 13 and Dec. 17Jan. 1 • Central Zone: Zone, Sept. 1-Nov. 6 and Dec.17-Jan. 6 • South Zone, Sept. 23-Nov. 13 and Dec. 17Jan. 23 Daily limits would remain unchanged, 15 birds daily and 45 in possession. DUCKS • North Zone Youth Season, Nov. 5-6 • North Zone Regular Season, Nov. 12-27
and Dec. 3-Jan. 29; Dusky Duck, Nov. 17-27 and Dec. 3-Jan. 29 • South Zone Youth Season, Oct. 29-30 • South Zone Regular Season, Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29; Dusky Duck, Nov. 10-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29. • Bag Limit: Six per day, no more than 5 mallards, of which only 2 may be hens, 3 wood ducks, 3 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 pintail, 2 canvasback, 1 “dusky duck” (mottled, black or Mexican-like) after the first 5 days. Mergansers: Five per day, no more than 2 hooded merganser. Coots: 15 per day. Possession limit is three times the daily bag limit. Staff also is a proposing a Sept. 10-25 early teal season, six-bird limit. GEESE • East Zone: Early Canada goose, Sept. 1025 and Nov. 5-Jan. 29; white-front, Nov. 5-Jan.
29; light light, Nov. 5-Jan. 29, 2017; conservation order, Jan. 30- March 19. • West Zone: Nov. 5-Feb. 5, Conservation Order, Feb. 6-March 19. Public comment on these and other proposed hunting/fishing regulation changes will heard at a series of upcoming public hearings or online at Public comment on any of the proposed regulation changes may be made in person at upcoming public meetings or online at tpwd. texas.gov/ until March 24. You can e-mail hunt@ tpwd.texas.gov or call 1-800792-1112 if you have questions. East Texas area public hearings will be held March 1 in Emory at the Emory City Centre, March 2 in Beaumont at the Jefferson County Courthouse, in Ennis at the Ellis County SubCourthouse; and in Groesbeck at the Groesbeck Convention Center. All hearings begin at 7 p.m.
Local youth wins calf scramble at Fort Worth Stock Show FORT WORTH, TEXAS ourtney January, a member of Slocum FFA, caught a calf during Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s Calf Scramble February 5th, earning a $500 purchase certificate for a show heifer and the chance for up to $10,000 in scholarship awards. January’S parents are Cindy and Kevin January. January’s award was sponsored by Stock Show Physicians. One of the Stock Show’s most iconic and popular events, the Calf Scramble gives 16 students an opportunity to catch eight calves during one of 29 performances of the legendary World’s Original Indoor Rodeo held January 22 through February 6. Those not catching calves receive a pair of Justin Boots courtesy of the iconic western footwear maker. Justin Boots and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are overall underwriters for the legendary Calf Scramble program. January will use the purchase certificate toward the cost of a heifer that she will raise and exhibit at next year’s Stock Show. Exhibitors that submit monthly reports and a final essay to the Stock Show’s Calf Scramble Committee will be eligible for scholarship awards which can range between $500 and $10,000. The Calf Scramble program has awarded more than $3,385,400 million in heifer purchase certificates and granted 1,217 scholarships totaling $1,863,000 million over the last 28 years.
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February-March 2016
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Third Generation Houston County Equipment By PennyLynn Webb community@palestineherald.com
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ouston County Equipment has long been respected by the farming community as the best farm and garden equipment dealers in Houston County, with great customer service. Primarily a Kubota dealer, HCE also carries short lines that include Rhino, Krone, Echo, Honda Power Equipment, Texas Bragg, Land Pride. Greg Beavers is the third-generation owner of HCE. The farm-equipment business was opened in the late ‘80s by his father and grandfather and, over time, Greg worked his way to the top. “I love it. It’s in my blood. It’s really all I’ve ever known. I really enjoy what I do. If you truly enjoy what you do, then it never really feels like work.” According to Greg, his grandfather and father, Jack and David Beavers, respectively, were partners in an equipment company in Alvin, as well as a cattle operation in the Percilla community, just east of Grapeland, when they decided to open Houston County Equipment. Gregg explained that Jack Beavers opened his first equipment company in Alvin in 1952. Jack’s son, Greg’s father, David Beavers eventually came on board as a partner in the company. The father and son would later purchase their ranch in Percilla in 1980. At that time there were only two farm equipment dealerships in Houston County — John Deere and Case. The partners had
discussed the idea of opening another dealership in Crockett for some time, but it wasn’t until they discovered the Case IH franchise might be available that they decided to go ahead and break ground on a new location. The 20-plus-acre property, where their company is still located today, was purchased from R.H. Craycraft and construction on the facility began. The S.C. Maxwell Company built the main showroom and repair shop. Upgrades, renovations and additions have been made over time for their ever-expanding operation. They initially opened as a Massey-Ferguson tractor and Rhino mower dealer, along with a few other short lines. Eventually the Case IH franchise became available and they picked up that line as well. The franchise for Kubota became available in 1990 and HCE was awarded the contract to carry their full line of equipment. Greg, who grew up in the Alvin store, was sweeping floors and helping out where he could by the age of 10. After graduating from Texas A&M University in 1999 with a degree in agriculture development, Greg was named general manager of the Crockett store. “As soon as I started working for Houston County Equipment full-time, I began purchasing stock in the store until I out-right owned it,” said Beavers. Married to his Texas A&M sweetheart, Carrie, Greg hopes that one day his daughters, Riley, 11, and Landry, 7, will one day take over the business. The homeschooled beauties are highly competitive in 4-H and softball.
