Farm and Ranch Living July 2016

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The saddle maker Hobby becomes profession for this cowboy., Page 2

See Inside!

The Vineyard

The Family Affair

The couple turns 200 plants into fullblown vineyard., Page 16

Long-time family ag-based business helps its community., Page 16

Published June 30, 2016

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June-July 2016

How a hobby became a livelihood By PennyLynn Webb community@palestineherald.com

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hat started as a hobby became a profession for Clay Hammil 27 years ago. Today, Hammil has orders waiting as he works diligently to turn out custom saddle orders in a workshop next to his home. Prior to making saddles, Hammil cowboyed for several years, while his wife taught school. “We almost starved to death while I was doing that.” At the time he was calf roping around the Texas rodeo circuit. It was around the time that he took a job working at the prison that he began to make saddles, including one for himself. “After I built one or two, I had some people who wanted me to make them one and the business grew from there,” said Hammil. “It was a blessing.” Working during the day, Hammil would go home and work on saddles at night. He developed a niche market for people who rodeo and eventually took the chance to make saddles his full time profession. “It’s worked out well,” said Hammil. His clients include some of the top rodeo riders in the nation, having one order a custom saddle to ride in the national finals rodeo a few years back.

Hammil averages about two saddles a month. While an ornate saddle might take him two weeks to hammer out, he can complete a plain saddle, no tooling, in a week. His base price is $3,500 and builds based on all the bells and whistles people want in the hardware they add. “That might seem expensive to some people, but a saddle will last a lifetime if they take care of it,” said Hammil. “My saddles are built from the finest materials you can get, the finest leather.” As ornate as his saddles are, it might surprise some to learn that Hammil is self-taught. “I did visit a saddle maker in Wortham, Texas, named David Barnes,” said Hammil “He’s an excellent saddle maker; he’s a custom builder like I am. He was gracious enough to visit with me when I went down there to see him and gave me some patterns. People think I used to work for him, but I never did.” Hammil says he’s always trying to learn more and refine his technique and has even made his own tools. “I don’t consider myself artistic. I have to work really hard to develop my art over the years.” When shopping for a saddle, Hammil says there are some key things to keep in mind. “Know what you are looking for. A lot of the saddles that are made today are made so cheap that it costs more to repair them than it did to purchase them,” said Hammil. “And most people don’t know how a saddle is supposed to fit a horse, even people who have ridden horses their entire lives.” Hammil said that he sees people make a lot of mistakes in taking care of their saddles.

June-July 2016

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Hot, Getting Dry and Markets Down – Again!

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few weeks ago we thought rain would never stop. Well, it did! Lots of gardens are suffering and if the grower doesn’t have a well, cost of city or co-op water runs awful high. But, never fear. Those gardeners will probably work the ground again and go for a fall crop. And that’s just around the corner. A real issue concerns cattle prices and it goes without saying they are down and down. One cattleman said he lived through several wrecks in his cattle raising career. Right now he’s trying to figure whether to sell his herd or ride the roller coaster, hoping it stops on more profitable ground. Best news for our farmers is that we have plenty of hay. Lots left

over from last year and big first cuttings made and stacked. Some folks are already cutting for the second time. And while cattle prices have been in the doldrums, price of fertilizer hasn’t dropped. Means that some of the hay being baled probably does not have the feeding value we will need this winter unless costly supplements are added. Well, sometimes we can’t win for losing. The political scene in our country is really starting to get nasty. And the Great Britain vote to get out of the European Community is getting lots of play. Folks, the British made their move and 52% of those voting said, “let us leave”. Respect their vote. The moon will continue to rise and set

and the tides will continue to ebb and flow. One sage suggested that a stronger link between English

“When they get all sweaty, get wet, stay out in the sun and dry out, that’s the worst thing for them, get wet and stay out in the sun and dry out,” said Hammil. “After I’ve been out riding, I wipe mine down, wipe off the sweat and stuff off of them. Keep the dirt off of them. When it rains, bring them in. They tend to get moldy if you leave them out in the rain and moisture. It’s also good to keep them oiled, but people have a tendency to over oil a saddle, which makes them attract mold.” Hammil suggest cleaning saddles with glycerin soap. Hammil hopes to pass the business on to his grandchildren one day. “My grandkids were visiting the other day. They like to come work with me in the shop. I give them a scrap piece of leather and some tools to play with and they worked in the shop with me here and then I send some leather and tools home with them to play with.”

speaking nations should be our goal. Makes sense that the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand could figure out some trade deals and build a strong federation of free-world nations. Frankly when push comes to shove, I think we will be far ahead if our economic bridges are built to these nations rather than to France, Germany, Belgium and the other EU members. Ben Carson, one of the many Republican presidential candidates early on, has been on a roll lately, helping the Trump campaign and making statements that make worlds of sense. Carson said recently, “I know the President has said that we are not a Judeo-Christian nation.

But guess what? He doesn’t get to decide that—we get to decide that”. Well said. The Obama family is leasing a 4.3 million dollar home in an exclusive D.C. suburb. This will be their new home when his term of office ends. The home has 8,200 square feet of living area, a large garage and courtyard parking for close to a dozen vehicles. And best of all, for Mr. Obama, the home is less than 1,000 feet away from the Islamic Mosque Center of Washington. The President often has said he “loves to hear the bells for the five times a day Islamic prayer call.” OK! That’s —30— horace7338@live.com

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June-July 2016

Death, taxes... And ďŹ re ants! in colder, more dry areas, mounds tend to be smaller and, therefore, harder to detect, jembleton@jacksonvilleprogress.com the site adds. Meanwhile, like honeybees, fire ants tend to branch out when colonizing, ne of the U.S. founding fathers, Benjamin Vafaie said. Franklin, once said that nothing is certain in “If you have a honeybee hive that gets this world, “except death and taxes.â€? really full, they’ll swarm — a group will If you’re a Texan, you probably can add Solenopsis leave and look for a new piece of territory,â€? invicta — the native South American fire ant — to that he said. “I think a lot of it (with fire ants) mix. is opportunistic, though I’m sure there “The red, imported fire ant was imported around the are several other factors that contribute to 1930s and has spread to infest more than 260 million whether they can establish (new sites) or acres of land in nine southeastern states, including Texas,â€? not.â€? according to www.fireant.tamu.edu. As most folks will confirm, fire ants Many residents are familiar with their tendency to build their mounds almost anywhere, swarm and sting when their mounds are disturbed. and they will try just about every method “They swarm and they sting at the same time, and inject their venom, which is not so pleasant,â€? said program imaginable to get rid of these pests. In “Fire Ant Control: The Two-Step specialist Erfan Vafaie, who is based at the Texas A&M Method and Other Approaches,â€? (http:// University Research and Extension Center in Overton. articles.extension.org/pages) methods Their sting “usually leaves a white pustule on the skin,â€? noted include biological control (using noted www.fireant.tamu.edu. natural enemies of the insect), organic While fire ants settle in areas with soft soil to build mounds that “are rarely larger than 18 inches in diameter,â€? or chemical products, even home remedies using boiling water, instant grits, molasses or even fuels such as diesel and gasoline. Of these, the site states, boiling water “eliminates ant colonies about 60 percent of the time, but it will also kill plants the water contacts,â€? while foodbased approaches are ineffective and using fuel, ammonia or chlorine can contaminate soil and groundwater, and are dangerous, as well. The best approach, Vafaie said, is the two-step method recommended by Texas A&M University: “Step one is, in late summer — August, September, October, before it’s too cold — you go out and do a broadcast treatment, this way, you’re getting potential swarms and mounds that may be occurring over the winter.â€? The bait treatment works when ants “take it down to the colony to feed their queen, their brood, and it knocks them down big time. Then, in the early spring, when you start seeing the mounds, you then treat the remaining mounds,â€? he said, adding that treatment is continual to help control new ant colonies moving onto the property. “Mind you, after that first summer, you’ll start to see a lot less colonies on your property than you typically would, so anything you’re getting is just new ones coming onto your property,â€? Vafaie said. “Fire ants are established, so unless you can eradicate an insect, you often need to treat on a semi-regular basis.â€? The treatment is most effective when landowners take the time to Jacksonville Progress photo by Jo Anne Embleton make sure the bait is spread when fire ants are foraging. Erfan Vafaie examines a mound located at the Texas A&M University “The number one mistake people Research and Extension Center in Overton.

