January 2017 Farm & Rranch Living

Home for Christmas

Equine-Assisted Outreach program assists veteran with new home, Page 2

Sit. Stay. Down.

Dragon Crest Dog Training offers classes in obedience, agility and tracking, Page 6

Livestock Emergencies Cherokee County Farm Bureau recognized for innovative program, Page 9

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Carters’ Two-J’s Ranch is home to multiple game types, Page 16

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December-January 2017

Home for Christmas Local Equine Assisted Outreach program assists veteran with new home

By Jeff Riggs

Athens Daily Review

E

veryone loves a good Christmas story, and The King’s Rein, a local Equine Assisted Outreach, has one to share. Last year, The King’s Rein started a program to get a veteran in need a small home for Christmas.

Benjamin Cordero, the program recipient, had been living in a used FEMA RV for many years, and the RV was at a point where it had become uninhabitable, due to water leaks, rotting, mold and lack of heating or cooling. Winters and summers had been extremely hard for Cordero for several years.

Seeing his need, The King’s

Rein started a program to get him a new dwelling. The program kicked off in November of 2015 with a goal of having the veteran under cover by that Christmas.

The journey took a little longer than expected, but with a matching grant from The Home Depot in Tyler, the ending is so much sweeter.

Matt Porter, manager of Ivan Smith, gave the group a great deal on a queen bed set, and donated a small end table. There were many other contributors.

“Being a young organization, it was a real learning experience about fundraising,” said Shannon DeCraene, president of The King’s Rein organization. “It took so much more time to raise the funds needed to purchase a cabin shell than we had expected. But we have encountered so many

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generous people, churches, organizations and companies along the way, illuminating the true spirit of Christmas.”

DeCraene said it was a great experience watching people work together for the right goal.

“It is truly amazing to see the communities of Henderson County, Anderson County and Smith County all work together to help provide a solution for a man in need,” she said.

She said a group of local horsewomen that work together to raise money for great causes came together to host a equine obstacle course challenge as a fundraiser. This took place in November at the Henderson County Fairpark Complex, due to the generosity, according to DeCraene, of Jim Bob Warren and the Henderson County Fair Park Board.

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And a new year dawns...

ots of water has flowed under the bridge in the year 2016. Just hope it rains again at the right time in 2017 — and cattle prices go up.

As we look forward to the new year, the “experts” say cattle prices will not improve for the next two years. That’s the same “experts” who say folks at the grocery store don’t care where their beef comes from — as long as it is priced right. That, even though unbiased surveys show the consumer wants

to know if his beef is raised in the U.S. — or Mexico, Brazil or Australia.

Cattle producers are being “taxed” to the tune of over 100 MILLION DOLLARS a year coming from the dollar and $2-a-head mandatory beef check-offs. Not one cent of that money can be used to promote AMERICAN BEEF — only used to promote beef as a commodity.

Count on Wal-Mart and its leaders, who are out for the bucks, to sell products that incite controversy. The

big box store monstrosity is selling T-shirts and

sweatshirts emblazoned with “Black Lives Matter” and “Bulletproof.” WalMart reports they will remove the Bulletproof logo due to customer complaints.

The East Texas deer population seems to be exploding in many counties. And land owners are discovering there’s money to be made in hunting leases.

Being close to major cities with plenty of willing hunters is a major asset often overlooked. Dr. Judon Fambrough, an attorney

with Texas A&M at College Station, has written a booklet called, “The Texas Deer Lease.”

It’s a top-notch publication and covers most everything the landowner should have in the deer lease. Also, it provides protection for the hunter who wants to lease the property. It is available at the local county agent’s office or online through the Texas Real Estate Research Center library.

And finally, the Obama family isn’t leaving our White House residence

without continued criticism of the American voter.

They just don’t seem to understand that their grand agenda for this nation was repudiated at the polls when Hillary Clinton lost her race. Mrs. Obama said on the Oprah Winfrey show last week that she and her husband are “feeling what no hope feels like.”

President Obama also got his two cents’ worth in.

He said, “If I could have had a third term, I would have beaten Trump.”

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beautiful Christmas story, and help the New Year be a wonderful new beginning for Veteran Benjamin Cordero,” DeCraene said.

Home Depot representative, Amanda Smiddy and Veteran Benjamin Cordero Finally, reaching their fundraising goal for the structure, The King’s Rein was recently able to purchase a 14-feet-by-34feet Derksen Cabin that is constructed of wood with a metal roof.

The cabin was expected to be delivered right after Christmas this year, and Benjamin will be in the dry, and much warmer for New Years celebration.

“The whole adventure has been a process of watching God work little miracles time after time, at exactly the needed time,” said DeCraene. “It’s truly amazing!”

DeCraene said the Men’s Ministry at The Cowboy Church in Athens is going to jump in, and get the structure plumbed out and the electrical to be activated. Cordero is a member at the Cowboy Church in Athens, and his need came to light about the same time the Cowboy Church was starting a new Mens’ Ministry, Cowboy Way, which provides skilled craftsmen and construction services to community members in need. Deacon Terry Rhodes says it’s all summed up in the Cowboy Church motto, “We love them ‘till they ask why.”

After the electrical and plumbing is installed, Garland & Jones from Tyler is going to come and install spray-in foam insulation for the building.

“It’s our pleasure to help Mr. Cordero and The King’s Rein,” said Garland & Jones General Manager Scott Wamack. “We look forward to insulating Ben’s cabin, and we sincerely thank him for his service to

our nation. No veteran should ever be left homeless.”

The King’s Rein is now seeking monetary or in-kind donations to help complete the finish of the 400-square-foot cabin. Items

such as a refrigerator, freezer, stove, oven, washer, dryer, kitchen cabinets, kitchen countertop, paneling, flooring and a few basic furniture items are needed.

“We invite you all to take part in this

For more information, contact Shannon DeCraene at The King’s Rein at 903-7140830 or by e-mail at info@thekingsrein.org.

Donations can be made online at www. thekingsrein.org under the Veterans Home Program tab. The King’s Rein Equine Outreach is a Texas non-profit 501c3 organization.

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December-January 2017

Livestock show named in honor of agent

By Rich Flowers

Athens Daily Review

A

livestock show scheduled for Tyler in January is named in honor of the man who led the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension program in Henderson County for more than two decades.

Rick Hirsch died suddenly in April of 2016, just weeks after the conclusion of the annual Henderson County Livestock Show. He was 51 years old.

Lane Dunn, Shelby County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources said Rick “cut a big swath” around East Texas.

“I’ve known Rick, I guess, all of my extension career, for 13 years” Dunn said. “He’s always been a good friend of mine and kind of a mentor agent in a lot of ways. We talked every day or every other day, so I was real close to him.

Dunn said he was talking with rancher and former Ag instructor Benny Whitworth not long after Hirsch’s funeral and decided they would like to do something in honor of his passion for the

livestock industry.

“We tried to get it set there in Athens, but your arena is so booked all of the time, we couldn’t,” Dunn said. “The closest place we could get that could handle the show well enough was in Tyler.”

The show will have steers, heifers, goats, lambs, swine and all of the major events.

“And here’s the neat thing about this,” Dunn said “Everyone we’ve called an asked to judge of course was friends with Rick and they’ve all donated their time back.

They’ve all probably re-arranged their schedules so they can be there.”

The judges are top of the line for their events,” Dunn said.

“They were honored to be asked.