According to Greg, customer service and recognition of the value of their customers is what sets their company apart from the rest. “My team is made up of the best of the best. When hiring my staff, I’m always looking for the cream of the crop,” said Gregg. “Our service team is made up of two highly motivated, specially trained and certified technicians, who have more than 20 years’ experience between them. These men both strive to exceed our customers’ expectations in the repair of equipment. Their goal is to properly diagnose and repair your equipment the first time, completing the work in a timely and professional manner. They specialize in the repair of agricultural, construction and lawn and garden equipment. We offer pickup and delivery at a reasonable rate and have hauling capacities for all sizes of equipment, from lawnmower-sized equipment to mid-sized construction equipment.” Greg noted, “Our parts department also goes above and beyond to try to get parts needed by customers ordered and in-house in a timely manner, so our customers can get their equipment back up and running as quickly as possible.” In conclusion, Greg said, “We pride ourselves in being the best lawn and garden equipment company in the area. Our customers are like family. Unlike most equipment companies, who are only out to sell products, we are your partner in your purchase. We are here to help you every step of the way. As long as you own your equipment. It’s not something you can really
advertise. You have to live it, walk it and hope that it carries over to the customer experience.” Houston County Equipment is located at 1604 S. Loop 304 in Crockett. For more information log onto www.houstoncountyeq. com or call 936-544-4377.
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February-March 2016
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Aquaponics increasing in popularity By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@jacksonvilleprogress.com
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hile the practice of aquaponics – simply put, a technique raising food-producing plants in water that’s used to cultivate aquatic life – may have been utilized by Aztec Indians more than a thousand years ago, today, it’s “very popular with homeowners and small scale producers,” according to one Texas A&M AgriLife official. Dr. Joe Masabni, an AgriLife small-acreage vegetable specialist, is offering conferences and workshops on the subject, and has been bombarded with calls for more. “I received many calls last year and organized two conferences in response to that demand, and had about 150 participants,” he said, adding that construction workshops held Jan. 23 and Feb. 27 at the AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton, filled immediately. “(There is) a waiting list asking for more eduction all programs,” he said. “And that’s just me. I am sure county agents get calls all the time (requesting aquaponics classes).” According to www.theaquaponicsource.com, “long before the term ‘aquaponics’ was coined in the 1970s, the Aztec Indians raised plants on rafts on the surface of a lake in approximately 1,000 A.D. In modern times, aquaponics emerged from the aquaculture industry as fish farmers were exploring methods of raising fish while trying to decrease their dependence on the land, water and other resources.” The site also notes that fish traditionally were raised in large ponds or netted pens, but more recently, the trend has been to create something called ‘recirculating aquaculture systems,” which allow fish to be stocked more densely, thus maximizing use of water and space. In combining aquaculture (the fish end of the equation) and hydroponics (vegetable production in soilless media), all components work together seamlessly for a positive outcome: Food crops. “Whether it’s running water through pipes or a floodand-drain system, the idea is to combine the two where the fish waste becomes food for the plants and the plant roots clean out the water by absorbing all the nutrients. The water is then recycled back to the fish,” Masabni said, noting that the practice differs from hydroponics, or the use of chemical fertilizer as the source of nutrients. “Aquaponics means the source of nutrients is fish waste that was digested by bacteria. No chemical fertilizer is added,” he explained. “They are two separate production systems.” It’s mostly homeowners who are attracted to the novelty of
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service/Kathleen Phillips
Dr. Joe Masabni, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service vegetable specialist in College Station, demonstrates a small-scale aquaponics setup.