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make is to spread the bait when the ants are not foraging. The fire ants need to pick that (bait) up as if it were a piece of food to take back to the nest,� he said. “So if they’re not actively looking for food, you’ve just wasted your broadcast spray, wondering why it didn’t work.� It’s also a bad idea to stir the ant bed before applying treatment. “That’s another misconception. You want to get them out, so you poke the mounds and spread on there,� he said. “You really want them to forage, not panic, not rebuilding their nests. You want to not disturb them, and the labels will say that.� Vafaie recommends setting out a piece of food — “maybe a piece of hot dog or potato chip pieces� — and lay it near the mound, then wait about half an hour to see if ants are crawling on it as they forage for food. “If they are, that’s when you can apply the treatment,� he said. The ideal situation in exterminating fire ants involves heavy rain to oust them from their mounds, followed by a sudden freeze. “Fire ants don’t do so well the further north they go. If you get a really cold snap, they cannot survive cold. They’ll go down deep into their nests in order to stay warm,� he said. “If it rains a lot and you get a sudden freeze, bang! You’ve just knocked them out.� Meanwhile, the best defense against fire ants is to practice caution and to be aware of them in your area. “If you are working on a garden, always wear closedtoe shoes, gloves,� Vafaie said. “I moved down here two years ago, and I remember I was doing some monitoring on some strawberries and that’s how I learned very quickly you’ve got to wear gloves. That’s when I got my first few stings, by looking under leaves and all of a sudden, there were four or five in my hand. So, always be very aware of where you’re stepping.� He said to also take special care in keeping small children, livestock and pets away from fire ants, which will sting them, causing pain or, in some cases, allergic reactions or even death. “It’s certainly something for people to be aware of,� he said. Learn more about fire ants through Texas A&M’s “Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project� website, at www.fireant.tamu.edu

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June-July 2016

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Vertical Integration T

here are those who say farming and ranching is a “way of life” more than it is a business. Which helps explain why young people who grow up in agriculture return to work on the farm. Working the land holds a strong lure. ‘Course, it also explains why young people who grow up in agriculture become architects and sailors! They remember the return-on-investment and want to be as far away from a tractor and a cow as they can be! Ray said he first became a rancher. He loved it but he found that he had to work all the bad days. They waited until it started snowing on the mountain before they gathered the cows. They spent frigid days

ridin’ the high country chasin’ cows outta crevices and thickets, suffering stiff fingers, frozen toes and icicles in his moustache! He was often preg checking and shippin’ calves in a bone damp fall drizzle. He was calvin’ in snowdrifts, chainin’ up to feed the cows and choppin’ ice on Christmas morning. It was followed by brandin’ in the blowin’ dirt. Then, about the time they were

ready to turn the cows and calves out, the weather got beautiful. So, he became a farmer. He enjoyed farming as much as ranching. But he found that in farming he had to work on all the good days! As soon as the birds started chirping, he was out in the field breakin’ ground. Planting as the springtime flowers bloomed. Spraying and cultivating in the heat of the summer when he should have been drinkin’ iced tea in the shade. Harvesting cut into his fishing. Then, he laid around the house all winter because it was too miserable to go outside! Finally, Ray had a stroke of genius. He decided to become a rancher/farmer combination! His brilliant solution to be a

rancher on the good days and farmer on the bad days! This arrangement gave him time to organize his business. He eventually became vertically integrated. But as he prospered, his activities attracted an increasing number of folks who insisted on helping him. He couldn’t make a decision or a plan a move without facing a barrage of regulations administered by helpful bureaucrats, Before he could save himself, he went broke. He said, he realized too late, that vertical integration was just a means of doing business where the government could stick it to you ‘standing up’! www.baxterblack.com

4-H: Not just about animals By Deanna Kirk Corsicana Daily Sun

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he key to the future of great farmers and ranchers is simple — education. Navarro County 4-H is a thriving, active group of about 275 members, ages 8-18. In November 2015, it received a new leader in new 4-H agent from North Carolina, Brittany Scott, with Texas AgriLife Extension. An excursion June 13, the first local summer program of the year, to New Frontier Farm was an eyeopener for some 4-H students who had never before been on a working farm. “It lets kids know how food is farm-to-table,” said Texas AgriLife agent Lorie Stovall. “One kid thought milk was ‘made’ at the store. The youth were able to milk goats, pet rabbits, plant some annuals and perennials and learn the difference, and make goatsmilk ice cream, made with guinea eggs and goatsmilk.” 4-H is not just about animals — there are contests for all kinds of subjects, such as food challenge, fashion design, crafts and stitchery. “We have partnered with the city of Corsicana Parks and Recreation Department to provide 4-H volunteers to help with summer programs,” Stovall said. “Parents may call the Parks and Recreation Department to sign up for those free programs.” Recently, the 4-H youth participated in the Texas 4-H Roundup,

an invitational event where members placed in several events. “The Texas 4-H Roundup has around 50 diverse competitions that tie in with the many projects that 4-H has to offer,” Scott said. “In Navarro County, we had teams from four different 4-H clubs in the county compete.” In the 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Invitational, where youth use the knowledge and skills they’ve gained through the 4-H healthy lifestyles programs, Navarro County had two senior teams with kids from Mildred 4-H, Agape 4-H, Frost 4-H and Emhouse 4-H. These teams consisted of Senior Team 1: Taylor Loflin, Rose Craig, Merissa Davis, and Katie Perkins. This team placed sixth in the state. Senior Team 2 was made up of Brianna Sanchez, Hannah Smith, Desire Lupo and Samantha Lupo, and placed seventh. Lynzie Lamp of Agape 4-H was on a mixed team, and that team placed third. “We had one robotics team from Mildred 4-H,” Scott said. “The Robotics Challenge is a contest designed to allow members to demonstrate their robotics, engineering, and problem-solving skills.” This team, comprised of Connor Knauth, Caden Reed and Grant Gray, placed third in the state competition. A self-expression contest called “Share the Fun,” where youth may showcase their talents allowed Rebecca “Rose” Craig to present poems about love, and she placed fourth in state. Amanda Wilder also gave a beautiful sign language performance, which put her in

13th place. “Four individuals competed in the education presentation contest, which is a great way to increase your public-speaking skills,” Scott said. “It provides 4-H members with the opportunity to get up in front of a group of other

4-H members or adults and showcase your knowledge.” Placing first as a team in the state for its presentation, “Healing through Horses,” were Desire Lupo and Samantha Lupo. Brianna Sanchez gave a presentation in the Health category with a topic of “Infantile Spasms” and came in 22nd; while Madison Shealy did “Living Life as a Teen with Cystic Fibrosis” and took fourth place in the state. “We had a great time at Roundup and participated in some great workshops that taught us more leadership as well as opportunities for scholarships and international 4-H opportunities,” Scott said. The 4-H membership drive will begin in August and go through

October. To join 4-H during the drive, membership is only $20; after that it’s $25 and is good for one year. “4-H offers an array of camps, too,” Stovall said. “There is county camp, then District 8 county camp, which has a group of counties and lasts Friday through Sunday. Then there is SURGE and Prime Time. All through the summer, camps are available, but you must be a 4-H member to go to camp. “And of course, we always need more parent volunteers.” ——————— dkirk@corsicanadailysun.com

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June-July 2016

Beating the heat Some summertime tips to help protect yourself from the elements of hot weather amount may need to be increased depending on how much time you spend in the sun, the level of physical activity and how much you sweat. Liquids you should try to avoid when out on the water are those containing alcohol. I like a cold beer as much as anyone, but it is best to leave it in the cooler until your off the water and reach your final destination. Alcohol will actually promote dehydration rather than prevent it. Plus, it can impair your ability to operate a motor boat and earn you a costly trip to jail if you happen to get caught behind the wheel with a blood/ alcohol level that exceeds the legal limit.

