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1 T E N N E S S E E FA R M B U R E AU N E W S Volume 85 Number 1 ISSN January 2006 Upchurch 7th TFBF president Cumberland County beef producer succeeds Barker; Rochelle is vice president Meth fighter - Gov. Phil Bredesen launches the Meth Destroys public information campaign aimed at reducing the use and manufacture of methamphetamine, a homemade illegal drug often referred to as hillbilly heroine. Farm Bureau backs state s Meth Destroys campaign The Tennessee Farm Bureau is supporting a statewide effort to educate people about the dangers of the illegal drug methamphetamine. The Meth Destroys campaign will help fight the manufacture and use of methamphetamines by carrying a message to youth, communities, and businesses about the dangers of the drug. Representatives of TFBF joined Gov. Phil Bredesen at Hendersonville s Merrol Hyde Magnet School to launch the campaign, which is funded by a grant from the governor s office and led by the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. The education campaign was recommended in last fall s final report from the Governor s Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse. Tennessee s methamphetamine problem is a statewide issue and affects much more than just the user, Bredesen said. It is a critical time to educate Tennesseans about the effects of the drug not just on individuals, but also on their families, neighborhoods and communities. The Meth Destroys educational campaign will play a key role in preventing additional people from trying meth. The district attorneys are leading the fight against methamphetamine abuse on a daily basis and will now have additional resources for meth education. A special target of the campaign is the state s young people, particularly middle and high school students. Dan Alsobrooks, attorney general of the 23rd District in Charlotte, has been leading the effort. Meth destroys lives, families, and communities. We are fighting hard against meth by seizing labs and prosecuting violators. We need the help of the entire community. The more people we convince to join the fight the safer our state will be from this threat, said Alsobrooks. The yearlong education campaign will include: A Meth Destroys Web site at www. MethFreeTN.org has educational resources, help referrals, localized information about the campaign, news articles about meth in Tennessee, Continued on page 2 In the 84 years of its existence, the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation has only had six state presidents. That was until December 6 when Tennessee Farm Bureau delegates attending their 84th Annual Convention at Franklin s Cool Springs Marriott elected a new president, as well as a new vice-president of the nation s largest state Farm Bureau organization. Cumberland County beef farmer Lacy Upchurch was elected by the voting delegate body to serve as the seventh president of the 608,251 family members Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. Upchurch replaces Sequatchie County dairyman Flavius Barker who has served as the organization s chief officer for the past ten years. Barker announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection and would Lacy Upchurch return to his farm near Dunlap. He plans to resume farming with his sons, who have operated the Barker farm since 1995 when Barker was elected president and moved to Columbia to head up the Farm Bureau s state organization. Upchurch has served as the organization s vice-president since 2000 when he was elected to that office by the Farm Bureau s county leadership statewide. He began his service on the state board in 1995 representing the Upper Cumberland area of the state. He has headed up numerous committees at the state level as well as being his county s president for many years. Upon the announcement of his unanimous Continued on page 2 Food Check-Out Week is Jan Feb. 4. See page 24.

2 2 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 T E N N E S S E E FA R M B U R E AU N E W S ISSN USPS PETTUS READ, Editor LEE MADDOX, Assistant Editor STACEY WARNER, Advertising Manager P.O. Box 313 Columbia, Tennessee (931) Issued bi-monthly by the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation located at 147 Bear Creek Pike, Columbia, Tennessee Non-profit periodical postage paid at Columbia, TN and additional entry offices. Postmaster: send address corrections to: Tennessee Farm Bureau News Editorial and Executive Offices, P.O. Box 313, Columbia, TN Subscription Rates For Farm Bureau Members included in dues $1.00 per year. Advertising Policy All advertising accepted is subject to publisher s approval. Advertisers must assume all liability for content of their advertising. Publisher maintains right to cancel advertising for non-payment or reader complaint about advertiser service or product. Publisher does not accept perorder, political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in The Tennessee Farm Bureau News. Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors Lacy Upchurch, President, Crossville Danny Rochelle, Vice President, Nunnelly Directors-at-Large Jeff Aiken, Telford; Charles Hancock, Bumpus Mills; Linda Davis, Rutherford District Directors Malcolm Burchfiel, Newbern; Bob Willis, Hillsboro; Eric Mayberry, Hurricane Mills; Dan Hancock, Smithville; David Mitchell, Blaine; Mrs. Joan Fussell, State FB Women s Chairman, Erin Advisory Directors Eric Maupin, State YF&R Chairman, Dyersburg; Buddy Mitchell, UT - Knoxville Other Officers and Staff Personnel Julius Johnson, Chief Administrative Officer; Wayne Harris, Treasurer; Tim Dodd, Comptroller Departments Communications: Pettus Read, Director; Lee Maddox, Associate Director Public Affairs: Rhedona Rose, Director; Stephan Maupin, Associate Director Special Programs: Charles Curtis, Director; Chris Fleming, Associate Director, AITC; Kristy Taylor, Assistant Director, AITC Organization: Bobby Beets, Director; Bryan Wright, Associate Director Program Development: Tim Dodd, Director Commodity Activities: Joe Pearson, Director; John Woolfolk, Associate Director Regional Field Service Directors: Joe McKinnon, Bolivar; Hugh Adams, Dresden; Melissa Bryant, Adams; Ken Purser, Dayton; Jim Bell, Morristown; Eddie Clark, Cookeville Service Companies Tennessee Farmers Insurance Companies: Matthew M. (Sonny) Scoggins, CEO Tennessee Rural Health Improvement Association: Lonnie Roberts, CEO Farmers Service, Inc.: Tim Dodd, Director Tennessee Livestock Producers, Inc.: Darrell Ailshie, Manager Upchurch Starts on page 1 election by the voting delegates during the TFBF annual business meeting, Upchurch told the group, I cannot replace Mr. Barker. You can look the world over and you will not find another Mr. Barker. But, I can promise you I will embrace his philosophy, his goal for this organization to move forward. I will try to do the best I can. That is all I can promise. The new seventh president of the TFBF is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, receiving his BS and masters degree in animal science. After graduation, he began his agricultural career with the UT Extension Service as a county agent in Madison and Cumberland Counties. He left the extension program to become a full-time farmer and began a successful swine operation. Upchurch later moved more into beef cattle production and currently is one of the county s major producers. He is a native of Fentress County. Upchurch and his wife Kay farm near Crossville and have three children. Elected to the office of vice-president by the delegates was Danny Rochelle of Hickman County. Rochelle has served on the TFBF board since December of 1995, representing the Middle Tennessee area of the state. He received high honors as a graduate of UT Martin and after graduation he returned home to farm. He has Danny Rochelle Anti-meth been a full-time farmer all of his life, working in partnership with his father in his earlier years, and now operates a successful 900 acre farming operation in a bend of the Duck River. He later moved more into beef cattle production and a row crop farming operation. He has also been involved in tobacco production as well which has become somewhat of a family project with the help of his children. Starts on page 1 and materials, TV spots and radio PSAs available to download. Brochures and posters to be distributed to schools, health departments, law enforcement agencies and other state and local organizations. A 20-minute DVD that explores the meth problem and shares the stories of four former Tennessee meth addicts. TV spots and radio PSAs featuring Tennesseans affected by methamphetamine abuse will soon be broadcast across the state. Billboards are also in development. Bumper stickers for Tennessee law enforcement agencies. Window decals for members of the Antimeth Task Force. A statewide Youth Advisory Council to be formed with high school students to educate others in their area about meth. Additional educational materials, including an adult booklet. Targeted fliers. All Meth Destroys campaign materials feature images and stories of Tennessee meth users. The pictures depict the serious effects of a very dangerous drug. Rochelle has served on numerous committees at the state level as well as being his county s president. He is a former State Young Farmer & Rancher President and was a state winner in the Tennessee Farm Bureau s Young Farmer of the year contest in He and his wife Cheryl have two children. The Rochelles are active members of the Nunnelly church of Christ. The newest member of the state board is Eric Mayberry who is a Humphreys County cattle and row crop farmer. Mayberry was elected to fill the position vacated by Rochelle. He has been president of the Humphreys County Farm Bureau since January He and his wife, Lynn, who serves as Farm Bureau Women s Chairman in their county, have three children. Others re-elected to the board of directors by Eric Mayberry the voting delegates were: Jeff Aiken from Telford, Charles Hancock, from Bumpus Mills, Linda Davis from Rutherford, Malcolm Burchfiel from Newbern, Bob Willis from Hillsboro, Dan Hancock from Smithville, David Mitchell from Blaine and Mrs. Joan Fussell, State FB Women s Chairman from Erin. Also during the annual meeting, Eric Maupin of Dyersburg was selected as the new state Young Farmer and Rancher president for Expanded convention coverage: Photo essays, pages 3, 12, 13 Breakout report, page 3 Distinguished leaders, page 8 YF&R news, page 9 Other orgainzations supporting the campaign include: Tennessee Bankers Association, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee Hospital Association, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Girl Scout Council of Cumberland Valley, Tennessee 4-H, Tennessee National Guard Counterdrug Division, South/East Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force, Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and Other Addiction Services, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions Across Tennessee, Outdoor Advertising Association of Tennessee, Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Sheriffs Association, Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee Department of Children s Services, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. For more information about the Meth Destroys campaign or to request brochures, posters or the DVD, log on to org. Additional information is available by calling the Tennessee meth hotline at 877-TNN- METH ( ). For help overcoming an addiction, contact the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and Other Addiction Services REDLINE at (800)

3 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January Convention Scenes Below, new president Lacy Upchurch discusses issues Farm concerns addressed during special issues focus session Century farm owner McDonald Craig entertains at the trade show Newly-elected vice president Danny Rochelle addresses convention Pondering the resolutions of Farm Bureau Checking out the wares at the trade show Representing the farmers back home Breakout Breakdown Economics, risk, eminent domain among discussion topics at TFBF convention By Joe White Special to the TFB News State officials and agricultural economists jammed three hours of information into one mass breakout session of attendees at the annual Farm Bureau Convention in early December. The experimental everybody attends sessions treated Tennessee s agricultural enhancement program, the national economic picture for agriculture, a new way to identify business risk, and a briefing on the controversial right of the government to seize property under eminent domain laws. STATE AGRICULTURAL ENHANCEMENT State Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens noted that new state programs to increase farmer s paydays actually date back to 1998, but took flight last winter when Governor [Phil] Bredesen proposed $3 million for some agricultural enhancement programs and we identified some ways we could grow farm income. Farm-oriented legislators joined in the initiative, he said, identifying another $2 million that could be used. We ended up with $5 million for what we call Ag enhancement-type programs, the commissioner said. In 1998, Givens pointed out, he was the chair of the House Agriculture Committee when the General Assembly researched farm needs. Based on discussions going back that far, We decided we were going to put 30 percent of the money into this new animal identification system. Another 40 percent of the money will go into some genetic improvement programs in both the beef and the dairy industry, and we also have about 30 percent of the money that will go into alternative, other types of programs. Givens said he hopes to keep the fund at $5 million in the forthcoming budget year. Jimmy Hopper, director of regulatory services for the Dept. of Agriculture, said participation in the new national animal identification program is a given, not an option. It affords you the ability to better manage your herd, to get a more desirable animal for the marketplace. We need to improve the reputation of Tennessee livestock across the country. The program will systematize diagnosis of domestic and foreign diseases and track animal movement, as will be required in the near future, Hopper said. The new system will allow an animal to be traced back to its origin in 48 hours, he said. We want to use some of the funds the commissioner mentioned for multiple-animal working units, Hopper said. We hope to purchase three and place them in educational institutions, one in each grand division in the Continued on page 4

