Farm and Ranch Living June 2016

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It’s tomato time Jacksonville’s annual festival set for June 11, Page 2

See Inside! Honored Jacksonville man receives recognition for creating a forest on his property, Page 10

Labor of Love Athens residents team up to provide home repairs for those in need, Page 13

The Tomato Man Mount Selman-area man named outstanding conservationist, Page 5

It takes two Dawson FFA students earn big scholarships, Page 15

All about pecans

Elmwood Gardens

Green Tree Pecan Company has grown to specialize as a pecan shelling business, Page 8

Palestine wedding venue is back, bigger and better than ever, Page 15 Published May 26, 2016

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May-June 2016

Jacksonville Tomato Festival set for June 11 Special to the Jacksonville Progress

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t’s “tomato time” in Jacksonville. The big day is slated for Saturday, June 11 beginning at 9 a.m. in downtown Jacksonville. There’s more happening before the big day on June 11, beginning June 6 until June 12. For those looking for a challenge – grab a team for Family First’s Dodgeball Tournament happening Monday and Tuesday. Another event happening Monday evening is C10’s Music Circle. A Gospel Concert featuring Chordsmith, Wednesday evening at Cornerstone Baptist Church. Thursday there’s a Murder Mystery Dinner at the Landmark. Advance tickets are a must due to limited seating. Friday, Cherokee Ranch Golf Club is holding a Four-Man Scramble and then that evening will kick off the soccer tournament held at the famous Tomato Bowl. On Saturday, June 11 downtown Jacksonville will be packed with 200 vendors, a Farmers Market, Car and Motorcycle Show, kids events, fried green tomatoes, music, history, art exhibit and so much more. Tomato activities include a Tomato Eating Contest, Salsa Contest, Best Home Grown Tomato Contest, Tomato Peeling Contest (peeling with your teeth), Tomato Shoot, Tomato Packing Contest, Tomato Archery, Tomato Shed Tours and more. There will be three tournaments, Soccer, Tennis and Softball. $1,000 will be given for the Photo Contest and $500 for the Got Talent Contest. Activities are from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. downtown on Commerce and Austin streets. After all the fun downtown, stop by and dance the night away at Chili’s featuring Steve Carpenter, Reagan Johnson and the Ally Venable Band, and it’s free. Sunday afternoon on June 12, the final event will be a ski show on beautiful Lake Jacksonville. This fruity event is free! Free admission, free parking, free gospel concert and free entertainment.

For more information on the events, please contact the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce at 903-586-2217 or check us out on the web at www.jacksonvilletexas.com or follow us on Facebook/JacksonvilleChamber

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May-June 2016

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Timber – an East Texas Jewel

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ur timberlands are a major source of income for many landowners. Though timber prices fluctuate, this is one crop that can be held off the market until price goals are reached. Lots of thinning of young pine plantations is taking place now and creating room for the remaining pines to grow for larger harvests in just a few years. The Texas Forestry Association headquarters in Lufkin and has 3,000 members, most of them landowners who grow timber as an income source. TFA has just moved into a new headquarters building — on the site of the old building that was sold and

moved away. Executive Director Ron Hufford says all the construction materials in the new building were from East Texas timberlands — and all milled by TFA members. TFA maintains a forestry museum alongside the new headquarters, and taking a tour of that facility is eyeopening. It offers an inside view of the timber business in our region — from the times, decades ago, when longleaf pines dominated our forests. Lots of old machinery — locomotives, tools and other equipment from the “olden days” is on display. Lufkin and the TFA museum makes a good day trip for folks interested in

the business of tree farming and harvest operations. Plus, Lufkin has a really topnotch zoo and a railroad ride that loops around the zoo park and offers fun for young and old. Our farmers are embarking on one of the best grazing seasons ever, and, with decent moisture this summer, it will be a year to remember. A problem confronting some cattle folks who planted winter pastures or had a good volunteer crop of ryegrass is getting rid of some of the excess forage. Ryegrass can stifle growth of Bermuda and bahia grasses. If they can get a few days of clear, dry weather, some are baling

the ryegrass, while others are mowing the excess. What’s in a name? The politically correct crowd continues to push their idiotic agenda on the rest of us. The NFL Washington Redskins are a good

example. A vocal minority claims “Redskins” is a slur on our American Indians. That is farfetched. A poll of more than 500 folks of American-Indian origin showed 85 percent had no problem with the name. The PC crowd needs to join the real world, get a job and make a real contribution, rather than finding fault with our history. What’s next for the radicals? Removing the tombstones of all our ancestors, who now rest under stones marking their service to the Confederacy? Chick-fil-A is back in the news again — with a sensible plan for cellphone

addicts. Several hundred of the stores now offer a storage box for those devices. Once diners switch their phones to “silent” and place them in the cardboard box on the table, they can enjoy their meals in peace. Those diners who follow through — with none reaching for a phone — are awarded with a free ice cream cone. Some other folks, who make Chick-fil-A their place to meet friends, have a different idea. All phones are placed in the middle of the table, and whoever checks their phone first, pays the entire bill for all Sounds like a good plan to me! That’s —30— horace7338@live.com

AgriLife empowering women land owners By PennyLynn Webb community@palestineherald.com

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omen landowners from all walks of life, including vegetable farmers, cattle and sheep ranchers, a wedding venue owner, took advantage of the information being shared for first Women’s Landowner Conference sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension of Anderson, Cherokee, Henderson, Houston and Freestone counties. While the program was open to men, it was designed to empower women landowners. “Our office is always fielding questions on areas like how to generate income off the land, oil and gas leasing along with pasture, hay and wildlife leasing,” said Anderson County Extension Agent Truman Lamb. “While it was geared more towards women, this was a great way to get all the information one might need into the hands of landowners, men and women, equally.” The women in attendance all seemed to be thrilled not only with their new knowledge gained but also the camaraderie. “I think that this type of forum is long overdue,” said cattle rancher Linda Galayda. “This experience will gave women access to resources they never even knew existed.” Galayda, a landowner panelist for the event, has been in the ranching business for over 16 years after taking over her father’s

ranch. “When you are first starting out in farming or ranching, especially women, it’s almost as if you have to earn your place, to get the respect you deserve,” said Galayda. “I have found that women are much more likely to share information about resources and agencies. We ask questions because we are so hungry for the information. This type of forum sort of feeds that need for answers.”

County Appraisal District, who covered tax exemptions; Judith Canalas, state executive director USDA Farm Service, who spoke about women landownership importance and programs offered by FSA; Sheila Lewis, district administrator, who discussed assistance provided by TAMU AgriLife Extension; Tiffany Dowell Lasmet, attorney, assistant professor and extension specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, spoke on understanding pasture and wildlife

Help Yourself For information on other local agriculture programs, contact: Anderson County Extension Office at 903-723-3735 It’s also a great way to make new connections, network and learn about the agency help available, Galayda said. The program began with a roundtable discussion, allowing participants to talk about their farm or ranch, their goals and dreams for their property. Speakers and topics for this event included Kristy Oates, state resource conservationist, who discussed conservation and government programs through NRCS; Carrie Minter, chief tax appraiser- Houston

leasing for oil and gas along with estate planning and Sara Bridges, with Heritage

Land Bank, who discussed land values and loans. There was also a panel discussion from women landowners whom generate income off the land. “This event was a wealth of information for me,” said Deborah Walston, owner of Bella Sera Ranch, another landowner panelist. “Not only did the the program help me to feel more empowered, it opened me up to new avenues of resources that area available that I had no idea even existed.” With such broad topics covered, there was something for everyone to take away. “I was impressed with how much information we got through today’s program,” said Master Gardner Barbara Kolstead. “Most of us are deeply concerned with the preservation of property and the best ways to take care of it, to be good stewards and to be able to pass down their lands. Beyond those discussions, we also learned about estate planning, tax exemptions and so much more. With all the information that was shared, there was something for everyone here to take away.”