Rick gave so much and this is just a small way to give back.”

Dr. Jeff Ripley, head of Texas A&M Agriculture Extension programming will judge goats.

Dr. Jason Cleere, a beef cattle specialist and close friend of Hirsch’s will judge heifers along with Whitworth.

Rebel Royal, who trained under Hirsch and now a district administrator is signed up to

judge swine.

“We’re excited about that,” Dunn said.

People in Tyler and other parts of East Texas will probably remember Hirsch’s years on television presenting the morning livestock report. He was also

superintendent for the East Texas State Fair Steer Show.

“He reaches out a long way, not just Athens or Henderson County,” Dunn said.

Livestock shows will be cropping up all over the area in the weeks to come, from the

various counties to major events in Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth.

“This is a great opportunity for a warm up show for those kids, so they’re going to hit the ground running,” Dunn said. “It’s a hard four months or so, but it’s an exciting four months. This is a chance to hit the ground running and see what they need to work on.”

The Rick Hirsch Memorial Livestock Show is set for Saturday, January 14, at the East Texas State Fairgrounds. Checkin is from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m., with the show starting at 10:30 a.m..

Hirsch became the Henderson County Extension Agent since 1992. During his stay, he received the Texas Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Journalism Award in 2003. He was a level IV Agent which is the highest level a county agent can achieve. He was named the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Association’s 2012 County Agent of the Year. He was an iconic figure in Henderson County who helped countless people in his community and across the state of Texas.”

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Tell Me How It Was...

The little kid sat on his knee And looked up with stars in his eyes He said, “Granddaddy, tell me again How it was when you were my size.”

The old man remembered with care And the memories flooded his mind.

He said, “It was wild and free in the west But that was before your time I had me a little blue roan And son, he could run like the wind.

And right over there where the parking lot is we raced and always would win.

Where they put up the State Valley Bank The Indians would camp on the site And the very first antelope herd that I saw Was right at the new signal light

And down by the furniture store Where every week they have a sale The Overland stage at the end of each week Would come by and drop off the mail.

And, oh, I remember the time When Buffalo Bill all alone

Caught up with the Daltons and they shot it out It was down by the savings and loan.

And Grandma, may she rest in peace Would wait for me down by the strand And finally, one day, I gave her a ring That spot’s now a hamburger stand.

Asphalt and pavement now run Over all of my boyhood days People need people and out west they came But I don’t begrudge’m their ways Oh, yes, it was different back then And everything’s changed so it seems But deep in my heart I miss it sometimes So I have to go back in my dreams.”

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Grabbing life by the horns

Ty Anderson... 32, landscaper, bullrider, Ironman

By Katie Chapman

Special to the Corsicana Daily Sun

Y

ou could say Ty Anderson has been a “grab life by the horns” guy since he was four years old.

Now 32, he moved to Corsicana from Kansas in 2009. He has been a bull-rider, a horse trainer for numerous families around Navarro County and also a farrier.

In 2014, he completed a half IronMan Triathlon.

He has worked on several ranches and also worked for an internet company climbing 1,500 foot towers. He has finally gotten to a spot where he can start pursuing his dream of working for people and using his green thumb at the same time. He has started a business named Anderson Lawn and Landscaping and has gained many clients over the past year.

“I remember walking into the pen without any supervision and petting one and I got lucky because it was a gentle one that was just a bucking bull!”

Anderson’s grandfather was a bull and bronc rider who died of leukemia at age 54. His grandfather also team-roped and bull dogged.

Anderson looked up to his grandfather and wanted to keep the bull riding in the family since there was no one else in the family that rode bulls.

“I didn’t want to be like the rest of my family for one reason-not because of who they were, but because I wanted to see life and I wanted to see all of it,” Anderson said.

“I wanted to see all the pains and glories of life, and I’ve felt the pains and the glories in bull riding.”

But it wasn’t until his senior year of high school that he decided to jump on a bull and experience the same thrills his grandfather once did.

“A coach from the one of the colleges saw me ride one night and I didn’t even make four or five rounds and got thrown off the bull, but I spurred him every chance I got.”

Anderson went to the hospital

that night positive he broke his neck.

The good news was he was offered a full scholarship to Lamar Community College that night.

It was there he was given the nickname “PBR” that stands for professional bull rider, and that is exactly what he became in 2009 working for Stace Smith in the Mesquite Rodeo.

Anderson rode three bulls each weekend in the RCA ranking series.

Moving from Kansas in 2009, Anderson also got involved in team roping like his grandfather.

It was at his first team roping event, that he won his first buckle.

He has won numerous buckles ever since that his grandfather no doubt would be proud of.

In 2007, he won the bronco riding in the Wrangler Ranch Rodeo Finals. He has also been involved in showing cutting horses his whole life. In 2011, he won Nationals in Jackson, Miss. for showing cutting horses.

But what really makes Ty Anderson a “grab life by the horns guy,” is not just because he is an all-around cowboy and bull-rider, but because he is a guy that sees life as an adventure and that there’s always an opportunity to do something you’ve never done.

“When I was in college there was a clothing company called, “Say I Won’t”, and they have a logo that says, “Say I Can’t Do It,” and “Say I Won’t,” and I actually have a tattoo that says “Say I Won’t” that I live by.”

Growing up, Anderson was told many times that he can’t do something.

“A lot of people my whole life

has told me that I can’t do things, or that I’m not supposed to do this or that and I went nuts and had enough and wanted to prove them wrong,” Anderson said.

One example Anderson uses is his experience in the Ironman Triathlon. He has already competed in a 70.3 mile Ironman which consists of 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run six years ago.

He plans on doing the 140.6 mile Ironman and is already training for it.

“The beautiful thing about it is seeing other people out there who probably at one time told

themselves that they couldn’t do it or had somebody tell them they couldn’t do it, and they are proving everybody wrong.”

“It’s an emotional experience,” Anderson said.

Anderson is the owner of Anderson Lawn and Landscaping in Corsicana that has been in operation since February of this year. When asked what he wants to accomplish in his business, he stated: “I just want more of life and I want to do things for people that may be going through the same experiences in life that I’ve gone through.”

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Dragon Crest Dog Training

Local facility offers classes in obedience, agility and tracking

By Michael Kormos

I

Corsicana Daily Sun

t’s hard to imagine a farm or ranch without a dog.

In the country, dogs are used to roundup livestock, protect other animals, keep away varmints, as well as provide companionship to their owners.

The outdoors, however, can be dangerous for dogs not properly trained. Dragon Crest Dog Training, a new business in Kerens, is here to help.

Group classes as well as private lessons are available at levels ranging from beginning to competition ready.

“I grew up watching my mom train her dogs and when I got my first dog, she sent me to two trainers to learn from,” Owner Donna Miceli said. “So when I was a teenager and my allowance did not cover all the things I wanted to do, I went around the neighborhood and earned money training dogs.”

Miceli said she gives classes in obedience, agility and tracking. She can also do private classes.

“One thing my businesses is known for over my competitors is my ability to adapt the training to the needs of each individual dog and owner,” she said.

Dragon Crest Dog Training offers obedience classes in Kerens, Corsicana, Athens and the surrounding area.

Classes range in levels from puppy, beginning to competition obedience. Beginning and puppy classes have no more than five dogs so they get the individual attention they deserve.

Private classes may also be scheduled.

“Spots are also available for board and train,” Miceli said. “Your dog stays with me for 14 days and learns sit, down, stay, come and heel on leash.

