March 2017 Farm and Ranch Living

The wave of the future Eustace ISD Hydroponic garden provided hands-on learning, Page 2

Straight Shot

Brent Brand making his mark at A&M, Page 5

Agriculture is fun

Jeanne Brown grows vegetable for fun and better health near Athens, Page 8 BE

The Crawfish Man

Tommy Robison answers the call for live bait in Center, Page 12

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Published February 23, 2017

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February-March 2017

Hydroponic gardening the wave of the future

By Kathi Nailling Athens Daily Review

C

oach Chuck Powers is always looking for ways to boost his students learning. The Hydroponic garden at Eustace Independent School Districts gives Powers’ students the ability of growing produce while problem-solving with hands-on learning.

Powers said he has had a greenhouse at the Eustace High School for a number of years, but more recently he has started a Hydroponic garden in the larger greenhouse installed in December 2016.

The Hydroponic gardening is a method of cultivating plants using a fertilizer nutrient solution and water without soil.

According to Powers Hydroponic gardening has proved to have several advantages over soil gardening. The research indicates a hydroponic plant will grow 30 to 50 percent faster than a soil plant.

Powers along with his son Chris Powers teaches advanced science courses at Eustace ISD. Power believes there is more to teaching students than biology and chemistry lessons. “We need to teach these students how to solve problems,” said Powers. In Hydroponic gardening, a student will develop the critical skills needed to cultivate solutions to complex problems.

Each day the students check the water for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, PH, water hardness, and oxygen.

Powers said many of the

students who grew up near the Cedar Creek Lake area and are not aware where food comes from or even how it is grown.

The seniors in Powers classroom are currently growing a variety of produce such as lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower, spinach, squash, and cucumbers.

In addition to students

LARGE SELECTION OF

learning how to grow their own food, they will learn what pesticides kill each insect.

The goal for the hydroponic garden is to eventually grow enough produce to supply the school cafeteria with vegetables for its students and staff.

Powers is giving his students a chance to put their lessons into practice with the greenhouse.

Students learning about a plant’s cycle of life can actually watch it happen, while other students studying engineering can apply the lesson to building a hydroponic system.

“This is the wave of the future,” said Powers. “Our kids are getting hands-on experience.”

Matthew Milta a senior at Eustace said, “I find this very

interesting and I have learned a lot in this class.”

Powers said the students tend to the garden any time they have any free time. “They come in and just know what needs to be done,” said Powers. Each student is responsible for a different aspect of the greenhouse garden.

Powers who grew-up on a farm in Texas said it’s important to

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February-March 2017

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A Farmer’s Story and the Feral Hog ‘If you eat, you are involved in agriculture”. Let’s give thanks to those farmers who provide our food. Now, a story about one of those farmers—not a rich man in his bank account, but rich in his soul and being.

“He never finished school, but he finished every job he ever started.

He grew his own food, not because it was the “new way”, but because it was the only way.

He lived through times when money and food was sparse, but his kids never missed a meal… although he did.

He’s seen droughts, tornados, floods, fires and wind destroy his farm, but he never gave up.

If he had two dollars to his name, he would give it to you, if you were in need.

He’s a grandfather, father, uncle, brother and friend! AN AMERICAN FARMER! And now, the feral hog!

“Wild” hogs are like fire ants—spreading at a rapid pace.

But, we may have light at the end of the tunnel. As of today, trapping or shooting are the choices. Biologists figure that for each hog we get rid of, at least

two more take their place. Some folks are selling the hogs they trap to licensed hunting clubs and others sell to buyers who have set up stations across East Texas. The rascals bring good money at buying stations—the hogs are destined for the packer and then the “wild boar meat” is sold in Germany and some other European nations. Texas law is that only castrated male hogs can go to licensed hunting ranches.

No females are allowed to be released. Females can be sold for meat but not for hunting!

Approval is on the way for a

new product that will be licensed for getting rid of the pesky rooter.

It’s a warfarin-laced feed. Once a hog starts eating the product, after a few days of feasting, they are dead. Several states are expected to approve use of the feed. Several major restrictions will apply to use of the poisonous feed and users must have a pesticide applicators license to purchase the feed. One thing for sure, landowners are ready for some new approaches to ridding pastures of the pests! Horace@ valornet.com

grow your own produce. “Texas isn’t getting any bigger, they won’t build anymore land,” said Powers. He said he believes the public would be surprised at the amount of produce grown in a greenhouse.

“We want to give our kids a rounded background,” said Powers. “It’s a lot of work, but it is refreshing to be in the greenhouse.”

Powers said this world is changing, “these students need to adapt to the changes.”

The coach said he feels very fortunate his administration and school trustees support the students and the greenhouse they have created. “It’s really nice to have bosses who care and support what you do.”

The students who signed up for Powers advanced placement class have agreed to work during the summer tending to the plants.

hydroponics

noun, plural in form but singular in construction hy·dro·pon·ics \ˌhī-drə-ˈpä-niks\

Definition of hydroponics

: the growing of plants in nutrient solutions with or without an inert medium (as soil) to provide mechanical support.

Courtesy of Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Did You Know?

• Hydroponics, also known as aquaculture or tank farming, began as a way of studying scientifically the mechanisms of plant nutrition. Hydroponically grown plants may have no solid material under them at all; instead, their roots often simply hang in water with a rich mix of nutrients dissolved in it. The principal advantage to hydroponics is the savings from reduced labor costs, since it’s generally carried on in enclosed areas and the irrigation and fertilizing are done mechanically. Peppers, cucumbers, and various other vegetables are produced hydroponically in huge quantities. Editor’s Note in Merriam-Webster Dictionary • One of the earliest successes of hydroponics occurred on Wake Island, a rocky atoll in the Pacific Ocean used as a refuelling stop for Pan American Airlines. Hydroponics was used there in the 1930s to grow vegetables for the passengers. Hydroponics was a necessity on Wake Island because there was no soil, and it was prohibitively expensive to airlift in fresh vegetables.

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February-March 2017

Tiny homes a growing trend

By April Barbe

editor@jacksonvilleprogress.com

T

hey say everything is bigger in Texas, but one home trend is proving that this is not always the

case.

For the past couple of years, the trend of tiny homes has been growing in popularity, according to many in the home building industry.

Jason Campbell of Campbell Custom Homes in Bullard is one builder who recently began offering the smaller homes to buyers.

During the summer of 2016, Campbell announced that his business now offers one-and-two-bedroom mini homes starting at $58,420.

The homes include interior wood paneling and a rustic theme, according to photos on the company’s website: www. campbellcustomhomes.org.

Campbell Custom Homes serves the East Texas area, including Tyler, Longview and Bullard.

According to www.thetinylife.com, folks are joining the tiny home movement for many reasons, but the most popular include environmental and financial concerns and the desire for more freedom.

The website said many of the homes are less than 400-square-feet.

The trend has also caught the eye of HGTV, who produce a show called “Tiny House, Big Living.” Producers say the show teaches people about making the most of what they have.

For more information on building a

Courtesy photos

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February-March 2017

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Things aren’t what they seem

- If you see an Indian dressed like a cowboy, he’s probably a cowboy.

- If you see a cowboy dressed like an Indian, he’s probably a country music singer.

- If you see an Indian dressed like an Indian, he’s probably an entertainer.

- If you see a country music singer dressed like an Indian, he’s probably an actor.

- If you see an actor dressed like a country music singer, he’s probably lip synching.

- If you see a cowboy with a briefcase, he’s probably a salesman.

- If you see a salesman dressed like a cowboy, he’s probably a realtor.

- If you see a golfer dressed like a farmer, he’s probably a salesman.

- If you see a farmer dressed like a sales-

man, he’s probably a golfer.

- If you see a farmer dressed like a cowboy, he’s probably on vacation.

- If you see a roper dressed like a cowboy, he’s probably a header.

- If you see a roper dressed like a prisoner, he’s probably a heeler.

- If you see a heeler dressed like a header, he’s probably out on parole.

- If you see a cowboy with creased jeans, he probably doesn’t ride a horse for a living.

- If you see a lawman dressed like a cowboy, he’s probably the sheriff.

- If you see a cowboy dressed like a lawman, yer probably in Wyoming or Mississippi.