By Matt Williams Outdoors Writer

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ummer officially got underway on June 20, but it seems like it arrived a week or two earlier. That’s when the year’s first nasty heat wave settled in over eastern Texas, driving outside temperatures to the mid-to-upper 90s and causing the heat index to crack the triple digits, seemingly on a daily basis. The heat index is a system used to determine how hot the temperature actually feels to our skin with the humidity level figured in. Weather forecasters in these parts refer to the heat index frequently in these parts because it is something people really need to pay attention to when making outdoor plans. Heat is removed from the body through sweating and natural evaporation of that moisture. High humidity will hinder the evaporation process. As a result, it will feel significantly hotter outside on summer days with high humidity than it will on days with low humidity, because your body’s natural cooling system is compromised by the elements. The heat can be especially oppressive in the aftermath of a summer rain shower that dumps even more moisture into the air. While it might feel cooler outside while rain is falling, you can bet it will feel like sauna once it stops, especially once the sun pops out. At any rate, it is important to take care of your body and to listen to what it is telling you. Getting too hot can lead to some serious medical issues or heat-related illnesses such as cramps, heat edema (swelling the ankles or feet), heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Dealing With Heat Hot, muggy weather is a fact of life this time of year in eastern Texas. The are only two ways around it. Deal with it or leave. Perhaps the best way to deal with it is to stay indoors in an air-conditioned environment during hottest part of the day, or venture outside only during the early morning and late afternoon hours, when temperatures are coolest. But those aren’t viable options many folks, especially those whose livelihood revolve around working outdoors. Or for those who play golf, fish, hike, jog, ride motorcycles or enjoy other hobbies that lead them outdoors when the sun is high in the sky. I don’t play golf or jog, but I fish a lot, often during the heat of the day. Those who don’t fish might think it would be cooler out there on the water, but that’s totally false, especially when fishing from the open deck of a fiberglass bass rig or aluminum jon boat. These types of rigs typically aren’t equipped with canopies to provide shade from overhead sun. Plus, the sun’s glare is constantly bouncing off the water and pounding you in the face. Then there is the work factor. Fishing can turn into a serious work detail real quick, especially when you make hundreds of casts, raise and lower trolling motor and get in and out of the driver’s seat two dozen times over the course of sweltering hot day. Protecting Yourself Whether you are casting for bass, out hiking or building fences, it is important that you listen to your body and take steps to protect yourself from the elements. Drinking plenty of fluids should be at the heart of every protection plan. The main idea is to replace the critical water that is lost from your body over the course of the day through sweating, urination, etc…. Failure to do so could cause you to dehydrate and ultimately lead to other medical complications. Flavored drinks like Gatorade or Poweraid are alright, but it is hard to beat water. I carry a large jug or bottle of water in my boat at all times this time of year and I make a point to drink it throughout the day, even when I’m not thirsty. The container has a screw-on lid that seals tight

Photo by Jan Williams It is always wise to apply generous amounts of quality sunscreen with a high SPF rating to all areas of exposed skin before venturing outdoors for extended periods of time. and is reusable. This cuts down on the senseless expense of buying bottled water and eliminates plastic waste. If you know you are going to be spend a hot day the water, it is a good idea to begin hydrating your body the day before. It’s best to drink about 48-64 ounces of water on a daily basis. The

Block It Out If you are going to be in the sun for extended period, it would be wise to apply a high quality sunscreen to exposed areas of your body beforehand. Over exposure the sun’s harmful rays can result in sunburn and damage your skin. Repeated over exposure can cause pre-mature aging and possibly lead skin cancer. To provide maximum protection to the skin you need a product that is formulated to actually block or absorb ultraviolet light. These products - available as lotions or in aerosol cans - come with a sun protection factor (SPF) rating. The SPF dictates the level of sun protection it provides, and for how long. There are sunscreens with ratings of SPF 8 to SPF 60. The lower the number, the less protection the sunscreen provides. The higher the number, the more protection it provides. To figure the maximum amount of protection, multiply the SPF by 10. This will give you the total number of minutes the sunblock will protect your skin. An SPF 15 sunblock will last for about 2 1/2 hours, whereas an SPF 45 will work for nearly eight hours. The higher SPFs are the best way to go if the idea is to achieve maximum protection.

Dressing For Sun I’m a big fan of sunscreens, but I have recently become an even bigger fan of the high-tech, sun protective clothing that is available on the market today. Several companies are making high quality clothing these days. Huk is among the best around. Based in Charleston, S.C., Huk (hukgear.com) makes full line of high performance outdoor clothing including stylish lines of short/long sleeve shirts and face gaiters designed to keep you comfortable while providing all-day protection from the elements. The clothing is made using a special technology that actually wicks moisture away from the skin and dries quickly. The fabric is super lightweight, breathable, resists staining, comfortable against the skin and very durable. It also provides a high SPF, which pretty much eliminates the need for using messy sunscreens on parts of the body that are covered. I’m still using an SPF 45 sunscreen on my legs and ankles, but that’s about it Pro anglers have been donning face gaiters/ buffs for years now. I was reluctant to try one for a long time because they looked too restrictive and uncomfortable, but that’s not the case at all. I’ve been testing out Huk’s neck gaiters for about a month now and I’ve been super pleased with the performance. Not only does the gaiter eliminate the need for sunscreen on the face and ears, it also keeps the sun off of your neck while providing excellent breathability keeping you cooler. The one-sizefits-all gaiters are available in a variety of patterns and colors for around $20 to $22. That’s cheap protection from the alternative. Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches. He can be reached by e-mail, mattwillwrite4u@ yahoo.com.

Photo by Jan Williams Neck gaiters like this one from Huk provide all-day sun protection for the face, ears and neck and eliminate the need for messy sunscreens.

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June-July 2016

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Shooting sports enters 4-H in Navarro County By Deanna Kirk dkirk@corsicanadailysun.com

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avarro County 4-H has a recently formed Shotgun Sports Program, which has competed in nine tournaments and won numerous trophies already. Though the shooters range in age currently from 11 to 16, it is open to all 4-H members age 9 and up. The

mission of the program is to provide and assist in support, equipment, coaching, and a wholesome learning atmosphere for youth. Jason Gamez obtained his coaching certification so he could lead the group. Texas AgriLife Extension agents actively encourage parental involvement, and this is a case in point. Team members are Grant Gamez, Jack Blanton, Matthew Stills,

Remington Cottongame, Brady Miller, and Hunter Autrey. “The 4-H Shooting Sports Program has volunteer leaders and certified coaches working to assist team members in healthy decisionmaking skills and goal setting in a safe environment,” Jason Gamez said. “After proper training, coaching, equipment knowledge, honing skills with good decision-making

then competing and achieving their personal goals are encouraged.” The 4-H Shotgun sports offer the youth opportunities to compete for scholarships and many other prizes. They shoot in four different events, and must be sharp at each one. Each week, the members practice shooting as many as 500 to 1,000 clays. Sponsors for 4-H Shotgun Sports Program help to defray some of the

cost of the competition, and they are Maplewood Investments, Freedom Shooting Sports, Upland Bird Country, Collin Street Bakery, Double Trouble Duds, Corsicana Welding, Summers Leasing Service, Waxahachie Pawn, Williams Gin and Grain, James Manufacturing, Farmers Lazy F Ranch, and Peak Performance.