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May-June 2016

Navarro County a springtime angler’s paradise By Michael Kormos Corsicana Daily Sun

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espite an unusually cold spring, fish are biting in Navarro County. Home to three recreational lakes, the county offers anglers many opportunities to bag some big ones before the summer heat slows them down. Navarro Mills Lake provides an opportunity to catch white crappie and catfish. The lake’s facilities received some damage due to recent flooding, but the fishing dock at the marina in Liberty Hill Park opened May 19. The Army Corp of engineers has more work to do before all the docks in all parks are operational. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website, black bass, white bass, crappie and catfish are slow at this time. Robert Moores, Navarro Mills Lake Marina manager, said crappie have been biting and about 24 were caught on

opening day with about eight keepers. Crappie must be at least 10 inches long to keep so it is evident the juvenile fish are quicker to bite. The fish tend to favor medium minnows or plastic jigs in black, pink or chartreuse colors, Moore said. Richland Chambers Reservoir, the third largest inland reservoir in Texas, offers the chance for anglers to catch catfish, crappie, white bass or hybrid stripers. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website, black bass are slow on shakyheads and swimjigs. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on trot lines. Bob Holmes, fishing guide out of Oak Cove Marina, said his clients have mainly been catching white bass, also known as sand bass, hybrid stripers and blue catfish. Most hybrids have been less than keeping size which is 18 inches.

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Holmes said customers are having the most success fishing sassy shad lures or slabs. Lake Halbert, located in the Corsicana city limits, is a public park operated by the City of Corsicana’s Parks and Recreation Department. While largemouth bass and sunfish are present, they may be slow to

bite. White crappie and flathead cats may be more easily caught from a boat or pier. Whether it’s a guided trip from a fishing boat or a day in the park with the kids, Navarro County offers multiple opportunities to challenge anglers of any level this spring.

May-June 2016

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Wanted: Cowboy WANTED: Cowboy. No TV, No phone. If you don’t like dogs and can’t tough it in the mountains, don’t apply Alamo, Nevada.

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’d like to meet the ol’ boy that wrote that ad. You can almost picture him in your mind. We’re all acquainted with somebody that fits his description. He might be willing to give you a month off to go see your ailin’ mother but better not ask for every Saturday and Sunday off to go ropin’! He’s not liable to set down and give you a two hour lecture on his range management theories but work beside him for a year or two and you’ll learn

more about protecting the environment and workin’ with nature than you’d read in thousand BLM pamphlets. He probably wouldn’t have much sympathy if you bucked off one of his colts but if yer wife’s in the hospital he’ll make sure you have everything you need. He’d look the other way if you got

picked up by the deputy for gettin’ rowdy in town but if you don’t get the salt scattered in the right place there’ll be heck to pay! The person that answers that ad ought to know better than to set down and start askin’ about paid holidays, days off, cost of living escalators and a fiveyear contract. However, if I don’t miss my guess, he’ll get a day’s pay for a day’s work, good grub, a warm bunk and that kind of “family feelin’” that comes with cowboyin’. There’s plenty of good hands that could answer that ad and fit right in. If he gits the job you can bet yer silver snuff can

lid he’s a cowboy. A reporter asked me awhile back if I was a cowboy. I said no. That name is reserved for them that make their livin’ punchin’ cows. It didn’t bother me to be mistaken for a cowboy, matter of fact I’m proud of it. But that honor belongs to that particular feller who gits up everyday, puts on his spurs and goes to work. Them that writes “COWBOY” in the blank space after ‘occupation’ on the IRS form; they’re what I’m talkin’ about. Real cowboys; the backbone of the cattle business. www.baxterblack.com

‘Tomato Man’ Claiborne honored By Becky Whisenant Special Contributor

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ost grocery shoppers seldom consider the process required to guarantee a selection of fresh vegetables for their shopping cart and the dinner table; however, Mount Selman-area resident David Claiborne spends most of his day every day accomplishing exactly that. Not only does he apply his mental capabilities, Claiborne also spends many hours physically working toward the goal of efficient vegetable production to markets as far away as the Metroplex. Thanks to Claiborne, food fresh from the field is available on the shelves within hours. “When we harvest today, the food will be in markets the same day or next – it is not shipped in from other states, countries or areas,” he noted. Cherokee County Soil & Water Conservation District Zone 1 director Preston Lindsey will recognize Claiborne as an Outstanding Conservationist at the annual awards banquet May 6, for vegetable production and marketing. Because of Claiborne’s efforts, a juicy Jacksonville red dirt tomato may very well end up as part of a meal for big city folks many miles away. He markets his products as far afield as the west side of Ft. Worth, north to Longview and Hallsville and south into Angelina County. Locally, he furnishes tomatoes for the packing shed in Jacksonville and is a main provider of the popular fruit at the annual Tomato Fest each year. In fact, the name “Tomato Man” has indeed been applied to Claiborne, and rightfully so: He takes full advantage of the area’s sandy loam soil and has planted approximately 35,000 tomato plants this year, each one started from seed.

“I farmed when I was a kid – I learned how to do this when I was young. It’s in my blood. Sometimes it’s tough because you have to deal with conditions, especially the weather,” he said One of the reasons farming may not be such a popular pursuit is the large amount of manual labor involved: It is labor intensive. It’s still about sowing, tending and reaping. Sitting behind a desk or computer or behind the wheel of a truck or tractor is a required part of the process; however, countless hours are spent bending, lifting, toting, picking, packing and otherwise actively tending the multitude of plants. He employs six to 12 people, depending on the stage of the process. “It’s a group effort to do this. When I go home in the summertime, I go to bed,” he said. Tomatoes, squash and cucumbers are irrigated. Once the young plants are established, Claiborne comes in and cultivates them, mounding the surrounding dirt into mounds around the stem and installs a drip line from a well on the property on his tomatoes. When the plants start getting large enough to droop, he installs stakes every third tomato plant on a trellis system to ensure healthy fruit at harvest. Shortly thereafter, the dance begins. “It’s a time issue then. Squash and cucumbers come off first, then onions are ready to be lifted and before you know it you have to start digging potatoes. Then these tomato plants start turning and we have everything to process,” he said. Even though approximately one-third of Claiborne’s crops are tomatoes, he also cultivates Noonday onions, red potatoes, pinto beans, yellow squash, zucchini squash, cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons and peas. More than 100 acres in the northern portion of the county from Mt. Selman to Mixon are tilled and tended from January through late summer. Crop rotation is key.

Contributed photo The Tomato Fest’s primary producer of Jacksonville tomatoes, David Claiborne (left), is being honored this year for his good conservation practices by Preston Lindsey, director of Zone I of the Cherokee County Soil & Water Conservation District. Claiborne will be recognized for his accomplishments in Vegetable Production and Marketing during the Friday, May 6, S&WC awards banquet in Jacksonville.

“You can’t continue to grow the same item in one spot more than a couple of years. After two or three years, we change crops or let the land lay fallow a while,” he said. He utilizes cover crops of rye and oats to enrich the soil between plantings and leaves tillage after harvest for composting nutrients. “We take care of the land and want to continue to use it,” he said. Erosion barriers are placed in a low place to prevent water flow from sweeping away topsoil. “We will actually pick up and move a lot of that topsoil that gets washed away and put it back,” Claiborne said. He has been actively truck farming since 1989, and now sells directly to approximately 35 Brookshires stores. Claiborne is president of the farmers’ market in Tyler and is on the Tomato Fest committee. He has his own trucks and, working with the stores, has created an area in the produce department called a local market or small farmers’ market. He also raises vegetables in the Noonday area and sells direct from his stand there. Truck farming is being lost in our culture today, according to Claiborne, but he does it full time with help from his wife Carrie and son Austin. “There is a market for this if more people were interested in the work. We started small and grew. As we continued to market and add to it, we continued to grow. Tomatoes are what put my son through college and I’ve pretty much turned the marketing end of it over to him. I’m in the production end. I’ve always had an interest in keeping this tomato deal alive in Cherokee County because it has faded a little from the public eye,” said Mr. Claiborne. With a twinkle in his eye, he insisted “It takes a strong back and a weak mind.”