4 4 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 Breakout Starts on page 3 state. The institutions will work with extension agents to allow producers to go through the process of the new tags for animals. Electronic Identification Data tabs will eventually bring the producer more money, he said. Assistant Commissioner Joe Gaines said, Research has shown that if you put better genetics into our herd there s a pretty quick payback of putting money into the farmer s pocket. The Cattle Improvement Initiative provides some funds for farmers interested in the project, but each participant must register his livestock farm under the National Animal Identification System, he said. A producer can receive 35 percent of the costs, up to $700, for a bull, or for Artificial Insemination (AI) or for leasing a bull, he said. You can receive up to $175 for a herd evaluation. You do not need the herd evaluation, but you can get technical advice. If you want the state to reimburse you, you have to follow the recommendations. The program will also aid in acquiring equipment, the Cattle Handing Facilities piece, he said. There is a list of approved equipment this year if a producer took advantage of the whole program, they could qualify for up to $1,725 under the joint programs, he said. Gaines said that to determine the effectiveness of the program, the UT Extension Service will follow 20 herds for two or three years to analyze sale weights and other key criteria part of what we report to the General Assembly, he said. A third leg of the state program encourages diversification of farm products, the officials said. That program has three funding categories, and producers are eligible for reimbursement of up to 35 percent of the costs of diversification up to a maximum of $10,000 in each category. The three categories are: Farm Infrastructure Marketing Specialty equipment Such investment must show significant potential for increasing farm income, Gaines said. Alternative energy is an area that is growing now, he said. Also there is a great need for meatpacking facilities in the state, he said. The goat industry I guess the calls we get in our office, about half of them are for goat cheese, he said. We hope to find some way of increasing the supply of goat cheese in our state. Aquaculture, beekeeping, and organic farming are other possibilities, Gaines said. AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS Terry Francl, senior economist for the American Farm Bureau, said the immediate economic outlook must extend through the 2007 crop year. The current farm bill is fundamentally different than that passed in 2002, he said, primarily because of the difference in the federal budget. We re looking at large deficits, not a surplus, and we must be cognizant, he said. Currently farm interests are looking at a budget of $173 billion through 2006, he said. Most of our mandatory budget, two-thirds of the budget, is in the area of food, he said. This is the food stamp program, the Women, Infant & Children Program. In other components, conservation picks up about 7 percent, crop insurance about 6 percent, and the farming programs that I think most of us are interested in, account for about 23 percent of the agriculture budget. Cutting direct payments hurt rice and wheat producers, he said but not necessarily cotton producers. Many of the states in the west get significant payments (per acre) from the federal government, he said. But a study by Kansas State Committed for life and then some. Tennessee Farmers Life Insurance Companies Insurance Service thatʼs Close to Home University attributing land value to various characteristics found that very little of land value of Tennessee farm acres came from direct government payments, Francl explained. Conservation reserve dollars are now the fourth largest crop that we have, he said. It is something that has become increasingly important in farm bill negotiations, he said. Currently both environmentalists and farm interests are agreed that the conservation program is worthwhile, he said. Continued on page 5 Life insurance keeps your promises and meets your responsibilities far beyond your days. Ask your Tennessee Farmers agent how.

5 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January By Pettus Read Editor Read All About It Air-mailed house cat answers prayer It was a cool fall morning when I pulled in the long gravel driveway of Uncle Sid s and Aunt Sadie s farm. In the brightest of sunshine on orange colored fall leaves, I could see Uncle Sid sitting in the swing on their front porch. It had been several days since I had visited the couple, but like always, I knew the visit would be one that would send me away a much better person than when I had arrived. As I parked my car beneath one of the huge maple trees near the house, I could see Uncle Sid waving me in and Aunt Sadie coming out the gingerbread trimmed screen door, wiping her hands on her apron. Breakfast-time was over and Uncle Sid was enjoying his crooked-neck pipe, while Aunt Sadie put away the dishes. It was their usual routine each morning when the weather is somewhat warm and you could almost set your watch by their regimented activities. Of course, once I put my foot on the front porch, Aunt Sadie wanted to bring me something to drink and fresh tea cakes she had just baked and Uncle Sid was urging me to have a seat in one of the front porch rockers. However, this day I noticed something very different I had never seen on their porch. Laying all curled up in a ball in one of the rocking chairs, was a yellow half-grown kitten. Most people assume that a front porch on a farmstead should have a cat sitting on the front stoop as a condition of normalcy for farm life. But, most people have not met my Uncle Sid. Uncle Sid has not been one to appreciate a cat around the place. A good shepherd dog or bird dog he feels is a necessity for having the most perfect place in the country. However, all the years I have known him, a cat has not been an item you would see anywhere near Uncle Sid. Looking over at the cat and trying my best to control my curiosity, I said to Uncle Sid, See you have a cat these days. Of course, I expected to see a sudden realization by him of a cat sleeping in his rocking chair and the cat fur to start flying. But, Uncle Sid just puffed on his pipe and replied, That s Sadie s cat. I couldn t stand it! It used to not matter if the president of these United States told him to keep a cat on the porch, Uncle Sid would have declared war and seceded before he would have had a feline on the premises. Seeing my confusion, he went on to explain his cat ownership. Your Aunt Sadie s been wanting a cat and after I heard a story the other day about a preacher and a cat, I finally broke down and got her one, Uncle Sid said. Of course, I had to hear the cat story and Uncle Sid was also dying to tell it. The time was right and you just knew the story was on its way. He sat back in the swing and blew a puff of smoke that circled his head. The old man began with, Now, I heard this from a preacher, who heard it from another preacher, who read it on the Internet written from another preacher and it is supposed to be true, but you know how these preachers can spin a yarn at times. With a willing audience Uncle Sid went on to say, This preacher had a kitten that had climbed up a sapling poplar tree in his yard and was afraid to come down. The preacher tried everything, but the cat wouldn t come down. The tree was not strong enough for the preacher to climb, so he decided that if he tied a rope to his car and pulled it until the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the silly cat, Uncle Sid continued. So, that s what he did. He wasn t having much luck so he figured if he went just a little bit further, the tree would be bent just enough for him to reach it. But, the rope was sort of rotten and it broke, Uncle Sid said. That tree shot straight up and that cat went clean out of sight. Of course, the preacher felt terrible. He looked every where for it, but couldn t find it, Uncle Sid said with somewhat of a pout on his face. A few days later he saw one of the good sisters from his church in the grocery store with a cart load of cat food. He knew she didn t really like cats, somewhat like me, and asked her what gave with all the cat food she had, Uncle said now having me completely listening to every word. She told him that the strangest thing had happened. She said her daughter had always wanted a cat and to get her to stop asking for one, she told her to go outside and pray for one. Sure enough the child did just that and as the lady stood in her kitchen watching the little girl down on her knees praying for a cat, a kitten fell right out of the sky right in front of her, Uncle Sid said now laughing somewhat. That lady told the preacher there was no way that cat would ever be given away and had a home with them forever, he said with a laugh. And, you know? That story made me sort of soften up and get Sadie a cat too. You do know He works in mysterious ways. Yes, I do Uncle Sid. He sure does. Breakout Starts on page 3 The structure of agriculture continues to change, Francl said. Some 10 percent of all agricultural production comes from 389 farms, according to the latest Census data, he said. Granted, a lot of that is livestock production, he said. The top 50 percent of agriculture production comes from right at 35,000 farms, the economist said. Some 14 percent of farms are retirement farms, and still more are lifestyle farms that are really money-losers, he said. International trade has become more important and increasingly complex, he said, with countries (like Brazil) arguing that some U.S. programs are un-allowable subsidies under international trades agreements. Under NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, food exports from this country have essentially doubled in 10 years, Francl said. Since 1994, some 59 percent of growth in agriculture export growth has been to Canada and Mexico, he said. RISK V. UNCERTAINTY Dr. Delton Gerloff, professor of agricultural economics at the University of Tennessee, suggested a new definition to reach business decisions about risk. Uncertainty, he said, is the probability of an event occurring. That might be drought, or a sudden onslaught of crop disease. Risk is the impact of that event, he Continued on page 6

6 6 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 Breakout Starts on page 3 suggested how it affects cash flow and profitability of the business, and how those factors affect family living, financing the costs of education, future development, etc. For instance, if yields drop below 90 percent of expected, the impact is that family spending is cut back, he said. So uncertainty in this case would be to determine the chances that yields of the cash crop wouldn t meet the 90 percent level. Planning against those chances can take many forms, he said. The best is to have cash reserves or equity, he suggested. But irrigation is one off-setting factor, he said. Out west farmers may spread out their risk geographically, leasing land in different places to avoid having one storm event affecting the entire crop. Another traditional form of uncertainty is market price, he said. Uncertainty doesn t usually include input costs, he said, but currently corn input costs may increase by 10 percent next year, most of that based on fuel and fertilizer costs, he said. That equates to about $20 an acre out of my pocket next year that I didn t spend this year. Future energy hedges are not a usual farm strategy, he said. Contract farming may be a hedge against some risks but opens up another risk, he said. If your one buyer goes away, you may not have a market, he said. Such an outcome could destroy the value of your original investment, he said. EMINENT DOMAIN Dan Elrod, a lobbyist with Miller & Martin PLLC in Nashville, addressed the pop-up issue of eminent domain, which became controversial this year when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 23 on Kelo v. New London. In that decision, the national court ruled that under Connecticut law the city of New London could take private property even though it was later developed for a private purpose. To put that decision in the context of Tennessee law, are there adjustments that should be made? Elrod asked. The U.S. Constitution recognizes private property rights, and under the Fifth Amendment the government must pay for any property it seizes, he said. The Kelo case is simply the most recent case on this subject, he said. What can be taken with just compensation, for economic development, even if a private person benefits? The Kelo case proceeds from a set of bad facts, he said. Connecticut recognized the city of New London as a distressed municipality, he said, with its population reduced to the 1920s level. The redevelopment plan was based on addressing that fact. Some 90 acres of waterfront were put together, he said. The plan is anchored by a $300 million Pfizer pharmaceutical research facility, office space, retail space, a park, restaurants, hotels, etc. Nine residents objected and sued, he said. Two of their parcels would be used by Pfizer. But the comprehensive plan was wellthought-out, would create jobs and would renew the city, according to all the research, he said. The court allowed it. Almost immediately there was a political response, he said. Suddenly there was a lot of focus on the concept of eminent domain. Likely outcomes, Elrod suggested: The use of eminent domain will be limited to a specific type of development. Any such development must include a finding of real public benefit. The state may adopt a standard more restrictive than the federal minimum. A new statutory definition of public use. Tennessee law holds dozens of grants of such authority to specific government organizations, he said, but there is no state equivalent to the Connecticut Economic Development Corp., he said. The statutory definition of public use is indicated by the fact that in many cases, counties are granted the power of eminent domain for any county purpose, Elrod said. Cities (under the mayor and alderman form of government) can condemn property for future public use, he said. In Tennessee since 1959 local government has been able to condemn property to put together industrial parks, Elrod said, the situation most like the Kelo taking. A real question for agricultural economies, he said: whether the compensation offered for a piece of agricultural property taken for a public purpose is actually enough to allow the farm to be relocated. Some changes in state law, Elrod said, are likely to be opposed by local governments.

7 The life of a farmer s wife... By Annie Laura Hunt Hickman County Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January EDITOR S NOTE: Annie Laura Hunt and her husband George Elton better known as Cap own and operate a farm in Hickman County. The oldest part of the farm consisting of 57 original acres, which was passed down to Cap s mother, has been in the family for over 140 years. Cap and Annie Laura have been farming since their marriage in They still live in the house that Cap was born in. Over the years additional land has been purchased. They now own about 575 acres. They are the parents of two married daughters, a son, four grandchildren and two great- grandsons. Their daughter, Marsha Douglass, presently lives in Alabama but she and her husband, Rodger, are building a house on the farm and will be moving back soon. Their other daughter, Tammy Franklin, and her husband, Ed, own a realty company in Dandridge, Tenn. Their son, Roger also has a house on the farm and helps with farm chores when needed. He is part owner of an excavation business. Annie Laura has always helped with the farm work. She drove the tractor and helped Cap with most any task that needed to be done. They joined the Young Farmers and Homemakers in the 50 s and were very active in the club for many years. They met people that they are still friends with today. Annie Laura served as chairman of the Hickman County Farm Bureau Women for 14 years. She currently is on the State Women s Committee representing District II. Annie Laura served on the State advisory panel for Keep Tennessee Green for several years. She and a neighbor adopted 2 miles of highway that runs through their farms and named it Anderson Bend Farming Community. The Hunts hosted the first farm day for school children in Hickman County in When the State Women s Committee was asked to keep a diary of life on the farm, Annie Laura said she felt qualified since she has kept a daily diary since Two weeks in October on the Hunt Farm. Oct. 10 We worked in the yard this morning. We went to town this afternoon to the Soil Conservation Office to sign up for the Grassland Reserve Program. When we returned I mowed the yard. Oct. 11 Cap bush-hogged today. I was busy doing laundry most of the day. My friend, Cora, from Centerville and her daughter, Donna, from New Orleans came buy. Donna was staying with her mother due to the evacuation of Hurricane Katrina. Oct. 12 Cap and Roger worked in hay. The bailer broke down but they were able to fix it and be ready for tomorrow. Farmers experience a lot of breakdowns but they repair and keep going. We ate dinner with some friends tonight that we met through YF&H many years ago. Oct. 13 I helped Cap put new teeth on the hay rake. He raked hay today. I didn t feel good but did laundry and also went to town to get medicine. I planted pansies and then went with Cap to move the hay machinery. He went to a meeting tonight to get certified to buy and use chemicals. Oct. 14 I went grocery shopping today. Our Annie Laura and Cap Hunt with their family nephew, R.T., came tonight from Jackson to fish in Duck River. I always enjoy his visit since he leaves us the fish he catches. We had a fish fry tonight and invited some friends. Oct. 15 Cap sowed fescue today. I worked all day changing my closets from summer to winter. A big job I always dread but surely winter weather will be here soon but it s still hot. Oct. 16 Went to church. Marsha and Rodger came today to check on the new house. I cooked fried chicken for lunch. Marsha and I went to get my computer that had been repaired. It has been a cloudy and cool day. Oct. 17 Did laundry today. Went to the Farm Bureau board meeting tonight. There was much excitement about Hickman County s new office building that should be finished by the end of the year. Oct. 18 I went to the Farm Bureau Women s meeting today at the Homestead Restaurant. Our speaker was from Senior Health at the hospital. She spoke on depression, dementia and Alzheimer s. Cap and I trimmed trees in the yard this afternoon. I drove the tractor and he loaded the limbs. Oct. 19 Cap mowed the side of the highway. I did the house work today, moved flowers, cleaned out drawers and cabinets and made an Angel Food cake. Oct. 20 It has been unseasonably warm for Oct. Some days seem like spring. Cap fenced today. I went to Columbia to the Ag-in-the-Classroom meeting at the State Farm Bureau office. I ate lunch with Marsha Dabney from the Soybean Council. We discussed and shared recipes. Oct. 21 Marsha and Rodger came today. They stopped for lunch. They were here to make some decisions about carpet and cabinets for the new house. We went to the football game tonight to watch Ross (our grandson) play football. Oct. 22 Cap, Rodger, Roger and Ross vaccinated cattle today. It made the job easier for Cap since he had plenty of help. Marsha helped me cook lunch for the men. This has been the driest Oct. in many years. Oct. 23 Marsha and I went to Dandridge to see Tammy for a three day visit. We spent most of our time shopping and eating. One night we went to downtown Dandridge to listen to a band playing on the Court House steps. When the music started I couldn t sit still. Before I knew It, I was up dancing in the street. I hope that I did not embarrass my daughters too much! Farm people are still the backbone of the country. We love it. We enjoy seeing baby calves romping in the fields. We take pride in seeing the beauty of the farm after Cap has completed mowing up and down the sides of the highway along Little Lot Road. We can t imagine doing anything else. Farming is a great life.