Are you a team player? Do you love outside sales? Are you committed to giving the best customer service possible? If so, then submit your resume to the Palestine Herald-Press. We’re looking for the perfect fit in our Advertising Sales Department to lead sales efforts in our monthly Farm & Ranch publication. We also have other sales opportunities through our daily newspaper, magazines, websites, direct mail products, special sections, and digital entities. You’ll be a part of a hardworking, goal oriented team that has fun every day! Outside sales experience a plus, but not necessary. Positive attitude and good work ethic a must. Only apply if you are eager to take on the challenge and gain the rewards of newspaper advertising sales! We offer a competitive base plus commission plan. Benefits include Health, Dental, Vision, 401K. The Palestine Herald-Press publishes a printed newspaper five days per week and online seven days a week at palestineherald.com. In addition we publish the Herald-Press Xtra, community magazines, digital products and numerous specialty publications.

Email cover letter and resume to jmienk@palestineherald.com

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June-July 2016

Weather makes it tough on watermelon farmers By Kathi Nailling Staff Writer

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his should be the peak of the watermelon season in East Texas. Too much rain was one thing; now, the lack of rain combined with the heat at the peak of growing season in early June, has cut watermelon production way down. For 36 years, Tommy Morse has owned T&M Farms, a local watermelon farm in Murchison. He said this may be his last year growing the melons. “I had to replant the melons after all the rain,” said Morse. He plants 12 to 13 acres of watermelons each year. Now with the lack of rain and heat Morse said, “The melons will burn up, if we don’t get an inch of rain in the next few days it will be over with. We won’t have any melons.” Since 1980, Morse has been growing watermelons in East Texas. “East Texas has the best watermelons in the United States,” he said. The local farmers have fought the weather conditions for the past couple of years. “The fact I can’t get much help in pulling melons has added to the decision to give it up,” said Morse. Morse said when he started growing melons in 1980 he would sell the melons for $2 or $2.50 each. Today, he is still selling the melons for $2 or $2.50 each. “The price has not gone up, but yet the fertilizer that cost me $150 a ton in 1980 now cost $500 a ton,” said Morse. “It’s too much work for what you earn.” According to Morse the watermelons purchased in the grocery stores are coming from South Texas or Mexico. “They sell them by the pound,” he said. “They tend to make more money than local farmers.” When Morse is not giving away the watermelons, he sells melons to local produce stands. “When I first started, I would ship the melons to Canada,” said Morse. “That doesn’t happen any more.” He is hoping to pull some melons around July 1 for the Fourth of July weekend. “If you don’t sell the melons by July 4, you can forget it,” he said. “After July 4, you can’t give watermelons away.” Morse, who said he has worked hard on his farm, says the time has come to give it up. “It’s getting tougher to find help pulling melons, the weather has hurt the melon industry,” said Morse. “No one wants to be out in the heat all day.” In addition to melons, Morse bales hay and has a few head of cattle. “I have a small vegetable garden for the family,” he said. The Morse family, who has been in Murchison a long time, has made a name for itself in the local farming industry. Morse left his job in Houston to run his father-in-law’s farm. “We started by hay baling and grew the watermelon farm from there.” “We will continue baling hay,” said Morse. “I have a few clients I will continue to provide hay for.” Morse has lived and breathed farming for the past 35File photo plus years and was Henderson County’s 2010 winner of T&M Farms in Murchison has been growing watermelons in Henderson County since 1980. the Joe B. Fulgham Agriculturist of the Year Award.

Starks awarded National Wild Turkey Federation Scholarship

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he winner of the 2016 Texas State NWTF $2,000 Scholarship is Sarah Starks of the Cottonwood Creek Chapter, according to the NWTF Newsletter No. 37. Sarah graduated from Carroll Senior High School in Southlake and will attend the University of Oklahoma, majoring in biomedical engineering. She is active in the Southlake Clay Target Program sponsored by the NWTF and found out about the scholarship through that program. She wrote an interesting essay about the environment and the changes to wildlife habitat due to ever-increasing urban sprawl. She is a strong supporter of the hunting heritage. Sarah is the daughter of LeAnn Thomas Starks of Southlake, and the granddaughter of Margaret and Gene Thomas of Eureka.

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June-July 2016

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New generation keeps quilting tradition thriving By Shala Watson Special to the Herald-Press

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hey are soft, keep you warm, provide a sense of comfort and usually have a story or two behind them. Quilts are made from the heart and take lots of patience and skill to complete. As technology improves and time goes by, industry has replaced handmade quilts with commercially manufactured products, but there are still women out there keeping the tradition of quilting alive and growing. Nikki Chaffin is among them. Chaffin is a young mother and wife who began quilting five years ago. Growing up, she was surrounded by “amazing seamstresses,” including her grandmother, who first taught her to sew. Eventually she was inspired to pick up quilting again by her mother-inlaw, Paula Chaffin. “My mother-in-law invited me to take a quilting class in Tyler. So I went and then I just kind of got hooked from there,” Chaffin said. Nikki and Paula opened a quilting and sewing business in Palestine called Sew What in October 2012. The shop offered many services, including sewing, embroidery and long-arm quilting. Traditional hand quilting required large frames that would pull down from the ceiling and a group of women would sit around and quilt for hours. Today machine quilting speeds up the process but still requires a lot of skill and time. “There is a machine called a long-arm quilting machine; it’s like 12-foot-long, and you put the top and the backing and the batting in between and then you quilt it on the machine,” Chaffin said.

“So a lot of people will just piece the top and then instead of quilting like they used to, they take it to someone who does long arm and they will put it together.” The quilting classes the shop offered were also very popular with young people. “It really has picked back up. It’s like it skipped a generation, because when we had our shop, we had mostly younger people who did quilting,” Chaffin said. Quilting may seem like it’s a thing of the past, but Chaffin says, “it appears like it’s dying off, but there are still people getting involved.” Lauryn James is Chaffin’s sewing protégé. James, a Palestine High School senior, began taking classes at the shop when she was in the eighth grade and has continued developing her sewing skills ever since. “The whole year I went to classes at Sew What … I’ve loved it ever since and never have really stopped,” James said. “Once I got started with Nikki, I never really wanted to stop. They pretty much can make anything and that inspired me.” Her first quilt was a yo-yo quilt, which requires sewing half by hand and half by machine. ”You have to hand sew each one and they’re like circles, and you go all the way around the outside. When you gather them up, it looks almost like a flower,” James said. “It’s all these little different circles you sew together to make the quilt.” James continued quilting and completed an internship at Sew What through the work-study program at her school. “I would help them with whatever they needed, and a lot of the time I was making T-shirt quilts for customers that had brought

Contributed photo

A smiling Nikki Chaffin stands with one of her quilts. Chaffin got into quilting at the suggestion of her mother-in-law, Paula Chaffin. The pictured quilt was started in 1932 and completed in 1975 and is called a Flower Garden quilt. them in.” Quilting is a great way to cross generations and combine the traditional with new techniques. “I always love getting help from the older generation. They always

help me and teach me new things, and I know they know so much,” James said. “I’m so amazed by the quilts they have hand sewn back when there were no machines. That just blows my mind, because

I know it took so much time and

hard work, but I love being inspired by them and getting to learn from them.” To any young people out there interested in quilting, James encourages them to try it.

“I just love it, and I feel like more people would love to do it if they are willing to try. Usually

everyone is going around saying,

‘This is cute’ or ‘I wish I could make that,’ and you really could,

it’s not that hard,” James said. “You just have to be willing to try and put forth the effort, and I think if they did that, they could really enjoy it.”