- If you see a sheriff in your rear view mirror, you’re probably in trouble.

- If you see a movie star dressed like a cowboy, he’s probably Hopalong Cassidy.

- If you see Hopalong wearing bermuda shorts, he’s probably at a Celebrity Golf Tournament.

- If you see a cowboy dressed like Hoppy, he’s probably a cowboy poet. www.baxterblack.com

Straight Shot

Brand making his mark at Texas A&M University

By Deanna Kirk

Corsicana Daily Sun

B

rent Brand never knew when he headed to Texas A&M University that he’d be there less than a year before he was headed to the Olympics.

National Junior Olympic match for shooting sports, that is.

“He always liked to go shooting with me when he was little at the range,” said dad Cory Brand.

“They had a pistol team at A&M, and he decided to try out. He did well, and made it.”

The version of events as Brent tells it is slightly varied. He said he tried out four times, with the intention of shooting a viable score.

“I may have shot a passable score on my first try, but I don’t typically settle for ‘passable,’” Brent said. “Officers took notice of my determination and decided to let me on.”

Prior to his experience with the team, Brent said. He had a passion for firearms and a desire to become the most capable shooter possible. Technically, the pistol team is classified as a club by the university. They compete against other collegiate varsity teams such as Ohio State.

“Everyone on the team went through a tryout process before becoming a member, and anyone in the university is eligible to tryout,” he said. “Students are chosen based off of scores, established fundamentals and other factors.

“In my case, I fully believe

I only made it onto the team through sheer stubbornness.”

Brand is the son of Cory and Amy Brand, who both serve First Baptist Church Corsicana; he in the position of associate pastor, or “minister of discipleship and pastoral care,” and she as Children’s Minister.

“The kids call me ‘Mr. Amy,’” Cory said.

His sister Abby is a sophomore at Corsicana High School currently, and older brother Lance Rhodes is working in Austin at the state capitol as a staffer for Briscoe Cain, State Representative.

The family is proud of Brent and his success during his freshman year as an Aggie.

“In one event, he’s first place in Air Pistol in Texas, and another event, he is second in Sport Pistol,” Cory said. “He has no experience in this kind of competition at all, he just decided to go try his hand at it, and this is how he did.”

Brent said that during competitions, he zones out and simply has fun. He knows what he’s capable of, so he simply goes out and tries to make every shot as close to the center as possible.

“Our coach tells us to treat each competition as 60 individual one-shot matches,” Brent said.

“That means that the previous shot doesn’t matter, nor does any future shot. This means you are to strive for perfection one shot at a time.”

The spring schedule is a mess of team and individual events, he

said, which he wouldn’t be able to explain adequately if asked.

However, the collegiate sectionals match was held in College Station the weekend of Feb. 11-12, where the team competed with hopes of sending people to the collegiate nationals. Brent placed second in Free Pistol and third in Air Pistol, and are awaiting results as to who made it to nationals.

“This is completely unrelated to junior olympics,” he said.

The National Junior Olympic match in April at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs will be an event where Brand travels as an individual, along with only one or two other shooters from Texas who are

invited to compete there.

“While in Colorado Springs, we will be competing against and alongside the best junior shooters in the nation,” he said. “The Olympic shooting coaches will be there talking to shooters about their experiences.”

When not working on his marksmanship skills, Brent is pursuing a degree in Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technologies. He is quite proud to be an Aggie engineer in training, and said he can’t imagine having gone anywhere else for an education.

The atmosphere at the school is such that he said words simply don’t do it justice.

“I never imagined being a part of a competitive team coming into college,” Brent said. “My main concerns were my potluck roommate (who turned out great) and where the best places to eat on campus were.

“I had the chance to talk with some of the pistol team members and they persuaded me to try out. After trying out once, I was hooked. Never would I have imagined having the opportunities I do now.”

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

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By Michael Maresh

February-March 2017

Selling ranches a specialty

Palestine Herald-Press

W

hen looking for a home to purchase, there are a lot of good real estate agents who can find clients their dream home.

When looking for a specialized home, particularly farm and ranch homes, the list of good real estate agents dwindles.

Sam Sewalt and Michael Bird, with Ranch Real Estate Specialists in Athens, use their past experience with ranches to find the ideal properties for their clients.

After moving around, Sewalt kept moving east and ended up in Cleveland, Texas, where he worked on a ranch.

After working on ranches most of his life, in 2002, Sewalt came to the realization that he did not want to run a ranch anymore.

Already a real estate broker, he came up with the idea to sell ranches to clients. He started doing it on the side in 2002, and in 2005 decided to do it full time.

In 2007, Sewalt got his broker’s license, and the previous broker he worked with decided to

do something else. In 2007, Bird joined Sewalt in finding and selling ranches to clients.

Bird, raised in Frankston, worked on the Neches River Ranch for 30 years before leaving to sell tractors.

As he sold tractors, a man told Bird he was looking for a ranch and asked if he could find one, which Bird did.

This experience led to Bird getting his broker’s license in 2007, and he became a partner with Sewalt in 2010.

Bird pointed out he and

Sewalt do not sell homes in the city.

“Mostly, what we do are ranches,” Sewalt said.

“That’s what we do. That’s our bag.”

But Sewalt said if a client wants a ranch, one can be found, and reverted to the saying they use.

“If we can’t find it, you don’t need it,” he said.

Bird pointed out their experience working on ranches gives them a distinct advantage over other agents who may have never lived or worked on a farm or ranch.

“In our business we get

to know a lot of ranchers in the area,” Bird said. “They come to us because of our experience. Our experience helps.

“We have to know what they are talking about,” he added.”You have to know about ranches. People call us because we have the knowledge on what they are talking about.”

When starting out, the two sold a lot of large ranches, but Bird said the landscape has changed a lot.

Now, there is a big calling for specialized ranches, where clients want

certain specific things on their properties.

A lot of their clients come from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Clients want a ranch they can get to in a few hours to simply get away from Dallas for a day or two.

Like most real estate markets, it ebbs and flows, Bird said.

In their best year, the two sold ranches worth $22 million. In their worst year, only $5 million in ranches were sold.

But, Bird said, overall it has been enjoyable and somewhat profitable.

“In the last 10 to 12 years, we sold about $100 million,” he said.

The homes placed on the ranches are secondary to the land, Bird said.

“The bigger it is, the less the home matters,” he said.

“The land is worth more than the home.”

Sewalt said they have a gotten a little more diversified in recent years, where the home on the ranch could be worth a little more than the land.

“We sell homes on small acreages, too,” Bird said.

Photos shown are of a 475 acre ranch near Eustace.

Mike Bird

Sam Sewalt

February-March 2017

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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7

Historic roots run deep

By Rich Flowers

Athens Daily Review

L

ess than 10 minutes from anywhere in Athens, traffic permitting, McNair Farm is a picturesque property that reflects the area’s scenic beauty and frontier past.

Owner Donnie Lewis is a walking historian for the place.

He was born in Athens and grew up in Eustace.

“Our family came to this area in 1841, before Athens was a town,” Lewis said. “Texas was still a sovereign nation, so I think we’re natives.”

Lewis has owned the McNair property for a little over 20 years.

The re-imagination began about three years ago. He lives on the property, but wanted to be able to share its beauty and historic values with the community, or anyone who needs a beautiful setting for a wedding, party or special event.

“It hasn’t been an easy project to do,” Lewis said. “I’ve got just enough acreage to make this work. It’s too little for a farm and too big for a yard.”

A stone column at the farm’s entrance bears the name McNair.

The stone fence has the look of construction from decades ago.

“This fence was built as a work program for the WPA,” Lewis said. “This was out in the country then. Athens was a long way away.”

There once was an 800-acre farm at the location. About a century ago, the property was the home of the Henderson County poor farm.

After McNair Farm was established in 1954, the grounds were busy with people working beef cattle, crops and the dairy.

The structure that was used as the smokehouse remains on the property.

“That’s the only thing that was here that was locked,” Lewis said.

“The meat was the main thing that they had.”

In the early days of the farm, the few miles between the farm and downtown Athens could seem like a long distance. Today, the property sits on Mill Run Road just around the bend from south Loop 7, giving easy access to the thoroughfare that connects Athens to U.S. Highway 175, State Highway 19 and State Highway 31.