Your dog will be worked around other dogs, cats, horses and sheep. I also take them into stores to work as

well as work them during my obedience classes. Pick up and delivery can be arraigned.”

Miceli has over 30 years of experience working with dogs of many breeds and temperaments. She has worked and titled dogs in American Kennel Club obedience and Schutzhund, a German word meaning protection dog. She said she would like to get more kennels built to be able to expand the boarding training.

“Watching an owner begin to enjoy and love a dog that they had given up on, is a wonderful feeling,” she said.

“Knowing you have saved a dog’s life is the best feeling in the world.”

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9360 NE County Road 2035 Kerens, Texas

707-888-6703 Winter hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week

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December-January 2017

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7

Learn, Grow, Eat and GO!

Navarro County on the move against childhood obesity

By Lorie Stovall

Family Consumer Science Agent; Navarro County

A

n interdisciplinary approach to reducing child obesity through the Learn, Grow, Eat & GO! curriculum (a modification/revision of the Junior Master Gardener “Nutrition in the Garden”), Walk Across Texas, and the Coordinated Approach to Child Health program.

By uniting multiple players in a child’s life to create a community of health, CATCH is proven to prevent childhood obesity and supported by 25 years and 120 academic papers indicating as much as 11% decrease in overweight and obesity. The program aims to impact messaging a child receives in physical education, the lunchroom, the classroom, and the home, to form an effective resource that impacts a child’s choices not only in school, but lifelong.

Relevance The high prevalence of childhood obesity in Texas is cause for concern because it is linked to negative health consequences for children and their families. Schools are uniquely positioned to have a positive impact on children’s knowledge and behaviors associated with obesity. For example, vegetable exposure plus school gardening has been shown to improve consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Adding more frequent and more vigorous physical activities during school has been shown to improve student fitness and weight. The home environment is also an important influence on a child’s eating and activity behaviors. The greater the frequency of vegetable consumption and physical activity by parents, the greater the consumption of these foods and exercise by their children. With child obesity rates among low-income children in Texas ranging from 10 percent to over 20 percent, engaging schools and families in prevention efforts is critical.

Response The Learn, Grow, Eat & GO! (LGEG) curriculum emphasizes science, math, language art/reading, social studies and health through effective learning activities with both the LGEG and WAT programs.

The LGEG curriculum was designed to engage children and their families in school gardens, vegetable recipe tastings, classroom activities and take home family stories; therefore, the curriculum includes: • Classroom raised bed or container garden • Classroom vegetable tastings and food

demonstrations • Family stories for students to take home • Option for the students to become LGEG certified through the JMG program • Opportunities for “Growing Strong” section • Walk Across Texas online team enrollment • Family physical activity newsletters • Family physical activity bonus miles • Physical activity walking BINGO • Classroom “physical activity breaks” related to school subjects County agents partnered with Dawson After School program and the Boys and Girls Club on how to implement LGEG. Volunteers were also recruited and utilized to help implement the program by building new and cleaning existing beds for the program. The Boys and Girls Club LGEG beds are ready and will be planted in 2017.

Results Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Navarro County partnered with Dawson Independent School District to implement the Learn, Grow, Eat & GO! curriculum in K-5th classes for the Dawson After School Education program through Region 12 Educational Service Center.

• 51.4 percent of student participants were female and 48.6 percent were male.

• 13.5 percent were Hispanic, 59.5 percent were Caucasian,10.8 percent were African-American, and 2.7 percent listed other.

Nutrition: Extension personnel and teachers led six raw vegetable tastings and food demonstrations to increase child preference. Child preference for vegetables is a high indicator for consumption of vegetables.

• On the pre-activity evaluation, the average number of vegetables students had tried was 12.33 and the average number of vegetables the students liked was 6.77.

• This number increased on the postactivity evaluation an average of 4.139 vegetables students had tried and students reported liking an average of 3.484 vegetables.

• Report if there were changes on the pre- post – to the vegetable consumption questions.

Physical Activity: Physical activity programs are implemented by Extension personnel and school staff to increase student involvement in physical activities and decrease sedentary behaviors.

• Prior to the LGEG program 27 of children indicated getting at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Following the LGEG program, the number of students getting at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity increased to 28.

• Students also indicated that they were spending less time being sedentary (watching TV, playing computers or video games) away from school. Before the LGEG program 10 children indicated that they spent two or more hours watching TV or playing computer or video games, while after the program seven children reported spending two or more hours doing those sedentary activities.

Garden: Students participated in building, planting, maintaining, and harvesting classroom garden beds. The LGEG program invites parents to participate in the gardening project and encourages students to share their experiences at home with their families.

• On the pre-activity evaluation, the average number of students who had participated in gardening activities with their families before LGEG was 14 and the average number of students and families participating in gardening activities after LGEG was 15.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS Junior Master Gardener: Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! • 14 weeks of teacher led classroom lessons aligned with TEKS and STAAR standards • Fall and Spring school gardens featuring 12 vegetables • Student garden journals

• 12 fresh vegetable tastings in class • 12 easy vegetable recipe demonstrations in class • 12 easy vegetable recipes to take home (English/Spanish) • 14 Family stories aligned with TEKS (English/Spanish) • Family and volunteer engagement opportunities In September 2016, Kellie Cope, our curriculum assistant and I began the Learn Grow Eat Grow program with Dawson After School Education (ASE) program.

We partner with Terri Wright, director and the ASE teachers to implement the 10week lesson plans. Kellie and I have taught the LGEG program for K-5th grades and have planted a successful garden. Kellie’s husband Don helped build the garden bed frames and the students prepared the beds and planted the seeds.

Each week the students took turns checking on the plants and watering the beds. When we arrived for the final lesson, Kellie checked the vegetables and the radishes were ready! We had already planned a tasting with tomatoes, fruit and vegetable chains to decorate their Christmas trees and a My Plate Activity. To everyone’s surprise we were able to add a radish tasting!

The students were so excited to pick the plants and then taste what they had grown, and wow, did they grow! Just check out these pictures of our plump juicy radishes.

Kellie did a great job leading this program and the hard work paid off for everyone.

—————————— soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com

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December-January 2017

Darby’s Greenhouses and Farms Inc.

Plant business blooms in New Summerfield for more than half a century

By Jo Anne Embleton Jacksonville Progress

F

or more than half a century, Darby Greenhouses and Farms, Inc., has been in the business of providing customers what they need, even as needs have changed through the years.

The company has been in business since 1961, when founder B.R. Darby grew tomato plants using a cold frame. It gradually shifted from selling produce-bearing plants to those of a more ornamental nature, said president Don Darby.

“My dad’s (B.R.’s) dad was in the plant business, and back in the day, Jacksonville was the tomato capital and these guys, in order to get a head start for the farmers, would grow tomatoes using a cold frame,” which he said was similar in nature to a greenhouse. “But instead of plastic, they used cheesecloth or tobacco cloth. it was enough to keep the cold out.”

For warm-weather produce, such as peppers and eggplants, farm workers built up hot beds.

“They would berm up the north side of the ground, making a 45-degree angle, and

believe it or not, they would dig a trench underneath, maybe 50 feet long and 15 feet wide, right in the middle of it longways, and they would cover it with tin so they would start a fire,” Don said.