8 8 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 Distinguished leaders noted at convention During the TFBF annual meeting, five more volunteer leaders were recognized with the organization s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. In District I, the award went T.W. McBride of McNairy County; District II, William Breeden of Houston County; District III, Grant Hickey Jr. of McMinn County; District IV, James Parkes of Macon County; and District V, Daniel Luck Blalock of Sullivan County. T.W. McBride Mr. T. W. McBride was the second of four children born to Thomas and Pattie Hunt McBride. He was born on April 27, His father was a sharecropper in Gibson County where they raised cotton, corn and hay. They later bought a farm and started raising truck crops along with the row crops. Mr. McBride attended elementary school in Trenton and graduated from Peabody High School in And on the advice of his ag teacher he hitchhiked to Martin to begin college. Mr. McBride was soon put in charge of the school s dairy herd and after completing two years, moved on to school in Knoxville for a year, where he also worked with the dairy. But it was on that first day at Martin that he met his wife, Pauline Thacker of Weakley County. They married in September of The McBride s had two children, the oldest of which passed away in After 60 years of marriage, his wife passed away in He now enjoys his four grandchildren and 7 greatgrandchildren. After college, Mr. McBride went to work for the Cotton Adjustment Administration and in 1936 moved to McNairy County to set up the Farmers and Home Administration. He worked one year as the county extension agent, then for 15 years managed the local John Deere dealership. He then sold seed corn to surrounding states for five years, and in 1960, he worked for H & N Chicken Hatchery until his retirement in Throughout his years of public work, Mr. McBride also farmed and became involved with Farm Bureau back in He has served under every state president, beginning with Joe Frank Porter. Mr. McBride has served on the board of directors for the McNairy County Farm Bureau since the 1950s and he served as president for three of those years. He s also been active in the community as a member of the Masons and Lions Club. He served as an assistant mail carrier. He was an alderman for ten years and spent 15 years on the County Election Commission. Since 1936, he s been an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Selmer, serving on numerous boards and committees. William Breeden Mr. William T. Breeden Jr. was born July 6, 1931 in Houston County. He was one of two children to William Taylor Sr. and Etta Adkins Breeden. He grew up in Paris where he attended elementary school and then moved to Memphis to attend high school. During his senior year the family moved back to Houston County, where he graduated in After graduation, Mr. Breeden continued farming with his grandfather until his call to duty came two years later during the Korean War. He would survive and be honored with the Bronze Star after fighting in one of the bloodiest battles of the war at Pork Chop Hill. Distinguished Leaders named The 2005 Distinguished Leaders award winners were presented at this year s convention. The award is the highest honor a Farm Bureau leader can receive. Seated, from left: Grant Hickey, Jr., from McMinn County and representing District III; William Breeden from Houston County, representing District II; Karen Channell, who accepted the award for her grandfather T. W. McBride from McNairy County and District I; Standing, from left: Daniel Luck Blalock of Sullivan County, representing District V; and James Parkes of Macon County, representing District IV. When he returned home, he continued to increase his dairy herd, plus they raised hay, corn, tobacco and hogs. It was in the summer of 1954 when he came calling on the former Peggy Jones. They married December 31, Mr. Breeden s involvement in Farm Bureau dates back to He and his wife, who served as secretary in Houston County for 17 years, have been leaders on the board of directors for more than forty years. He was a young farmer director in 1959, has served as president for two terms, and all together he has served 36 years on the board. Mr. Breeden continued milking his Ayrshire herd until That s when he became a rural mail carrier in the county and retired in He continued to farm while also being active in the community, serving as chairman and director for the Co-op for twenty years, several years on the local livestock association and as magistrate for 14 years. In 1956, the Breedens became members of the Erin United Methodist Church where he has faithfully served in many leadership positions. Grant Hickey Mr. Grant Hickey Jr. was the youngest of two boys born to Grant Sr. and Ella Mae McKemy Hickey on November 11, 1928 in Knox County. His brother was ten years older but young Grant stayed busy on their small hill farm where they raised a few calves, pigs and a lot of chickens. Mr. Hickey attended Karns High School and graduated in He spent a brief time at the University of Tennessee, but he got a job selling Ford tractors and farm machinery before joining the Air Force in 1950, where he was an instructor in airplane and engine mechanics. After three years of service, he returned to East Tennessee and took a job at X-10 in Oak Ridge and remained there for 19 years. It was after returning home from the service that he had a renewed interest in an old friend, the former Eula Gray Yarnell. They married February 11, The Hickeys have two children and now enjoy their five grandchildren. Throughout his time at Oak Ridge, Mr. Hickey continued to farm, building up a beef herd and raising alfalfa hay. In 1972, the opportunity came to purchase a dairy farm in Sweetwater, and for the next twenty years, it was seven days a week, 365 days a year. It was in 1972 when the Hickeys joined the McMinn County Farm Bureau. And since 1980, he has served on the board of directors all but one year, and served as president from 1989 until Mr. Hickey has always been active in the community. He was a charter member of the Knox Farmers Co-op, and a member of the McMinn and Monroe Farmers Co-op, a member of the Soil Conservation Association, a director for the Chattanooga Ag Credit Association, the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Dairyman Incorporated, and an active member of the Sweetwater Area Ministries. His church has been at the top of the list, serving in numerous roles at the First Baptist Church of Sweetwater. James Parkes Except for his time in the service, Mr. James Parkes has been on his farm in the Winklers Community of Macon County his entire life. He was born August 11, He was one of two children born to Tom and Mirta Parkes. In his younger days, Mr. Parkes attended elementary school at Winklers and continued until his junior year in high school. He remained on the farm until he joined the Air Force in late And the following summer he would marry the love of his life, the former Betty Sue Dotson. After his military service concluded in 1954, Continued on page 9

9 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January Kudos to YF&R winners By Dana Butler YF&R Reporter Greetings to my fellow Young Farmers and Ranchers. I hope that everyone is doing great. What a great year for our Young Farmers and Ranchers! First of all, the Farm Bureau Convention just ended with a lot of excitement for everyone involved. Here s a few highlights of our contest winners and your new State Committee members: Outstanding Young Woman Contest: District I, Kelly Rea; District II, Brianna Strasser; District III, Denise Sims; District IV, Ann Hildreth; District V, Carla Steadman; and the 2006 Outstanding Young Woman is Denise Sims. Congratulations to all of you ladies. I enjoyed being with you during the contest. Discussion Meet: Melissa Burniston is the winner and will be competing at the National Young Leaders Conference in Des Moines, Iowa in February. Congratulations and good luck to you Melissa State Committee: District I, Amy Tuck and Ben Moore; District II, Laura Upton and Donald Blankenship; District III, Becky Place and Jason Sims; District IV, Melissa Burniston and Luke Teeple; District V, Carla Steadman and Adam Thompson. Officers: President, Eric Maupin; Vice-President, Carla Steadman; Secretary, Laura Upton; Treasurer, Donald Blankenship; Reporter, Amy Tuck. Congratulations to all of our new committee members! I know that you are going to have an awesome time this upcoming year. The convention went really good and I hope to see a lot of you at the American Farm Bureau Convention in January in Nashville. I want to also wish Amy Tuck the best as she takes over my spot as your new reporter. I have really enjoyed this and I know that Amy will do a wonderful job, probably a lot better than me. I have had such a great time being on the state committee, but the clock is ticking and it s time for some fresh faces to take over. There are really no words to describe the friendships that I am blessed to have because of being involved in Young Farmers and Ranchers. Every one of you are such special and unique people. Thanks to all of you for being so sweet and especially to Wesley Parks from Fayette County who always called and checked on me if he didn t see my article in the paper. A special thank you to Pettus Read and Stacey Warner who helped me so much and do such a great job with your Farm Bureau News. Thanks! I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! As always, if you do have any questions or comments, please call ext Take care and God bless. Resolutions committee meet - Twenty-seven county Farm Bureau leaders, named by the Tennessee Farm Bureau Board of Directors, served this year on the 2005 TFBF Resolutions Committee. These county leaders reviewed the resolutions submitted and the policy development questionnaires completed by each county Farm Bureau before making any suggested TFBF policy changes. The objective of the Resolutions Committee is to develop a 2006 TFBF Policy that represents the majority thinking of Farm Bureau members. The policy developed by the Resolutions Committee was presented to the official voting delegates at the business session of the TFBF Annual Convention. Committee members that served were: Lacy Upchurch - Chairman, Cumberland County; District I: Frank McGinley, Hardin; David Arnold, Henry; William Don Jones, Henry; District II: Joe Liggett, Marshall; Randy Whitehead, Lincoln; Brent Carter, Lincoln; District III: Edsel Freels, Rhea; Jim Pope, Loudon; Chris Layne, Marion; District IV: Don Hollingsworth, Van Buren; Herman Henry, Smith; Gary Martin, Warren; District V: John Wood, Campbell; James Sarten, Sevier; Bill Howell, Hamblen; Farm Bureau Women s Chairmen: Joanie Hopper, Lake; Maxine Moore, Bradley; Carol Aiken, Washington; Board of Directors: Linda Davis, Gibson; Charles Hancock, Stewart; David Mitchell, Grainger; Willard Brown, Overton; Farm Bureau Women s State Committee: Catherine Keck, Claiborne; State Young Farmer Winner: J. Tucker, Giles; State Young Farmer Runner-up: Shannon Rea, Weakley; Past YF&R Chairman: Jason Luckey, Gibson; and Secretary: Rhedona Rose. Farm Bureau in Tennessee: 600,000 members strong Leaders Starts on page 8 the Parkes would return to the farm in Macon County with their daughter. Today they enjoy their granddaughter and great granddaughter. Mr. Parkes is still raising tobacco and beef cattle on the same land his father and grandfather worked. It was in the mid 1950s when Mr. Parkes began his long-time association with Farm Bureau. He has served on the board of directors in Macon County since the early 1970s and he served as vice-president for 15 years. He s also served on numerous committees, both at the local and state levels. He s still very active in Farm Bureau just as he has been with his church since he became a member in 1962 at the Bethany Missionary Baptist. He has served as treasurer for about 30 years. D.L. Blalock Mr. Luck Blalock was raised on his farm in Sullivan County near Blountville. He was born February 6, 1917 to D.J. and Lola Galloway Blalock. He had two older sisters, and 4 younger sisters. His father was a blacksmith and carpenter besides raising corn, wheat, tobacco and livestock. His mother was noted for her vegetable garden. Mr. Blaylock attended Holston Institute and graduated at 16 in He attended King College in Bristol and graduated from there in 1937 and began teaching 5 th thru 8 th grades. He then went to work for the Mead Paper Company for two years. For the next 33 years he worked at Eastman in Kingsport until he retired in But it was back in his college days when he met the love of his life, the former Grace Cross. Luck and Grace tied the knot on October 26, They then started their family, raising three boys on the farm. They lost their middle son a few years ago, but today enjoy their seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. While working his public jobs, the Blalocks continued farming where they raised dairy and beef cattle along with hay and tobacco, and today they continue to maintain a large garden. And since his boyhood days, Mr. Blaylock has been familiar with Farm Bureau. He s been a member for 58 years, and has served on the board of directors for 48 years. Mr. Blalock has served as president, vice-president and is still serving as secretary-treasurer today. Their son James works for the tax service in the Blountville office. He s also remained active in the community, serving on the Co-op board of directors, he s been a Mason for fifty years, and he s served on the Sullivan County Tax Equalization Board since 1976 and chairman since And since he was ten, he s been a member of the Adams Chapel United Methodist Church where he s served in numerous positions.