using aquaponics to produce the food they eat, Masbni said. “The most current producers are family operations – no one I know is large enough to be an agri-business model,” he said. “The biggest one I know of is Sustainable Harvesters, in Hockley, Texas, which has a 10,000-square-foot greenhouse.” Still, he said, “the idea to grow/eat both fish and plants is very appealing. Commercially, the idea that it is organic, saves on water use to produce the same crop, and (has a) fast production time is a big incentive. “To be more specific, organic means that no pesticides at all are sprayed to avoid killing the fish. Water saving means that you need only about 10 percent of the water to produce the same crop as in the field. Fast production means that you can harvest a crop of lettuce in about six weeks.” The Smith County workshops are designed as handson events, where participants jump right into assembling a functioning greenhouse aquaponics system from scratch at one of the greenhouses at the Overton center, assisted by Clint Kripki of Emerald Aquaponics in Katy. “This should be a rewarding opportunity for participants to get hands-on practice on all aspects of construction and
maintenance of a system with all necessary components for a successful operation and production, whether on a commercial scale or for personal use in the backyard,” Masabni said. “Handouts will be available on practical aspects, such as what type of fish and sources, what type of foam pads and sources for them, and what type of analytical equipment that is best to use to measure pH, nutrient concentration, nitrate levels and more.” His hopes are to organize a “Texas aquaponic association” that meets regularly, as well as to organize efforts to meet their needs, he said. Masabni said he’d also like to see a regular aquaponics course taught through the college for producers and landowners. “There aren’t any that I know of, but I hope in about a year, once my research is running, that I will teach a course on aquaponics,” he said. For now, though, he’ll continue to do what he can to increase awareness of aquaponics, focusing on practical applications of this method of producing food. “The biggest challenge is that no one is taking the full potential of the fish aspect of the business. Every one I know is not interested in selling fish, which can add about 13 percent to their income. With daily water testing and basic maintenance, aquaponics is a lot less labor-intensive than field production,” he pointed out. To learn more about aquaponics, contact Texas A&M AgriLife Extension small-acreage vegetable specialist Dr. Joe Masabni at jmasabni@tamu.edu, or call 979-845-8562
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 •Farm 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
14
February-March 2016
Support Agriculture Businesses... They Are the Heartbeat of Our Economy.
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Super Smeller H
you may remember the incident one time when my collar got caught on the dishwasher rack and I pulled it out dishes and all. Thinking back I still don’t know how those plates kept from breaking. My super smeller can detect a treat in Daddy’s pocket with no problem, too. If he forgets to give it to me I’ve been known to stick my smeller in there to remind him. He always laughs and says,” Sorry girl. I forgot it was in there” and then hands it to me. Wonder how he could forget something like that? Anyway, when we’re on our morning walk I often make an abrupt turn without giving any signals when a scent hits my smeller. My folks have to be watchful cause my change in direction has caused them to almost trip over me several times. I’ve always thought that having a super power like flying would sure be nice but maybe a supped up nose is mine and that’s ok. Do you have any super powers? For some reason I keep running across new critters. This latest one was some kind of bird that ran along the ground. It had long tail feathers and a funny little top knot. I was out back on guard duty when I noticed it, but it took off running out into
EAST TEXAS ANDERSON CO. LIVESTOCK Updated: 2/17/2016 Head Count: 128 Buyers: 24 Sellers: 31
the pasture when it noticed me. I got up and gave chase but it disappeared behind the hay barn and when I got there it must have slipped into the tunnel under those rolls of hay. That tunnel is the one place I still kind of avoid since my encounter a few summers ago with that evil,mean,hissing, devil like cat. That thing may not be in there anymore , but no sense in taking chances. I’m pretty fast, but that funny looking bird out ran me this time. Never know what I’ll run across next. I’ve heard that gettin’ old is not for wimps and I sort of understand what that means. Now I’m not old but no pup either. My folks recently noticed that I was limping some after laying down for a nap. And it’s gotten a little hard for me to jump upon the bed or in the Ranger. So off to my doctor we went. I got poked, prodded and my temperature checked with that cold thing again. Well, it was decided that I have some arthritis in my hips. So now I have to take a chewy pill every day ,which is no big deal since that thing tastes yummy and my folks got some special food for me to eat. The downside is I‘m not to go jumping after my green toy and try to catch it in midair anymore. Other than that the good doctor said my routine could remain pretty