You can see the lights from the emergency room entrance at East

Texas Medical Center from the grounds.

“Accessibility to the loop is invaluable for any kind of business especially what we’re doing,” Lewis said. “You don’t have to go down a dirt road, across a pasture and through a fence.”

“The old jail was moved out here in 1923, on barrels from the place where what we now know as the old jail was built, downtown,” Lewis said.

Lewis has added architectural supports and porches to preserve the structural integrity. Inside you can see the rooms that once served as the jail cells.

“The hardware in the jail is just incredible,” Lewis said. “It was built in 1873 and I’m told it’s the oldest thing in the county that’s still standing.”

The dairy, built in the 1960s, where cows were once milked and fed, has been reworked into a 6,300 square foot venue for events. The various rooms are decorated to preserve the feel of country living.

“We’re trying to leave it as rustic as we can,” Lewis said.

Inside the dairy is a commercial kitchen, with all the equipment needed to cook for a special occasion.

North of the house lies a row of beehives. Lewis is a beekeeper and harvests the honey for facial creams and other uses. He’ll also sell local honey at a little store inside the dairy building.

Lewis is a pharmacist by profession. He wants to use one of the small buildings on the property to create custom mix face creams.

The structure is not large, but big enough for his purposes.

Lewis also is known for mixing some tasty dishes, some of which were sold in the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalogue.

His former restaurant, The Pendulum, operated on the square in Athens for several years

and featured cookies, muffins, cakes and other delicacies.

In the McNair Farm brochure, the property is described as a place of “unforgettable elegance.”

It’s described as a memorable spot for a wedding.

A little wooden chapel area, with a small lake behind it serves as a backdrop for a wedding ceremony or church service.

“The lush lawn, with towering oaks and outdoor fireplace, overlooking the scenic lake provide many choices of just where you would like your memory to begin,” the brochure reads.

An open, lush lawn between the fireplace and the chapel is large enough for plenty of chairs and a big tent if you’d like a covering.

It doesn’t matter if your event is day or night. All of the large trees on the property are equipped with electric lighting.

“At night, it’s like a park atmosphere,” Lewis said.

Emily McGraw is Venue Director for the farm. For information, call 903-952-2929 or 903-670-2929. The farm is located at 2001 Mill Run Road in Athens.

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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February-March 2017

Gardening for fun and better health

By Jeff Riggs

Athens Daily Review

M

any people think of agriculture as backbreaking work. They think of how hot they will get, and that they will sweat until their clothes are soaking wet.

Then, there are some people like Jeanne Brown, who believe at least part of the agriculture activity to be something that’s “fun.” She also strives on making her gardening output more healthy for human consumption than most that can be bought.

“I grow for local farmers so that they sell them at market and sell retail,” Brown said. “It’s not certified organic. Using an organic product is natural. No pesticides, no chemicals or fertilizers of any kind. I grow from seed, and move them out as they get ready.”

Brown has four greenhouses used for this purpose on her property south of Athens, in the 3300 block of County Road 3614, near State Highway 19 South.

There is some money coming into her home through her activity, but money is not her priority.

“There is not a lot of profit, but I do it as more of a hobby,” Brown said. “I have a website set up in which I sell online. The Internet site will be set up this year. I just started growing seeds with my mother years ago as a young

adult. But, I always had gardens.

And it soothed my mother, who had Alzheimers.”

In Brown’s greenhouses, she grows peppers and tomatoes, each of over 100 kinds. She also grows pepper plants, squash, cucumbers, cabbage and cauliflower. She starts them in the spring, and sells them through early summer, about June 1. She sells any vegetable “starts.” She doesn’t sell the fruit, just the vegetable plant.

Now in her 60s, gardening may bother some people physically, but not Brown.

“I probably do get tired, but it’s not work,” she said. “It’s more of fun. I’ve been doing this for seven years, and starting actually selling for the past five years.”

Brown has sold at the Athens Farmer’s Market, and at First Monday in Canton. Her husband works out of Houston, and is on the road a lot. They have two sons who are grown, one residing in Brownsboro, and the other in Frisco.

“They help if I call them,” she said.

Brown also has nine grandchildren.

“I have taught some of them about gardening,” she said. “The oldest one has helped me several springs on spring break. He is 18.”

Brown’s online address is holderhillfarm.com. Her Facebook page is holderhillfarm.

Jeff Riggs/Staff

Jeanne Brown in one of her local greenhouses with a few of the plants that she sells for retail.

Jeff Riggs/Staff

Jeanne Brown in one of her greenhouses with a rack holding some of her plants.

Jeff Riggs/Staff

Jeanne Brown in one of her local greenhouses with a few of the plants that she sells for retail.

February-March 2017

By Alyssa Massingill

Jacksonville Progress

I

n 1988, two brothers started with a dream that launched one local feed store.

Today, those two brothers have nurtured that dream and expanded it into six successful feed stores.

Brothers, Richard and Robert Massingill of Rusk, were both employed elsewhere when they decided to open Southland Feed and Supply in Lufkin together.

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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

Southland Ag and Outdoors Since Southland Feed and Supply was already an establishment in Lufkin, Richard and Robert decided to keep the name and expand the business.

One of those expansions landed right here in Jacksonville.

“Through the years, Southland Feed and Supply has developed a close relationship with the Lone Star organization and when Lone Star decided to sell their Jacksonville retail store, they came to us.” Richard recalls. “It just made sense for us to buy it, as it fit right into our

program.”

The Lone Star business had already been established in Jacksonville for more than 50 years.

“I was working at the first Lone Star store over by the railroad tracks when Lone Star built this store,” Manager of the Jacksonville store, Joan Spaine recalls.

“I decided to stay when Richard and Robert bought it from Lone Star in 2004.”

Later, Southland Feed and Supply changed its name to Southland Ag and Outdoors for all six locations.

“Southland does more

than just agriculture, we have made efforts to expand out inventories to include other outside activities like hunting, trapping and show supplies,” Richard said. “But we still offer mainstream farming and ranching supplies, so we appropriately changed our name and appearance to include these as well.”

Southland Ag and Outdoors locations include Jacksonville, Rusk, Tyler, Lufkin, Longview and Livingston.

“With our six locations, Jacksonville would be

Photo by Alyssa Massingill

Southland Ag and Outdoor specializes in agricultural and horticultural retail as well as hunting products, apparel, pet supplies, tools and hardware.

our number three when it comes to sales, Richard said. “Having a store to the north and one to the south of Jacksonville, we are able to not only serve the public through this location but being centrally located, we are able to support our other stores also.”

The Jacksonville store employees include, Joan Spaine, Bobby Wyatt and Chase Loden.

The Jacksonville store is located on 2055 S. Jackson Street.

For more information visit, www. southlandagoutdoors.com

Photo by Alyssa Massingill

Joan Spaine, manager of the Jacksonville location, has been with Southland Ag and Outdoors since 2004.

Photo by Alyssa Massingill

Southland Ag and Outdoors Jacksonville location.

TSTC Hosts Students for FFA Tractor Competition

T

exas State Technical College in Waco’s Diesel Equipment Technology program hosted on Feb. 8 a Texas FFA Association Tractor Technician Career Development Event involving seven high school teams from North and Central Texas.

In the Texas FFA Association’s Area 5, Weatherford High School placed first, Denton High School came in second and Aledo High School placed third. Weatherford and Aledo high schools are in Parker County.

Academy High School in Bell County won first place for the association’s Area 8. Frost High School in Navarro County placed second, Teague High School in Freestone County came in third and Ferris High School in Ellis County placed fourth.

The top three teams from each area will compete in a state FFA tractor competition in March at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Teams of three students took a written test, did a parts identification test and troubleshot John Deere and Kubota tractors donated for the competition by Brazos Valley Equipment and Tipton International, both in Waco. Students drove the tractors once the teams found and fixed the problems.

TSTC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program instructors and students created the problems the high school students found in the

tractors and served as contest judges.

John Bufford, 21, a TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology — Off-Highway Specialization major from Cleburne scheduled to graduate in May, said he enjoyed working with the high school students.