10 10 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 Krisle new CEO of Tennessee Farmers Co-op Bart Krisle of Greenbrier, whose Co-op career spans more than two decades, has been named chief executive officer of Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, headquartered in LaVergne near Nashville. Krisle was selected by the TFC Board of Directors to succeed Vernon L. Glover, who will retire Jan. 2, 2006, after 36 years with the organization, the last eight as CEO. Krisle, who has served as TFC s chief operating officer since 1999, will assume his new duties Jan. 3. The official announcement was made Nov. 28 by outgoing board chairman Mark Thompson during TFC s annual meeting at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort in Nashville. Bart Krisle New board chairman Kenneth Nixon says Krisle has the experience and expertise to provide the type of sound, aggressive leadership that has helped propel our Co-op system in Tennessee to new heights in the past few years. Mr. Glover has served TFC and our member Co-ops well during his impressive 36-year career, and our system is fortunate to have had his positive leadership as chief executive officer since 1997, says Nixon, a Smith County farmer. We re confident that management of TFC will remain in good hands when Mr. Krisle assumes his new responsibilities. Krisle becomes only the sixth person to serve as CEO in the 60-year history of TFC, which was established in 1945 as a regional farm supply cooperative. Today, TFC provides products and services to 62 member Co-ops, which serve some 70,000 farmer owners and more than 500,000 other customers across Tennessee and in several neighboring states. I consider it an honor and a privilege to serve the Co-op system as CEO, says Krisle. I m proud to be part of a system that holds values like hard work, a servant attitude, high ethics, honesty, trust, and quality. I m looking forward to the challenges and opportunities our Co-op faces, and pledge that we ll do our very best to serve our member Co-ops, their farmer owners, and our new customers as we move forward. A Certified Public Accountant, Krisle has held a variety of positions during his 22-year Co-op career. He joined the staff of TFC in 1983 as a field auditor, and in 1987 was named to the Internal Auditing Department staff. In 1988, he became manager of the Member Support Department in the information services area. He was named Region 2 operations specialist in 1992 and held that position until being appointed to fill the new management post of chief operating officer in Mr. Krisle has been involved with Co-op his entire professional career, and he knows and understands our system, says Glover, whose retirement plans include spending time on his farm in his native Giles County. He will be a capable leader for this cooperative in the future. A native of Robertson County, Krisle grew up in Greenbrier where he graduated from Greenbrier High School. He holds a bachelor s degree in accounting from Middle Tennessee State University. Krisle and his wife, Kim, reside in Greenbrier with their three children Dale, 18; Joanna Ruth, 16; and Jamie Leigh, 8. Tennessee Livestock Markets Association elects new officers During the recent annual meeting of the Tennessee Livestock Markets Association held in Franklin, Tennessee, Bobby Eslick from Fayetteville and a member of the Tennessee Livestock Producers staff was elected president. Shown here are the officers and directors. From left to right are: seated, Bill McKee, vicepresident, Wilson co. Livestock; Bobby Eslick, president, TLP; standing, Lafayette and Janice Williams, Knoxville Livestock Center; Grelinda Preston, Warren Co. Livestock; Jim Carter, Livestock Markets Association; Tommy Burgess, Mid-South Livestock; and Darrell Ailshie, secretary/treasure, manager of TLP. The Commercial Floriculture Survey The USDA s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting the 2005 Commercial Floriculture Survey. Thirty-six States, including Tennessee, are in the survey. Data from the survey will help measure the econom ic contribution of the floriculture industry to U.S. agriculture and record this growth so supporting industries and policymakers can provide necessary resources. OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETINGS TENNESSEE FARMERS INSURANCE COMPANIES This is the official notice of the annual meetings of the Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, Tennessee Farmers Life Insurance Company, Tennessee Farmers Assurance Company and Tennessee Farmers Life Reassurance Company. The meetings will be held on Friday, April 7, 2006, at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, Tennessee, beginning at 10:00 a.m. IF YOU ARE CONTACTED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU RESPOND Any information you provide is completely confidential by law, Title 7, U.S. Code. View floriculture statistics and other NASS reports at The meetings are for policyholders of Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company and stockholders of Tennessee Farmers Life Insurance Company, Tennessee Farmers Life Reassurance Company and Tennessee Farmers Assurance Company. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR COUNTY FARM BUREAU OFFICE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND.

11 YOUR CHECKOFF COOKS UP HEALTHY CONSUMER DEMAND FOR BEEF. Thanks to your beef checkoff, consumers have a new resource for a variety of mouthwatering meal options featuring the wholesome goodness of beef. By partnering with the prestigious American Dietetic Association, your checkoff has released The Healthy Beef Cookbook. This gourmet guide includes more than 130 recipes, appetizing color photos, nutrition tips and culinary techniques all promoting lean beef as the primary ingredient. Your beef checkoff is dedicated to keeping beef top of mind in households with this new cookbook and other programs. Billboards, radio advertising and alliances with other well-respected partners help deliver your message to health-conscious consumers, which helps move beef to the top of grocery lists nationwide. Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January YOUR BEEF CHECKOFF. Investing in Beef Safety, Nutrition and Promotion. TDA names cost share coordinators State Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens has announced appointments to key positions for handling new statewide cost share initiatives for Tennessee farmers. Charles Hord has joined the Tennessee Department of Agriculture as the new Cattle Improvement Initiative program coordinator, and Jan Keyser is the new Agricultural Growth Initiative program coordinator. We re excited to have both Charles and Jan join our Market Development staff, said Givens. Charles Hord Jan Keyser They re very knowledgeable, bright individuals and they bring lot of energy and enthusiasm to our efforts to help Tennessee farmers improve their operations. These positions will be very important in helping us move forward with the Ag Enhancement Program. Hord is a native Tennessean and graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Agriculture Business and Economics. My family has been farming the same piece of ground, Elmwood Farm, near Murfreesboro, since well before the Civil War, said Hord. My father, my brother and I still raise cattle, sheep and hogs as well as corn, wheat, cotton and soybeans. As someone who has been a fulltime farmer and who comes from a long line of fulltime farmers, I have a deep interest in representing this industry. I couldn t be more proud to be part of such a positive, helpful program. Keyser, a native of Montana, is a graduate of Oregon State University. Keyser s family produced beef and dairy cattle, poultry, swine and raised Tennessee Walking Horses. Keyser came to TDA from the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association, the official breed registry, where she worked in marketing for the past 11 years. I look forward to helping our producers benefit from our cost share programs and from other opportunities available through Market Development, said Keyser. It s good to come on board at a time when there are such tangible benefits to offer the state s farmers.

12 12 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 TFBF tops off 2005 at 84th convention The year 2005 will be remembered as a year of wet spring weather, good growing weather once crops were planted, a hot summer, some good prices at times, great crop production, hurricane winds and rains, a really dry fall and an all around year for farmers to have to roll with the punches. However, the past year of unknowns did not affect spirit or interest in their farm organization because this year s annual convention was one of the best attended ever for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. During the 84th annual meeting held December 4-6 in Franklin, more than 1800 delegates were on hand to celebrate the organization s great year of Farm Bureau accomplishments, which included reaching the 600,000 mark in membership. This year, Tennessee Farm Bureau will head to the American Farm Bureau convention in Nashville at Opryland Hotel January 7-11, as the largest state membership in the nation. TFBF finished the year with 608,251 members and a net gain of 13,528 members over last year s totals. The delegates enjoyed a Sunday afternoon trade show highlighting the organization s popular magazine Tennessee Home & Farm, a special Vespers program to honor past leaders of Farm Bureau, attended conferences and planned for next year s legislative and congressional work to support Tennessee agriculture. Voting delegates of the organization passed resolutions during a two-day business session that dealt with numerous issues facing agriculture today. Items that received much discussion were forestry programs, regulations, education, estate taxes, water quality, flood control, dairy pricing, land surveys and farm programs. The resolutions passed will become the official program of work for the farm organization as it faces challenges in 2006 at the state legislature and on Capitol Hill in Washington. A complete copy of the resolutions approved by the voting delegates will become available in January and copies will be sent to county Farm Bureau offices, as well as to FB leaders across the state. Delegates elected Cumberland County farmer Lacy Upchurch as president of the nation s largest state Farm Bureau. Also elected, as the organization s vice-president was Hickman County farmer Danny Rochelle. A new member of the state board of directors was also elected to fill Rochelle s director s seat left vacant upon his election as vice-president. Eric Mayberry of Humphreys County was selected to represent the Middle Tennessee area of the state on the board. A completed story of their elections may be found on the front page of this issue of the TFB News. The Dodge Dealers of Tennessee also helped out in the celebration of the organization s attaining 600,000 members by providing a new Dodge 1500 Quad Cab pickup truck to be given away. Tickets to win the truck were provided to all volunteer leaders at each Farm Bureau district and state meeting during this past year. Those tickets were collected at the end of each meeting and held in safe keeping until the final drawing in October. Ten finalists were drawn from all of the tickets collected. The final winner of the truck was chosen from those 10 finalists during special ceremonies on Monday evening at the annual banquet. Dale Oliver from Knox County was the lucky winner of the Dodge Big Horn package truck and drove it back home to Knoxville on Tuesday following the convention. The delegates also attended informative sessions during the annual meeting, which dealt with the new agriculture enhancement program, the upcoming Farm Bill, eminent domain, risk management, and the new Medicare D changes. A complete rundown of the sessions content may be found in this issue of the TFB News. The Tennessee Farm Bureau Women s organization also conducted their annual meeting, as well as the Young Farmer and Ranchers. The annual banquet this year was a special event highlighting the ten years that out-going TFBF President Barker served. A video covering his life and years at the helm of the Farm Bureau organization began the program with special retirement wishes from Senators Frist and Alexander, along with all of Tennessee s congressional delegation. Senator Lamar Alexander even made a surprise appearance, totally unknown to Barker that he would be there, and addressed the attendees on the many accomplishments of the TFBF sixth president. American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman was also on hand for the banquet and addressed the delegates. He told of the special accomplishments and involvements on national issues that Barker had participated in while serving as a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation s national board of directors. Delegates during the convention also heard an address from Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen during their annual business meeting. The Governor touched on his continued efforts to support Tennessee agriculture and the importance of keeping our state s farm economy viable. He expressed his appreciation for the continued cooperation of the Farm Bureau in working with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and its many programs. Knox County s Dale Oliver wins Dodge truck - Dale Oliver from Knox County was the lucky winner of the Dodge Big Horn package truck given away to celebrate TFBF attaining 600,000 members. Giving Oliver the keys to his new truck is Steve Helms of Helms Motor Co. in Lexington, who supplied the truck and represented the Dodge Dealers of Tennessee. TFIC agents recognized for support of YF&R in counties Three Tennessee Farmers Insurance agents received appreciation awards from the Young Farmer and Ranchers during the YF&R annual meeting for their support of young farmer programs in their counties. Recognized this year were: (L to R) Charles Curtis, Director of Special Programs for TFBF and who presented the awards, Steve Slater from Hamilton County, and Dustin Johnson from Grainger County. Sandy Rigsby from Van Buren County also received the award but was unavailable for the photo. Do you have your Tennessee Country book yet? - Nationally famous photographer Robin Hood signed the books he was commissioned to produce during the 84th convention. Hood produced a coffee table book depicting Tennessee agriculture and rural life in our state. The book is a fund raising project for county FB Women s groups to use to conduct special Days on the Farm for area school children. The book is now on sale in local FB offices statewide and only cost $30, which includes tax. It may also be ordered by phone at a cost of $30-plus shipping by calling (931) Ext