much the same and I can still work cattle when my help is needed. I am a little cowdog afterall. I guess it could be worse, but you know I kind of miss flying through the air to catch that toy and I’ve gotten pretty good at it to. Oh well. Recently when I asked you to ‘think snow’ since we were going to Northern New Mexico for a ski trip it really worked cause we sure got into a lot of the white stuff. What a time we had too. In some places the snow was so deep that when I got in those drifts I couldn’t even be seen. The downside was the cold and I do mean COLD. Several mornings it was way below zero when we headed out for our morning walk. That’s cold in anybody’s book. And almost every time we went for a walk we ran across mule deer that seemed to live in town. They would come close enough to me that I could touch noses with them. Daddy said they were used to being fed and that’s why they were so tame. But I was warned to be careful since they had hooves and knew how to use them. And I mentioned earlier that Mama was going to get me some booties to wear; she did, but I didn’t care for them. When I was in deep snow they wouldn’t stay on my feet very well so she gave up on them. Anyway with my built-in 4 wheel drive I didn’t have any trouble gettin’where I wanted to go. Now us canines aren’t allowed on the
STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $265-$370 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $205-$248 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $175-$220 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $155-$192 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $145-$182 HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $240-$365 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $200-$228 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $168-$190 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $152-$177 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $138-$158 SLAUGHTER Cows: $56-$88 Bulls: $83-$97
SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.60 - $0.89 lb Bulls: $0.80 - $1.05 lb
PAIRS $2100 - $2400
PAIRS $1050 - $1800
BRED COWS $1500 - $1950/hd
Stocker Cows: $675 - $1600 hd Goats: $45 - $150
SLAUGHTER Cows: $47 - $83 Heavy Bulls: $90 - $105 Pairs: $1850 - $2100 Stocker Cows: $1100 - $1800 Baby Calves: $175 - $225
To advertise here, contact Lezlie Hoover at 903-729-0281 or email lhoover@ palestineherald.com
EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC. Updated: 2/16/2016 Cows: 150 Bulls: 12 Buyers: 52 Sellers: 117
HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.60-$2.29 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.45-$2.15 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.30-$1.90 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.20-$1.52 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.10-$1.35 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $0.95-$1.12 lb
HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.70-$3.00 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.60-$2.90 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.55-$2.10 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.45-$1.90 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.20-$1.55 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.10-$1.45 lb
FARM & RANCH
STOCK PRICES
STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.70-$2.47 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.50-$2.25 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.38-$2.17 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.30-$1.85 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.25-$1.45 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.05-$1.35 lb
TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 2/20/2016 Head Count: 729 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.80-$3.40 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.70-$2.40 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.60-$2.20 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.50-$1.85 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.35-$1.70 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.25-$1.62 lb
downhill ski runs, but one day we went to The Enchanted Forest and I was welcome there. My folks rented some funny looking things they called snowshoes and off we went. Man that was fun! I ran and sniffed and roled in the snow and got into the deep powder and played till my wiggly butt was draggin. You know I bet there’s snow in doggie heaven cause that stuff is sure fun to romp around in. I LOVE going to the mountains in the hot summertime cause it’s lots cooler there, but going in the winter sure has it’s merits too. Guess I’d better sign off for now. I’m sure there’s something or someone that needs my attention such as that truck that’s going down the side road. Sometimes a pup’s just gotta run and bark ya know. So long, Kodi Ps: A while back my cousin, Lucky, spent some time at our house. His daddy, my uncle Wayne, passed away suddenly and his mama was real busy so he came to stay with us for a couple of days. He’s a little mini Schnauzer but acts much bigger than his 10 pounds. He even walked the entire 3-4 miles with us each morning. We got along just fine and I even shared the couch and Mama’s lap with him. I felt like I needed to be his friend since it’ll be so different at his house with his daddy gone. I know how much I’d miss mine.