“It’s a pretty fun event,” Bufford said. “I was surprised the students came in and started the tractors up.”

John Goebel, a TSTC Diesel Equipment Technology instructor and event organizer, said he wanted the high school students to learn about tractor models and consider the technical college in their academic future. He said several current DET students were in FFA in high school.

TSTC offers Diesel Equipment Technology at the Waco, Fort Bend County, Marshall, North Texas and Sweetwater campuses.

For more on the Texas FFA Association, go to texasffa.org.

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc. edu.

First feral hog toxicant to hit Texas market AUSTIN – Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced a rule change in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) that classifies a warfarin-based hog lure as a state-limited-use pesticide.

The pesticide, “Kaput Feral Hog Lure,” is the first toxicant to be listed specifically for use in controlling the feral hog population and represents a new weapon in the long-standing war on the destructive feral hog population.

“This solution is long overdue. Wild hogs have caused extensive damage to Texas lands and loss of income for many, many years,” Commissioner Miller said. “With the introduction of this first hog lure, the ‘Hog Apocalypse’ may finally be on the horizon.”

Warfarin, an anticoagulant, was used for many years as a feral swine toxicant in Australia. There is a demonstrated need for additional feral hog population control methods in Texas, and the regulatory status under the rule change will ensure safe handling and application of this product. The rule change is supported by the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service.

“By making this a limited use pesticide, we are taking every step possible to ensure this toxicant is used properly and efficiently,” Commissioner Miller said. “Years of work and study have gone into addressing the concerns of hunters and others about this product.”

The manufacturer of the product, Scimetrics Ltd. Corp., has been manufacturing rodent management products for 15 years. Extensive testing of warfarin has been conducted in Texas since 2008. The approval of warfarin for feral hog control is the culmination of over ten years of research between Scimetrics and TDA. This year, the EPA determined the product to be available for general use because of its low toxicity. However, to ensure the proper precautions are taken, the Texas Department of Agriculture has imposed stricter regulations on the product by labeling it for limited use only. State-limiteduse pesticides may only be bought and used by a licensed applicator or someone under the direct supervision of a licensed applicator.

It is estimated that there are

currently over 2 million feral hogs in Texas. Feral hogs can be found in approximately 230 of our 254 counties and cause an estimated $52 million of damage to Texas agricultural enterprises each year, according to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service. The hogs’ rooting and foraging behavior tear up crops and pastures. Seed, labor and crop growth time are just some of the agricultural damage costs associated with feral hog destruction. Hogs have also been known to knock down fences and damage farm equipment and game feeders.

Feral hogs also contribute to loss of wetland habitation, water source contamination and soil erosion due to their extensive wallowing and rooting behavior around water sources. This invasive species will prey on livestock like newborn calves, lambs or goats and have also been known to kill fawns and eat ground-nesting bird eggs and hatchlings such as quail and turkey. Wild hogs will also eat small reptiles, including the endangered Texas horned lizard and, on the Texas coastline, the eggs and hatchlings of endangered sea turtles.

Feral hogs are a continual nuisance for many landowners in both rural and urban settings. Wild pigs have been known to uproot entire city parks and landscape plantings overnight and have been spotted even in densely populated urban areas. Feral hogs crossing high-speed highways cause extensive vehicle damage and life-threating situations in the event of a vehicle wreck as a result of swerving to avoid or actually hitting the hogs.

Wild pigs also carry viruses, parasites and bacteria harmful to humans including swine brucellosis and trichinosis. They are known to carry 30 different diseases and 37 parasites. The more feral hog populations increase and expand, the greater the chances are that they may transmit diseases to other wildlife, livestock, and humans.

Commissioner Miller has informed the legislature that $900,000 in TDA’s budget previously earmarked for feral hog control research will no longer be necessary as a result of this rule change and has asked that the appropriation be removed from the current TDA budget pending before the Legislature.

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

10

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

February-March 2017

The masters demonstrate tree pruning

By Alyssa Massingill Jacksonville Progress

T

he Jacksonville Gardening Club recently hosted a pruning workshop by Cherokee County Master Gardeners, Robert Selman and Craig Caldwell. The workshop covered a variety of pruning techniques, including effective trimming methods and the best time of year to prune fruit trees.

“The best way to prune trees is to make a clean cut from underneath the limb so that way you don’t pull the bark off,” Caldwell said.

Another essential way is to cut at an angle next to the bud, so water will not settle in the cut. If the cut isn’t angled and smooth,

it will rot and be more prone to disease, Selman told those at the workshop. According to Selman, depending on which direction the bud is growing determines which direction the limb will grow. If you don’t want a bud to grow near the house, find a bud that is growing away from the house With most fruit trees, such as peach trees, you want to leave the center of the tree open so the sun can shine through the middle to supply the fruit with sunlight.

It’s best to trim crape myrtle tree limbs if they aren’t touching each other. Roses need to be trimmed at the bud, Selman said.

He added that as long as fruit trees are in a dormant stage, the best time to prune is December through the first week

in March. Winterizing requires thinning limbs that are broken/ damaged or any limbs that are perpendicular to one another, which can leave the tree sparse until it can grow back healthy.

“I know the first year my daddy turned me loose to prune trees he got pretty upset,” Selman said comically, “I cut them back pretty good.”

According to Selman, if a late frost occurs, it’s best to water the fruit on the tree right before the sun shines on it.

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saw or extension chainsaw.

The Master Gardeners offer classes on horticulture and agriculture every Tuesday and Thursday at the Cherokee County Courthouse Annex building.

The annual classes begin Jan. 4 – March.

Registration for the Master Gardeners Spring Conference will begin at noon on March 11 at First Christian Church located at 1920 Beaumont St., Jacksonville.

For more information visit, http://txmg.org/cherokee/

Riding and roping to an education

By Rich Flowers

Landscaping Services, LLC

For winterizing roses, covering them with four to five inches of mulch made of leaves or pine straw will help keep the grass low, the roots warm and the deterioration of the mulch will make good fertilizer, according to Selman. Covering your smaller fruit trees with a net is a great way to prevent birds and squirrels from eating the fruit.

For pruning smaller limbs, Caldwell recommends a tool called an anvil hand pruner; and for larger projects, a larger hand

Y

Athens Daily Review

ou may not think of college life and the rough and tumble sport of rodeo together, but they certainly are linked at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens.

TVCC is a location of choice for some of the top high-school rodeo competitors. Brent Bratton is the TVCC rodeo coach, heading a program that offers students a chance to learn on some top stock, and ride and rope against skilled competition. Cowboys and cowgirls on the team get to further their education while pursuing their life-long love of rodeo.

“It’s great to be a part of this team,” Bratton said. “Our college has as much support as any university. It’s amazing. When we need something, we need it.”

The 2017 rodeo team has 22 members, equally divided between boys and girls. Every one is on scholarship. This past semester, each one passed all their courses.

“Rodeo is such a tough sport,” Bratton said.

“Every day is a new day. It’s just like college.”

TVCC has plenty to offer in its agriculture programs. Rodeo is just one of the facets.

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“We have a college ranch and offer a ranch management degree and an associates degree,” Bratton said.

There are 60 head of cattle at the ranch, with all of the work done by students.

“It’s a hands on education and a state of the art facility,” Bratton said.

The complex has a place for the rodeo students to keep their horses. There is practice stock on location for the rough stock riders.

There are numerous teams that compete in the sport in Texas, both at the junior college level and at the larger four-year schools. The TVCC rodeo athletes will have a chance to test their skills against some of the top competitors in the state.

Bratton said, just like a football player making the move from high school to college, a TVCC rodeo-team member will see a spike in the level of competition.

“It’s a different world,” Bratton said. “I don’t know how to explain it. Some of them are intimidated. Some of them fit right in. It’s just another step in life,” he said.

TVCC competes in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, which has several sanctioned events in Texas each year.

The Association had its beginning in late 1948, when 12 schools came together to discuss a format for intercollegiate rodeo competition.

The first national finals began in 1949. By 1970, there were 116 member schools of which 41 were

two year schools.

In addition, TVCC to competing in 10 rodeos in and around Texas, TVCC hosts its own rodeo each February. The weather is usually pretty cool, although they caught a break this year, with temperatures you’d usually equate with late spring. Twenty-two colleges were part of the competition this year.