13 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January Senator Alexander surprises Barker As TFBF President Barker looks on, Senator Lamar Alexander roasts the retiring state president. The Senator came especially to honor Barker at his retirement celebration. Top Farm Bureau Women s groups These five women s chairman from their respective counties were named this year s top five women s programs in the state. Winning counties pictured from left to right are: first place winner Hamblen County, Virginia Breeding, chairman; second place winner Putnam County, Rowena Nash, chairman; third place winner Bedford County, Nelle Mahaffey, chairman; fourth place winner Montgomery County, Marily Harper, chairman; and fifth place winner, Rutherford County, Jerry Dement, chairman. American Farm Bureau president on-hand for Barker s retirement banquet AFBF President Bob Stallman addressed those in attendance for the convention s annual banquet and retirement celebration for TFBF President Flavius Barker. The national president honored Barker for his year s of service on the American organization s board of directors and recognized Tennessee for its impressive goal of reaching 600,000 members. Woolfolks named Excellence in Agriculture winners - Scott and Cher Woolfolk from Madison County were named this year s winners in the Excellence in Agriculture contest. They are shown here with their award and will be attending the 2006 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Nashville at Opryland where they will compete for the national title. Denise Sims selected as Outstanding Young Woman winner - Denise Sims from Bledsoe County was named this year s winner in the state Outstanding Young Woman contest. She is shown here with her awards that were presented during the YF&R state annual meeting Burniston named State Discussion Meet winner - Melissa Burniston from Putnam County was named this year s winner in the state Discussion Meet contest. She is shown here with her awards and will be attending the 2006 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Nashville at Opryland where she will represent Tennessee in competition for the national title. Bledsoe county named best in the state - The Bledsoe County YF&R program was named the top county in the state for their involvement in YF&R activities. Jason Sims who serves as the county s chairman received the award from TFBF Special Programs Director Charles Curtis. Meet the 2006 State YF&R State Committee Shown here are the 2006 State YF&R Committee elected during this year s annual meeting. From left: Luke Teeple, White County; Adam Thompson, Knox County; Jason Sims, Bledsoe County; Treasurer Donald Blankenship, Rutherford County; Laura Upton, Rutherford County, Ben Moore, Weakley County; Melissa Burniston, Putnam County; Chairman Eric Maupin, Dyer County; Reporter Amy Tuck, Weakley County; Vice-Chairman Carla Steadman, Hamblen County; and Becky Place, Sequatchie County.

14 14 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 FARM BUREAU INCOME TAX SERVICE DISCOUNT LONG DISTANCE For Your Home Phone Exclusively for Farm Bureau Members! We ve lowered rates again! 4.9 PER MINUTE Sure, we do FARM RETURNS AND... we do a lot MORE! Contact your local FARM BUREAU office to find out what we can do for YOU! $1.50 low monthly fee (1/2 price of most carriers)! No gimmicks, real savings! 6 second billing (most carriers bill in 1 minute blocks)! Same low rates all day everyday! Toll-Free Visit us on-line at Click Value Plus SAN FRANCISCO CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU PHOTOS TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU TRAVEL PRESENTS... San Francisco Getaway featuring Monterey, Carmel and Napa Valley 2006 DODGE MAGNUM 2006 DODGE RAM 2500 MEGA CAB 7 Days - Departing June 11, 2006 Rates: Double: $1724 per person Single: $2224 Triple: $1624 per person Includes round trip air from Nashville, Memphis or Knoxville; cancellation waiver and insurance, hotel transfers for groups of 10 or more, departure taxes and gratuities, 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners $200 deposit per person due upon reservation. Final payment due April 11, INTRODUCING THE 2006 MEGA CAB 15 more cab length than the average crew cab, largest interior cargo volume behind the front seat cubic ft., most rear-seat leg room , only pickup with reclining rear seats, standard 345-hp HEMI with available 5.9-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel. YEAH, IT S THAT BIG DODGE DAKOTA 2006 DODGE DURANGO For reservations contact Charlotte or Sonya (865) DODGE RAM 3500 HEAVY DUTY 2006 DODGE RAM 1500 We re proud to offer Farm Bureau Members in Tennessee an extra $ 500 CASH ALLOWANCE when you buy a new Dodge. Contact your local Farm Bureau or Dodge Dealer for details. For more information, visit DODGE.COM or call ONTHEJOB. * Offer applies to new Dodge trucks and Magnums, excluding Sprinter, SRT, and car models. Farm Bureau is a registered trademark of the American Farm Bureau. Excludes all other certifi cate programs. Ram 1500 and 2500 Mega Cab comes standard with a 345-hp HEMI. Ram 3500 Mega Cab comes standard with Cummins turbo diesel DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

15 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January

16 16 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 To burn or not to burn? (Openly in Tennessee, that is) By Adam Tipton TFBF intern Many people do not realize that open burning is prohibited in Tennessee. Aside from a few exemptions, nothing is allowed to be open burned in the state. Furthermore, certain items such as tires, plastic and shingles are expressly prohibited and should never be burned. These restrictions on open burning are not new. However, an increasing number of violators are claiming ignorance of the law. Regretfully, too many of the violators are rural and farm people who are burning brush piles that include tires and waste building materials. BACKGROUND Open burning is defined as The burning of any matter under such conditions that products of combustion are emitted directly into the open atmosphere without passing directly through a stack. The air pollution created by open burning can irritate eyes and lungs, obscure visibility, soil nearby surfaces, create annoying odors or pose other nuisance and health threats. Also, the burning of tires is extremely harmful to human health and the natural environment. The fumes emitted are packed with the many toxic chemicals that tires contain (including volatile organic compounds such as benzene, metals such as lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo(a)pyrene, and synthetic rubber components such as butadiene and styrene). Additionally, the chlorine content in tires leads to the creation of dioxins and furans (which are extremely toxic chemicals) when tires are burned. REGULATIONS The number of complaints from the public about open burning has steadily increased over the past few years. As more and more urban people move into rural areas of the state, the number of complaints will continue to increase. After receiving these complaints, TDEC will inspect the situation. Whenever illegal open burning is documented, a Notice of Violation letter (NOV) is sent to either the person who was responsible for the illegal open burning or, if that person is unknown, to the owner of the property where the illegal open burning occurred. The appropriate enforcement action, which could be a fine, would be assessed against the recipient of the NOV, whether it was the landowner or the person who set the fire. TDEC attempts to find the person who actually was responsible but if that person cannot be identified the landowner is ultimately responsible for illegal activity on their property. While open burning is prohibited, there are some items expressly prohibited from being burned. These items include the following: tires and other rubber products, vinyl shingles and siding, other plastics, asphalt shingles and other asphalt roofing materials and asbestos. Other materials that are illegal to burn include paper products and cardboard, paints and chemicals, aerosol and food cans, mobile homes and buildings, building materials, copper and electrical wires, household trash, and leaves and trees not grown at the burn sites. Burning of these products can result in major fines. EXEMPTIONS There are a few exemptions to the open burning prohibition in Tennessee that may relate to farmers. The following types of open burns are allowed: Fires used for non-commercial cooking of food or for ceremonial, recreational or comfort-heating purposes, including barbeques, campfires, and outdoor fireplaces. Fires set by or at the direction of responsible fire control persons solely for training purposes if certain conditions are met. Fires consisting solely of vegetation grown on the property of the burn site. This may include a farmer clearing a field or cleaning a fence row, a developer clearing a piece of land to build a commercial building or someone who burns the leaves in their yard. Fires disposing of wood waste. Wood waste is defined as any product which has not lost its basic character as wood, such as bark, sawdust, chips and chemically untreated lumber whose disposition by open burning is to solely get rid of or destroy. Plant life of a herbaceous nature, such as leaves and grasses are not considered wood waste. An old barn made of only unpainted, untreated lumber with an unpainted tin roof and without any manmade materials inside the structure may be open burned using the wood waste exception to the prohibition. Although the rules do not require it, APC (Air Pollution Control) encourages people who have these kinds of structures to contact APC field staff so they can see the structure and make sure any illegal materials are removed before the structure is set on fire. No permit is required from APC to burn a structure like this (only wood waste ). Fires for the burning of bodies of dead animals, including poultry, in accordance with T.C.A , and where no other safe and/ or practical disposal method exists. As currently interpreted, TDEC implies that this only applies to the mass burning of diseased animals as instructed by the commissioner of agriculture or state veterinarian. This exemption would not apply to the normal death of livestock on a farm. If you have questions about outdoor burning, you may call TDEC at TDEC (8332) or go on the web at net/apc. MYTH VS. FACT Myth Some pesticide containers and feedbags can be open burned because their labels indicate that proper disposal includes burning and incineration. Fact The labels on such items may say that proper disposal could include burning or incinerating. However, these items are still subject to Tennessee law that does not allow open burning of such objects. Myth Any fuel is legal to use as an open fire accelerant. Fact Only #1 grade fuel (kerosene) and #2 grade fuel (diesel) are legal to start an open fire with. Myth Trash can be open burned as long as it is in a metal barrel with a ½ inch mesh screen or metal grid. Fact The Forestry Division recommends using a burn barrel with a mesh screen or metal grid when open burning. However, the contents being burned must still meet the open burning exemptions set by TDEC. It would still be unacceptable to burn trash, even if it is in a barrel with a screen or grid. Myth Anything can be open burned as long as you get a permit from the Forestry Division. False The Forestry Division requires people to obtain burn permits from October 15 until May 15. This is to simply prevent wildfires. Even with a burn permit, you must still adhere to TDEC regulations.

17 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January Tennessee Pork Producers state meet January The Tennessee Pork Producers Association Convention is scheduled for January 17-18, 2006 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Featured activities include the State 4-H and FFA Jr. Market Hog Show at the Tennessee Livestock Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University (show begins Wednesday, January 18, at 8:30 a.m.), the Taste of Elegance Chefs Competition at the Doubletree Hotel and a time to visit with others connected to the pork industry. Call for details. Check it out - Sen. Lamar Alexander joins USDA Rural Development State Director Ruth Tackett and Jim Patterson, CEO of Ethanol Grain Processors, Inc. in presenting a $150,000 Rural Development grant for an ethanol fuel processing venture in West Tennessee. West Tennessee ethanol plant gets Rural Development grant Owners planning to double fuel plant s capacity A West Tennessee ethanol plant has recieved a $150,000 Rural Development grant to help it transform corn to fuel. USDA Rural Development State Director Ruth Tackett was joined by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and other state, federal and community leaders as the grant for Ethanol Grain Processors was announced. The ethanol produced by Ethanol Grain Processors will be distributed throughout the United States. This federal investment is a big win for Tennesseans, said Alexander. By using ethanol produced in Obion County to fuel our cars and trucks, we can create hundreds of new jobs in West Tennessee, help ease our dependence on foreign oil, reduce air pollution across the state, and provide farmers a growing market for corn. I m proud to be here today with Ruth Tackett and other state and local officials to congratulate and support Ethanol Grain Processors. Studies have shown that ethanol production has been responsible for more than 40,000 jobs and directly and indirectly adds more than $4.5 billion to U.S. farm income annually and $6 billion to the American economy each year by boosting surrounding economies. This project will significantly impact Tennessee s farm families through direct support of corn producers in our state. We are committed to working with rural farmers, agriculture producers, and entrepreneurs to increase their economic opportunities and expand their role in developing and marketing value-added products, said Tackett. USDA Rural Development funds will be used to construct offices at the ethanol facility and secure inventory on the plant site located near the town of Obion. The construction will allow the company to produce ethanol and, in turn, increase corn prices for farmers,allowing them to better compete in domestic and international markets. Ethanol and other biofuels have enormous potential to impact Tennessee agriculture, said Flavius Barker, president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation at the time of the announcement. Tennessee can produce the products to feed these industries and the industries would contribute greatly to profitability of our farmers. We have recently revised our business plan to increase the size of our plant s annual production capacity from 50 to 100 million gallons. Studies show that the local economic impact of a plant of this size is $276 million, said Jim Patterson, CEO of Ethanol Grain Processors. We are excited to be a part of an ever growing movement to advance the use of alternative energy sources and, specifically, renewable fuels to help reduce our nation s dependence on foreign sources for its energy needs. Ethanol Grain Processors is a producerbased business venture, 100 percent owned by 33 farmers predominantly from West Tennessee counties. They aspire to increase rural community income by increasing the market demand for corn by 36 million bushels through the transformation of corn into ethanol fuel, a premium liquid fuel that can extend petroleum imports. The company plans to purchase corn in West Tennessee counties with Obion, Weakley and Gibson counties each producing more than 7.5 million bushels of corn per year. Landscape Management Short Course Jan The University of Tennessee/Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension Program will be holding the Middle Tennessee Landscape Management Short Course January 25 and 26 at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center. Industry professionals and Extension specialists from across the State will offer educational programs on a diverse array of topics. Pesticide Recertification points will be awarded, as well as ISA recertification points. The registration fee is $100 if received by January 8. Contact Wendel Smith at Lawrence County Extension, ; or Mike Smith, Williamson County Extension, Mid-South Stocker Conference Feb Taking It to The Next Level is the theme of the 2006 Mid-South Stocker Conference. The cattle conference is scheduled for February 16 and 17 at the Holiday Inn in Clarksville, Tenn. The conference will start Thursday, February 16, with a tour of successful stocker operations. An indoor program will be presented on February 17 by nationally recognized cattle specialists. Economical feeding, electronic identification, branded beef and the future of the beef industry are just some of the topics to be covered. A price break is available to those who register for the conference by February 9, For additional program and registration information, contact Dr. Jim Neel, UT Extension beef cattle specialist at (865) (or by e- mail at jneel@utk.edu or Mr. John Bartee, County Director, UT Extension, Montgomery County Tennessee at (931) (or by at jbartee1@utk.edu. National Value-Added Conference June The Center for Profitable Agriculture, cosponsored by the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation and the University of Tennessee Extension, will be hosting the 2006 National Value-Added Agriculture Conference in Nashville, Tennessee June 12 and 13. This will be the first time the conference has been held in the south. Be sure to mark your calendar for the conference, which will be held at the Music City Sheraton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. More detailed information and registration contacts will be announced later. For additional information you may contact Kim A. Martinez at the Center for Profitable Agriculture 1000 Main Entrance Drive, P.O. Box 1819 Spring Hill, TN or phone at (931)