CLASSIFIEDS
i Y’all, How’s it goin’ in your neck of the woods? Looks like another holiday has come and gone and I’m talking about Valentine’s Day. For a while it seemed like everywhere I looked there were heart shaped things. And so many of the tv commercials are for jewelry and chocolate. Now I don’t get to eat chocolate cause for some reason it’s bad for me and I don’t wear jewelry unless you count my bone shaped tag that has my name on it, so it’s just another day to me. But my Daddy always gets Mama some chocolate since she’s been his main squeeze for a long time. Hope you remembered to do something nice for your special valentine. It’s been pretty much ‘the usual’ with ‘my girls’. This time of the year not much is happening except for Daddy putting out hay and turning them in to graze on winter pastures. Won’t be long though before some new babies will start being born and that’s one of my favorite times. I love to see those little ones running and playing after they get a few weeks old and their mamas don’t freak out when they get a few feet from them. Sug likes that time too cause those calves hang with her a lot. She’s really just a big old calf sitter who’ll let them chew on her tail and anything else. And lots of times I’ll look out in the fields where they are and see her asleep right in the middle of a group of calves. Now I don’t mean she’s sleeping with one back leg cocked up, I mean she’s laying down asleep. Something to see I’ll tell you. All the young bulls are still out back and growing by leaps and bounds. Seems like each week there numbers get smaller since lots of my folk’s bull customers start picking them up about this time of the year to get them ready to put out with their cows in the spring. When they’re all gone there’ll be no more leftover feed for yours truly to scarf up in the feed troughs. Bummer. I’ve decided that one of these days my nose is going to get me in trouble. I really have a super smeller and when I lock onto a scent I just can’t help but follow where it leads me. After dinner I sniff all around the kitchen to see if anything might have been dropped that I need to clean up. Mama is such a neat freak though that usually doesn’t happen. Now I have been known to sneak a lick of the plates when her back is turned and she hasn’t closed the dishwasher yet. Sometimes that’s some good stuff and I sure don’t want it to go to waste. Course when Mama sees me I hear the NO word loud and clear. And
NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EX. Updated: 2/18/2016 Head Count: 264 Buyers: 36 Sellers: 73 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.75-$3.05 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.60-$2.50 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.45-$2.12 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.20-$1.92 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.60-$2.45 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.45-$2.25 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.10-$2.02 lb 500 lbs - UP: $0.95-$1.65 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.55 - $0.85 lb Bulls: $0.80 - $1.05 lb PAIRS $1050 - $2000 Stocker Cows: $650 - $1600 hd Baby Calves: $50 - $200 hd Horses: $0.10 - $0.35 Goats: $45 - $150 hd
HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE Updated: 2/15/2016 Head Count: 330 huntlivestockexchange.com STEERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.25-$3.60 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.13-$2.29 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.11-$2.15 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.20-$1.87 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.20-$1.77 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.31-$1.45 lb HEIFERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.65-$3.05 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.80-$2.15 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $0.99-$1.83 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $0.83-$1.57 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $0.88-$1.67 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.42 - $0.91 lb Bulls: $0.82 - $0.95 lb PAIRS Pairs: $1000-$2200 Stocker Cows: $450-$1775 Baby Calves: $250-$410
ATHENS COMMISSION CO. Updated: 2/19/2016 Head Count: 805 Sellers: 166 Sale EVERY Friday At 11am STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.60-$3.00 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.50-$2.80 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.40-$2.40 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.30-$2.15 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.50-$2.80 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.40-$2.60 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.30-$2.25 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.20-$2.00 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.40 - $0.87 lb Heavy Bulls: $0.80-$1.10 lb PAIRS Top: $1750 - $2300 Low Middle: $1000 - $1750 Stocker Cows: $0.75 - $1.80 lb Baby calves: $100 - $575 hd Horses: $35 - $600 hd Goats: $50 - $175 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.
Gone Fishing with Jerry Miller
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Support Agriculture Businesses... They Are the Heartbeat of Our Economy.