Bratton worked in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where he spent 16 years managing broodmares and stallions and breaking colts. That, on top of his years entering college and open rodeos, made him a natural choice to head the rodeo program at TVCC. He’s been pleased to find the level of support the program has gotten from the school and business community.

“When I came here, I just couldn’t believe the money they put into our program,” Bratton said.

Gone Fishing with Jerry Miller

February-March 2017

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

11

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

Top 25 anglers compete for prizes

Last Saturday on Lake Jacksonville a tournament was held for the Top 25 anglers who qualified during the Thursday night tournaments held on Lake Jacksonville in 2016.

Several anglers reported catching good numbers of bass up shallow on spinner and crank baits.

It turned out to be a very windy day.

The surface temperatures soared up into the 60s creating ideal conditions for bass to move shallow.

Some of the larger bass in the four to five-pound range were caught on spinners, green pumpkin jigs and Shakey Heads using a Baby Brush Hog as a trailer.

Anglers who braved fishing the windy banks scored big with numbers of bass. Some reported catching 30 or more bass on fast moving baits. These bass are largely pre-spawn bass that are actively feeding and on the move.

The warmer areas on the north bank usually produce the most bass.

First place winners Kevin and Colton Kadlecek scored the winning string with three bass weighing 10.68

lbs. Their big bass weighed 4.30 pounds and was caught on a Nichols, green pumpkin jig. Kevin reported catching the largest bass about 10 minutes before weigh in. They caught bass from shallow to deep throughout the day. Kevin said, “We caught our first bass right at daylight.”

Second place winners were Chris Fite and Ryan Cannon. They weighed in three bass totaling 10.40 lbs. with a 5-pound kicker bass. They reported catching most of their bass on a 1/2 oz. chartreuse, white spinner bait, brand unknown.

Third place winners were Bill Terry and Dale Meeks, who reported catching three bass totaling 10.06 pounds with a 4.26-pound big bass.

Their largest bass came off of a Shakey Head and a Baby Brush Hog combination.

Each contestant was allowed to

weigh in only three bass. Big bass must measure 18 inches or more in length with two unders permitted.

Thirty-six fishermen weighed in a total of 40 bass.

Andy Vaughan reported that their normal Thursday night tournaments will kick off on the first Thursday in March and will run through the month of October.

It appears that spring fishing has come early to our area. These 25 top anglers caught and released a lot of very active bass on fast moving baits.

I’m sure that the windy conditions and warm temperatures really get the bass active and feeding heavy right before the spawn. All we need is some more warm sunny days to put the bass on the banks.

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

South Central Texas Cattlemen’s Short Course series begins March 8

T

By Blair Fannin

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

he 2017 South Central Texas Cattlemen’s Short Course series will feature market and production information for all beef cattle producers, according to organizers.

The series will be hosted by the beef and forage committees in Brazos, Burleson, Grimes and Washington counties. Cost is $20 for individual classes or $60 per individual and $100 per couple for the series. Organizers request that registration be done three days prior to each event as dinner will be provided.

The first class will be from 6-8 p.m. March 8 at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Brenham. It will feature Dr. Ron Gill, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist, College Station.

Topics include a cattle outlook and update. Attendees will receive one continuing education unit and Beef Quality Assurance credit.  The second class will be held from 6-8 p.m. March 29 in Burleson County and will feature Dr. Joe Paschal, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist from Corpus Christi. Topics covered in this class will be what is needed to be in the cattle business.

The third class will be from 6-8 p.m. April 12 in Brazos County.

In this program, Paschal will discuss how to be profitable in the beef cattle business.

The final class on April 26 will be a multi-county beef tour of Brazos, Burleson, Grimes and Washington counties with live demonstrations of facilities and equipment.

“This unique series was designed with cattle producers in mind, and addresses many of the comments that were provided from attendees following the 2016 South Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic in Brenham last October,” said Kara Matheney, AgriLife Extension agent for Washington County. “Each session will address a specific topic focused on managing cattle for sustainability and profitability.

Credits will be offered for pesticide applicators and for anyone seeking beef quality assurance credits as well. This is a series that doesn’t come around often, so we encourage you to mark your calendars and join us.”

For more information and to register, call the AgriLife Extension office in Washington County at 979-277-6223; in Brazos County at 979-823-0129; in Burleson County at 979-567-2308; or Grimes County at 936-873-3907.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin

The 2017 South Central Texas Cattlemen’s Short Course series will feature market and production information for all beef cattle producers, according to organizers.

QuailMasters 2017 registration moved up a month

By Steve Byrns

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

T

he QuailMasters 2017 workshop registration deadline has been moved up a month to March 10 and the sessions and locations are secured, said Dr. Dale Rollins, statewide coordinator for Texas A&M AgriLife’s Reversing the Decline of Quail Initiative at San Angelo.

The workshop series, cosponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas Wildlife Association, starts in late March and ends in August.

Rollins said QuailMasters is a series of intensive, hands-on training sessions designed to introduce participants to the best quail habitat in Texas and in so doing, make them “masters”of the art and science of quail management.

“The main goal is to enhance the participants’ decision-making skills relative to the three phases of quail management, which are habitat, quail populations and people,” he said.

Participants who Rollins said would benefit from the series include landowners, managers, hunters, quail enthusiasts, consultants, AgriLife Extension agents, wildlife biologists and college students. Those who sign up are expected to attend all four sessions.

The sessions are: – Session I; March 26-28, Sweetwater and Roby.

– Session II; April 30-May 2, Hebbronville.

– Session III; June 4-6, Vernon.

– Session IV; Aug. 14-16, Abilene.

The series is limited to 35 participants.

Three hours of graduate college credit are available for an additional charge through Texas A&M University’s wildlife and fisheries sciences department.

For more information or to register, contact Clinton Faas, Texas Wildlife Association director of conservation programs in Victoria, at 800893-9453 or cfaas@texas-wildlife. org; Amanda Gobeli, AgriLife Extension wildlife and fisheries science associate in San Angelo, at 720-333-6224 or agobeli@ tamu.edu; or Rollins at 325-6534576 or d-rollins@tamu.edu.

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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February-March 2017

The Crawfish Man

Center’s Robison answers the call for live bait

By Matt Williams

Outdoors Writer Photos by Matt Williams

W

hite bass will hit a variety of baits ranging from small spinners, crankbaits and Roadrunners, but there are times when nothing answers the call better than live crawfish.

Problem is, the little crustaceans can be tough to find and real pain to catch in sufficient numbers one you do. I’ve

seined for crawfish in shallow sloughs and old borrow ditches over the years, but I’d gladly pay Tommy and Nelda Robison a few bucks to save the trouble.

Robison, 80, is a retired taxidermist and fishing guide from Center who still enjoys wetting a hook for white bass every once in a while. He also enjoys raising a few crawfish on the side and selling them to the public for use as bait.

The Robisons raise the crawfish in two small ponds outside their home in rural Shelby County. They applied rotenone to

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both ponds kill out any kind of aquatic life and then stocked the ponds with what he calls “white river crawfish.”

The crawfish reproduce each year and the little ones merge from their underground burrows in early spring to move to open water. Robison catches them by staging wire bream traps around the edges of the ponds. The traps are baited with dog food to lure the crawfish in.

“It’s a little slow right now, but once it warms up the traps will catch pretty good,” Robison said. “The white bass love

them. Crawfish that are 1-2 inches long are ideal.”

The crawfish can be used Carolina rigged on a gold aberdeen crappie hook and fished on bottom, or you can pinch the tail off and thread it on behind a Roadrunner or jig head.

Robison sells the crawfish for $2 per dozen. “That’s the same price we’ve been charging since we started 20 years ago,” he said.

You can reach Robison at 936-5982885.

February-March 2017

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

13

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

Bass for Cash Multi-month tournaments offer anglers shots at tagged fish worth big cash from spring through summer

by Matt Williams

I

Outdoors Writer

f you are headed to Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend to fish for bass in coming weeks it might be wise to ante up for the BassCashBash before the first cast is made. Otherwise, it could cost you some serious bonus bucks. Possibly even a boat or a truck.