“If the wind was right, the heat would (spread) underneath, keeping the plants warm. It’s kind of like a little version of a greenhouse,” he said, sketching a diagram as he described the hot bed. “Stuff like peppers and eggplants would need more heat than tomatoes … I guess my dad did that when he was a kid, because he’d tell me about watering and all that stuff.”

When B.R. went into business for himself, he continued doing what his father did, gradually developing a market up north, Don said.

“Those first few years, it was predominantly vegetables, starter plants – back in the day, that was all bare root (stock), so when they shipped them, they would buy sphagnum moss, wet it and put it in the bottom of (wax boxes that were used for transport),” he said. “Then they’d put the plants on top of the moss so they wouldn’t dry out (while they shipped).”

Each spring, starter plants were shipped to buyers up north via Railway Express

Photo by Jo Anne Embleton

A colorful array full-grown poinsettia plants line a hothouse at Darby Greenhouses and Farms, Inc. President Don Darby says that even though different colors are available, the most popular are the deep red-leaf and the white-leaf plants.

Agency, while in the fall, the Darby operation would ship cabbage and onions to their clients, with the onions coming in from the Rio Grande Valley­.

In the late 1950s, an area resident named Billy Powell built the county’s first commercial greenhouse, “probably a couple of years before my dad did in 1961,” he recalled.

Gradually, the shift grew from produce to other types of plants.

“I remember my dad went up to Quitman, where he bought some stock plants – he would take cuttings off these stock plants, and that kind of was the first flowers” the company distributed, Darby said. “I think he grew vegetables probably another 15 years after that, but we haven’t grown vegetables in 30 years now.”

With the younger Darby’s leadership, the company began focusing on poinsettias, even partnering with area churches and schools that wanted the plant – Easter lilies, too – for fundraising efforts.

“My theory was (that) you really need to grow something not everyone else can grow,” Darby said. “A long time ago I decided poinsettias were the ticket.”

Today, the New Summerfield-based plant farm’s sales are 40 percent poinsettias, with cuttings arriving onsite each June. The company plans well ahead of arrival date, choosing size and color of plants. Approximately 80 percent of the poinsettias sold are the traditional red ones, which are highly favored by consumers, Darby said A 45-member workforce – including two full-time maintenance men – help keep the business operating smoothly. There are approximately 100 greenhouses located on the 15-acre farm, with additional property leased for other growing needs, Darby said.

“The whole concept of the greenhouse is that you take out the risk factor; you can’t fight Mother Nature, but you can modify your environment, and that’s what we’ve done with greenhouses,” he said. “All we’re trying to do is avert disaster.”

The poinsettias not only are a sure

Plant farm employees at Darby’s Greenhouses and Farms work with a large volume of mulch.

Photo by Jo Anne Embleton

Don Darby, president of Darby Greenhouses and Farms, Inc., looks over a row of poinsettias at the company’s New Summerfield greenhouses.

source of income for the company, they also ensure a consistent labor force because growing is year-round, not seasonal, he said, adding, “it can be rainy and cold outside, and we’re shipping poinsettias.”

The plants are grown from cuttings that come from El Salvador, Mexico and Ethiopia, which are rooted locally because “rooting cuttings is much easier than growing seeds,” he explained. “I think we rooted 400,000 cuttings this year. We not only sell finished (grown) plants, but we sell cuttings to other growers.”

According to the company website, www.darbygreenhouses.com, the familyowned company specializes “in Gerbera daisies, geraniums, New Guinea impatiens, caladiums, Easter lilies, Boston ferns, emerald (Kimberly) queen ferns, poinsettias, combination planters, calibrachoa baskets, elephant ears and more.”

Darby’s Greenhouses & Farms is located at 11647 State Hwy 110 N. in New Summerfield. Contact the company at 903-7263636, or visit them on Facebook at “Darby Greenhouses & Farms, Inc.”

Photo by Jo Anne Embleton

December-January 2017

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Livestock emergencies

Cherokee County Farm Bureau recognized for innovative program Jacksonville Progress Staff Reports

A

n innovative program that gives first responders and law enforcement emergency livestock handling training is being recognized by Texas Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation.

According to a www.texasfarmbureau.org release, Cherokee County Farm Bureau was one of three county Farm Bureaus to be recognized by Texas Farm Bureau, one of 34 county bureaus nationwide to receive a County Activities of Excellence award from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The program showcases county Farm Bureaus that focus on education and agricultural programs, member services, public relations and information, leadership development and policy implementation.

According to the release, in recent years, the sheriff ’s department in Cherokee County lost a deputy on a livestock call when an injured cow charged the man after being struck by a car. Recent rain, hail, floods and tornadoes have caused livestock to escape.

It was evident in the recovery effort that many of the first responders and law enforcement officers who were assisting had very little knowledge of animal handling techniques, prompting county farm bureau leaders and the local Texas A&M AgriLife extension service to conduct a training event, the release noted.

“2016 has been a challenging year for farmers and ranchers in our area with tornadoes and flooding events causing miles of downed fences and destroyed corrals,” Cherokee CFB President John Griffith said. “We wanted to work with local law enforcement and first responders to talk about these dangers and how to properly handle livestock in the event of an emergency.”

Cherokee County emergency management coordinator Ronnie Kimbrough, who attended the sum-

mer training, described the information as something simple and easily used by first responders.

“It works very well. I was very astounded,” he said.

“I’ve tried it myself personally … oh Lord, it’s fantastic!

I’ve put 20 head of livestock put back in the pen (using the training).”

Organizers used extension material for the program and presentations were given by the extension livestock specialist and the local livestock officer with the sheriff ’s department.

The presentations included examples of situations they might encounter and research on animals and how each species processes threats and their reactions. The local livestock officer also gave some insight on temperaments of different breeds of cattle, the release noted.

In a nutshell, Kimbrough said, it’s about using psychology and simple action to guide stray livestock back to the area from which they’ve escaped.

“At different times, all first responders face (loose livestock), whether it’s horses, cows, goats or dogs,” he said. “What they talked about (during the training) was how to handle cows – the livestock person from the sheriff ’s office was there, sharing information he’d gained over the years in dealing with loose livestock, and he told us that you don’t crowd them. If you go slowly, patiently, methodically, you can move a bunch of cows.”

Kimbrough can recall four different accidents within the past year where “cow-haulers” were involved in accidents and large numbers of livestock were on the loose as a result.

“There’s a need for a program like this,” he said. “It’s good that some people are familiar with (safely gathering livestock in emergency situations) and know how to deal with it, and I appreciate Farm Bureau doing this, because honestly? It works! Thank you for putting this on, Farm Bureau – it’s something that’s been wellreceived.”

The training drew strong attendance from many different departments throughout the county, the site states, including representatives from six volunteer fire departments and two law enforcement agencies.

“This training and the tools are a benefit to farmers and ranchers, but also for the safety of those trying to assist on livestock calls,” Griffith said.

Texas Farm Bureau president Russell Boening said the agency is happy to offer programs that benefit the community, especially in such a unique way.

“Our local organizations like Cherokee County Farm Bureau work to strengthen agriculture’s role in the community,” he said. “This group targeted a specific need in their community and worked diligently to address that issue.”

Cherokee County Farm Bureau and its volunteers were recognized during the state organization’s annual meeting held Dec. 3-5 in San Antonio.

They will again be highlighted during American Farm Bureau Federation’s 98th annual meeting Jan. 6-11, 2017, in Phoenix, Ariz.