February-March 2016
15
Lake Fairfield beginning to rebound M
ost fishermen still remember Lake Fairfield and how excellent the bass fishing was about eight or nine years ago. When hydrilla was in this lake it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t uncommon to catch big bass in the 7 to 10 pound range. My last, and most unforgettable, memory of this lake was hanging a huge bass on a 1/2 oz. Terminator spinner bait and fighting this bass towards the boat. About half way to the boat the huge bass jumped and plunged toward the bottom. My line went slack. I knew my 20-pound line didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t break because my drag was set properly. When I reeled in my line I discovered that the bass had terminated my new Terminator spinner bait! The arm broke off right at the head of the lure. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think you could break a titanium wire! Needless to say, I no longer fish a Terminator spinner bait. Those days are long gone, but now thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some light at the end of the tunnel. Lake Fairfield is beginning to rebound somewhat. Recently I discussed Lake Fairfield with Richard Ott, Project Leader, Inland Fisheries, District 3C. Ott said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a good number of bass 1-1/2 to 2 years old that are being caught. Some about 18 inches in length. These bass are good and fat with a lot of three-pound bass being caught. There is a very young population of fish that are growing rapidly. Fishermen have the advantage because these are young fish that are naĂŻve and have seen few baits. Fishermen are doing well.â&#x20AC;? I knew that Lake Fairfield had experienced more than one big fish kill off. Ott said that 2010 was the largest die off in the lake. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Millions and millions of fish died,â&#x20AC;? Ott
exclaimed. Since then there has been a fish kill every year but not as severe as before. The fish kill is due to a low dissolved oxygen content. Ott said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;They pump so much Trinity water into the lake that it concentrates the nutrients. The lake is very fertile. This is good when you have a lot of sunny days where oxygen is produced. During the fall you have a lot of cloudy days and there is not a sufficient amount of oxygen to keep fish alive.â&#x20AC;? Last year the kill off was primarily shad and Tilapias. The good news is that shad and tilapia jump back fast. We probably wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the return of big bass because they are not surviving long enough to grow to larger size. Ott said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is not much submergent vegetation in the lake. Primarily you will see emergent vegetation like rushes and cattails. Lake Fairfield will probably never return to its former glory days when it was producing big 7-8-9 and 10 pound bass. Like I said, the bass just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t survive long enough anymore to grow into trophy bass. Ott doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t plan to restock the lake any time soon because they are uncertain about the next fish kill. They got some relief this year when the floods washed a lot of nutrients downstream. The lake gets flushed out and the oxygen content wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t depleted. Bass fishing should be good this year, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to catch many over three pounds. ------------------------------Jerry Miller may be contacted at: gonefishing2@ suddenlink.net
All eyes on Grand Lake for 46th â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Classic By Matt Williams Outdoors Writer
P
ro bass fishing junkies around the globe are counting the days until March 4. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when the 46th annual Bassmaster Classic gets underway at Grand Lake Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Cherokees in Tulsa, Okla. The tournament will pit 55 of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top bass pros in a three-day competition to see who can reel in the heaviest sack of fish. Anglers can weigh-in five fish per day. Often referred to as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Super Bowlâ&#x20AC;? of competitive bass fishing, the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Classic is considered by many to the sportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marquee event and a game changer for
the guy who wins it. But not just because of the $300,000 grand prize that goes with the trophy. Winning the three-day â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Classic also opens the door to pursue a gamut of lucrative endorsement and sponsorship deals, particularly for an angler who is already well known or a newcomer who knows how to market himself. South Carolina angler Casey Ashley recently told reporters he has barely had time to wet a hook all year long after winning the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell in front of his hometown crowd. Instead, Ashley has been running the roads fulfilling old and new sponsorship obligations, making guest appearances, conducting
speaking engagements and getting paid handsomely to do it. No doubt, Albert Collins of Nacogdoches would like to get a piece of that action. Collins, 51, will be competing in the second Bassmaster Classic of his career by virtue of winning the Bass Nation Championship held last November on the Ouachita River in Monroe, La. He qualified for the 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Classic, also held at Grand Lake, by winning the Toyota Bassmaster Weekend Series National Championship on Sam Rayburn. He finished a disappointing 48th in of a field of 53 in that event, so you can bet he will be going back looking for some redemption.
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With official practice time just around the corner, Collins says he plans to fish in the moment this year rather than heading to Grand Lake with any preconceived notions about how or where he will fish. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I did last time and it cost me,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went up there thinking I was going catch them a certain way and it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work out. This time Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just going fishing -- Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll fish what my gut tells me to do when I get there. If I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t catch â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;em, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be because I just didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t figure it out. What I do know is Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m ready for it to get here and get this thing going. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m tired of waiting.â&#x20AC;? Collins will be joined at the upcoming event by four other
Texans with more than 30 years of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Classic experience between. Alton Jones of Lorena, who won the 2008 event, will competing his 17th Bassmaster Classic. Meanwhile, Todd Faircloth of Jasper will be making the trip for the 14th time and Keith Combs of Huntington will make his fifth showing. Those three anglers are full-time pros on Bassmasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elite Series circuit. The remaining Texas qualifier is Thomas Martens of Austin. Martens will be making his first ever â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Classic appearance. He qualified by winning the Bassmaster Team Classic Championship last December on Lake Guntersville.
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