18 18 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 State watersheds in USDA conservation security program The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that 110 watersheds, including several in Tennessee, are eligible for the 2006 Conservation Security Program. This voluntary program recognizes farmers and ranchers for their ongoing stewardship activities on working agricultural lands, said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner. Natural resource conservation efforts by America s producers benefit everyone through healthier soil, cleaner air and water and improved fish and wildlife habitat. CSP successfully demonstrates a cooperative publicprivate conservation partnership. Two of the eligible watersheds are in middle Tennessee: the Upper Elk Watershed (including areas of Giles, Marshall, Lincoln, Moore, Franklin, Grundy, and Coffee Memorials IN MEMORY OF JUSTIN ABLES given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Curtis of Overton County, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Lovin of Morgan County, Ms. Rhedona Rose of Maury County, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Johnson of Maury County IN MEMORY OF MELVIN ALEXANDER given by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Jack Dement of Rutherford County IN MEMORY OF HAROLD AYMETT given by Ms. Rhedona Rose of Maury County IN MEMORY OF RALPH BAKER given by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Moore of Maury County, Ms. Rhedona Rose of Maury County IN MEMORY OF MIKE BENEFIELD given by Ms. Rhedona Rose of Maury County IN MEMORY OF GENEVA BISHOP given by Grainger County Farm Bureau, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Johnson of Maury County IN MEMORY OF JOHN HUFFMAN BREVARD given by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Jack Dement of Rutherford County IN MEMORY OF CADE KRISTOFER COMBS given by Ms. Reed Lucille Reed of Hancock County IN MEMORY OF SAMMIE CARSON DUGGIN given by Bedford County Farm Bureau Women IN MEMORY OF BRIAN ERVIN given by Mr. and Mrs. David Saylor of Washington County IN MEMORY OF HARRIET MAPLES ESTES given by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Jack Dement of Rutherford County IN MEMORY OF GORDON EVANS given by Montgomery County Farm Bureau IN MEMORY OF EVELYN MAMA GEORGE given by Ms. Catherine B. Choate of Maury County IN MEMORY OF YVONNE GRAHAM given by Cocke County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, Mr. and Mrs. David Saylor of Washington County IN MEMORY OF BEAN HASTON given by Catherine Choate and Mary Scoggin of Maury County IN MEMORY OF KERMIT LAFEUERS given by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Nash of Putnam County IN MEMORY OF BEULAH KATE MCBRIDE given by Lauderdale County Farm counties) and the Upper Duck Watershed (including areas of Maury, Marshall, Bedford, Coffee, Williamson, Rutherford, and Moore counties). Four of the eligible watersheds are in both Tennessee and neighboring states. These include the Barren and Red Watersheds along the Kentucky/Tennessee border (including areas of Stewart, Robertson, Montgomery, Sumner, Macon, Clay, and Cheatham counties in Tennessee) and the Guntersville and Pickwick Lake Watersheds along the Alabama/Tennessee (including areas of Hardin, Wayne, Lawrence, Marion, Grundy, and Franklin counties in Tennessee.) The sign-up period will take place early in fiscal year We are happy that farmers and other landowners in these watershed areas will be able to sign up for the Conservation Security Program, said Tennessee s State Conservationist, James Ford. CSP rewards farmers who have already shown they are serious about conservation by assisting them in helping the land even more, Ford said. The 110 watersheds selected by the USDA represent more than 120,000 of the country s potentially eligible farms and ranches, covering more than 46 million acres that are evenly split between cropland and grazing land. USDA s Natural Resources Conservation Service held the first CSP sign-up in Today s announcement brings the number of watersheds enrolled to 330 across the nation, covering 250 million acres that have been eligible for the October, November AITC Foundation donors Bureau IN MEMORY OF DAISY MCDANIEL given by Ms. Katherine B. Austin of Hamblen County IN MEMORY OF GENTRY MCGINNESS given by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hancock of Warren County IN MEMORY OF H.M. MCLEARY given by Ms. Rhedona Rose of Maury County IN MEMORY OF MARY MURPHY given by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Moore of Maury County IN MEMORY OF ADELAID PARDUE given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Sharon Curtis of Overton County, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Henry of Davidson County, Ms. Rhedona Rose of Maury County IN MEMORY OF HARRY PARHAM given by Hickman County Farm Bureau IN MEMORY OF MABEL PATTAT given by Mr. and Mrs. Harold S. Pattat, Sr. of Fayette County IN MEMORY OF DAVE RHODES given by Mr. Charles D. Cavaness of Dyer County, Ms. Rhedona Rose of Maury County IN MEMORY OF JOE D. RICHARDSON given by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Jack Dement of Rutherford County IN MEMORY OF JERRY L. ROSE, SR. given by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Jack Dement of Rutherford County IN MEMORY OF BILLY SELLERS given by Mr. and Mrs. Mark D. McBride and Family of Madison County IN MEMORY OF CLAUDE C. THOMPSON, JR. given by Tennessee Farm Bureau State Women s Committee, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Curtis of Overton County, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Davis of Gibson County, Mr. and Mrs. James O. Fussell of Houston County, Ms. Rhedona Rose of Maury County, Ms. Kristy Taylor of Maury County IN MEMORY OF ROBERT WAFORD UPTON given by Giles County Farm Bureau IN MEMORY OF ROBERT GRAHAM WALL given by Montgomery County Farm Bureau IN MEMORY OF MEIGHAN ELYSE WATERS given by Giles County Farm Bureau IN MEMORY OF ETHEL PEARL WHEELER given by Cumberland County Farm Bureau, Tennessee FFA Foundation, Inc., Mr. Woodrow Luttrell of Davidson County, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Curtis of Overton County, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Davis of Gibson County, Mr. and Mrs. Rob Holland of Maury County, Ms. Rhedona Rose of Maury County IN MEMORY OF MARGARET MARIE WILLIS given by Mr. and Mrs. Tommie Tomberlin, Jr. of Coffee County Honorees IN HONOR OF BURCHFIEL FARMS - MALCOLM BURCHFIEL given by Dyer County Young Farmers and Ranchers IN HONOR OF DANA AND JOHN BUTLER given by Dyer County Young Farmers and Ranchers IN HONOR OF DYER COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE given by Dyer County Young Farmers and Ranchers IN HONOR OF MAUPIN FARMS - ERIC MAUPIN given by Dyer County Young Farmers and Ranchers IN HONOR OF MR. AND MRS. FLAVIUS BARKER given by Mr. and Mrs. William May of Dyer County Donors program. The 2006 CSP will include a renewable energy component. Eligible producers will receive compensation for converting to renewable energy fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol, for recycling 100 percent of on-farm lubricants, and for implementing energy production, including wind, solar, geothermal and methane production. A sign-up announcement will be published that will detail specific program requirements in the watersheds. The program will be offered each year on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows. Additional information on CSP, including a map of the fiscal year 2006 watersheds and eligibility requirements, is online at nrcs.usda. gov/programs/csp. Hickman County Farm Bureau Women Cotton Incorporated PriceWaterHouseCoopers Your gift to the Tennessee Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom teaches our children how their food and fiber is produced, and gives them an awareness of the unique role agriculture plays in our society. To donate, contact the TFBF Special Programs Department at (931)