BassCashBash is a multimonth tournament that pays out big prize money and/or merchandise to pre-registered anglers who reel in tagged bass at any time during the designated tournament time frame. Tags must then be presented within 24 hours at any number of lakeside businesses and nearby tackle shops that are listed as official check stations. The money fish are easily identifiable because they are wearing colorful plastic tags on their backs, near their dorsal fins.

The tournament is currently underway on Sam Rayburn and runs through April 30. BCB 2017 gets underway on May 1 on Toledo Bend and runs through Sept. 4. Both tournaments last for four months and offer $400,000 each in cash and prizes.

According to BCB founder P.D. Vinson, 202 bass were tagged and released into Sam Rayburn before the 120-day tournament got underway on Jan. 1.

According the contest’s website, basscashbash.com, 200 of the bass are worth $1,000 each, plus an additional $500 if the person who turns in the tag is the owner of a bonus money T-shirt or cap.

The remaining two fish are wearing tags that are even more valuable. One is a worth a fullyrigged Phoenix bass boat; the other, a Dodge pick-up.

On Toledo Bend, 100 bass worth $1,000 will be tagged and released along with two others for a boat and truck.

Additionally, every contestant who lands and checks in a bass weighing 10 or more pounds on Toledo Bend will win at least $1,000. The biggest bass of the “lunker” division will be worth $5,000; 2nd, $2,000; and 3rd through 100th place overall, $1,000.

As earlier mentioned, the contests are open to anyone. But there is a catch.

In order to be eligible to win prizes, anglers must be preregistered in the tournament before they reel in the fish.

The tournament entry costs $50 for adults, $30 for youths 15 and under. Bonus T-shirts and caps cost $20 for adults.

“It just doesn’t make sense to go fishing at either one of these lakes and not be pre-registered ahead of time,” Vinson said. “It could cost you dearly. Most guys will spend $50 on snacks and

Courtesy Photo

Pre-registered anglers who catch bass wearing plastic tags like this one on lakes Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend can redeem the tags for all sorts of prizes including cash, boats and trucks. The BassCashBash tournament runs through April 30 on Sam Rayburn and May 1 - Sept. 4 on Toledo Bend.

“Right now, 197 of the tagged bass are still out there,” Vinson said. “Some of the fish were caught, tagged and released in deep water and some at midrange and shallow depths. We did it that way so everyone would have a shot, regardless of where they like to fish. Fish were caught, tagged and released all over the lake.”

Vinson said two of the $1,000 fish were caught on the same day by the same angler, Henry Sargent of Etoile. Two more were caught by high school anglers competing in the SETX High School bass on Feb. 4.

One of them was a 10.57 pound “bounty” fish caught by Bryson Gore of Silsbee.

Not every story anglers catching tagged fish have had happy endings. Just ask University of Louisiana Monroe angler Tyler Craig.

In January, Craig and his team partner, Spencer Lambert, were practicing for a collegiate event when Craig caught a fivepound bass that was wearing a tag. Craig, who wasn’t entered in BashCashBash at the time, released the fish with the tag still in place. With several days still left to fish, he registered for the contest later that night.

Courtesy Photo The following day, when the Henry Sargent of Etoile reeled in two BassCashBash bass at Sam Rayburn on the same tournament was underway, the two anglers returned to the same day. The fish were worth $1,000 apiece. extra baits before they go fishing.”

Vinson says failing to preregister has already cost a dozenor-so anglers at least $1,000 each.

As of Feb. 9, he knew of 17 bass prize bass that had been caught at Sam Rayburn, but only five were caught by pre-registered anglers.

fishing spot and Craig caught another tagged bass. This one was placed in the livewell as part of their five-fish limit.

As the day progressed, the anglers caught several more bass and eventually had to cull the tagged fish in order to make room for a larger one. In the heat of the moment, Lambert removed the tagged bass from the livewell and tossed it back into the lake without thinking to remove the tag first.

Translation: Two days, two tagged fish and $2,000 - possibly more - straight down the tubes.

Vinson pointed out that it is not necessary to bring the fish to the check-in station if you catch one that is tagged. All you need is the tag. Just clip tag off and put it in a safe place until you can get to one of more than two dozen check-in/registration points listed on the contest website.

Anglers who catch tagged fish but are not entered in the event are encouraged to release the fish so registered anglers can have a chance to catch it.

Registration can be completed at any of the registration sites or online at basscashbash.com.

Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches.

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

UPCOMING EVENTS Nacogdoches:

March 15 - April 15: Nacogdoches Azalea Trails / Tour Texas Largest Azalea Garden. Take in 25 miles of Azalea Trails through beautifully manicured residential and historic districts. With over 7,000 azaleas, Nacogdoches is the home of the largest azalea garden in Texas, the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden located on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University. For more details contact Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, 936564-7351, Toll Free: 888-564-7351 or visit info@ visitnacogdoches.org

Jacksonville:

March 22: Mud Nationals. Located at Mud Creek Off-Road Park. Call for details: 855-864-3509 or visit atvmudnationals.com for details.

palestine:

March 24th-26th, March 31st - April 2nd, April 7th-9th: 79th Annual Dogwood Trails Celebration.

Enjoy the delicate beauty of the dogwood trees in Davey Dogwood Park and the surrounding area. Activities are scheduled each weekend to compliment the Celebration, including the Dogwood Trails Festival, the first weekend. Don’t miss the Piney Woods Excursion and Dogwood Brunch Train at the Texas State Railroad, the Dulcimer Festival, the Main Street Farm & Flower Market, a play at the historic Texas Theatre & much more. Contact the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce at 903-7296066 or go to visitpalestine.com

Tyler:

March 24 - April 9: Tyler Azalea and Spring Flower Show. We invite you to enjoy the vivid colors and sweet scents that only an East Texas Spring can provide. Make plans to take in the special Azalea and Spring Flower Trail events. For more information please call 800-235-5712 or go to visittyler.com

Athens:

March 30th: Henderson County Master Gardeners present: “Wicked Plants” by Amy Stewart. A New York Times bestseller. The Weed That Killed Lincoln’s Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities, Amy Stewart takes on Mother Nature’s most appalling creations.

Drawing on history, medicine, science, and legend, Stewart presents tales of bloodcurdling botany that will entertain, alarm, and enlighten even the most intrepid gardeners and nature lovers. Find out which plant killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother, which shrub ignited a global war, and what plant has killed 90 million people. From strychnine to castor bean, from poison sumac to monkshood, from carnivorous plants to weeds that spontaneously combust. Enjoy dazzling photographs, historical images, copper engravings, and other visuals as illustrations. Join us at the Hart-Morris Conservation Center, 5601 CR 4812 (also signed Peninsula Point Road), Athens.

Doors open at 5:30pm, Program begins 6:00pm.

Tickets are $25.00 per person and include dinner.

Seating is limited. Tickets may be purchased from any Henderson County Master Gardener, by calling 903-675-6130 or emailing HendersonCMGA@gmail. com.

INVENTORY CLEARANCE SALE! With the passing of Mr. Wallace, THE BUSINESS IS FOR SALE Lots of Farming Equipment Hay Forks & Spikes Disc Harrow Weights Cutters • Box Blades • Farm Blades Post Hold Diggers & Much More Farmalls - Cubs, 140’s & Super A’s Fords - 8N’s & 2,000 Only 2 Cutters Left, Make an Offer!

Lot’s of Planter Parts.

ONCE IT’S GONE, IT’S GONE!!

Wallace Garden Center & Equipment Call Brenda at 936-544-2127 or come by!

1800 Loop 304 / Crockett, TX (Across from Houston County Electric Coop)

February-March 2017

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

14

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

From Scratch with Love

Slow Cooker Braised Lemongrass Pork Chops

Total time: 20 minutes (plus six hours in a crock pot) makes 4 servings In this easy crockpot recipe, thick pork chops braise for hours in a delicious Asian sauce of chicken broth, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, garlic, shallots, lemongrass, and black pepper, blended smooth. After 6 hours in the slow cooker, the pork chops emerge tender, savory, and richly flavored. Serve this easy, set-it-up-and-forget-about-it dish with basic steamed white rice for a simple meal or with green beans and Jasmine rice for a bit more sophistication.