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May-June 2016

A Day with the King ET angler recounts BASS Marshal experience with bass fishing stud, VanDam By Matt Williams Outdoors Writer

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hen Jason Moore learned he was among the 108 marshals chosen to ride shotgun in the Bassmaster Elite Series event held May 12-15 on Toledo Bend Reservoir, he was hopeful that he might get to learn a thing or two about wrangling big bass from the sprawling Texas/ Louisiana border lake from some of the best anglers in the business. In looking back, he feels like he got way more of an education than he bargained for. “It feels like I hit the lottery,” said Moore, a Nacogdoches native. “If I had come home after the first day, I would have been good with it. What I experienced out there was one of the most awesome fishing experiences of my life. It just doesn’t get any better.” BASS marshals ante up $125 to play the game, and they are paired with a different pro angler during each day of the tournament. The pairings are done by random computer draw. As much as they might like to, marshals aren’t allowed to wet a line. Their jobs are to keep a watchful eye on what goes on out there, keep a running tally on how many fish their respective pros are catching and what the fish weigh. They also are responsible for relaying the information to BASS communications officials onshore. The information ultimately finds its way to the BASSTrakk link on the Bassmaster.com website, so as to keep pro fishing fans updated on how their favorite anglers are faring throughout the day. Moore is admittedly no social media guru, but he kept his texting keys hot on Day 1 of the big-league event. His pro for the day, Kevin VanDam, saw to that. VanDam is to pro bass fishing what Dale Earnhardt Jr. is to NASCAR. The 48-year-old angler from Michigan has won every major BASS title there is to win, and he has won all of them multiple times. Included in the mix are four Bassmaster Classics, seven Angler of the Year titles and an unprecedented 21

wins on the Bassmaster tournament trail. VanDam also is the sport’s alltime leading money winner, with nearly $6 million in earnings and is somewhat of a household name with bass anglers around the world. Not surprisingly, Moore is one of his biggest fans. “Everybody wants to draw Kevin at one of these deals,” Moore said. “I went to the tournament hoping I’d get paired with him, and when it happened, I couldn’t hardly believe it. It was everything you might imagine it was. It was awesome … a pretty cool deal.” Often labeled a fishing machine because of his fast, run-and-gun fishing style and his uncanny ability to find and reel in the big ones, KVD was hitting on all cylinders during the tournament’s opening round. In fact,he put on a bass-fishing clinic for Moore and the trademark flotilla of spectator boats that always seems to gather around him wherever he goes. After beginning the day shallowthrowing spinnerbaits and other moving lures to trigger bass that were feeding on spawning shad, the offshore specialist went deep, where he plied a series of six to eight main lake humps and ridges to target big, post-spawn bass in water ranging 1530 feet deep. Moore said the pro had an arsenal of Strike King crankbaits tied to the rods on the casting deck of his Nitro, and he made use of them all, depending on the depth of the water he was fishing. His go-to bait in the 15- to 20-foot range was a 6XD; 19-24 feet, the 8XD; and 20-30 feet, the 10XD. The 10XD is a hulk of a plug that measures about six inches long and weighs nearly two ounces. Moore said VanDam would routinely hurl the bait 65-70 yards, even farther with a good crosswind or breeze at his back. Even more impressive was his tenacity when it came to dredging the hard-pulling bait back to the boat … over and over again. “I told him I didn’t know why he doesn’t have forearms like Popeye, but in a way he does,” Moore said. “It was pretty interesting to watch him at work. He’s all business out there. I really didn’t expect him to talk much, because he’s got a job to

Contributed photo VanDam and Moore were all smiles at the end of an incredible day.

BASS photo VanDam led the tournament wire-to-wire as he cracked 20-plus pounds each day for a fourday total of 96 pounds, 5 ounces. He earned $100,500. do, so I never really initiated any conversations. But once he started catching those fish, he started talking. He was having a good time.” All total, Moore says VanDam boated close to two dozen largemouths over the course of the day by targeting isolated sweet spots he located using his electronics. He said the pro rotated between several different spots and fished each one slowly and meticulously before moving on to the next. Most of the places were occupied by largemouths, white bass and yellow bass. The latter, sometimes referred to as “bar fish,” are highly preferred by heavyweight largemouths when the dinner bell rings. “He was fishing textbook stuff, and he fished each spot very thoroughly,” Moore said. “He probably got that 10XD hung up on brush eight to 10 different times, but he always managed to get it loose with his lure knocker. I don’t think he broke one off all day long.” In the process, Moore watched in awe from his ringside seat as the greatest bass angler in the land

milked the nation’s No. 1-ranked bass lake for a world-class limit of toads. VanDam’s five-fish limit weighed a whopping 29 pounds, 5 ounces and was anchored by an 8-5 giant that inhaled his crankbait as it bumped along the bottom in about 28 feet of water. Twenty years ago such a colossal catch would have probably stayed under wraps until weigh-in, but the evolution of the Internet has changed all that. BASSTrakk updates let the entire world know what unfolded on Toledo Bend long before KVD placed his fish on the scales. Meanwhile, an early afternoon photo sequence posted on Bassmaster.com by photographer James Overstreet added to the hype. Fittingly tagged “KVD culling 5 pounders,” the photo sequence showed VanDam releasing a fivepound bass to make room in his livewell for a larger one. Together the Internet updates helped fuel a feeding frenzy among journalists and spectators that became evident the moment VanDam’s bass boat bumped the dock at Cypress Bend

Resort. “Writers, kids, fans and cameramen with GoPros surrounded him like bees coming to honey,” Moore said. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.” KVD’s Day 1 performance was the first of several outstanding days of fishing that culminated with him icing his 21st career win on the Bassmaster tour in wire-to-wire fashion. The Michigan pro sacked up a fourday total of 96 pounds, 5 ounces over the course of the event and walked away with a $100,500 payday. Meanwhile, his opening round marshal went home with big bass dancing in his mind and a livewell full of memories that are sure to last a lifetime. Moore says he was paired with Scott Rook and 2016 Bassmaster Classic champ Edwin Evers on subsequent days, but getting the opportunity to ride along with KVD was definitely the juice. “It was the best $125 I’ve ever spent,” he said. Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches. He can be reached by e-mail, mattwillwrite4u@yahoo.com

BASS photo Jason Moore of Nacogdoches (right) had a ringside seat to Kevin VanDam’s opening-day performance during the Bassmaster Elite Series event held on Toledo Bend May 12-15. Moore was VanDam’s marshal for the day and witnessed the world’s greatest angler catch a massive 29-pound, 5-ounce limit that put him on track to collect his 21st Bassmaster win.

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May-June 2016

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New family gives fresh vision to Elmwood Gardens By Jennifer Kimble reporter@palestineherald.com

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lmwood Gardens is getting an update with a fresh perspective from new owners. Michael Yatvin and his wife Pamela Horowitz discovered the wedding venue was for sale and jumped on the opportunity to purchase the property from DeeDee and James Turnage. Yatvin and Horowitz are making the move from Philadelphia. Yatvin’s mother passed, leaving him an inheritance for the couple to look for a new opportunity. “We looked from Georgia to New Hampshire and even Maine, but properties couldn’t be zoned, it wasn’t the right season or too in the middle of nowhere,” Yatvin said. “We took our time and looked, trying different things, but we al-

ways came back to Elmwood Gardens.” Once the decision was made, the couple closed on the property in 60 days. “We wanted DeeDee and James to be able to enjoy their retirement,” Yatvin said. Yatvin is a former journalist. His wife owns a five-star restaurant, Provence Catering. Her career includes working for restaurants in Manhattan, New York, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Washington, D.C. She is also well-known among statesmen, such as Ronald Reagan, the Bushes and even the king of Spain. Horowitz continues to run Provence Catering while Yatvin starts the new adventure of Texas Rose Catering at the Elmwood Gardens. Yatvin planted several fruit trees and vegetable gardens so the business will offer organic food at

wedding events. “We are trying to keep things Texan, but add our own little twist on it and make things healthier,” Yatvin said. “We aren’t going to change anything about the property, but improve in every way, shape and form.” Some of the improvements include new bathrooms and plenty of facilities to accommodate any size wedding party. They have expanded gardens to run out on the edge of the property along the roadside. They have a plan to enclose a recreation area with fruit trees. “We book the event for the entire day,” Yatvin said. “The wedding should be perfect and relaxing so we don’t allow for double booking. This is a live in the moment capital of the world.” Elmwood Gardens will focus on Christian weddings with Yatvin’s vision. He is setting up the doors to forever on the 32-acre lot. The couple walks to two oak trees, which one is more dominate than the other. He refers to them as the “Trees of Faith.” After people say “I do,” they open the doors, “Doors of Forever,” and come out husband and wife. “We want to be part of what is a Renaissance movement in Palestine,” Yatvin said. “Palestine has amazed us as a community from Switch Pizzeria, Red Fire Grille, The Redlands and the Pint and Barrel. There are so many places who are being visionary here by wanting to be the leaders. Palestine is a community of leaders.” Elmwood Gardens will not only be for high-end wedding events, but also for corporate events, family reunions and renewal of vows.