19 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January TFB News Classified Ads ANIMALS CATTLE Registered Angus & Chiangus bulls and females, complete performance data. Darryl Luna, , Buffalo River in Wayne County; bachelorbendcattle@yahoo.com Angus (Black) Angus bulls - Top A.I. sires, great EPDs and great dispositions. HALL FARMS, Stan Hall, , nights Angus bulls & heifers - gentle, top bloodlines, can deliver. chaneyfarms.com, FOR SALE: Polled Hereford and Angus bulls. They will improve growth, milk, disposition and carcass quality of your herd, can deliver, call today. JG Walker Jr., , Somerville FOR SALE: Registered Angus bulls months, sired by Lead On, 377, GT Premium Design 919, War Alliance All bulls exceed requirements for Beef Enhancement Program money. Thetus Horner, 517 Ted Horner Road, Centerville, TN , Hickman County FOR SALE: Registered Angus bulls - sires: Unique, Executive, 036, and others; one herd bull. Mathis Angus Farms, Duck River, TN FOR SALE: Registered Angus bulls born Sept-Oct 2004, sired by 9126, 377, 410H, etc. Thetus Horner, 517 Ted Horner Road, Centerville, TN , Hickman County FOR SALE: 10 bred registered Black Angus cows, 4 open heifers. A.I. sires: Bando 4126, Traveler 6120, McCumber 172K Trend 249, Traveler 004, Right Time 338, Sitz Alliance Kenny R. Totty, Totty s Bend Angus Farm, 3005 Totty s Bend Road, Duck River, TN (Hickman County) FOR SALE: Angus bulls - 20 months old and ready for service. Low birth weights and milk in their genetics. Good selection to choose from. Norman Amonett, 99 Amonett Lane, Byrdstown, TN FOR SALE: Purebred Angus heifers - bred or ready to breed, with or without papers; also bulls. Miles Collier, 803 Collier Road, McMinnville TN or FOR SALE: Registered Black Angus bulls - AI sires 1407 & 878, dams by top AI sires, low birth weight, high yearling weight and milk. Circle A Farm, David Ashmore, Hohenwald, TN FOR SALE: Registered Black Angus bulls and heifers, excellent bloodlines. Rock Haven Angus, Lewisburg, TN, after 6PM Registered Black Angus Bulls months old, good BW EPDs NEXT ISSUE IS MARCH. AD DEADLINE IS FEB. 10. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF CLASSIFIED ADS: 1. FARM BUREAU MEMBERS - selling items that they make, produce, or raise themselves; or surplus equipment. Each member ad costs 50 per word. 2. NON-MEMBERS or COMMERCIAL MEMBER ADS - in which the member is acting as an agent or dealer (real estate, health products, mail order business, etc.). Each ad costs $1.00 per word. Price, phone number, address and website count as one word each. ADS NOT ACCOMPANIED WITH PAYMENT WILL BE RETURNED TO SENDER. Registered Black Angus bulls - easy calving, high milk. Ronnie Taylor, Hohenwald TN, Win Vue Angus bulls - excellent weaning yearling weights, low birth weight, easy calving, AI sired. Win Vue Angus Farm, Bulls Gap Angus (Red) FOR SALE: Registered Red Angus bulls ranging from 15 mos. to two years. Bulls are packed with performance with excellent genetics. Bulls are priced from $1250 to $2000 depending on age and quality. Located in Crossville, TN. Call during day and at nights for appointment to see at Shady Bottom Ranch Performance Red Angus Bull and Female Sale, March 18, Red Hill Farms, Bart & Sarah Jones, , RED ANGUS: Weaned spring heifers and breeding bulls. Combination, King Rob and Cherokee Canyon bloodlines. Located near Watts Bar Lake on Hwy. 58. Mercer Farm, Ten Mile, TN or Beefalo Beefalo For Sale - Full blood breeding stock, reasonable prices. Call Charles Crabtree, Woodbury, Beefmaster Good, gentle BBU bulls & heifers for sale. Visitors welcome. James & Carolyn Vaughn, 9512 Bates Trail, Lyles, TN POLLED BEEFMASTER - Bulls, heifers. Our guarantee since 1972: If after the sale of his first calf crop you are not satisfied, return any bull purchased from us for full refund. HUDSON BEEFMASTER, 3140 Buffalo Road, Lawrenceburg, TN tennesseelivestockproducers.com Brahman Registered gray Brahman cattle - sell or buy. Michael Blackburn, Brangus BRANGUS - registered bulls. Highfields Farms, Rutledge, TN Buffalo Buffalo, elk and deer. Breeding stock and meat Charolais Charolais Bulls - polled, gentle, registered, low birth weight, months, guaranteed breeder Charolais bulls and females - exceptional quality and disposition, highly tested bloodlines Charolais bulls and heifers - registered, gentle, months. Ron Rhoady, cell Charolais bulls. Woodbury, CHAROLAIS REGISTERED BULLS & HEIFERS mos. good selection, top genetics, natural and AI sired, complete herd health program, balanced EPDs for calving ease, growth, maternal milk and carcass traits. Rugged/ ready, functional/economically sensible cattle. Featured pedigrees: Wyoming Wind, Duke 914, Flash 5074, Prime Time 908P, Program 298P and HTA Tatonka 474P. BRIDGES CHAROLAIS & CATTLE CO. Manchester, farm office, home after 8PM TNFARMBUREAU.ORG Name Address City State Zip Phone ( ) County of Farm Bureau Membership Place Ad Under Which Heading? Place in Which Issue(s)?: Jan March May July Sep Nov Please type or print the copy for your ad in the spaces provided. Clip this form and mail with correct payment to: Tennessee Farm Bureau News P.O. Box 313 Columbia, TN Number of words in ad X 50 or $1.00 X Number of issues = TOTAL COST OF AD : AMOUNT ENCLOSED WITH AD AUCTION MARKET SERVICES Tennessee Livestock Producers Somerville Livestock Market Highway 64E - Fayetteville Hwy Somerville SALE EVERY TUESDAY SALE EVERY TUESDAY Bobby Eslick - Manager Don Terry - Manager (901) (931) or (931) or (731) VIDEO CATTLE SALES Management provided for Lower Middle Tennessee Cattle Assn. For consignment information contact: DARRELL AILSHIE Office (931) FRANK POLING Home (931) Mobile (931) SALES: Jan 20, Mar 3, Apr 7, May 5 June 2, Aug 4, Sep 1, Oct 6, Nov 3 Jan. 10 Jan. 24 Feb. 14 Feb. 28 Mar. 14 Mar. 28 SPECIAL SALES: Graded Sale, Fayetteville Graded Sale, Fayetteville Graded Sale, Fayetteville Graded Sale, Fayetteville Graded Sale, Fayetteville Graded Sale, Fayetteville ORDER BUYING Max Barkley HM Eslick Frank Poling Bobby Eslick Darrell Ailshie Charlie Kuhn SPECIAL SHEEP & GOAT SALES Thompson Station (2nd & 4th Friday) Jan 13, 27; Feb. 10, 24; Mar 10,24 Somerville Every Tuesday at 12 Noon PRODUCER GENETICS Alliance Development Herd Sire Purchasing, Cattle Breeding & Marketing Consultation KEVIN THOMPSON - Manager Office (931) RICHARD BROWN - (931) JOHN WOOLFOLK Office (931) Darrell Ailshie General Manager Bobby Eslick Asst. General Manager

20 20 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 TFB News Classified Ads Gelbvieh FOR SALE: Registered open Gelbvieh heifers - fall yearling bulls, black and homozygous black, AI bloodlines, excellent EPDs. Fayetteville, FOR SALE: Registered Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls, AI sires, many homozygous black and/or polled. Day , night Hereford FOR SALE: Certified Hereford beef now selling in 22 states including Memphis, Chattanooga or call Knoxville, , 4475 Kingston Pike FOR SALE: Registered, horned Hereford bulls - good quality, popular pedigrees. Hart Hereford Farm, Jackson, TN Gentle horn Hereford bulls for sale, market price. Call after 7:30 PM, Hereford (Polled) FOR SALE: Registered Polled Hereford bulls - service age, certified and accredited herd. Jarrell Polled Herefords, Eagleville, TN FOR SALE: Registered Polled Hereford bulls and heifers. Good selection. Practical cattle for practical cattlemen. Earl Moore, 3594 Craig Bridge Road, Williamsport, TN FOR SALE: Registered Polled Hereford bulls, service age. Claude Little, 2076 Old Jamestown Hwy., Crossville, TN, Registered bulls and females - quality pedigrees, performance data available. KBEE Farm, Shelbyville, kbartley@bellsouth.net Registered Polled Hereford bulls - herd certified and accredited, priced reasonably. Stan Webster, Chestnut Mound, Limousin FOR SALE: Registered Limousin bulls and heifers, black, some homozygous. Prichard Farms, Brush Creek, TN , calls and visits welcomed FOR SALE: Limousin bulls and heifers - black, red, polled and homozygous black. Riverside Valley Farm, Hohenwald, TN, ; Limousin - good selection of bred cows, bulls, heifers, black and red Limousin bulls - black and red, polled, all A.I. and embryo calves. Middle Tennessee delivery. HALL FARMS, Stan Hall, , nights LIMOUSIN BULLS - black/red polled, easy calving, loaded with muscle, excellent yearling and weaning weights. WinVue Farms, , (off) Longhorn FOR SALE: 48 head Longhorn Correntis cross cows, some calves on ground ; Santa Gertrudis FOR SALE: Registered Santa Gertrudis bulls, cows, heifers, polled & horned. Call Richard King, Bethesda, TN REGISTERED SANTA GERTRUDIS - polled and horned. Mike Sherrell, SHERLAND FARMS, Lewisburg, TN, Santa Gertrudis - Myers Farms - Polled bulls & heifers for sale. 144 Sub-Station Road, Unionville, TN Shorthorn Registered Shorthorn bulls and heifers for sale - top international blood lines, EPDS available. Charles Curtis, Rickman, TN. Home ; office , ext Swiss FOR SALE: Brown Swiss cattle of all ages. Ralph Butler, HORSES Oregon horses arriving, beautiful colors ; rpcarrfarm@aol.com Mules & Donkeys Burros - all colors, ages, sizes ; rpcarrfarm@aol.com GOATS & SHEEP Boer Goats - 100% FB. Lynnville, TN, www. tennesseeboergoat.com, , Boer goats - 100% fullblood bucks and does. Manchester, TN, BOER GOATS - full bloods, purebreds, percentages. A & C Boer Goats, Rockvale, TN Boer goats - fullblood and percentage nannies; fullblood billies; 10 fullblood billies service age; 60 to choose from; all with papers , Clarksville Boers & % males and females Dixieland Ranch - South African, reds, paints and percentage, outstanding bloodlines. Stud service and semen available on RRD RAPID FIRE R880 and DSM JEREMIA. Marshall Griffith, Lebanon, TN FOR SALE: Quality registered Boer goats. Come see what we have. Morrison, TN GOAT/SHEEP SALE: 2nd & 4th Friday each month. Tennessee Livestock Producers, Thompson Station, TN x 2235 Ram - 50% Dorper, 50% Katahdin, 2 years, $ HOGS FOR SALE: Purebred Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace boars and gilts. Bart Jones, Lafayette, TN ; Purebred Berkshire boars and gilts - wonderful breeding stock, $275 gilts, $400 boars ; lindsey@surfmore.net; www. dwfarms.com BIRDS Game Birds Bobwhite Quail - available August to March, outside flight pen raised, assure your supply - reserve early hconlon@realtracs.com BOBWHITE QUAIL: Hatching eggs, day old chicks. NPIP approved, Pullorum-Typhoid free flock, flight and weather conditioned. Lawrenceburg, TN. CW Brown, or Keith Daniel, Exotic & Other Birds Peacocks, pheasants, swans DOGS AKC Australian Cattle dogs - blue/reds, also some NSDR registered, stud services, pedigree furnished ; relindsey2@yahoo. com; Barger Stock Feist pups - NKC registered, proven winner in squirrel treeing competition, shots, wormed, $250 each, satisfaction guaranteed , Bill Barger Border Collie pups - registered out of champion bloodlines, excellent stockdogs and pets, $175. Dan Vickers, Border Collies - registered, trained and started dogs. Individual training available. Imported blood lines. Priced from $150 to $1500. View at stockdogexchange.com. Call Mike FOR SALE: Bird dogs - pointers and setters broke and started. Wendell Adcock, 474 Merry Oaks Road, McMinnville, TN Great Pyrenees - protects livestock, goats, children, property ; cell Registered Mt. Cur pups - Busher stock bred to tree squirrel and coon, shots and wormed. Call Paulus Shelby, EXOTIC & OTHER ANIMALS Downsizing alpacas, llamas - reg., all ages. Fiber, yarn, garments, blankets , Sweney Llama/Alpaca Ranch UT SENIOR BULL TEST STATION SALE Jan. 19, Noon Middle TN Experiment Station Spring Hill, TN SELLING 100 BULLS - ANGUS, GELBVIEH, RED ANGUS, SIMMENTAL & SIMM-ANGUS All bulls have passed BSE, Johnes tested free, PI BVD tested free, RFID tagged & qualify for TN Ag Enhancement Genetic Program Complete performance records to include ultrasound measurements FOR CATALOGS CONTACT: Dr. F. David Kirkpatrick 2505 River Dr. Knoxville, TN Phone: fkirkpat@utk.edu CATALOG:

21 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January TFB News Classified Ads LEGALLY PEN RAISED BOTTLE FED BABY RACCOONS PLANTS GRASSES Bermuda Bermuda sprigs, high protein hay and pasture, plant June & July, Vaughn s Hybrid produces 100 sq. bales per acre, per cutting, cut 4 to 5 times. Carl Paschal, HIGH-QUALITY, HIGH-YIELDING GRASS. Vaughn s #1 hybrid Bermuda. Excellent for grazing or hay production. Has survived winters down to 20 degrees below zero. No specialized equipment needed to plant. Typical planting dates June-July. Farm visits welcome. Paul Plummer, 6112 Murray Lane, Brentwood, TN 37027, or Robby Christy New patented Bermuda grass developed in White County TN. Available for planting the first of June. Vaughn s #1 hybrid Bermuda is a winter hardy, very high quality grass. Protein 16 to 22 percent and TDN of 64 to 70 percent. Very easy to establish with the normal equipment found on the average farm. Call for more information. Terrell Vaughn, 445 Bermuda Road, Walling TN , fax ; bermudaman@blomand.net Lespedeza FOR SALE: Sericea Lespedeza seed Hay & Straw Orchardgrass hay 5x6 rolls, no weeds, under tarp, $ Rolls - orchardgrass, fescue, low price. Clarksville, VEGETABLES & FRUITS ANTIQUE APPLE TREES varieties available for spring planting! Catalog $3.00. Write: Urban Homestead, 818 Cumberland Street, Bristol, VA LAWN & GARDEN Morton s Horticultural Products, Inc. Free Catalog - Greenhouses & Growers Supplies. Drip Tape, Irrigation Supplies. We Manufacture our Greenhouses. Online Catalog ; mortonprod@blomand.net EQUIPMENT TRACTORS & IMPLEMENTS A.B.I. Irrifrance hard hose traveler irrigation system, 1000 hose, Nelson 200 gun, Rovatti PTO pump, 5 alum. pipe, $15,000; Gehl 125 grinder/mixer, hydraulic augers, scales, very good, $5000; J.D. 3x30 corn combine head with adapter for Heston or Field Queen chopper, $2000; N.H. 850 baler, new chains, $ FOR SALE: 1949 M Farmall, good condition, hand clutch, $ FOR SALE: 1970s Allis Chalmers Land Handler tractor 180, good running condition For Sale: Two grain elevators, MF corn picker, gravity flow box, Farm Hand mixer Model RW mechanical transplanter, like new, $ WANTED: Choremaster 1-wheel garden tractor, condition unimportant, parts, accessories, wheelweight OTHER EQUIPMENT Farm/home water well pumps, tanks and all related acc s. Buy direct!! CMC Supply, Columbia, TN, toll free FOR SALE: Ashley wood burning stove, best offer FOR SALE: Woods 121 rotary mower, 10 wide LOW MILEAGE ENGINES. Best prices, delivery included! CARFAX mileage verification and 199 day warranty wadesautoparts.com Member BBB Silage blower, $ Used portable sawmills! Buy/Sell. Call Sawmill Exchange ; US & Canada; PROPERTY REAL ESTATE 66.5 acres - Cocke County, near I-81 - I-40, mostly wooded, utility, well, creek waters, black top road frontage, two sides, $165, Fishing cabin for sale - fully furnished, Lake Malone, KY ; rpcarrfarm@aol. com Middle Tennessee Cattle Farm - Smith County, 6 water line, 115 acres, sodded in grass, 4/10 miles road frontage, rolling land, ready to sub-divide, $3500 per acre, 5 miles off I-40, springs and ponds VACATION RENTALS CABINS ON COSBY CREEK - Gatlinburg, Smokies area. Hot tub, Jacuzzi, fireplace, kitchen, porches, CATV. Comfy! Cozy! Clean! ; GATLINBURG - 4 bedroom, 3 bath family cabin. Pool table, hot tub, fireplace, view, privacy and much more. By owner. jwilliams@nxs.net; GATLINBURG-PIGEON FORGE Chalets-Cabins. Great views, hot tubs, jacuzzis, fireplace, pool table, sauna. com. Special rates. Call today! GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK - Cabin rental with hot tub, Jacuzzi, fireplace, screened-in porch, washer and dryer, fully equipped kitchens, 15 minutes to Gatlinburg, 3 miles to Park, I miles, located in Cosby TN GULF SHORES CONDO- 2BR, pool/beach access. Spring $510/week, Summer $700/ week, Fall $400/week HILTON HEAD - family special, 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo on beach. jwilliams@nxs.net; LOG CABIN IN GREAT SMOKIES - 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, Jacuzzi, fully furnished, fireplace. Close to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg PIGEON FORGE cabins, chalets, cottages, units sleeping 1 to 36 people. Near Dollywood. Middle Creek Rentals, ; www. mcrr93.com SMOKY MOUNTAIN CABIN - GATLINBURG - hot tub, beautiful mountain view, great secluded vacation spot. Call SMOKY MOUNTAINS vacation chalets and cabins in Pigeon Forge near Dollywood, spacious, fireplace, views, $75/$85 nightly ; HUNTING LEASES Responsible hunter would like to lease land for deer and turkey hunting L O W C O S T P R E S C R I P T I O N D R U G S Guaranteed Less Than Canadian Drugs! Guaranteed Less Than Medicare Discount Card! Each Pill Sealed Huge Savings FREE Home Delivery Prescription Required % GUARANTEED