Ingredients

• 1 cup low-sodium chicken or beef broth • 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce • 3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce • 1⁄4 cup packed light brown sugar • 6 cloves garlic • 3 shallots, chopped

• 2 stalks lemongrass, tender bulb part only, trimmed, tough outer layers discarded, and chopped • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 4 bone-in center-cut pork chops, each about 1 inch thick • 2 green onions, finely chopped, for garnishing

Instructions

1. In a blender, blend together the broth, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, garlic, shallots, lemongrass, and pepper.

2. Put the chops into the slow cooker, pour over the lemongrass mixture, cover, and cook on the low-heat setting for 6 hours. The chops should be very tender.

3. Transfer the pork chops to a warm plate. Using a large metal spoon, skim off and discard any fat from the surface of the cooking liquid. Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a saucepan. Place it over medium heat and simmer until slightly thickened.

4. Serve the pork chops with the sauce, garnished with the green onions.

Recipe courtesy of Kim Laidlaw via Chowhound

East tExas stock PricEs ANDERSON COUNTY LIVESTOCK

EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC.

Updated: 02/15/2017 Head Count: 408 Buyers: 45 Sellers: 38

Updated: 02/14/2017 Cows: 82 Bulls: 12 Buyers: 30 Sellers: 90

STEERS

STEERS

200lb - 300lb

1.40

2.00

300-DOWN

$119

$230

300lb - 400lb

1.27

1.80

305lb - 400lb

$117

$202

400lb - 500lb

1.20

1.50

405lb - 500lb

$110

$164

500lb - 600lb

1.10

1.48

505lb - 600lb

$101

$147

600lb - 700lb

1.05

1.45

605lb - 800lb

$98

$142

700lb - 800lb

0.90

1.22

200lb - 300lb

1.30

1.65

300-DOWN

$105

$215

300lb - 400lb

1.20

1.40

305lb - 400lb

$100

$160

400lb - 500lb

1.10

1.39

405lb - 500lb

$92

$150

500lb - 600lb

1.00

1.37

505lb - 600lb

$85

$131

600lb - 700lb

0.95

1.21

605lb - 800lb

$83

$123

700lb - 800lb

0.80

1.09

HEIFERS

HEIFERS

SLAUGHTER

SLAUGHTER

Cows

0.45

0.65

Cows

$41

$68

Bulls

0.75

0.90

Bulls

$75

$84

PAIRS

$950

$1925

PAIRS

STOCKER COWS GOATS

$650hd

$1700hd

$45hd

$200hd

TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 02/18/2017 Head Count: 525

STEERS

BRED COWS

NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

Updated: 02/16/2017 Head Count: 354 Buyers: 47 Sellers: 77

STEERS

$1650

$725

$1350

ATHENS COMMISSION COMPANY

Updated: 01/30/2017 Head Count: 646

STEERS

$1050

Updated: 02/17/2017 Head Count: 562 Sellers: 121

STEERS

UNDER 300lb

1.60

2.25

UNDER 300lb

1.40

2.15

200lb - 299lb

1.20

2.10

300-DOWN

0.80

2.25

300lb - 400lb

1.55

2.05

300lb - 400lb

1.27

1.85

300lb - 399lb

1.24

1.90

300lb - 400lb

0.80

2.10

400lb - 500lb

1.45

1.65

400lb - 500lb

1.10

1.75

400lb - 499lb

1.10

1.63

400lb - 500lb

0.80

1.85

500lb - 600lb

1.25

1.50

500lb - UP

0.95

1.55

500lb - 599lb

1.13

1.52

500lb - UP

0.80

1.70

600lb - 700lb

1.1

1.47

600lb - 700lb

NA

NA

600lb - 699lb

1.10

1.45

HEIFERS

700lb - 800lb

1.00

1.30

HEIFERS

700lb - 899lb

0.90

1.10

300-DOWN

0.80

2.00

UNDER 300lb

1.25

1.95

HEIFERS

300lb - 400lb

0.80

1.80

UNDER 300lb

1.50

2.10

300lb - 400lb

1.15

1.58

200lb - 299lb

1.40

1.65

400lb - 500lb

0.80

1.70

300lb - 400lb

1.40

1.50

400lb - 500lb

1.00

1.57

300lb - 399lb

1.15

1.55

500lb - UP

0.80

1.60

400lb - 500lb

1.15

1.40

500lb - UP

0.90

1.50

400lb - 499lb

1.10

1.50

SLAUGHTER

500lb - 600lb

1.10

1.95

600lb - 700lb

NA

NA

500lb - 599lb

1.09

1.27

Cows

0.55

0.74

600lb - 700lb

1.00

1.28

SLAUGHTER

600lb - 699lb

1.00

1.21

Heavy Bulls

0.70

0.88

700lb - 800lb

1.00

1.07

Cows

0.90

1.08

PAIRS

Cows

0.40

0.70

Heavy Bulls

0.80

0.91

STOCKER COWS

HEIFERS

SLAUGHTER

PAIRS STOCKER COWS BABY CALVES

$1250 $850hd $100

$1400

0.45

0.72

700lb - 899lb

Bulls

0.75

0.92

SLAUGHTER

PAIRS

$875

$1700

Cows

0.38

0.71

Low-Middle

Bulls

0.71

0.85

PAIRS

$900

$1,575

GOATS

$1250hd

BABY CALVES

$175

HORSES

$675hd

$1600hd

$25hd

$150hd

$45

$250

STOCKER COWS

$0.25

$0.35

BABY CALVES

Top

$550hd $75

$1250

$1600

$750

$1250

STOCKER COWS

0.70lb

1.60lb

GOATS

$25hd

$150hd

$1450hd

BABY CALVES

$20hd

$350hd

$110

HORSES

$50hd

$750hd

February-March 2017

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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

OUTDOOR BRIEFS High schoolers reel in big league sacks

Clayton Ramsey and Zane Brown of Navasota weighed in 20 pounds to top 131 teams in the Texas High School Bass Association’s Houston Division event held Feb. 4 on Lake Conroe.

Second went to Dylan Nance/Ryan Stimmel of Magnolia, 15.91; 3rd, Tyler Funderburg/Kale Zastrpow, Montgomery, 15.62; 4th, Mallory Rhodes/Katlin Smith, Montgomery, 12.36; 5th, Tony Fazzio/ Justin Noe, College Park, 11.49; 6th Dylan Dunn, Montgomery, 11.27….

In the SETX league, Kyler Kirkland and Ashton Granger grabbed first among 515 teams at Sam Rayburn on Feb. 4 with 18.73 pounds. Daren Drew of West Sabine took second, 17.79; Remington Boykin/ Jace Bridges, Lumberton, 3rd, 17.30; Brennan Davis/Bret Herrin, Kirbyville, 4th, 16.87; Kyler Morse, Bridge City, 5th, 16.08; Emily Hamilton/Robby Hughes, Huntington, 15.98, 6th.

Jones, Combs odds-on Bassmaster picks to win Conroe ‘Classic Pro bass fishing pundits at Bassmaster. com recently released their odds-on favorites to win the upcoming Bassmaster Classic set for March 24-26 on Lake Conroe. Not surprisingly, there are a number of heavy hitters with Texas addresses at the top of the list.

More than four dozen of the best anglers in America will make the trip to pro bass fishing’s big show next month and Bassmaster is giving Alton Jones of Lorena the best odds of winning it at 2:1. The pick is based largely on the fact that Jones already has a ‘Classic win under his belt, so he knows how to deal with pressure. He also got high marks for his ability to find and catch spawning fish in off-color water.

Plus, he will have the luxury of sharing info with his son, Alton, Jr., who will be competing in his first ‘Classic, Bassmaster says.

The No. 2 pick, Keith Combs of Huntington, certainly doesn’t come as a

surprise. He’s one of the most consistent anglers on tour and he’s got a super-rich history on Conroe having already won two Toyota Texas Bass Classics there in 2011 and 2013.

“But he’s quick to admit that he’s best when the fish are deep, and this isn’t setting up to be that kind of tournament,” according to Bassmaster.com. “Spectator boats may also be an issue for him, especially on a small lake.” Combs gets 3:1 odds.

Louisiana’s Greg Hackney trails Combs at 4:1 odds and is followed by another native Texan, Todd Faircloth of Jasper.