“We want anything that makes sense where people want to celebrate in the country on an exclusive property and by themselves,” Yatvin said. The most important part of the services at Elmwood Gardens is keeping a watchful eye on children. He suggests baby-sitters or stresses the importance that while the gardens may be beautiful, there can still be a danger for children. Yatvin points out ponds on the property as his No 1 concern. “We want to ensure everyone has a good time on the property, and that means safety first,” Yatvin said. Yatvin teaches his employees the “solemn obligation business.” He expects the best from his employees to create a great event. “We have to be where we are supposed to be when we are supposed to be there,” Yatvin said. “No excuses. Understand the customers are going to change their minds. It’s a lot, but we understand and respect it. We want to be in a

position to make a great event better.” Brides come from Houston, Dallas, and various areas to have a wedding at the Elmwood Gardens, Yatvin said. He booked eight events for the rest of 2016 so far with the plan of allowing more. “We have great weather karma here, so that helps to bring brides in.” While Yatvin is waiting on his wife to move to Texas, he brought down his family dog, Otis. The couple found the runt of a litter puppy thrown from a back of a pick up truck. The male pup became part of the family, and is named “Elmwood.” Although, a better name would be Joe Pashi, Yatvin joked. Yatvin also has a horse named “Bette Midler.” She is a Sucker Punch horse that pulls the carriage during weddings. The Elmwood Gardens is located at 680 County Road 446 in Palestine. The phone number is 903-549-2716. Visit www.Elmwoodgardens.com

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May-June 2016

Green Tree Pecan Company models diversity By Deanna Kirk Corsicana Daily Sun

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raveling East of Corsicana on Highway 31, as the speed limit slows to about 45 going through Powell, if you look to the left you will notice a place with rocking chairs, gliders and Adirondack chairs on the front porch called Green Tree Pecan Company. Lest you think it’s just a place that sells bagged pecans, stop in from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday -Friday, or 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, and check it out. Not only will you find the best pecan pies and homemade fudge, made on site by Dennis Bancroft’s daughter, Rebecca Abbie, but as you look around, you will begin to notice things you recall from Granny’s house, or candy Grandpa bought you at the General Store as a kid. “We opened the store

in May 2002, and wanted to make it look like an old store with memorabilia and antiques from days gone by,” said Bancroft, Green Tree owner. “What’s funny is, we have an old adding machine and young people don’t know what it is.” However, there is a lot more to Green Tree than meets the eye. Dennis Bancroft began helping his dad Royce while in high school, and once he graduated, they partnered on pecan production. Later on, Dennis bought his dad out, and became a pecan grower, along with the landscape company he had at the time. He then purchased his father’s pecan shelling business. “We sold off our pecan production company in 2002, because our pecan shelling business had gotten pretty good and had taken on some bigger accounts,” Bancroft said. “Now we are a mediumsized pecan sheller. Our

niche is that we are able to do a ‘gift pack’ season which is basically for Thanksgiving and Christmas.” What does that mean exactly? “I know that some time in the course of life you’ve had children come from school, and said we are selling this stuff for school or band ... but what if you had a product that was really good, and it was reasonably price, and they would use it for the holidays?” he said. They found that groups who sell bagged pecans for their fundraisers usually don’t have to look for customers the following year — the customers come find them. Green Tree Pecan Company buys pecans now, and shops around to find the best — South Texas, up to Oklahoma, and all the way to Georgia. “We are expanding our shelling plant this year getting ready for a pretty

good crop,” he said. “Not only do we shell for ourselves, but also for other companies, so they have a product they can get back really fast. Several Texas pecan growers and Louisiana growers.” There’s a warehouse across the street from the store where pecans are stored, and the shelling process takes place behind the store. Bancroft has plans in the works for expansion in the foreseeable future. “We are looking to get a product that goes on a retail shelf,” he said. “Our product is the freshest that’s out there. They’re here within 24 hours after getting them out of the dryers (after they’re harvested) and we get busy shelling them.” Green Tree Pecan Company has a thriving Internet business, as well as phone orders through the

retail store. The school fundraiser branch is thriving as well, not only in this area but also in the Metroplex, Houston and the Hill Country. “We have quite a bit of foot traffic through the store, too, especially in the fall, and in the winter and spring,” Bancroft said. “In summer it drops off a bit, but we are preparing for September when the busy times come. Because in the Fall, it is Katie, bar the door. “There’s always the local crop — we buy those pecans to be sold into a larger market or may use them ourselves if they’re a quality that we need.” Green Tree Pecan Com-

pany can even shell the pecans that you’ve grown on a tree in your yard and gathered. Not only does Green Tree Pecan Company handle pecans, the first load of fresh-shelled peas for the year came in recently, with black eye, purple hull and cream peas available at $5.95 a pound. Call the store at 877-925-2535 or check online at greentreepecan.com to inquire about availability. Oh, and those chairs? The rocking chairs, Adirondack chairs and fullsize gliders? They’re for sale, too — and you can take them home with a large moonshine pecan pie.

Advertising Sales

Lezlie Hoover

lhoover@palestineherald.com 903-729-0281 / 903-948-8283

Never let a stumble in the road be the end of your journey. -unknown

www.palestineherald.com

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

May-June 2016

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

9

Cooking Wisely

Squash Pickles

S

ummer is quickly approaching and those who love to can are probably taking inventory of what is still on hand from last year. There are always those new recipes someone has told you about you want to give a whirl this year. Nothing says freshness and satisfaction better than opening a jar of fresh tomatoes in the middle of winter. They taste so much better than the ones you buy at the store, I could just eat them right out of the jar. Hopefully this year I will be doing much more canning than I have in years past as this will be my last recipe column. By the time you read my column this month, I will have already worked my last day for the Palestine Herald-Press. The Lord has blessed my husband and myself tremendously and my husband has asked me to come to work for him. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work again for the Herald-Press but, when you ask God to give you an answer and the door flings wide open, you must walk through it. I pray that my replacement enjoys doing this as much as I do. The following is my mom’s recipe for Squash Pickles and they are amazing. I love the fact that they are still crispy a year later. Who wants a soggy pickle? Yuck! Seems like everything will be in abundance this year anyway with all the rain we have had; I sure do hope so.

Ingredients 10 cups Sliced Squash 2 Medium Bell Peppers, Chopped 4 Medium Onions, Sliced ½ Cup Salt 1 4 Oz. Jar Pimentos, Diced 2 ½ Cups Apple Cider Vinegar 3 Cups Sugar 1 teaspoon Mustard Seed 1 teaspoon Celery Seed

Instructions Mix Squash, Peppers, Onions, and Pimentos in a large pan. Pour salt over the top of mixture and cover with water. Let is stand for 1 ½ hours. Drain water off of squash mixture and then add remaining ingredients. Place on stove and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and ladle into hot, sterile 1-pint jars, filling with the liquid to within 1/4 inch of the top. Wipe rims with a clean towel, and run a thin spatula around the inside of the jar to remove air bubbles. Seal with lids and rings.