James would like to teach quilt-

ing classes in the future and share her skills with others, she said.

The Chaffins made the decision to close Sew What in April, but

Nikki is staying busy and running

the business through her home.

She does orders by request and

does custom quilts, shirt quilts, and embroidery. Quilting can be a great way to socialize and meet other people

as well. Chaffin says there are Contributed photo

Lauryn James lays on several quilts she’s made over the years. James started quilting when she was in the eighth grade.

many classes offered in the area by churches and other groups.

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June-July 2016

32nd Annual Tomato Fest hits all-time record Special to the Progress

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or the first time ever, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce planned a week’s worth of activities gearing up for the big event on June 11, which created a smash-hit event for the city. Tomato Fest activities began with Mayor Dick Stone naming Jacksonville as ‘Tomatoville.” This marks Robin Butt’s 12th Tomato Fest as chairman, leading a team of 120 volunteers. Butt noted, “Each year continues to grow, more vendors, more volunteers and the attendance was a record for 2016.” Monday and Tuesday, Family First hosted the second annual Dodgeball Tournament, with Jacksonville ISD winning the trophy for the second year and winning $750 for the JEF Foundation. Monday was also C10’s Music Circle Monday. The gospel concert was moved this year to a Wednesday evening sponsored by Whataburger and hosted at Cornerstone Baptist Church, featuring Chordsmith with more than 200 in attendance. Thursday evening, Sadler’s hosted a farmers market. That evening, there was a ‘sold out’ attendance for the first Murder Mystery Dinner, sponsored by Austin Bank. CJ’s Quick Shop provided complimentary beer and wine held at the Landmark Event Center.

Photo by April Barbe Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis chows down on a Jacksonville tomato during the annual festival’s Celebrity Tomato Eating Contest. On Friday, the first-ever Tee Time at Tomato Fest was held with Cherokee Ranch Golf Club hosting a 4-man

Photo by April Barbe Local resident Beverly Jimerson smiles to the crowd as she participates in the Celebrity Tomato Eating Contest during the 32nd annual Jacksonville Tomato Fest on June 11.

scramble during the festivities. There were a total of 17 teams marking the first golf tournament. Due to the number of teams, Jacksonville Soccer Association kicked off the 4-on-4 Soccer Tournament Friday evening inside the famous Tomato Bowl. A total of 80 teams battled inside the Tomato Bowl, with the final games ending Saturday evening. Vendors were arriving and setting up their merchandise for the big festival opening Saturday morning. June 11 was packed with over 220 vendors, entertainment under the bridge, Boogie Butt’s corner provided

additional entertainment at the Norman Center and numerous tomato contests for everyone. There were 30 events happening this day with record participations. The Tomato Eating Kids Contest sponsored by Citizens First Bank had a total of 17 kids. “This by far was the best ever Tomato Fest with over 15,000 coming out on Saturday”, stated Byron Underwood, Chamber Chairman of the Board. “The countless hours the volunteers work to bring a first class event to the community proved getting involved with the Jacksonville Chamber benefits the City”.

June-July 2016

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McInnis Farms owner shares about corn By Jennifer Kimble reporter@palestineherald.com

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raden McInnis is working his way to establish himself as a farmer in Texas with his own business, McInnis Farms. He started his venture helping his father and grandfather bailing hay. “I just always wanted to see something different done around here,” the 22-year-old Cayuga resident said. “I slowly got into it, starting in high school with row crop farming.” His first crop was wheat; from there he grew sorghum, corn and soybeans. He tends to farm land in Kaufman County, Cayuga and Oakwood. He also harvests wheat in Colorado. “It’s a battle because you either have a drought or too much rain working against you,” McInnis said. “This year, it was way too much rain.” Heavy rain from the April 30 flood damaged most of his Oakwood corn crop growth. It completely ruined planting for the Cayuga farm. “I’m hoping to plant a late crop of soybeans anyway in Cayuga. We’ll see how it does,” McInnis said. “It’s starting to dry up now, but there are some acres where there is nothing on them. It’s just wet.” Even with the flooding, this year crops are doing better than the previous year, McInnis said. He is optimistic on corn prices as well. Corn grows between eight and 10 feet tall, but that doesn’t resemble yield. Each stalk produces usually one ear with the occasional two ears. Flooding caused several stalks to grow only to six feet. “Corn doesn’t like too much water,” McInnis said. “Unfortunately, we got too much water. Generally in the bottoms of the field, the lower the ground is, the wetter it is. That’s normally where the good corn is. This year, all the corn is in the high ridges, and there’s nothing in the low spots.” McInnis uses a planter that puts out about 2,400 rows. He can plant 500 to 600 acres a day with the machine. The Oakwood corn farm was planted in under two days. His farm produces 25,000 plants per acre. “We can really get after it, which is what you have to do in East Texas,” McInnis said. In August, McInnis, along with two employees, will harvest the Oakwood corn crop for deer corn. He uses a combine that will strip the husk and the corn from the cob. He sells to Sanderson Farms and Attebury Grains. “Most of it will stay here in Palestine, and some of it will go to the state for the prison system,” McInnis said. The corn he grows is not food grade, but can be used to make sweet corn. It has to be in roasting stage to be cooked. About 85 percent of corn grown is field corn, which is what McInnis grows. The corn is used for cows, chickens, and making ethanol. “A very small percentage of corn grown in the U.S. is food grade. Most people don’t think that, but that’s how it is,” said McInnis. “Over half the corn in the U.S. goes to beef production for cattle feed.” McInnis chose the three row crops, because they all use the same type of equipment for harvest and growth. He stays busy throughout the year with all of his farms,

whether planting, harvesting or working on equipment. “I only have down time when it rains, but even then we

stay busy. You don’t want to fall behind,” McInnis said. “Our slowest time is the dead of winter, but we are still working six days a week. In summer, we work seven days a week.” However, he finds time to be the District 9 Youth Farm and Ranch representative for the Texas Farm Bureau. District 9 covers East Texas. McInnis was elected for the position in January. He works with individuals ages 18-35 who participate in agriculture production. His clients do cattle ranching, row crop farming or timber production. “Every year, I have to hold a meeting for people my age to talk about ag production and introduce them to the Farm Bureau,” McInnis said. “We also help organize the Farmer of the Year award. The winner gets $20,000 and a pickup. It’s a pretty big deal to us.” McInnis also takes part in choosing recipients of the Farm Bureau scholarships for the local students. For more information about the Farm Bureau, call McInnis at 903-391-8452 or find him on Facebook.