Courtesy Photo

Cherokee County Farm Bureau was recognized at the Texas Farm Bureau 83rd annual meeting for its innovative programs that provided law enforcement and first responders emergency livestock handling training.

097510270136831

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Ranch-style homes in East Texas

Bullard builder fulfills house dreams for area folks

By April Barbe

Jacksonville Progress “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.” – Hebrews 3:4

J

ason Campbell of Campbell Custom Homes, Inc. in Bullard has been building custom homes for more than 20 years in East Texas.

While Campbell and his crew build homes of all types, he says a common style requested in the area is ranch style homes.

“Being in East Texas, ranch style is the most popular and most requested. Of the customs we are blessed to build, over half would be in the ranchstyle category,” Campbell said.

He said the normal request is for an open main body floor plan with wrap around porches. Metal roofs are also common. But some ranch-style homes go back to the basics in a high-tech way.

“Doug and Cindy Steele’s house we built last year has solar power and sells power back to the power company,” Campbell said.

Some homeowners also have lighting systems they can work from their iPhones, movie theaters, motorized blinds on the windows, motorized solar screens on back porches, TVs in almost every room, intercom systems, central heat/air and state-of-the-art sound equipment for back-porch entertaining.

Now, that’s a long way from the oldtime ranch days.

However, one main component of a ranch-style home isn’t something that Campbell can build.

Campbell said often folks who decide on a ranch home also have a piece of property with “views like you wouldn’t believe.”

Ken and Mary Presley in Brushy Creek, south of Frankston, had a ranch-style home built by Campbell Custom Homes, Inc. on their 100-acre property.

Campbell said the home had a 35mile view! It also had all of the comforts of home complete with a masonry fireplace, he said.

“Awesome house and awesome couple,” Campbell said. “And she loved to cook, so, (it also had a) gourmet kitchen and pantry.”

Although the view is up to the ultimate Creator, Campbell can help with the rest of the details for the ultimate ranch-style home.

“We do custom homes, remodels, add ons, commercial and residential work, metal buildings and anything else God blesses us to do,” Campbell said.

If it’s a ranch theme, Campbell said amenities are usually included inside and outside of the home. On the outside, builders will include lots of rock and exposed wood and use tail rafters around the house instead of boxed in eaves. Lots of cedar and rough wood will be used, sometimes with contrasting silver accents and metal roofs.

On the inside, Campbell said customers often want less Sheetrock and more wood on the walls and ceilings of ranch-style homes. Other details

Courtesy Photo

This is one of many ranch-themes homes built in the East Texas area by Campbell Custom Homes, Inc.

include wood floors, animal skin rugs, stone arches in entry ways and big fireplaces.

He said one home he built near the Neches River for Joe and Nancy Cavendar had eight-feet tall windows that looked out towards expansive pastures.

The home’s outdoor cooking area also

included a grill, egg area, sink, fridge, ice maker and more.

“It was very large and ornate, but it was very comfortable to just sit out and relax,” Campbell said.

Campbell Custom Homes is a Christian-based business located at 133 E. Main St. in downtown Bullard.

Courtesy Photo

The view is often considered a main component of a ranch-style home. This home offers a great view of Texas from the pool.

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Courtesy Photo

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Gone Fishing with Jerry Miller

December-January 2017

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Finding the best winter fishing spots T

he last few weeks I’m seeing fewer and fewer fishermen on the lake. There are a few diehards like myself who fish year around. Many fishermen turn to hunting and hang up their fishing gear.

For the fisherman who wants to upgrade his fishing gear, especially electronics, this is the time to shop. I’ve been looking to upgrade my electronics this next year. So when I spotted a big sale on Garmin Sonars by Cabela’s I decided to take advantage of their half-price promotion. I found the Garmin® Echo Map™ 73sv Combo with LakeVu™ HD to my liking. This unit comes equipped with a pre-loaded LakeVu HD MAPs that covers over 17,000 lakes, of which

6,700 and HD lakes with 1” contours shore to shore.

Of course, at my age I will only use a fraction of these lake maps, but it’s good to know that this unit comes equipped with all the lake maps that I will ever need.

I’ve always enjoyed using the Humminbird units because their controls were very easy to understand and use. But the last two Humminbird units I bought started developing problems after two years. And any repair will cost $225. So, I thought it best to upgrade with some of the newest technology.

Frank Lusk had recently bought and installed his new Garmin that is the same model that I bought. A few weeks ago we were in Lusk’s boat idling across Lake Jacksonville

watching his Garmin Sonar.

His unit was literally picking up three times the detail as his comparable Lowrance Sonar.

The Garmin 73sv Combo unit was showing massive amounts of shad in the 25 to 35 foot range. Whereas the Lowrance was showing much fainter signals, I was impressed with the Garmin built-in ClearVu device. This picture is very sharp.

One other item that really got my attention was the new Gill FG22 Performance fishing gloves. A good pair of winter fishing gloves is hard to find. Most are too bulky. I understand that the Gill FG22 Performance fishing gloves are light weight and have moisture-wicking capabilities.

Wool gloves do work great

that with the new Gill G22 gloves you can even tie a knot while wearing them, and they actually keep your hands warm. I haven’t personally tried them out yet, but they sound promising.

There are so many new items coming out every year that it’s impossible to keep up with them. The year 2016 has been a good fishing year. My fishing buddies and I have caught a lot of bass out of our area lakes.

I’m hoping that with my new sonar I will be able to locate even more bass and structure.

I’ll keep you informed.

for cold water situations, but you lose a lot of “feel” with wool gloves. I understand

------------------------------Jerry Miller may be contacted at: gonefishing2@ suddenlink.net

Nuts about growing pecans

By: Kathleen Phillips COLLEGE STATION — Those who are nuts about growing pecans have an opportunity to learn in–depth production techniques at the 2017 Texas Pecan Short Course Jan. 23-26, according to Monte Nesbitt, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist in College Station.

The course will be at the Horticulture Teaching Research and Extension Center, about 1.4 miles south of Farm-to–Market 60 on Farm-to-Market 50, near College Station.

The cost is $225 until Jan. 20, or $250 onsite. Register at http://bit.ly/pecanshortcourse.

“The short course is a comprehensive class aimed at preparing individuals to enter the pecan business,” Nesbitt said. “All aspects of commercial pecan production are covered — from basic botany to tree planting, integrated pest management to marketing and more.”

Nesbitt said the horticulture center is near the Texas A&M University teaching and research pecan orchards to allow participants to get practical experience.

“Class instructors will engage participants in the most current information for Texas pecan orchard development and management, including hands-on instruction of orchard establishment, sunlight management, tree training and grafting.

Participants should wear warm clothing and appropriate footwear, because field trips to the pecan orchards will be taken, Nesbitt added.

For more information, contact Nesbitt at 979-862-1218, mlnesbitt@tamu.edu.

Cattle inventory expansion; prices kept in moderation

By: Blair Fannin WACO – Cattle inventory across the U.S. will continue to expand and that will likely keep prices in moderation through 2017, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist.

Dr. Jason Johnson, AgriLife Extension economist in Stephenville, discussed cattle market trends during the recent Blackland Income Growth Conference in Waco.

“There’s more cattle and cheaper prices,” Johnson said.

Cattle inventory across the U.S. will continue to expand and that will likely keep prices in moderation through 2017, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economists. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo

by Blair Fannin) Cattle prices began a rapid downward spiral leading into the fall.

“It seems like we fell off a cliff fast,” he said. “We started building back the cow herd at about a 3 percent clip and then prices fell nearly 40 percent this year.”