22 TM 22 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 TFB News Classified Ads HOME IMPROVEMENT 1930s log home - two rooms dogtrot, 36x14, 14 in. yellow poplar, solid Construction ATTENTION MOBILE HOME OWNERS: Take a punch at inflation with our super insulated roof over system by Roof King. No more leaks, never roof coat again, save $$ on heating and cooling costs, maintenance free, 100% watertight guaranteed. Call , Roof King ZZZ - FLOORS SHAKING - ZZZ. Sagging and Falling? Need Leveled? Termite Damage? We repair/replace/restore CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS. HAROLD L. GILMORE & SONS - Construction since , 615 and western 423 area codes VOL. I Home Security DRIVEWAY ALARMS, $189.95, 1000 feet, no wiring. TN DRIVEWAY AND DOOR CHIME CO BUSINESS INSURANCE STOCK Buying FB Life stock $ Buying TN Farmers Life and Assurance stock I want to buy TN Farmers Life and Assurance stock. Call Doug Horne, , ext. 131 or write 412 N. Cedar Bluff Road #205, Knoxville, TN WANTED: Stock in both Assurance and Life Companies, highest price paid. Call Name Street Address City State Zip Phone County No. of cookbooks: Vol. I ($13 each) Includes sales tax & shipping Total Enclosed $ SPECIAL OFFER! Only $12 while supplies last! Classic Farm Tractors 2006 Calendar Collectorʼs Edition COUNTRY CLASSICS I & II Both cookbooks are on sale from the Tennessee Farm Bureau Women. Vol. II ($17 each) Includes sales tax & shipping Payable To: TN Foundation for Ag-In-The-Classroom Mail To: P.O. Box 313 Columbia, TN Charge It: Visa MasterCard ORDER YOURS TODAY! For a $12 donation to the Camp Woodlee YF&R Camp Fund, you will receive a 2006 Classic Farm Tractors Collector s Edition Calendar. This calendar is 17th in a series offered by the YF&R to support their programs at Camp Woodlee located in Warren County. This large, colorful calendar is one you will enjoy all year long. Name Street Address City State Zip Phone County No. of calendars X $12 each (includes postage) Total Enclosed $ Make Checks Payable to: Camp Woodlee Fund Mail Orders To: TN Farm Bureau Special Programs Dept. P.O. Box 313 Columbia, TN VOL. II Card # Expiration Date Signature BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL. If you didn t earn $3000 last week part time, go to HELP WANTED AGRICULTURAL - Earn $15,000-$50,000/year part-time. If you have a farm related background, you may be qualified to become a livestock or farm equipment appraiser. For information call or www. amagappraisers.com FARM EQUIPMENT SALES - Farm equipment distributor needs motivated sales representative to call on implement dealers, farm supply stores, etc., and manage an established dealer-based territory. Position is full-time and requires overnight travel each week. Salary plus commissions plus excellent benefit package. Reply to Sales, PO Box 5022, Chattanooga, TN or fax MISCELLANEOUS BIG SALE - Quilting materials, yard goods, discounted samples. $2.00. Credited on first order. Barry s Gifts, Box 3237, Farmington, MI BUYING old comics. Charles Gross, POB 52, Chestnut Mound, TN CASH! Holding a mortgage on property you sold? Sell it for CASH! Murfreesboro; nationwide CHAIRS BOTTOMED. Wood splints, fiber rush or cane. LeRoy Barnes, 229 Watson Street, Camden, TN CURRENTLY FARMING WITH A DISABILITY? The Tennessee AgrAbility Project is a statewide non-profit service that provides assistance to agricultural workers with disabilities. For further information, please call West TN ; East TN ; Middle TN FOR SALE: Quilt pieces - pretty prints, some checks, all sizes, colors, 20lbs $50. Send order to Wilma Green, HCR 65 Box 526, Dunlap, TN LEAKING OIL??? Positively STOP any rubber oil seal leak in engines, transmissions, power steering or hyd. system with SealLube Seal Expander. Guaranteed! Works in hours - lasts for years! An 8 oz. bottle treats up to 10qt. of oil. $ $3.85 S&H. Call now ; VISA/MC/Amx/ Check. NEW TECH INTL., Box 26198, Fraser, MI LEARN CHORD PLAYING. Amazing, new book. Piano, organ, keyboard, $9.50. Davidsons, 6727 HTT Metcalf, Shawnee Mission, KS Meat grinders, cubers, butcher supplies, catalog $2. Home Processor, 4500 Ledan Road Ext., Gainesville GA ; PLAY GOSPEL SONGS by ear! Add chords. 10 easy lessons $ LEARN GOSPEL MUSIC. Chording, runs, fills - $ Both $24. Davidsons, 6727 HT Metcalf, Shawnee Mission, KS WANTED: Civil War era guns, swords, military relics, also crockery whiskey jugs with whiskey company s name WANTED: I collect World War I and II military relics - American, German, Japanese. Helmets, metals, knives, bayonets, guns, swords, daggers, etc WANTED: Old Tennessee license plates. Motorcycle ( ); car, taxi, dealer, national guard, THP ( ). Big, big bucks paid, $2000+ for WANTED: Old Wurlitzer Rockola Seeburg jukeboxes and old Harley and Indian motorcycles , Manchester, TN, tennesseewildman@yahoo.com CHURCH FURNITURE Wood Construction Low Prices Free Estimates Plain or Upholstered Pews, Baptistries, Steeples, Refinishing, Carpeting, Upholster Existing Pews, Windows, Plus Much more Southern Church & Institutional Supplies P.O. Box 1046, Lewisburg, TN (931) Toll Free Free Brochures 2 SEAT BIKE DRIVES LIKE A CAR Easy to Pedal Multi-Speed 1, 2 & 4 Seaters Optional Electric Motor FREE BROCHURE Ext Dept Rhoades Lane Hendersonville, Tennessee Thru Jan ʼ x 30ʼ OPEN FRONT UTILITY BUILDING $ Installed on your level lot. Includes sales tax, white painted metal siding and trim, galvalume metal roofing. Additional charges for delivery. WE BUILD HORSE BARNS, GARAGES & SHOPS Parsons, TN CALL FOR FREE COLOR BROCHURE Available in the Central Time Zone of Tennessee HERITAGE BUILDING SYSTEMS Established 1979 LET US SHOW YOU WHY WE RE #1! 33 x 45 x $6, x 72 x $11, x 104 x $21, x 150 x $46,835 Since 1979 Heritage Building Systems focus has been to provide the industry with the finest quality, best l o o k i n g p r e - e n g i n e e r e d s t e e l structures at the lowest possible price w w w. h e r i t a g e b u i l d i n g s. c o m s r r

23 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January DODGE MAGNUM 2006 DODGE RAM 2500 MEGA CAB INTRODUCING THE 2006 MEGA CAB 15 more cab length than the average crew cab, largest interior cargo volume behind the front seat cubic ft., most rear-seat leg room , only pickup with reclining rear seats, standard 345-hp HEMI with available 5.9-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel. YEAH, IT S THAT BIG DODGE DAKOTA 2006 DODGE DURANGO 2006 DODGE RAM 3500 HEAVY DUTY 2006 DODGE RAM 1500 We re proud to offer Farm Bureau Members in Tennessee an extra $ 500 CASH ALLOWANCE when you buy a new Dodge. Contact your local Farm Bureau or Dodge Dealer for details. For more information, visit DODGE.COM or call ONTHEJOB. * Offer applies to new Dodge trucks and Magnums, excluding Sprinter, SRT, and car models. Farm Bureau is a registered trademark of the American Farm Bureau. Excludes all other certifi cate programs. Ram 1500 and 2500 Mega Cab comes standard with a 345-hp HEMI. Ram 3500 Mega Cab comes standard with Cummins turbo diesel DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

24 24 Tennessee Farm Bureau News - January 2006 Celebrating Affordable Food Food in America is affordable. In fact, in just little over five weeks, the average American will have earned enough disposable income to pay for his or her food supply for the entire year, according to the Tennessee Farm Bureau Women s State Committee. As a result, the Tennessee Farm Bureau is celebrating Jan. 29 Feb. 4, 2006, as Food Check-Out Week. The latest statistics compiled by the Agriculture Department s Economic Research Service indicate American families and individuals currently spend, on average, just 9.5 percent of their disposable personal income for food. Applying the current statistic to the calendar year, it means the average household will have earned enough disposable income -- that portion of income available for spending or saving -- to pay for its annual food supply in just five weeks. Not only is America s food supply the world s safest, but it s also the most affordable, said Joan Fussell, Tennessee Farm Bureau s Women s Committee chairman. Our nation s increasing standard of living would certainly be reduced without the safe, abundant and affordable domestic food supply produced by America s farmers and ranchers. Food Check-Out Week tracks the amount of income needed by Americans to purchase food on an annual basis, according to Mrs. Fussell. To mark the occasion, the FB Women will donated approximately $3,000 worth of food to the five Ronald McDonald Houses across the state. The Ronald McDonald Houses provides a home-away-from-home for the families of seriously ill children receiving medical treatment in their area. The food will be used to help feed families staying at the House. In comparison to Food Check-Out Week, most Americans worked until mid-april to pay their taxes in 2005, according to The Tax Foundation. Fussell said the high-quality, affordable food we enjoy is a product of our successful food production and distribution system, as well as America s farmers retaining access to effective and affordable crop protection tools. This week should hold meaning for most Americans, she said. As food producers, we are concerned that some Americans cannot afford to buy the food they need, but we are proud of the role Tennessee farmers play in making our food supply more affordable for all. The percent of disposable personal income spent for food has declined over the last 34 years. According to USDA, food is more affordable today due to a widening gap between growth in per-capita incomes and the amount of money spent for food. This overall decrease is made more notable by the fact that trends indicate Americans are buying more expensive convenience food items for preparation at home, as well as more food away from home. The Agriculture Department s latest statistic, compiled for 2004, includes food and non-alcoholic beverages consumed at home and away from home. This includes food purchases from grocery stores and other retail outlets, including food purchases with food stamps and vouchers for the Women, Infants and Children s program. The statistic also includes awayfrom-home meals and snacks purchased by families and individuals, as well as food furnished to employees.