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June-July 2016

The Massey Family: Growing tomatoes in Sugar Sand By Deborah Burkett Contributing writer

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he Massey family has been farming for generations, since the late 1800s. Tomatoes, onions, peas, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn — you name it and they’ve grown it. Visiting with Mozelle and Wiley Wayne “Red” Massey, I was struck by their commitment to, and love of, the land. They talked of family and good ole country values. They expressed a sense of pride that they’re still living and farming on Massey property located in Pea Ridge, North Cherokee County. Wiley Wayne also showed me a family photo taken in 1911 at the old home place; it’s quite a treasure. It connects him firmly to the past. Members of the Massey and Swindle families are pictured in front of the dog-trot home. A typical “dog trot” construction consisted of two living areas under one roof, separated by a large hallway. These types of houses were common throughout the South and East Texas. Historical lore states that the floor plan was developed so the family’s dogs could sleep in the hall, and, instead of running around the house, they trotted back and forth in the same space. Walking through the tomato fields with Wiley Wayne and Mozelle, I learned quite a bit. For two years, the Massey’s tomato of choice has been Mountain Spring, previously it was Pic Red. Mountain Spring is a hybrid first developed in North Carolina in the late 1980s and released in 1991. Mountain Spring has become widely available, and is frequently grown as a vine-ripe fresh market tomato. Mountain Spring tomatoes grow in a wide range of climates and ripen earlier in the season than many other tomato varieties At the Massey farm, the field dirt is called sugar sand, because the soil does indeed look a bit like sugar. It’s a light hue and has a fine consistency; great for growing watermelons, too. Because of all the rain recently, their plants are a lush, beautiful green color and loaded with tomatoes, also mostly green. Mozelle shared, “We started with seeds, raised the plants in our greenhouse and set them out the first of April.” Farming is not easy. There’s lots of preparation and ultimate production hinges upon the weather, and we know how unpredictable that can be in East Texas! The Masseys have worked at various jobs over the years to supplement their income. Mozelle was food manager at Troup ISD for 20 years. She shared, “ We did a little bit of everything … hauled pulp wood, sold plants we grew in our greenhouse. We also tried to teach our kids a way of life, so they could be self-sufficient — never go hungry. We encouraged them to be involved in ag programs at school. They raised chickens, cows … Clark also built trailers.” As we left the tomato fields and walked through the woods back to their home, I asked Wiley Wayne if he ever wanted to leave — live anywhere else. His answer was telling, “I love this place; it’s home. Never wanted to live anywhere but here …” Pointing to his surroundings, he mused, “Why would I? And, besides, that sugar sand gets in your blood.”

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It’s melon time By Kim Benton Contributing writer

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t’s melon time — that delicious time of year when ripe, juicy melons seem to be on every farmers market stand and in all the grocery stores. Since childhood, they have been a favorite fruit of mine, and I hold many dear memories of walking through our watermelon patch and listening as Daddy thumped melons. It was so mysterious to me! What determines that magical sound? Now that I am older, I know that wasn’t all he was looking for. Thankfully there is a much easier way. So how do you tell if a watermelon is ripe? There is one sure sign — belly color. How yellow is it? The more yellow, the riper the melon. What do I mean by belly? I mean the bottom side, the area that was resting on the ground. This is the method I always use to determine which one is coming into my kitchen, even though I still thump them for fun. Roll a couple of them over and see which has the yellowest belly. As long as it is the healthiest melon, with no soft spots, that’s the one for you. If you were in a field, you would also look for a brown curl — the piece of stem where the melon attached to the vine. In the field, this stem will turn brown and shrivel when the time is right. What about cantaloupes? Have you ever seen those crazy people in the produce area smelling the fruit? They aren’t crazy. For

many fruits, this is an excellent ripeness indicator, including cantaloupes. You can smell either end, but the smell might be stronger on the blossom end. Does it smell like a cantaloupe? If so, it’s ripe. Also, if the netting on the outside is raised and the rind has no green tint, it’s ripe. A lovely tan little melon with a rich smell is a winner. Honeydew melons are another matter altogether. Although many of us associate a nice green color with them, we shouldn’t be looking for that on the outside. Honeydews ripen from green to cream to yellow, so avoid the green ones. Also, they should smell sweet. You can check the blossom end and see if it smells sweet to you. The rind yielding just a little bit to pressure under your fingers and having a bit of a sticky feel can also be good indicators (the stickiness would be from sugars seeping to the surface.) The final check point will be the most interesting one to be caught doing. Shake it. If you can hear the seeds rattling a little bit, you have a winner. Regardless of type or variety, always make sure your melon does not have splits, cracks or rotten spots. And, with any melon, you will find some variations within the ripeness indicators, but when you are in a hurry to grab one, pick a yellow belly on a watermelon, a sweet smelling cantaloupe and creamy yellow honeydew melons. Kim Benton is a Cherokee County Extension Agent horticulturist.

Photo by Kim Benton

Cantaloupes in different stages of ripeness are on display at Guinn’s Produce in Jacksonville.

Photo by Kim Benton

Blanca Hernandez from M&M produce in Alto holds her daughter, Mia, in front of a fresh batch of watermelons.

UPCOMING EVENTS CROCKETT:

ATHENS:

• July 9: Multi Award winning Elvis Tribute Artist Vince King and Texas’ Top Johnny Cash Tribute Artist, Bennie Wheels, join forces to relive two of the greatest musical artists in one evening. Get your tickets now... http:// crockettareachamber.org8

• July 13-17: Athens Summer Jubilee AQHA Horse Show - The Henderson County Horsemen’s Association proudly presents the Athens Summer Jubilee AQHA Horse Show. Come on out to the Henderson County Regional Fair Park Complex July 13 - 17 for this free event! The Summer Jubilee will begin at 10 a.m. on Wed., July 13 and at 8 a.m. July 14-17; end time TBD. Details: 903-670-3324

TYLER: • July 11-14: Brunson Equestrian, llc, Summer Camp Students are taught both English and Western disciplines as well as all the horsemanship that goes with riding. 14078 State Highway 110 North. Tyler, Texas 75704. (903) 882-8696. Get more info@ texasrosehorsepark.com • July 22-23: Seventh Annual Christmas in July Arts and Crafts Fair Presented by Tyler Parks and Recreation Harvey Convention Center, 2000 W. Front Street, Tyler Texas. For more information call 903.531.1214

jefferson: • August 27-28: Jefferson Gun & Knife Show. Jefferson Visitor Center, 305 E. Austin, Jefferson, Texas. Contact Jefferson Chamber of Commerce for further details.

grapeland: • Labor Day Weekend: The Annual Bluegrass Festival; Bluegrass Weekend & Gospel Music Festival Visit www.salmonlakepark.com for information about all the festivals at Salmon Lake Park.

FARM & RANCH CLASSIFIEDS To advertise here, contact Lezlie Hoover at 903-729-0281 or email lhoover@ palestineherald.com

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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June-July 2016

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

One Eyed Charlie HIGHLIGHTS: • Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst was born in 1812, in Vermont. • Shortly after she was born, her mother died and she and her sister were sent to live in an orphanage in New Hampshire. At the age of 12, dressed as a boy, Charlotte ran away from the orphanage and started using the name Charley and living as a boy. • Charley was taken in by a man who owned a livery stable in Rhode Island, and was taught to work as a stable hand, work with the horses and drive a coach with up to six horses. • In the 1840’s, Charley moved to California and started driving a stage coach full time. During this time Charley was kicked in the face by a horse and lost use of one eye, which Charley now covered with a black patch. • As a stage coach driver, Charley delivered mail, carried passengers, dealt with hold up attempts, bad weather and rough terrain. It is said that Charley shot and killed at least one outlaw who tried to rob her stage coach. • Charley was known as one of the most expert manipulators of the reins who ever sat on the box of a coach, and the best driver in the West.

• Charley smoked cigars, chewed tobacco , drank, cussed, was unfriendly and curt. It is also said that Charley loved to play card and dice games. • At over the age of sixty, with arthritis setting in and the railroad developing, Charley retired from coach driving and started raising cattle and farming in

EAST TEXAS ANDERSON CO. LIVESTOCK Updated: 6/22/2016 Head Count: 160 Buyers: 30 Sellers: 34

Watsonville, California, later moving to a small cabin outside of town. • Charley died of tongue cancer in 1879. • After Charley died, it was discovered he was actually a woman. The Dr. that examined her after her death said she had given birth at some point

in her life. Friends thought that a babies dress that was found in a trunk in the cabin where Charley lived at the time of her death confirmed this. • Charley had worked in horse stables, driven a stage coach, raised cattle, farmed and even registered to vote in 1868, all the while portraying herself as a man. • The discovery of her true gender after her death made her a national sensation, even capturing the attention of the San Francisco Call and The New York Times. The headline read: “Thirty Years in Disguise: A Noted Old Californian Stage Driver Discovered After Death To be a Woman.â€?

EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC. Updated: 6/28/2016 Cows: 208 Bulls: 21 Buyers: 51 Sellers: 146

STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $141-$240 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $141-$178 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $133-$170 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $125-$154 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $118-$142

HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.45-$1.80 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.30-$1.42 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.20-$1.41 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.10-$1.35 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.00-$1.25 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $0.95-$1.11 lb

HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $145-$200 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $118-$168 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $115-$162 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $116-$146 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $112-$132.50 SLAUGHTER Cows: $57-$88 Bulls: $85-$105

SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.55 - $0.86 lb Bulls: $0.75 - $1.00 lb

PAIRS $1500-$1575

PAIRS $875 - $1600

BRED COWS $850 - $1350/hd

Stocker Cows: $750 - $1300 hd Goats: $45 - $120

HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.20-$2.30 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.15-$1.65 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.15-$1.75 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.10-$1.82 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.00-$1.40 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $0.90-$1.16 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.45 - $0.88 Heavy Bulls: $0.89 - $1.07 Pairs: $1600 - $1750 Stocker Cows: $900 - $1610 Baby Calves: $175 - $300

ORPHANAGE OUTLAW PASSENGERS PATCH PORTRAYING RAILROAD ROUGH SENSATION SMOKED STABLE TERRAIN TOBACCO TRUNK UNFRIENDLY WEATHER WOMAN

STOCK PRICES

STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.50-$1.80 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.40-$1.50 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.28-$1.43 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.15-$1.45 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.10-$1.28 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.00-$1.25 lb

TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 6/25/2016 Head Count: 1052 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.25-$2.10 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.20-$1.80 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.15-$1.60 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.10-$1.45 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.00-$1.35 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $0.95-$1.28 lb

BIRTH CABIN CALIFORNIA CHARLEY CIGARS COACH DEVELOPING DISGUISE DRESSED DRIVER FARMING GAMES HORSES KICKED LIVERY NATIONAL

NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EX. Updated: 6/23/2016 Head Count: 524 Buyers: 62 Sellers: 90 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.55-$1.95 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.40-$1.68 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.25-$1.55 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.00-$1.49 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.45-$1.95 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.25-$1.53 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.15-$1.50 lb 500 lbs - UP: $0.95-$1.40 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.55 - $0.84 lb Bulls: $0.80 - $1.00 lb PAIRS $1150 - $2200 Stocker Cows: $750 - $1700 hd Baby Calves: $45 - $250 hd Horses: $0.10 - $0.45 Goats: $45 - $200 hd

HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE Updated: 6/13/2016 Head Count: 460 huntlivestockexchange.com STEERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.41-$2.75 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.21-$1.65 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.10-$1.63 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.10-$1.59 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.07-$1.37 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.00-$1.34 lb 800 lbs - 899 lbs: $0.97-$1.25 lb HEIFERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.10-$2.15 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $0.90-$1.45 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.25-$1.45 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $0.90-$1.35 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $0.95-$1.29 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $0.90-$1.15 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.55 - $0.82 lb Bulls: $0.89 - $0.98 lb PAIRS Pairs: $895 - $1775 Stocker Cows: $650 - $1560 Baby Calves: $165 - $310

ATHENS COMMISSION CO. Updated: 6/24/2016 Head Count: 973 Sellers: 175 Sale EVERY Friday At 11am STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.30-$2.00 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.20-$1.80 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.10-$1.65 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.00-$1.55 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.30-$2.00 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.20-$1.70 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.10-$1.60 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.00-$1.40 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.40 - $0.86 lb Heavy Bulls: $0.75-$1.09 lb PAIRS Top: $1500 - $1800 Low Middle: $1000 - $1500 Stocker Cows: $0.70 - $1.50 lb Baby calves: $50 - $400 hd Horses: $50 - $550 hd Goats: $30 - $175 hd WE WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY, JULY 1ST

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

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

June-July 2016

15

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

Gone Fishing with Jerry Miller

Bass are beginning to school on Lake Palestine T

he weather is now beginning to heat up and so are the schooling bass on Lake Palestine. For the past two weeks I’ve been targeting the hybrid striper bass and sand bass on Lake Palestine. I’ve found schoolers relating to a ridge in the dam area and also out in the main lake far from the shore line. These schooler bass prefer feeding on shad that roam out in the large expanse area out from the dam. These schools are constantly on the move. They follow large groups of shad out in the open water and can be seen chasing the shad on the surface of the lake off and on during the early morning hours from daybreak to about 9:00 a.m. Right now the schooling is sporadic. One morning Mark Ford found several schools popping up out from the mouth

of a big spawning cove on the west bank. Some were roaming over 20 to 35 feet of water. Schooling doesn’t last long, so you often have to chase the schools as they appear on the surface. When the schools move up on the ridge in about 15 to 17 feet of water they can often be caught on Silver Slabs and small spoons. Sand bass and stripers often prefer very fast moving lures. When jigging a slab off of the bottom I use sharp jerking actions. When I spot schools near the surface I have found that a Strike King, quarter-ounce Red Eye Shad to be a very productive bait. When schools appear it’s best to cast past this school and start reeling the lure as fast as possible. Frank Lusk also showed me another retrieve that is highly productive. You cast the Red Eye Shad

past the school, let it drop down for a few feet and then begin to rip the bait very hard causing it to surge forward. He does three violent rips at a time. This will get you a reaction strike. For some reason striper and sand bass like very fast and erratic moving lures. Other lures will work also, like a leadheaded grub bait that you can swim and jig at various depths. Lake Palestine harbors a tremendous amount of bait fish, mainly threadfin shad. These shad often roam in open water and can be seen near the surface in large pods. Large quantities of shad on a lake can complicate your search for bass. This can cause the bass to spread out. With so many shad the bass can gorge themselves quickly. It might take you several trips before you can zero in on the best schooling area. Summer is just beginning. As the surface temperature heats up you should see more and more schools of bass roaming near the surface. This should be a good year for schooling bass on Lake Palestine.

Agriculture looks to the future By Rich Flowers Athens Daily Review

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hether it was Eli Whitney’s cotton gin, John Deere’s plow or rubber tires for tractors, innovation has been a way of life for agricultural producers in this country. But some of products available to farmers and ranchers would have seemed like science fiction a decade ago. Even the solitary tractor plowing a field might be using technology that’s cutting edge. An example is JD Link Connect, offered by John Deere. With a controller that uses cellular communication and a GPS antenna, data like where the tractor is located and how many hours it’s in operation can be pulled up on a monitor miles away. “We have a big monitor we can turn on,� Kevin Proctor of Ag Power in Athens said. “If they’re having issues, a trouble code showing up or if it’s time for service, it reports back in to us.� The dealer can also put a “Geofence� around the tractor. If it moves out of that area, they will know its location. New technology also helps the farmer in the field. “We have a guidance system,� Proctor said. “You turn it around at the end of a row, push a button and it will actually drive the row according to the previous pass.� With smartphones more and more common, app classes have been popping up around the state, available for adults. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, from time to time, offers one day courses that cover some of the newest and best agricultural phone applications available. The programs give those who attend hands-on time and opportunities to ask questions. According to the extension service, some agricultural apps are useful for record keeping, while others may tell how much of certain chemicals to mix to minimize costs. Computer programs are now designed

for production records, technical research or buying and selling. You might go online to get a look at cattle available at a particular auction. Where 100 years ago, a farmer might have searched for a product in the Sears catalog, he can now go online and search countless vendors for the best price. While many of the past generation had to be introduced as adults to the world of computers, the teens that will be graduating in the next couple of years have grown up with them. Henderson County Extension Agent over 4-H and Youth Development, Kate Pittack, said the students are already learning about many of the new technologies, or are likely to over the next few years. “The 4-H robotic project is where technology is really being utilized, I’d say,� Pittack said. At a robotics contest at the San Antonio Livestock Show earlier this year, the challenge the students were given had an agricultural theme. “They had to get their trailer back to the home base,� Pittack said. At present, Henderson County doesn’t have a specific program that focuses on technology in agriculture, but students have a way of adapting their increasing knowledge of computer technologies to solve whatever task they have at hand. Pittack said 4-H is beginning to get into the study of drones. “Each year, there is a National 4-H Science Day,� Pittack said. “There are projects in workshop that the kids complete. This year the topic is going to be drones. “I think it’s just to give a basic overview of drones and what they can do,� Pittack said. Another technology that may prove more useful is the use of GPS systems. “There is a 4-H curriculum about GPS,� Pittack said. “We haven’t implemented it yet in our county, but I actually did a little bit of that when I worked for 4-H back in Nebraska. We had a field day, when we invited kids out and taught them how to use a GPS and map different things.�

Photo by Rich Flowers

A row of farm tractors at Ag-Power in Athens shows tractors have a different look than a generation ago. Many of the options available for the machines are on the cutting edge of innovative agriculture technology.

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Photo by Rich Flowers

Athens Ag-Power service manager, Chance Bielss, points at a tractor tracked by John Deere’s JD Link, which can obtain vital information directly from the field.

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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

16

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

June-July 2016

Reynolds New York Store retails agriculture products By Jeff Riggs Associate Editor

O

ut in front of a business complex, there is the sign that says Reynolds New York Store. What the sign doesn’t have enough room on its surface to tell you are the many things it not only sells, but manufactures. Everything is related to the agriculture industry. Another thing interesting for someone entering the store is that you may find a child playing on a swing set near the front door. On Friday, Paden Splawn, 8, was playing on the set greeting customers and others to the building. Inside, owner Dewey Reynolds said Paden was one of several grandchildren his business accompanies when they are out of school, or their parents are busy with other activities. It is a family operation, including Dewey, and his wife, Carolyn. Their children, all in their 30s, also work in the operation, including their sons, Nicky and Ryan, and their daughter, Brandi. Dewey and Carolyn have grandchildren: Connor, 11, Carleigh, 10, Landon, 9, Paden, 8, Kate, 7 and Jackson, 2. All spend a lot of time at the business, located at 5965 FM 607 South, Larue. It is

been a part of New York since it began in the 1800s. Dewey and his brother, Lanny Reynolds, bought the store on Nov. 1, 1975, and Lanny sold his part to Dewey in 1981. Dewey was raised about two miles from the store, and as a boy raised cattle. The family still raises livestock, but also concentrates their efforts on the Reynolds New York Store. “Our main deal is feeds, fertilizer and hardware,” Dewey said about the operation. “We once had groceries, but that was phased out, I mean with the other chains coming in. We also have a garage onsite, where we repair tires, mostly, on cars, trucks and farm machinery.” One of Dewey’s greatest memories is his first customer after he took over the operation. “Our first customer was Helen Reynolds, my grandmother,” Dewey said. “She got gas for her lawnmower.” Dewey said his feed store acts toward customers in certain ways not given a really top priority by many businesses. “It’s different because of the friendly and happy atmosphere we provide, and hopefully, the service,” he said. “The main thing here is that we know everything came from God. And we’ve been blessed so much

Photo by Jeff Riggs

Dewey Reynolds and his grandson, Paden look over photos of some of the Professional Bullriders Association participants for whom they furnish feed. The photos feature bulls Big Cat, Jeremiah and the late Mickey Mouse.

Photo by Jeff Riggs Photo by Jeff Riggs

Shown are members of the Reynolds family tied to the operation of Reynolds New York Store. They are, from left, Ryan, Nicky, Carolyn, Dewey, Paden and Brandi.

Shown is Dewey Reynolds next to a wagon he had purchased, which was produced in Palestine in 1906.

mentioned to be in the New York Community. A Texas Historical Commission monument at the business property states that the Reynolds family named the community “as a sign of his hopes for its growth and prosperity.” The Reynolds family have obviously

“As for that we manufacture, we blend it and sack it,” he said. “In the year 2000, we built a fertilizer plant.” Dewey said that over the years, they have had about 40 employees, including family members. They specialize in feed and other agricultural products, and they

during our 40 years, it’s just unreal. It’s true, there have been some struggles, but it always turned out good.” Dewey said their manufacturing facility makes about 75 percent of the feed sold at the business.

also spread fertilizer and deliver feed. Reynolds New York Store is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday, from 7 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 903-8527921.

Local vineyard and winery named in tribute By Jennifer Miller jmiller@corsicanadailysun.com

I

magine watching a sunset, sipping a favorite glass of wine on the patio, enjoying the beautiful scenery overlooking a vineyard. One that is in the backyard, so to speak. Introducing Angelita Vineyard and Winery, located at 254 Shady Creek Lane in Angus. Owners Beverly and Rodney Spahn hatched the plan for the business over a glass of wine at sunset. The name is a tribute to Rodney’s mother, Angelita, who passed away from cancer the month they began planting. An avid gardener, she had been looking forward to helping the family in the vineyard. Like a glass of cabernet and a black pepper steak, the venture paired Rodney’s desire to do something different with their land and Beverly’s strong entrepreneurial drive. “I had a business when I was 19, and I always wanted another home-based business, I just never knew what it was going to be,” Beverly said. “After learning more about the industry, that’s when I

said I really would like to have a winery.” And the couple did their homework before diving into the project. “My husband did the research on how to grow the grapes and which kinds to grow,” she said. “He did call the Texas Department of Agriculture and asked what they recommended would grow well in this area. They made recommendations of three different kinds of grapes, so we chose the blanc du bois. Not only because it’s heat resistant, drought resistant, and disease resistant, but because I liked white wine. That’s why we picked it.” The couple started with 200 plants. “We started with the plants, and during that time I had been out of work with a shoulder injury — I had just had shoulder surgery,” Beverly said. “So when we were doing those first 200 plants, every plant that I planted was physical therapy for me. There is a lot of love put into each plant, especially these first few ones that we planted.” In order to prepare for the plants, the couple had to amend their mostly clay-based soil.

Drilling each hole with an auger six-feet deep, they backfilled and added compost and topsoil. The soil drains well, but the clay also holds moisture, which helps the plants during spells of hot, dry weather. Last year’s rains caused considerable trouble with the crops. “We had so much moisture that we couldn’t stay on top of the spray schedule and we got a fungus and lost 90 percent of our grapes,” she said. This year’s grapes should be ready in July and they are hoping for a recordproducing year. So far, the couple has had great success since opening for business on July 19, 2014. They enjoy a following by local regulars, and two of the wines they produce on

site have won awards in the 2014 and 2015 International Lone Star Wine Competition. Other guests of the winery include travelers, finding the location en route to another place, and wine enthusiasts, willing to travel in order to enjoy fine wine. Recent guest, Madison Maschak, found the winery on her way back from Dallas and called it a “gem.” They have also been featured

in TexTraveler.com’s article, 12 Hours in Corsicana, where they got the following recommendation: “Angelita Vineyard and Winery is a rare treat — a vineyard and winery in the small Texas town of Angus, just two miles to the south of Corsicana. Hosting regular wine tastings, as well as selling individual glasses and appetizers, Angelita is the perfect place to kick back and watch the sun set.”

The winery is open Monday through Wednesday by appointment only, Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. They offer wine tastings, such as live music, wedding showers, private dinners, weddings, anniversaries, and even Mother’s Day brunch. For an up-to-date list of current events, follow the Angelita Vineyard and Winery Facebook page.

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