Johnson said during 2015 when cattle prices hit historic highs, feedlot operators were bidding up

on feeder cattle to keep pens full and operations going. Feedlots operate much like hotels, attempting to keep occupancy rates high.

“When they closed the books on those pens of cattle, they were losing $300 to $400 a head,” he said. “They started getting more judicious on what they paid for them in 2016. Overall, I think the bubble has been burst. We are now back down to more historic spread levels. I don’t think we will see another drop quite so dramatic as inventory and price expectations have returned to levels that should permit some participants at all levels of the supply chain to be profitable.”

Johnson said there will be buildups in cattle inventory over the next two to three years.

“That doesn’t mean that prices will continue to decline,” he said.

“That dislocation of what feedlots were losing has gone away.”

Feedlot placements for 2016 have been on the increase, he said.

“You’ve got a pen of calves ready to market, do you take them to sell right now? I can tell you a lot of folks are holding back a little bit. But that can’t

go on forever. There could be some spillage in the first quarter of 2017 and we could see some (more) downward prices.”

Other protein meats such as broilers and pork have increased production.

“Broiler production is at alltime highs. There’s a lot of protein on the market right now, as much as there has ever been. We also have a lot of beef.”

Johnson said there are export trade opportunities that will help market the excess beef. Japan, Canada, Mexico and South Korea are the current top U.S. export markets. With a new presidential administration, there could be further trade opportunities for beef.

Overall, steer prices in 2017 for 500- to 600-pound feeders will be $127-$132 per hundredweight in the first quarter, $131-$138 per hundredweight for the second quarter, $127-132 per hundredweight for the third quarter, and $122-$132 per hundredweight for the fourth quarter, AgriLife Extension livestock economists project.

“We’re seeing slow and steady work down as prices slide,” Johnson said. “That’s attributed

to the inventory build we expect to continue to see in 2017 and beyond. With lower prices, the impetus will be on the cow-calf

producer to continue exploring

ways to become more efficient in their operations.”

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December-January 2017

Fish Hotels

TPWD fish attractor projects creating sweet spots for anglers of all kinds

By Matt Williams

T

Outdoors Writer

im Bister isn’t a hammer and nails kind of guy. Even so, he jumped at the opportunity to get involved when Dennis Norris approached him about lending a hand in an intensive building project on Lake O’ The Pines in northeast Texas.

Bister is a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fisheries biologist from Marshall who is always looking for ways to make fishing around here a little bit better than it already is.

Norris is a 69-year-old crappie angler from Jefferson who loves the outdoors and has reached a point in his life where he is wanting to give back to a sport that has given him so much.

The two men recently combined their passions by launching a small scale habitat enhancement project that is sure to benefit the army of anglers who fish the 19,700acre lake in very big way.

The ongoing project involves the construction and careful placement of hundreds of man-made fish attractors on the lake’s bottom at pre-determined locations to create nearly three dozen new fishing holes for anglers to soak their baits.

The whereabouts of each spot will be recorded using global positioning satellite (GPS) technology coordinates.

The coordinates will be made available to the general public on TPWD’s website once the job is complete. There also will be paper maps available at the local U.S. Army Corp of Engineers project office in Jefferson, Bister said.

According to Norris, the project came to fruition a several months back after he approached the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers about tackling the task on his own.

“They told me it wasn’t legal for an individual to put brush piles and other stuff in a lake that the Corp oversees, but it’s alright for a group to do it provided they get the appropriate permits and written permission,” Norris said. “I had several friends who were interested in helping out and when I approached Tim about it last summer he was all for it. He helped secure the permit to get it done.”

Like Santa and group of elves getting ready for the busy Christmas rush, the men have been working together ever since, pouring concrete, shoveling gravel and dumping their wares into one of the oldest lakes in the region. The ultimate goal is to have roughly 350 attractors in place at a 35 different locations long before springtime rolls around.

“We’ve already sank over a 100 and we’ve got another 60 more poured up and ready to go,” Norris said. “It’s a work in progress.”

There is plenty of work involved, too.

Courtesy Photo

TPWD fisheries crews recently joined forces with a local angler to construct more than 300 fish attractors that will be submerged in Lake O’ The Pines in northeast Texas. Similar projects have been carried out on numerous other lakes across the state.

Rather than building the fish attractors from brush, the group is making them from assorted man-made materials like PVC pipe, corrugated plastic drain hose and fiber optics sheathing. Much of the material was donated or obtained using state funds ear-marked for use in fisheries conservation projects like this one.

Bister says fisheries crews built about 20 4X4X4 cubes from 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe.

The pipe cubes are wrapped in 4-inch drain hose and filled with gravel to provide the weight necessary to make them sink and hold them securely to bottom.

The bulk of the attractors are being built using assorted lengths of fiber optics cable sheathing Dennis got from a local telephone company for free. The angler also found a couple of local plant nurseries that were willing to donate more than 300, three-gallon plastic buckets that otherwise would have been deposited in a landfill.

The sheathing material stands vertical in the buckets and is held in place using concrete paid for using monies generated by the sale of TPWD’s Largemouth Bass Conservation license plates. Once complete, the sheathing attractors resemble a small tree or bush. The men are calling them “spider blocks.”

Bister says a percentage of the attractors have been placed at locations where

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Christmas tree reefs previously existed.

Others are being placed on humps, points and other areas away from the bank that offer some sort of definitive change in contour. All of the attractors are being placed at the lake’s southern reaches, where viable fish habitat isn’t near as abundant as it once was.

“Dewindling habitat is a challenge facing fisheries managers all over the country,” Bister said. “As reservoirs age, timber falls and decays. As a result, a reservoir won’t have near as much structural habitat at age 50 as it did when it was first built. Small scale fish attractor projects like the one we’re going at Lake O’ The Pines probably won’t have a large influence as far as habitat goes, but it’s certainly a start. From a fishing standpoint, it’s going to be a huge benefit to the anglers.”

The biologist also pointed out that the attractors are being staged at water depths deep enough that they won’t pose as boating hazards, but not so deep that they will become ineffective when the lake stratifies and oxygen levels deplete during the heat of summer.

“Most of them are in 15-20 feet of water,” he said. “We’re also putting some of them shallower towards the backs of coves where they won’t be a hazard for boaters.”

While each attractor location is unique,

most are being constructed so they are similar in shape and size. Norris said most of the individual cubes are ringed by about 10 spider blocks, creating an area of submerged cover measuring about 20X20 feet or roughly 400 square feet in size.

The biggest advantage to using manmade materials over natural brush centers largely around the lifespan. Attractors made from brush tend to deteriorate after a few years and demand replenishing to remain effective. Those made from plastic will last indefinitely.

Some other advantages to plastic materials is fishing hooks don’t hang up near as bad on them as they do amid a mangled maze of brush. Plus, it is much easier to get a fish out of the cover once you hook one.

The Lake O’ The Pines project isn’t only one of its kind. Similar projects have been conducted on nearly three dozen other Texas lakes. Several of those lakes including Fork, Sam Rayburn, San Augustine, Conroe, Welsh, Mill Creek, Holbrook Cypress Springs and Brandy Branch are located in the eastern half of the state.

One of the most recent fish attractor projects was carried out at Lake Pat Cleburne near Waco. There, TPWD fisheries biologists, parks and recreation

December-January 2017 staff from the cities of Waco and Cleburne and student members of the Tri-Beta Biology Club at Baylor University built and sank 28 “crappie condos” along the lake’s dam in about 20 feet of water.