Tractor Supply in Athens announces collection increase By Jeff Riggs Athens Daily Review Associate Editor

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he Tractor Supply Company in Athens has announced that it helped raise $1,586 through the 2016 Spring Paper Clover Campaign through its customers for 4-H and FFA students. The campaign lasted from April 13 through April 24 at Tractor Supply outlets over the United States. According to Athens Tractor Supply Store Manager Wayne Watson, this year’s total in Athens is well above the $1,018 collected last year. “That’s a really big jump over last year,” he said. “The really neat thing about the 4-H Paper Clover Campaign is that it’s local. The kids are coming up in age, and you got your young kids. Anytime you get them about and about, with animals, and get them away from computer games, you get them opportunities to experience things that they couldn’t experience any other way.” Tractor Supply Company, in partnership with National 4-H Council, recently announced the record-breaking fundraising results of its spring 2016 Paper Clover Campaign over the U.S. Tractor Supply Company and Del’s Feed and Farm Supply, the largest retail farm and ranch supply store chain in the United States, raised $935,351 during the 12day national in-store fundraiser. Over the course of the 7-year partnership, Tractor Supply has raised more than $9.2 million for 4-H programs across the country through Paper Clover Campaigns in both the fall and spring season. “This spring’s Paper Clover Campaign was a huge success thanks to our dedicated customers,” said Christi Korzekwa, senior vice president of marketing at Tractor Supply. “We exceeded our goal, and we couldn’t have done it without them,” she said. “These campaigns give us the opportunity to enhance our store’s communities, and provide support to our valued partner in National 4-H Council and its local programs.” Shoppers at Tractor Supply Company and Del’s Feed and Food Supply stores had the opportunity to purchase paper clovers between during the 11-day period for $1 or more during checkout. The effort has provided direct support for local camps, afterschool programs and other activities, and has granted scholarships to these events so that youth can explore their interests in everything from animal science to robotics. Watson that said locally, the money helps students in both the FFA and 4-H. “This is kind of biased, but kids that are coming through FFA are more respectful to everybody,” Watson said. “When I interview young people to see if they have been in 4-H or FFA, you can tell. They talk with respect to everybody. They say ‘Yes sir,’ or ‘Yes ma’am.’ The programs also build their

Watson has been at the Athens Tractor Supply since 2014, and has been with the overall company since 1987. “4-H students came up and showed off their projects, and stimulated the collections,” Watson said. “At the cash register, they did this. Four of my employees have gone through FFA, and 4-H, and during the Paper Clover Campaign this year, have had competitions to collect the most money.” Watson said that Angela Bell, a full time cashier at the Athens location, collected the highest amount. “It is extremely gratifying to witness the significant and consistent growth in the Paper Clover Campaign,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president & CEO, National 4-H Council. “We are proud of this important partnership with Tractor Supply Company, which raises resources to help support 4-H positive youth development programs in local communities across the United States.” Seventy percent of the funds raised benefit state and local 4-H youth development program activities, such as local camps and after-school programs, and granted scholarships for 4-H youth in the communities where Tractor Supply and Del’s stores are located. Thirty percent of the total funds are donated to National 4-H Council to help connect more young people across America to high-quality 4-H youth development programs. Tractor Supply Company operates more than 1,500 stores in 49 states. Located in the outlying towns in major metropolitan markets and in rural communities, Tractor Supply Company stores are focused on supplying the lifestyle needs of recreational farmers and ranchers and others who enjoy the rural lifestyle, as well as tradesmen and small businesses. For more information on Tractor Supply, access the website at www. TractorSupply.com. 4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for career tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA, and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3,000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The researchbacked 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities, two times more likely to make healthier choices, two times more likely to be civically active, and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs. Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/4-H and on Twitter at https://twitter. com/4H.

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

10

May-June 2016

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

Local man to be honored for conservation By Becky Whisenant Special Contributor

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o one is an expert at the beginning of an endeavorm and the one essential element for learning is time. For a few years now, one particular timber grower in Cherokee County has been learning about conservation and sustainable forest management. Roland Adams of Jacksonville made a decision in 1998 to sell his registered Braford cattle and plant pine trees on approximately 500 acres of his property – according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, 94 percent of forestland in Texas is privately owned. He is being recognized May 6 as an Outstanding Conservationist in Sustainable Forestry by Bill Poteet, Zone IV director of the Cherokee County Soil & Water Conservation district. Adams is the first to admit that he was knowledgeable about cattle, having been raised in the business, but he knew very little about forestry. The intervening 18

years have been a very beneficial learning experience for him. “When I sold my cattle, I wanted to utilize the land that had been in pasture and I studied about forestry and timber growing for about a year before I decided it would be a good thing to do. My degree was in engineering and industrial work, but over the years I have gained a lot of knowledge about trees and timber stand management,� he said. While timber is an investment, it is also a crop and is subject to the same basic guidelines as row crop farming: Appropriate species selection, site preparation, stocking rate (seeds per acre), best use of available natural resources such as soil and water, timely thinning, crop rotation and selective harvest are a few of the factors that must be considered. Planning ahead is key. This is where a consulting forester can make all the difference. Mick Schmitt, a consulting forester with James Houser of Farmers National Company, forest resource management division, has worked closely with Adams to

Contributed photo A typical sight in East Texas, this approximately 15-year-old stand of pine timber is being managed for maximum productivity through a system which considers all factors in the fabric of sustainable forestry in light of current and future needs. Forestry is one of the top agri-businesses in Cherokee County. ensure maximum productivity of his crop. The timber industry is the highest ranking agri-business of Cherokee County, but in order to ensure quality and availability for generations of tomorrow, wise forest management today is crucial. When seedlings are set out in the row, there should already be a plan in place for the first and successive thinnings. Adams has just completed his first thinnings, on a rotational basis, at approximately 16 years’ growth, the average age for a first thinning. When seedlings were planted, the need for management strategies such as pesticide spraying and fertilization were considered in order to ensure crop establishment. Then, over the life of the crop, best management practices (BMPs) will continue to be considered, such as prescribed burns, thinning, pruning, managing for wildlife habitat and selective cuts. These wise conservation principles are customized to each individual plot. Adams’ stands exhibit utilization of all applicable practices. Appropriate harvesting

strategies to ensure regeneration and reforestation are blueprints already in place to allow for maximum productivity and a future crop. When harvest time arrives, utilization of all the excess products such as limbs, tops and slash (woody leftover debris) will be managed appropriately. For more than 40 years, Adams has been active in the conservation arena by serving as a member of the board of the directors of the local soil & water conservation district as well as on the Jacksonville Chamber Agri-Business Committee. He also has been ticket chair on the Jacksonville Rodeo Association Board since inception and is a faithful member of Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville. He is a member of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and owns Adams Cherokee Storage. He has a timber management plan in place and is a member of the American Tree Farm Association, and consults with district forester Jason Ellis at the Texas A&M Forest Service for information and recommendations.

GEAR UP TO SAVE BIG!

Contributed photo A member of the American Tree Farm System, timber grower Roland Adams (right) has been involved in agriculture all his life and is being honored this year at the Cherokee County Soil & Water Conservation District’ annual awards banquet for his accomplishments in Sustainable Forestry. Bill Poteet, district director of Zone IV, is pictured at left.

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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

May-June 2016

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

11

Annual Farm and Ranch tour visits three locations Staff Report Athens Daily Review

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he 53rd annual Henderson County Farm and Ranch Tour was held Tuesday, May 17. Hosted by the Athens Chamber of Commerce, the tour began and ended at the Cain Center and included Texas General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush as keynote speaker. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the 78,814 individuals residing in Henderson County, 83 percent are involved in some form of agricultural-related business. Each year, the agricultural industry generates over $125 million in income in Henderson County alone. The Athens Chamber of Commerce sponsors this annual event to bring duly noted attention to the importance of the agricultural industry in the county. The Farm and Ranch Tour began 53 years ago under the direction of Jay Benson, Wendell Tackett, J.D. Lewis, Woodrow Walker, Buford McLauchlin, Hub Moon, John Corley and others. Today, the tour is organized by a number of volunteers and is funded by donations from the Athens area business community. Without the support of the sponsors, the tour would not be possible. The three agricultural businesses highlighted on this year’s tour included Bona B Ranch, In the Red Ranch and Purtis Creek State Park. ~ Bona B Ranch ~ Bona B Ranch is a beautiful 525 acre ranch located in the gently rolling countryside of East Texas. Bo and Nanni Baker breed the highest quality registered Brahman cattle, and beautiful, unparalleled warmblood dressage riding horses. The Bakers moved to the ranch in 2010 where they began to build it from the ground up. Bo has built all the fencing, and continues to build fence, installed water lines, and oversaw the construction of the barn and indoor arena. Every detail was handpicked by Bo and Nanni. The ranch has an abundance of wildlife. There is a bass fishing lake, blue catfish pond, and it is visited by roughly 200 Canadian geese over the winter. A flock of heron call the ranch home, with over 50 nests in the spring. There are also many deer, wild hogs, coyote, an occasional bobcat, and an occasional visit from a pair of bald eagles. Bo manages the premium registered Brahman cattle to expand his herd and to further the elite genetics of the herd. He hand picks each bull and cow and

Contributed photo A large crowd participated in the annual Henderson County Farm and Ranch Tour in May. Pictured are the participants enjoying a BBQ meal at the Cain Center while Texas General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush gives a speech. uses artificial insemination. Nanni began breeding German Warmblood horses in 1998 by hand selecting broodmares and stallions. She uses cutting edge technology to breed her horses. Earlier this year one of the Bona B horses was honored as the top Hanoverian horse in the country at his level with his junior rider. Bona B Ranch annually hosts the American Hanoverian Association inspection, one of two sites for Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. They also host the Conrad Schumacher dressage clinics three times a year. Nanni is an amateur dressage rider with a goal of riding one of her homebred horses to the Grand Prix. Bo and Nanni have seven children, seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter. They believe that together, with faith, family and friendship, nothing is impossible.