The likable Skeeter pro has 14 previous ‘Classic appearances and seven Top 10 finishes, six of them coming in his last seven appearances. Recognized as one of the most versatile anglers on tour who can catch ‘em shallow or deep, Faircloth gets 5:1 odds from Bassmaster.

Two more Texans will compete in the upcoming Bassmaster Classic - Texas’ first since 1979 when Hank Parker won it on Lake Texoma in Pottsboro.

Among them are Takahiro Omori of Emory, 10:1 odds; and Alton Jones, Jr. of Lorena, 50:1.

Daily takeoffs for the ‘Classic will begin at 7:20 at Lake Conroe Park. Afternoon weigh-ins will be held at Minute Maid Park near downtown Houston. For more information and updates, see bassmaster. com.

Wilson, Lohr crush 36.11 on TBend Kris Wilson of Montgomery and Bryan Lohr of Lumberton reeled in a whopper 36.11 pound bag to top the a record field of 312 boats in the Bass Champs eastern event held Feb. 11 on Toledo Bend. That’s an average weight just over seven pound per fish! They won $20,000 Naturally, Wilson and Lohr didn’t divulge many details about how they caught their fish, or where, because they had another big tournament on the same lake the following weekend. By the looks of the bellies on the fish they were all pre-spawn bookends, likely caught around staging areas at mid-range depths.

“We caught ‘em off two different spots and probably had 30 pounds by 8:30,” Wilson said. “We ended up culling two six pounders for two sevens at around noon and we culled five six pounders throughout the day.”

Wilson/Lohr weren’t the only team to

crack 30 pounds. Ben and Bryan South of Jasper caught 32.21 to take second place, $6,500. Sean Kennon of Dequincy, La. and Jordon Hollingsworth of Vinton, La., weighed in a 25.58 pound limit worth $5,000. Other teams weighed in 20 additional sacks over the 20 pound mark.

Big bass of the event was a 10.71 caught by Lynn Adkinson and Frank Polley.

ShareLunker reported at Marine Creek

The Toyota ShareLunker program ended a season-long dry spell on Feb. 10, when Ryder Wicker caught a 13.07 pounder at Marine Creek Reservoir near Ft. Worth.

The bass, reportedly caught on a jerk bait in 10 feet of water, is a new lake record for the 250-acre reservoir.

While evaluating the bass, fisheries biologists discovered that it had previously been outfitted with an internal PIT tag.

The tags can be detected by a special scanning device sometimes referred to as a “wand”. PIT tags are sometimes installed in stocked or released fish for identification purposes later on.

Biologists believe the big bass may be one of the ShareLunker offspring that were stocked into the lake 11 years ago as part of study to try to determine whether ShareLunker offspring grow faster than fish spawned in the wild.

Scientists are awaiting genetics testing to determine parentage as well as the date and location where it was originally stocked.

Toyota ShareLunker will continue accepting entries through April 30, but only those fish collected through March 31 will be transported to the TFFC for spawning.

Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center to host 17th Annual Fly Fish Texas March 11 Fly Fish Texas is back for the 17th year with a jam-packed day of activities, classes, demonstrations and vendors 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. And it’s all free with the cost of admission to the TFFC.

Pineco Inc.

15

Fly Fish Texas will feature more than a dozen classes and demonstrations geared toward everyone from the beginner fly-fisher to the experienced angler, all taught by professional guides, instructors and competitors. For those just getting started in the art of fly-fishing, classes include fly-fishing 101, all-day casting instruction, beginning fly-tying classes and caring for fly-fishing equipment. For more experienced anglers, instructors will be teaching classes on how to fly-fish the Llano River and Lake Athens, how to cast for common carp, and how to do single and double hand spey casting.

Loaner equipment will be available for anglers to test their fly-fishing skills and cast for rainbow trout all day in several stocked ponds and streams at the TFFC. More than 1,000 rainbow trout will be stocked on-site for the event in Lake Zebco, the 1.2 acre fishing pond; in the ponds located along the 0.8 mile wetlands trail; and in the 1.5 acre casting pond, which features a dedicated fly-fishing pavilion.

“At Fly Fish Texas, everybody has the chance to catch their first trout on a fly rod,” said Walter McClendon, Fly Fish Texas co-coordinator. “The fish in the ponds are hungry and there are plenty in there. Giving people an opportunity to land their first catch is a really important part of the event.”

After learning to tie a fly, cast a fly, and catch a fish anglers can check out the rest of the fun and educational features the TFFC has to offer, including the daily dive show at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., a tram tour of the hatchery, and over 300,000 gallons of indoor and outdoor aquariums displaying dozens of species of native fish, waterfowl, alligators and amphibians in recreated habitats.

The TFFC in Athens is located about an hour drive from Tyler and Dallas and less than two hours from Fort Worth and Waco.

For maps, admission information, and a complete schedule of the day’s activities visit TFFC online. For updates, photos and instructor information, follow TFFC on Facebook and TPWD Fishing on Twitter.

Fly Fish Texas is sponsored by the Dallas Fly Fishers, Temple Fork Outfitters, Orvis – Dallas, Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites – Athens, Friends of TFFC, Danny’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, First State Bank and Red Hat Rentals.

$0 Down, 0% Interest, 0 Payments until 4/1/2017

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

077212170296091

February-March 2017

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

16

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

John Deere program hosts open house Staff Reports

Corsicana Daily Sun

I

n today’s highly technologically-based job market, hands-on training and on-the-job experiences are important for today’s potential job candidates. John Deere has a program that partners with John Deere Dealers and 21 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada.

Navarro College in Corsicana is a partnership school.

Navarro College will host its open house from

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 9, 2017 and any interested high school students are invited. The open house will provide information about the program and its opportunities for students who enroll.

Upperclassmen who are interested in Agriculture Mechanization and possible job opportunities with a John Deere Dealership are encouraged to attend.

The John Deere Company is committed to training and is excited about the opportunities the John Deere TECH program presents to today’s

John Deere TECH Open House 3200 W. Seventh Ave. Corsicana, Texas 75110 Time/Date: 10AM - 2PM, March 9, 2017 RSVP: john.dawley@navarrocollege.edu 903-875-7621 Deadline to RSVP: March 1, 2017

youth. The JD TECH program addresses the full range of technological advances in agricultural mechanization, focusing on the entire John Deere product line. Students learn about diesel engine systems, power trains, hydraulics, machine setup and adjustment, as well as AMS, electronics, schematics, and John Deere’s diagnostic computer software; Service ADVISOR. Students learn in an environment that stresses a balanced rotation of classroom theory and hands-on labs. After completing the two -year

program, the student will be awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree and have an opportunity to leave the program with their John Deere hydraulic, electrical and Service ADVISOR certifications in hand, the John Deere Core Certifications that are required for employment.

Other certifications are also awarded as earned.

Navarro College invites you to be a part of this innovative program.

About John Deere TECH The Navarro College John Deere TECH Program is designed to help upgrade the skill level of new John Deere service technicians and help prepare them for a career opportunity in a field with excellent employment opportunities.

Students can be prepared through the John Deere TECH program to work on today’s and tomorrow’s equipment as they learn to cope with technological advancements in the farm equipment industry. Students successfully completing the program will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science Degree. The curriculum is designed by John Deere and Navarro College to focus on the entire line of John Deere products.

The goal is to help provide the student with the experience in hydraulics, electrical engines, power trains, air conditioning, machine setup and adjustment, and the computerassisted resource material used in the entire John Deere service network. This training will be accomplished by rotating the learning experiences between the classroom and wellequipped, hands-on labs.

Students in the program will also work at a John Deere dealership during summer and winter holidays as part of their training.

Moving e r ’ e W Ya’ll Scootin’ Our Boots to the Palestine Plaza

We should be in our new location the first week in March

2000 Crockett Road Between Dollar Tree & Pet Sense We’ll still be open in

Downtown Palestine until our move is complete

306 Sycamore Street

Dare to live the code.

306 N. Sycamore • Palestine 400 E Hwy 243 Ste 18 • Canton 903-480-9985

Mon. - Fri. 10am - 7pm Saturday 10am - 6pm www.codewestern.com