The condos were build using exotic bamboo shoots harvested within the city limits of Waco - with permission, of course.

The bamboo shoots were placed vertical in three-gallon buckets filled with concrete.

“The crappie condos simulate clumps of natural fish habitat like flooded brush and small standing timber,” said Michael Baird, TPWD fisheries biologist in Waco. “Over time these structures will become coated with algae, providing a food source for micro-fauna like insects and snails. These creatures, in turn, provide a food source for forage fishes such as sunfishes, which are naturally drawn to the new

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habitat for cover. Predatory fishes then frequent the structures looking for prey and anglers can take advantage of these habits to try and increase their chance of success.”

As earlier mentioned, the exact locations of fish attractors strategically placed in more than 30 public reservoirs are available for download by visiting the TPWD’s website, tpwd.texas.gov/ fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/ fish_attractors.phtml.

The website also provides illustrations of several different kinds of artificial structures currently in use on public waters as a means improving habitat on aging reservoirs while creating some pretty darned good fishing holes at the same time.

Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches.

He can be reached by e-mail, mattwillwrite4u@yahoo.com.

Above, GPS coordinates of each fish are recorded and posted for download on TPWD’s website. Here are the coordinates of a dozen fish attractors placed at Lake Fork a couple of years ago. Left, Fish attractors bring in small minnows and other forage fish, which are favored by crappie, bass and other predators. (Photo by Matt Williams)

Batteries: The life of the party

B

assmaster Elite Series pro Edwin Evers is a stickler when it comes to keeping his fishing gear in top-notch working order. Not surprisingly, the Oklahoma angler equally serious about maintaining the batteries his boat.

To hear Evers tell it, batteries are the life of the party. One dead cell can leave you dead on the water.

In the Q&A that follows Evers shares some insight to help anglers and recreational boaters ensure that their marine batteries won’t let them down in a pinch: Question: What are your biggest tips for maintaining boat batteries during the off-season?

Answer: “I would recommend completely charging your batteries before storing your boat, then disconnecting the terminals so nothing can draw the battery down. It is also critical to have a battery maintainer/ charger hooked up through the off-season to continually maintain your batteries. I use the OPTIMA Digital 400. When the seasons starts, you’ll want all your equipment ready and in top notch form; if your batteries are at a full charge, they will be ready to perform and you’ll be ready to hit the water.”

Question: When taking your batteries out of storage, what are a few important things to remember?

Answer: Check all the connections for tightness and corrosion. A loose connection may prevent a battery

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from receiving a full charge or delivering current, which is not good because it can negatively affect the performance of the battery. If you have a built-in charger on your boat, be sure there is no corrosion in the terminals; I see this a lot. Buying a can of battery cleaner/protector can help if you have this issue. Be sure your batteries are charging evenly (each battery should be charging at the same volts), which will help maximize performance.”

Question: Any other tips you would like to share?

Answer: “I prefer to use a 12-gauge extension cord when storing and chargPhoto by Matt Williams ing my batteries – the shorter the cord the It is important to make sure all battery connections are better. Also, do not let your batteries sit for free of corrosion and tight . Using pliers to secure conan extended amount of time in a state of nections will help ensure that connections stay snug. discharge – always charge them as soon as possible.

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December-January 2017

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From Scratch with Love Triple-Pork Club Sandwich

Total time: 40 minutes makes 4 sandwiches This pork-centric take on the traditional club sandwich has thinly sliced ham, plenty of bacon, and a spread of homemade mayo made with bacon fat for extra bacony flavor. Tart, crispy apples stand in for the lettuce and tomato, and light rye bread holds it all together.

Game plan: Once made, the bacon mayonnaise should be refrigerated in an airtight container; it will last up to 4 days.

Ingredients

1 medium Granny Smith apple 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 12 slices light rye bread 1 pound thinly sliced ham For the bacon mayonnaise: 16 thick-cut bacon slices (about 1 pound 4 ounces), cut in half crosswise Vegetable oil, as needed 4 large egg yolks 2 teaspoons cider vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. For the bacon mayonnaise: Heat the oven to 425°F and arrange the racks to divide the oven into thirds.

2. Arrange the bacon pieces in a single layer on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pans between the oven racks and continue baking until the bacon is crisped and brown, about 5 to 10 minutes more.

3. Transfer the bacon pieces to a large paper-towel-lined plate, placing additional paper towels between each layer of bacon. Carefully pour the bacon fat from the baking sheets into a heatproof measuring cup—you need 2/3 cup. (If you don’t have enough bacon fat, add vegetable oil as needed.) Discard any excess bacon fat. Let the measured bacon fat cool for 15 minutes.

4. Place the egg yolks, vinegar, and mustard in a medium bowl and whisk until combined. While whisking constantly, very slowly add the bacon fat or bacon fat–oil mixture in a thin stream until it’s completely incorporated and the mixture is thickened and creamy. Add the salt and pepper and whisk to combine; set aside.

5. To assemble: Increase the oven temperature to broil and keep a rack in the top third of the oven.

6. Halve, core, and cut the apple into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Place the slices in a medium bowl, drizzle with the vinegar, and toss to coat.

7. Place 6 of the bread slices in a single layer on a clean baking sheet. Toast in the oven, flipping once, until lightly browned, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a work surface and repeat with the remaining bread slices.

8. Spread 1 tablespoon of the bacon mayonnaise on each bread slice. Equally divide all of the apple slices among 4 of the bread slices.

Top the apples with the ham and another slice of bread. Top with the reserved bacon slices and finish with the remaining 4 slices of bread, mayonnaise-side down. Slice each sandwich into quarters and serve.

Recipe courtesy of Lisa Lavery via Chowhound

EAST TEXAS STOCK PRICES ANDERSON COUNTY LIVESTOCK

EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC.

Updated: 12/21/2016 (NO SALE) Head Count: 000 Buyers: 00 Sellers: 00

Updated: 12/20/2016 Cows: 94 Bulls: 29 Buyers: 31 Sellers: 137

STEERS

ATTENTION: Our next sale will be Wednesday, January 4, 2017.

300-DOWN

$109

$177.50

305lb - 400lb

$105

$168

405lb - 500lb

$105

$158

505lb - 600lb

$92

$146

605lb - 800lb

$89

$129

300-DOWN

$105

$150

305lb - 400lb

$100

$138

405lb - 500lb

$92

$134

505lb - 600lb

$85

$128

605lb - 800lb

$83

$114

Cows

$41

$64

Bulls

$69

$80

HEIFERS

SLAUGHTER

PAIRS BRED COWS

TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 12/17/2016 Head Count: 2115

STEERS UNDER 300lb

1.50

1.90

300lb - 400lb

1.35

1.85

400lb - 500lb

1.20

500lb - 600lb

1.15

600lb - 700lb 700lb - 800lb

NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

Updated: 12/22/2016 (NO SALE) Head Count: 000 Buyers: 00 Sellers: 00

ATTENTION: Our next sale will be Thursday, January 5, 2017.