~ In The Red Ranch ~ Oak Hill Farm is a 63-acre property owned and operated by Olga and Brian George. The farm is used to breed In The Red Ranch was established in 1982 in Forney, Texas by Jerry and Patricia Cates. In 1996, they moved their cattle operation to Eustace. Currently the operation includes 362 acres with three large lakes and several other nice fishing ponds. Santa Gertrudis is the cattle of choice on the ranch. The original group came from the Double TT Ranch in Scurry-Rosser. With 65 head of cattle, the Ranch has been very successful at raising high quality

show and sale cattle. They have had Dam and Sire of the year in the Santa Gertrudis breed including several grand and reserve champions across the country. Most years the ranch produces enough hay for the Santa Gertrudis herd. This is very important to Jerry so that foreign weeds and forage are never introduced to his ranch. Raising their family with an agricultural back ground was important to the Cates. Their two children showed multiple projects at the county and state levels as they were growing up, and now their five grand kids are following in their parent’s footsteps showing cattle from the In The Red Ranch. Jerry and Patricia are enjoying “retirement” in their own private “national park”. They especially enjoy being able to share it along with their agriculture values with their whole family

~ Purtis Creek State Park ~ Purtis Creek State Park was opened to the public in November of 1988 as a 1,584 acre unit of post oak savannah land that includes a 350 acre flooded hardwood forest lake. The watershed includes the spring fed Trim Creek that starts almost at Canton and winds through private property in Van Zandt County until entering the lake at the FM 316 bridge just south of FM 3080. The watershed features the Sabine to the North, the Neches to the East, and feeds the Trinity to the West as Trim Creek exits the park property and empties into Cedar Creek Lake.

Previous land use includes pre-historic and historic hunting and agricultural use, township businesses and the stage coach stop along the Memphis to El Paso stage line in the 1800’s. Present land use includes an idlespeed-only lake with lighted fishing piers and a swimming beach that is perfect for paddling, fishing, swimming and wildlife viewing opportunities. A seven mile trail system provides novice hikers to intermediate mountain bikers ample room to visit the outdoors and enjoy the hardwood forest and pocket prairies along the trails. The 75 campsites range in comfort levels from the “leave no trace” primitive camper that hikes a little under a mile to enjoy a secluded campsite along the water with only a fire ring present; to the paved campsite with water, electricity, picnic tables, fire rings, grills, lantern holders and a bathhouse and restroom within walking distance. Interpretive programming is provided when staffing allows to assist visitors in the understanding of the natural and cultural resources as well as instructional classes designed to build confidence in outdoor experiences. With an annual visitation of 63,000 people the park staff strives to grow new guardians of public lands by including conservation and resource management themes into our fun, educational and inspiring activities in hopes that they will continue to believe that “Life’s better Outside.”

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

12

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

May-June 2016

Education key component for Smith County agriculture tour By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@jacksonville progress.com

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n 1906, Smith County Commissioners were the first in the nation to hire an extension agent to serve only one county, in hopes of better educating the local community on a variety of agriculture-related topics, according to www.smith-county.com. Today, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has five extension agents and a program assistant to meet the needs of Smith County residents, offering a wide offering of programs and services, including an annual agriculture tour. According to extension agent Ashley Pellerin, the average person on the tour is “interested in getting an in-depth look at Smith County ag businesses. Some of these are businesses they may drive past every day, but don’t ever consider the many ways that company plays a role in agriculture or what it really takes to make their business work.” This year’s event, held mid-May, drew 40 attendees, ranging from new-comers to those who have returned every year. “To me, it shows that we are reaching new audiences while holding the interest of those who have attended before. Some participants have never missed a tour,” she said. “People from all walks of life attend these ag tours: We had

local farmers, retired persons just looking for something new to do, state and local officials and youth, as well. Many were Smith County residents but there were some from neighboring counties who wanted to attend.” Attendees toured the FRESH marketplace, as well as the warehouse of its parent company, Brookshire’s Grocery Co., heard a presentation from Scotts Miracle Grow and took a tour of David Claiborne’s vegetable operation. This year’s tour was a collaborative effort between Smith County Farm Bureau, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, Prairie View A&M Cooperative Extension Program and Texas Farm Credit, Pellerin noted. Texas Farm Credit Services, located at 1307 Dominion Plaza in Tyler, was established by farmers and ranchers to be a reliable source of credit for agricultural producers under the nationwide Farm Credit System established in 1916. Along with financing agricultural operations, agribusinesses, rural homes and the purchase and improvement of rural real estate such as farms, ranches and recreational property, TFC also provides an array of financial services such as crop insurance and pasture, rangeland and forage insurance “We are rooted in agriculture,” said TFC marketing manager Kacy Land. “As a co-op that shares our earnings with our borrowers, our success depends on the success of

The covered wagon By Dawn David Palestine Herald-Press

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s I have said many times before, I love to listen to stories of our older generations and the past. I have mentioned may storytellers that I have in my life, but recently it has become apparent to me that my father may be one of the best storytellers I know. He told me of a true incident that happened to him as a child, and he did it with the rare art of turning the story, that was probably tragic to him at the time, into something laugh out loud funny. His story goes like this: “Back in 1937, when I was just a child (he was five), an older kid and I were playing under a large cottonwood tree on Hwy 84, near my granddad’s farmhouse when a covered wagon pulled up under the tree. The wagon was full of gypsies who invited me into the wagon to look around. Once inside, the gypsies pulled out and proceeded down the highway. The other kid ran to the field

where my granddad and five of his sons were working telling them that the gypsies had taken me with them. I was having fun riding in the wagon when all heck broke loose. My granddad and my five uncles had gotten into their old Model A Ford, loaded all of their guns aboard, and were up beside the wagon with a gun sticking out of every window. Needless to say, the gypsies stopped the wagon and put me out immediately....I remember this as if it happened yesterday....I could have become a gypsy had I been out there alone.” He wrote this story down for me, and I have read it over and over, and I laugh every single time. When I read the last sentence of the story, all I can picture is my light complected, green eyed, educated, and very intelligent father – whom as a child, I fondly remember dressed in a three piece suit smelling of Aramis and Binaca, riding in a covered wagon filled with potions and handmade items, almost kidnapped by a bunch of dark haired, dark eyed gypsies.

the farmers and ranchers that we call customers. Sponsoring the Smith County Ag Tour is just one of the many ways we show our support for our local community and our agricultural family.” She added that the company is “always aiming to help educate the general population on all the ways agriculture impacts their lives. “The Smith County Ag Tour does just that by helping educate the participants on their local agriculture and food sources,” Land said. Pellerin agreed. “It’s important to offer these types of tours and programs because it is the mission of Extension (both Texas A&M Agrilife and Prairie View A&M Extension Services) to put on educational programs to help educate the masses about all facets of Agriculture,” she said. “Many people don’t feel connected to agriculture – even though every facet of our lives is rooted in ag – and if we can take a day and show them that you don’t have to drive to a rural part of the county so see agriculture working, we will do that. “We have great partners in the Smith County Farm Bureau and Texas Farm Credit and part of their mission is to educate Smith County residents about agriculture as well,” Pellerin added.

It’s HOT outside!

Make sure your livestock and other animals have enough FRESH WATER to drink.

DID YOU KNOW?

ONE Horse drinks 5-10 gallons per day. ONE Cow drinks 25-50 gallons per day. ONE Goat drinks 2-10 liters per day.

ALL OUTSIDE ANIMALS DRINK MORE IN THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS!

Please report livestock neglect or abuse to your local Sheriff’s Department

May-June 2016

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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

13

Labor of Love celebrates 30 years By Kathi Nailling Athens Daily Review

Hamilton said a member of the congregation could

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ow many have something that they do as a labor

of love? For some, labor of love may be serving in the church, for others it may be playing a sport, and for a few it could even be our jobs. For a group of Henderson County residents, Athens Samaritans, doing business as Labor of Love, is doing that little something to make someone’s life a little easier. It all started in 1986 when a group of church members from First Christian Church of Athens made a trip to Amarillo to work on a house for Habitat for Humanity. “The experience was overwhelming,” Frances Hamilton said. The group returned from Amarillo excited about the prospect of having some type of group to help with housing for the disadvantaged residents living in Athens. Hamilton, one of the original members of the group, said, “At the time, we had neither the experience nor the funds to begin a Habitat chapter, so we began to look at other options.” Hamilton was the chair of Church in Society, now called Outreach. The committee worked out plans to repair homes for the poor and elderly. Thus 30 years ago Labor of Love was born in Athens. In the fall of 1986 the group completed its first project.

not afford repairs on her home. Some church members donated $3,000 for materials and 34 members turned out to work on her home. The group replaced rotten siding, a front door and broken windows, painted

the entire house inside and out, provided new curtains and cut/burned dead tree limbs. The next year the church

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

group selected another family from the community and repaired their home. “After we had completed these two projects, we invited the members of First Presbyterian Church to join us,” said Hamilton. “We jointly did two more projects. Soon after, the United Methodist Church joined our efforts.” Today what started 30 years ago, Labor of Love is providing home repairs, at no charge, to homeowners in Henderson County who can no longer maintain their homes due to age, disability or other circumstances beyond their control. “The majority of our projects are in the Gun Barrel City and Cedar Creek Lake

area,” LOL president Roy Talbot said. “The people we serve are the handicapped, indigent elderly, single mothers and in today’s world grandmothers raising grandchildren who own their home.” Labor of Love has helped with home repairs that just cannot wait until a person has the money to complete the project. The organization is well aware its mission would be impossible without help from the community. Among the organizations that have provided much need help during the past 30 years are United Methodist Men of Athens, Payne Springs United Methodist Church, Allen Chapel AME church, Church of the Living God, Wesley United Methodist

Church, Crescent Heights Methodist Church, Athens Brick Company, First

State Bank, First National Bank, My Brother’s Keeper, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church youth group, United Methodist Church, Jacksonville Savings and Loan, Hawn Lumber Company, Solar Turbine of Mabank and McGilvrary Ford Lincoln Mercury. With the focus on repairing existing homes instead of building new ones, Labor of Love now has nine project managers and a pool of over 50 men who volunteer their time to help others. The Labor of Love efforts benefit the entire county. As needs are discovered, volunteers from this organization assist in rebuilding homes, perform general home repairs such as plumbing and electrical, or whatever may be required

to make the home safer and functional. Labor of Love serves Athens, Brownsboro, Murchison, Tool, Bethel, LaRue, Sand Flats and other areas within the county. United Way dollars are used to purchase the supplies necessary to assist the carefully selected repair and rebuilding projects. “For 30 years we have been changing lives with the repair or modification of homes including construction of wheelchair ramps, installing walk-in showers, grab bars, widening bathroom entrances, fixing rotted front steps, repairing leaking roofs, holes in floors and windows, etc,” Talbot said. The Labor of Love program has provided vital in-home support to citizens with housing concerns. Assistance with electrical, plumbing and carpentry repairs, as well as barrierfree modifications, help the elderly and disabled stay safely and securely in their own homes. “It is wonderful to know that our church was responsible for beginning an organization that has been recognized for its good works by the governor of Texas,” said Hamilton. “Also a representative

of Habitat from the Waco office came to Athens to see how we operate with an eye on adding something like Labor of Love to their organization.” Hamilton said, “God has richly blessed our endeavor and we hope that many more people will want to be part of that blessing.” Labor of Love is a nonprofit 501c3 organization. They receive funds from the United Way, churches, the Rotary Clubs, the Cain Foundation and many individuals. You can become a part of the group by adopting a project. Through the Adopt a Project program, a group or organization can provide funds for a particular home repair, provide workers or both workers and funds for a project. Thanks to Labor of Love and its volunteers Henderson County residents are given peace of mind and are able to remain in the only homes some of them know. For information about Labor of Love visit its Facebook page Labor of Love - Athens or call 903-6755683.

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

14

May-June 2016

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

The Blue Tattoo FACTS: 1. Olive Oatman was born in 1837. 2. In 1850, Olive and her family joined a wagon train headed to California from Missouri. It is said that due to disagreements among the travelers regarding the rough terrain and hostile Indians, the Oatmans started traveling alone. 3. The Oatman family consisted of nine people, which included 7 children ranging in age from one to seventeen. 4. Shortly after beginning to travel alone, the family was attacked by Indians. It is believed that the Indians that attacked the family were Tolkepayas. Olive’s parents and four of her siblings were killed. Olive’s fifteen year old brother Lorenzo was injured and left for dead, but eventually reached a settlement for help. Fourteen year old Olive, along with her seven year old sister Mary were abducted and used as slaves. 5. Olive and her sister were later traded by the Tolkepayas to a group of Mohave for two horses, vegetables, blankets and other things. 6. The Mohave Indians treated the girls as their own, and tattooed both of the girls on

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7.

8. 9. 10.

11. 12.

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their chins and arms. Experts believe that the tattooed chin was tradition among the Mohave tribe, believed to lead to a good afterlife. Mary chose not to reveal herself to railroad surveyors, who in 1854 were in the Mohave Valley trading and socializing with the Mohave tribe. It is believed that she felt comfortable being a part of the Mohave tribe. Olive’s sister Mary died of starvation during a severe drought in 1857. Olive’s nickname to the Mohave people was Spantsa. Her clan name was Oach. When Olive was 19 years old, rumors were going around that a white girl was living with the Mohaves, and in 1857 the negotiations for her return began. At first, the Mohaves denied that Olive was white, and resisted the request for her return, but after much negotiation she was returned to the white people. After her return, Olive learned that her brother Lorenzo was alive and never gave up looking for her. Although Olive denied it, experts believed that while living with the Mohave, Olive was

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H I T I G G H Y R O D A B R R K J E B S

EAST TEXAS ANDERSON CO. LIVESTOCK Updated: 5/18/2016 Head Count: 752 Buyers: 53 Sellers: 44

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married and gave birth to two boys. 13. In 1865, Olive married a cattleman and lived in Sherman, Texas. 14. Olive and her husband adopted a baby girl and named her Mamie. 15. Olive died of a heart attack in 1903.

W V E G E T A B L E S G N I V I L S I Q

EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC. Updated: 5/17/2016 Cows: 230 Bulls: 29 Buyers: 53 Sellers: 135

STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $170-$290 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $151-$213 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $141-$170 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $140-$163 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $130-$163

HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.65-$3.00 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.50-$1.65 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.30-$1.65 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.25-$1.53 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.15-$1.35 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $0.95-$1.25 lb

HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $149-$275 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $138-$174 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $132-$160 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $128-$153 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $118-$147 SLAUGHTER Cows: $55-$80 Bulls: $83-$100

SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.60 - $0.84 lb Bulls: $0.85 - $1.05 lb

PAIRS $1275-$1600

PAIRS $1150 - $2200

BRED COWS $875 - $1550/hd

Stocker Cows: $1050 - $2075 hd Goats: $45 - $150

HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.65-$2.70 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.55-$1.75 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.35-$1.48 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.25-$1.41 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.20-$1.49 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.15-$1.50 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.45 - $0.84 Heavy Bulls: $0.85 - $1.02 Pairs: $1700 - $1925 Stocker Cows: $900 - $1650 Baby Calves: $200 - $410

NEGOTIATION OATMAN OLIVE RAILROAD RESISTED RETURNED RUMORS SETTLEMENT SISTER STARVATION SURVEYORS TATTOO TERRAIN TOLKEPAYAS TRADED TRADITION TRIBE VALLEY VEGETABLES WAGON

STOCK PRICES

STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.75-$2.85 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.58-$1.95 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.35-$1.65 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.30-$1.25 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.25-$1.52 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.05-$1.45 lb

TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 5/21/2016 Head Count: 943 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.75-$2.75 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.65-$2.25 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.55-$1.75 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.45-$1.58 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.35-$1.54 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.25-$1.46 lb