$1700

$800

$1375

ATHENS COMMISSION COMPANY

Updated: 12/12/2016 Head Count: 1067

STEERS

$1350

Updated: 12/16/2016 Head Count: 1453 Sellers: 265

STEERS

200lb - 299lb

1.50

2.21

300-DOWN

0.80

2.10

300lb - 399lb

1.30

1.95

300lb - 400lb

0.80

1.85

1.55

400lb - 499lb

1.20

1.65

400lb - 500lb

0.80

1.60

1.40

500lb - 599lb

1.15

1.53

500lb - UP

0.80

1.55

1.10

1.35

600lb - 699lb

1.00

1.31

HEIFERS

0.95

1.20

700lb - 899lb

1.00

1.23

300-DOWN

0.80

1.80

300lb - 400lb

0.80

1.75

UNDER 300lb

1.35

1.60

200lb - 299lb

1.70

1.90

400lb - 500lb

0.80

1.50

300lb - 400lb

1.25

1.50

300lb - 399lb

1.25

1.60

500lb - UP

0.80

1.30

400lb - 500lb

1.15

1.35

400lb - 499lb

1.10

1.57

SLAUGHTER

500lb - 600lb

1.10

1.25

500lb - 599lb

1.05

1.35

Cows

0.30

0.62

600lb - 700lb

1.05

1.20

600lb - 699lb

1.00

1.20

Heavy Bulls

0.60

0.77

700lb - 800lb

0.90

1.10

700lb - 899lb

0.80

1.11

PAIRS

HEIFERS

HEIFERS

SLAUGHTER

SLAUGHTER

Top

$1000

$1500

Cows

0.40

0.64

Cows

0.37

0.63

Low-Middle

$700

$1000

Heavy Bulls

0.62

0.72

Bulls

0.67

0.77

$2200

PAIRS

STOCKER COWS

0.70lb

1.50lb

$25hd

$200hd

$1850hd

STOCKER COWS

GOATS

$1500hd

BABY CALVES

$30hd

$300hd

NA

BABY CALVES

$150

HORSES

$50hd

$550hd

PAIRS STOCKER COWS BABY CALVES

$1500 $800hd NA

$1,400 $200hd $150

$1,650

December-January 2017

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

15

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Winter Gardening

By Peter Phillips

community@palestineherald.com

F

or fans of winter gardens or the curious agriculturists, there is still time to get started. “The most important part about gardening is making sure you pick a good site that is full of sunlight. It is also important that the drainage is good. You will want to make sure your crops are protected from bugs and diseases,” Truman Lamb, Texas A&M Anderson County extension agent, said.

At this point in the season, gardeners can plant corn and onions. In January, gardeners can plant Irish potatoes, and in February, turnips, Lamb said.

Another idea might be to try beds.

“For small families, they might want to try gardening in beds. What you do is you take a 4’x8’ area, set up a compost and that’s what you will plant in. You would be surprised by how many pounds you can get out of such a small space,” Lamb said.

To protect your garden, keep a constant watch for bugs.

“You are going to want to keep an eye on everything to stay on top of what is happening in your garden. You are going to want to look for bugs, and as we get warmer, you are going to want to protect against diseases like leaf blight. A leaf

blight attacks the leaf and disfigures it.”

Lamb said.

During winter cold snaps, it’s important to keep the frost off the plants.

“Any method will work. You can use blankets to cover the plants. We are dealing with cold weather plants this time of year, but once it gets below 32, they need the protection. Remember, though, once it starts warming up, you need to take the covers off,” Lamb said.

The biggest benefit of growing your own garden, besides the savings, is the taste of the product.

“The crop does not have to travel, no processing.

You just plant it and grow it. The results are a much improved quality of plants,” Lamb said.

Do’s and Don’ts for winter gardening (Courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service)

Do:

• Use recommended varieties for your area of the state.

• Apply pre-plant fertilizer to the garden in the recommended amount.

• Examine garden often to keep ahead of potential problems.

• Keep the garden free of insects, diseases and weeds.

• Use mulches to conserve moisture, control weeds and reduce ground rots.

• Water as needed, wetting soil to a depth of six inches.

• Avoid excessive walking and working in the garden when the foliage and soil are wet.

• Wash your garden tools and sprayer well after each use.

• Keep records on garden activities.

Don’t:

• Depend on varieties not recommended for your area, but do try limited amounts of new releases.

• Plant so closely that you cannot walk or work in the garden.

• Cultivate so deeply that plant roots are injured.

• Shade small plants with taller growing crops.

• Water excessively or in late afternoon.

• Place fertilizer directly in contact with plant roots or seeds.

• Allow weeds to grow large before cultivating.

• Apply chemicals or pesticides in a hap-hazard manner or without reading the label directions.

• Use chemicals not specifically recommended for garden crops.

• Store leftover diluted spray.

Pineco Inc.

11104 E. State Hwy 31 Kerens, TX • 903-396-3320

December-January 2017

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

16

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Game Ranching

Starting, stocking and operating a high-fenced game ranch

By PennyLynn Webb

I

news@palestineherald.com

n the midst of the East Texas pines, high-fenced game ranches have popped up in virtually every corner of the county.

Questions that come to mind are, How did they get started? How do they get their stock? and What does it take to operate this type of outfit?

The Carters’ Two-J’s Ranch was established in 2002, when John and Jewel Carter purchased 250 acres of rolling hills, pasture land and heavy woods six miles west of Grapeland.

The high-fenced ranch is home to axis deer, blackbuck antelope, fallow deer and white-tailed deer.

“My wife is from the Rusk area,” said John Carter. “When we were visiting the area, we came across a listing for a property in the Grapeland area, and we decided to go look at it.”

John had friends who had game ranches and was looking to do something like that for his retirement years.

“I’m not a cattle man,” said John. “I love the outdoors and hunting, so this way I get to pursue two of my passions.”

Getting started is not easy, Jewel said.

“It’s been a great tax deduction for us, but the process is a little overwhelming in the beginning,” said Jewel. “There are all these rules and regulations by Texas Parks and Wildlife that you have to follow.”

The couple started their herds by purchasing livestock from an auction in Huntsville and other breeder programs around the state.

They now have a breeder program of their own and sell their stock to other ranches.

“In the beginning, we had a lot of local interest in what was going on behind the fence,” said Jewel. “People would stop outside the fence and watch animals, and at night you could see flashes from cameras as people were taking pictures of our stock.”

In the 14 years they have been in operation, the Carters have only had one negative incident occur.

“Its been awhile ago now, but we had some boys from the Cypress area cut the fence and come onto the property,” said Jewel. “We’ve been very fortunate in that aspect.”

According to Jewel, the couple has

about 100 head of stock in their pens and between 100 and 150 on the property.

“I love when the baby deer are being born,” said Jewel, “but it makes it harder for me to hunt them when they get big enough to turn out.”

The couple works closely with a local vet to keep their herds healthy and adhere to the guideline of Texas Parks & Wildlife.

“Working with this type of livestock, we have to be cautious and on the watch for things like chronic wasting and such,” said Jewel.

“We also have to dart the deer and other livestock to move them,” said John. “There is paperwork with the vet associated with that and the drugs it takes to bring them to.”

They offer exotic hunting and fishing year round and whitetailed deer during a specified season.

The ranch has a whitetailed breeder

operation that offers stocker bucks, bred does and fawns. They also have a wellstocked lake for fishing.

“Our constant goal is breeding a bigger, more hardy white-tailed stock,” said John.

A guided hunt includes food, lodging and guide services, along with a trophy fee based on the score of the white-tailed buck harvested.

To book a hunt or for more information, call the Carters at 281-384-0827.

Happy New Year!

From Jake

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