ABDUCTED ADOPTED BABY BLANKETS BLUE BROTHER CATTLEMAN CHIN DENIED DROUGHT EXPERTS GIRL HORSES HOSTILE INDIANS LIVING LORENZO MARRIED MARY MOHAVE

NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EX. Updated: 5/19/2016 Head Count: 512 Buyers: 46 Sellers: 108 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.65-$2.85 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.50-$2.25 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.32-$1.85 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.15-$1.74 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.50-$2.35 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.35-$1.70 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.15-$1.65 lb 500 lbs - UP: $0.95-$1.45 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.60 - $0.85 lb Bulls: $0.80 - $1.00 lb PAIRS $1150 - $1700 Stocker Cows: $850 - $1500 hd Baby Calves: $45 - $150 hd Horses: None Goats: $45 - $150 hd

HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE Updated: 5/16/2016 Head Count: 683 huntlivestockexchange.com STEERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.50-$2.70 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.60-$2.25 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.50-$1.77 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.10-$1.71 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.15-$1.61 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.10-$1.45 lb HEIFERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.23-$2.27 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.20-$1.83 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.00-$1.73 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.10-$1.71 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.15-$1.61 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.10-$1.45 lb 800 lbs - 899 lbs: $0.95-$1.33 SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.45 - $0.83 lb Bulls: $0.88 - $0.97 lb PAIRS Pairs: $1300 - $1900 Stocker Cows: $510 - $1625 Baby Calves: $165 - $225

ATHENS COMMISSION CO. Updated: 5/20/2016 Head Count: 661 Sellers: 121 Sale EVERY Friday At 11am STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.50-$2.70 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.25-$2.20 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.00-$1.85 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.00-$1.65 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.35-$2.50 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.00-$2.00 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.00-$1.75 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.00-$1.50 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.35 - $0.84 lb Heavy Bulls: $0.80-$1.00 lb PAIRS Top: $1650 - $2300 Low Middle: $1000 - $1650 Stocker Cows: $0.70 - $1.85 lb Baby calves: $100 - $500 hd Horses: $350 - $500 hd Goats: $35 - $175 hd

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

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

Gone Fishing with Jerry Miller

May-June 2016

15

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

Trick bass with bream imitation lures I

n the month of May bass forage a lot on bream which include bluegill and sunfish. Many bream group up and spawn this month and are readily available for big bass to eat. In clear water these beds can be easily spotted. Most of our lakes now are tinted or off color due to all the rain we’ve experienced. But you can still easily locate bream beds which often lead to catching big bass nearby. I fish a speed worm a lot by mostly using a Texas rig and hopping the worm in the shallows. Bream and bass seem to be really drawn to this vibrating tail. Bream bites are easy to detect. Bass fishermen usually describe a bream bite as a “machine gun� bite. Bream will grab the tail and rapidly begin jerking the lure. Bass often just swim away with the lure, especially big bass. By locating these bream beds this month you can be sure that some bass are lurking close by – usually just a few feet deeper than the bream. To catch these bass that are mainly feeding on bream I usually employ three basic lures: a crank bait, spinner and a swim bait. I get excellent results from a Fire Tiger crank bait, one that will reach the depths of 5 to 6 feet. For a spinner bait I simply use a Nichols’ chartreuse and white half-ounce size with gold blades with green and blue flakes. Also a bluegill swim jig by Cliff Pace. The first time I used this bream-colored swim jig bait I was fishing the lily pads on the north end of Lake

Nacogdoches. When bream feed in the pads you can hear a popping or sucking noise. That’s a real good time to fish a swim jig. In May bass will begin to move back out to creek bends. After the spawn is over bass will often migrate back out to the creek bends. Fishing the swim jig is simple. I use a Strike King bluegill menace bait as a trailer. The first time I targeted the shallow pads on the creek bends I landed two bass that averaged three pounds followed by a two-pounder. I simply make a long cast into the pads and rapidly reel the bait causing it to bump the pads. About two weeks ago David Nichols and I fished Cat Creek on an overcast day and caught numerous bass on a Berkley, Fire Tiger crank bait. We caught a lot of small bass up to two pounds. The Fire Tiger crank closely resembles a sunfish. My third bait is a Nichols 3/8 oz. jig which has bream colors and a black and blue Rage Craw as a trailer. With this lure I have caught my biggest bass on Lakes Jacksonville, Nacogdoches and Palestine. I work this bait aggressively in May because the bass are very active and hungry. The largest bass I caught on this jig was on Lake Nacogdoches. John Long and I had been catching bass on the Fire Tiger crank bait and some Brush Hogs. About 10:00 a.m. I decided to switch to the Nichols’ jig. The first three bass were two pounders that were to the bank next to a board wall retainer. When we entered the mouth of a spawning cove I landed a 5-pound bass

that was holding in shallow grass. We fished for another 100 yards without a bite. I then eased up to a secondary point and cast the lure to the edge of grass. A huge bass grabbed the lure and swam straight at me. I was unable to get a good hook set. Right at the boat the bass jumped and threw the lure. Long said, “That bass was big enough to eat that five pounder!� The bass did look huge to me, but we will never know. I sure would have liked to weigh that fish. But like fishermen usually say, “The big one got away.� The Nichols’ spinner bait I always fish on windy banks. It can be deadly when the wind blows. These three bream-colored lures are my primary weapons for targeting bass this month. When conditions are right these three lures will tempt a lot of bass into striking.

It Takes Two: Dawson seniors receive $18k Scholarships Corsicana Daily Sun

F

rom pre-kindergarten playground days to traveling the globe for FFA competitions in county and state stock shows, Katlyn Anderson and Lauren Hayes have been through it all. Together. “We are very close,� they both said, almost in sync. A simple walk down the hall to the school computer lab, which also hosts the yearbook committee, will yield 14 years worth of annuals that include Anderson and Hayes, literally commemorating the two of them growing up, side by side. Both shining stars in their own rights, the two girls have been competitors and supporters of each other for as long as they can remember. Both are outstanding students and have excelled at almost everything they have participated in. But recent-

ly, the two of them were recognized in a big way through their efforts in the Dawson FFA program where Anderson serves as Vice President and Hayes serves as Secretary. Just weeks ago, Anderson and Hayes each received the Area Go Texan Scholarship, a college prize worth $18,000 for each of them. Just one of the many scholarships awarded through the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the scholarship was a grueling, competitive process. To be considered, a student must score at least a 950 on the SAT or a 19 on the ACT, be in the top one-third of their class, write two lengthy essays, and be prepared to document their academic achievement, high school leadership qualities, activities, awards, community involvement, a financial need for assistance at college, and the list goes on. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo began

announcing recipients in May, and Anderson was the first of the pair to receive the news. “I was literally on a school bus returning from a field trip when I received an email saying I got the scholarship,� said Anderson. “At first, I didn’t actually believe it, it took a few minutes to sink in. I just started to cry. It was one

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of the most exciting moments of high school.� With news that her lifelong friend had received the scholarship, Hayes, while filled with joy for Anderson, assumed she was out of the running. “I have never heard of the scholarship going to two kids from the same school district before,� said Hayes.

About a week later, Hayes was returning from competition at the state golf tournament (because she also plays a mean game of golf in her spare time), and arrived home to a large package on her doorstep. “The package was addressed to me and I was on the phone with a friend, “ said Hayes. “I immediately called my ag teacher, Ms. Sammon, and the next call I made was to Katlyn.� As the two draft their speeches for high school graduation, (Anderson is Valedictorian and Hayes is Salutatorian) there is little time for reflection on the past because the girls have big plans for their futures. But for the first time since learning to color inside the lines, they will not be together. Anderson will be attending the University of Texas at Austin this fall, where she will study under a secondary education degree plan in pursuit of one day becoming a

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school principal. Hayes will be attending Texas A&M, where she will study engineering. Anderson and Hayes both credit ag teachers Mike Littrell and Michelle Sammon with their successes, both in FFA and as students in general. They also give a lot of credit to family. “My family is my biggest cheerleader,� said Anderson. “My Dad and my grandparents have been huge in my success,� said Hayes. For these two that are more like sisters than classmates, distance is no match for their friendship. Despite the miles between college campuses, the girls plan to stay in touch through all forms of social media and as many road trips as possible to continue sharing adventures together long into adulthood.

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