Tennessee Home and Farm Summer 2011

Home & Farm
Tenne sse e
tnhomeandfarm.com
Summer 2011
Sweet on the
Bonnie Blue
Get a taste of the farm
from this B&B’s cannery
Moles & Voles

Learn how to keep these
critters out of your garden
The Culinary
Campfire
Discover the lost art of
cooking over an open fire
tnfarmbureau.org Published for the 657,362 family members of the Tennessee Farm Bureau
tnhomeandfarm.com Home&Farm 1
Home & Farm
Ten n e ssee
Editor’s note
An official publication of the Tennessee Farm
Bureau Federation © 2011 TFBF
Tennessee Farm
Bureau Federation
Cast Iron & Cicadas
tnfarmbureau.org
When we featured a story about Lodge Cast Iron in South Pittsburg,
Editor Pettus Read
Tenn., in our last issue (online at tnhomeandfarm.com/lodge-cast-iron),
circulation manager Stacey Warner
Board of directors President Lacy Upchurch,
we never imagined so many of you would write in to tell us your strong
Vice President Danny Rochelle connection to cast iron. The cookware lasts for generations, which over
Directors at large Jeff Aiken,
the years results in some great family stories like this one:
Charles Hancock, Catherine Via
district directors Malcolm Burchfiel, James Haskew, “I have three pieces of Lodge Cast Iron cookware – a Dutch oven, a
Eric Mayberry, Dan Hancock, David Mitchell medium skillet and a small skillet. The Dutch oven belonged to my
state fb women’s chairman Jane May
grandmother, it was passed down to my mother and now I have it. I
Advisory directors Buddy Mitchell, Jamie Weaver
Chief administrative officer Joe Pearson would not trade it for anything.” – Marian Ridley
treasurer Wayne Harris Your memories about cicadas may not be as sentimental, but we love
Comptroller Tim Dodd
hearing them just the same. Share your stories and photos – and read
others – at cicadacentral.com. We’re giving away a prize to the best entry.
Speaking of prizes, remember that our photo contest is still going on,
and during the month of August we will kick off our readers’ choice
Managing Editor Jessy Yancey contest for online entrants. For more details or to view this year’s photo
Copy Editors Lisa Battles, Jill Wyatt contest entries, visit tnhomeandfarm.com/photocontest.
Content coordinator Blair Thomas
Contributing Writers Melissa Burniston, Jessy Yancey, managing editor
Carol Cowan, Erin Edgemon, Kim Green, Susan Hamilton,
Anthony Kimbrough, Tiffany Howard, Jessica Mozo, thaf@jnlcom.com
Karen Schwartzman, Cassandra M. Vanhooser,
Jessica Walker, Bryan Wright
Creative Director Keith Harris
Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto
Media Technology Director Christina Carden
Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord
At a Glance/A sampling of destinations in this issue
Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier
Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Vikki Williams 2/Rutledge 4/Unicoi
Proofreading Manager Raven Petty
3/Smyrna
Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf
2/Ripley 1/McMinnville
Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan
Web Content Manager John Hood
Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza 5/Shiloh
Web Designer Richard Stevens
Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw,
Yamel Hall, Alison Hunter, Marcus Snyder 1/ Take home a jar of preserves after spending the weekend at Bonnie
Integrated Media Manager Robin Robertson Blue Inn & Cannery in McMinnville. page 12
Chairman Greg Thurman

2/ Celebrate summer at Tennessee tomato festivals, held on either side
President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman of the state in Ripley and Rutledge. page 6
Executive Vice President Ray Langen
Sr. V.P./SALES Todd Potter, Carla Thurman
3 / Send your kids to a history-themed camp at Sam Davis Home in
sr. V.P./operations Casey Hester Smyrna. page 6
V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester
4 / Stock up on fresh summer produce at Scott Strawberry & Tomato
V.p./external communications Teree Caruthers
V.P./custom publishing Kim Newsom Holmberg Farm in Unicoi. page 7
v.p./content operations Natasha Lorens 5 / Enjoy a delicious dinner overlooking the Tennessee River at Catfish
controller Chris Dudley
Advertising sales Manager, Custom division
Hotel in Shiloh. page 29
Tori Hughes
Distribution DIRECTOR Gary Smith
office manager Shelly Grissom
receptionist Linda Bishop Tennessee Home & Farm (USPS No. 022-305) Advertising Policy For advertising information,
Issued quarterly by the Tennessee Farm Bureau contact Robin Robertson, (800) 333-8842, ext. 227, or
Federation, 147 Bear Creek Pike, Columbia, TN 38401, by e-mail at rrobertson@jnlcom.com.
Tennessee Home & Farm is produced for the Tennessee Farm (931) 388-7872. Periodical permit paid at Columbia,
Bureau Federation by Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool TN, and additional entry offices. All advertising accepted is subject to publisher’s
Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. approval. Advertisers must assume all liability for their
All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be Postmaster Send address corrections to: Tennessee advertising content. Publisher and sponsor maintain
Home & Farm Executive Offices, P.O. Box 313, the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader
reprduced in whole or in part without written consent.
Columbia, TN 38402-0313. complaint about service or product. Publisher does not
Member Association of Magazine Media accept political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does
Subscribe or change address Contact your publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or
Member Custom Content Council county Farm Bureau office. TH&F is included in your $25 products. Publisher assumes no liability for products
Farm Bureau annual dues; no other purchase necessary. or services advertised in Tennessee Home & Farm.
Please recycle this magazine
2 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

Table of Contents
Features
8 / The Culinary Campfire
Johnny Nix shares the lost art
of cooking over an open fire
12 / Sweet on the Bonnie Blue

B&B gives guests a taste of the farm
through its cannery side business
16 / Carving His Niche

Woodworker uses hobby to
show appreciation, gratitude
18 / A Place for Everything

Learn easy and fun ways
to organize kids’ rooms
22 / Taste of Tennessee
Farmers markets, roadside stands
provide bounty for summer recipes
22
Departments
5 / Read All About It
Change isn’t always a good thing
6 / Short Rows
Tomato festivals span the state
27/ Country Classics

Strawberry Sheet Cake
29 / Restaurant Review
Hagy’s Catfish Hotel in Shiloh
30 / Gardening
Moles and voles in the garden, oh my!
8 12 33 / Farmside Chat
Fifth-generation farmer John Butler
35 / To Good Health
The importance of thank-you notes
36 / Farm Bureau Almanac

Connecting consumers with farm food
38 / Travel
Farm camps make a great getaway
42/ Events & Festivals

Things to do, places to see
48 / View From the Back Porch

Nostalgic for Southern summers
18 On the Cover Photo by Antony Boshier,

Johnny Nix’s Crescent Apple Tart
From Our Readers
tnhomeandfarm.com
FOOD Tr avel Home & Garden Agriculture TN Living
A Trip Down
Memory Highway
I live in Atlanta but grew up in
Etowah, Tenn. My brothers and sisters
and I have been in and out of the L&N
Depot many times. Our dad retired
after 47 years of working for the L&N
Railroad. It is like a breath of fresh
air to leave I-75 to drive north on
Hwy. 411 and see those beautiful
mountains! Thanks for the memories!
Dottie Pullen Thomas
via tnhomeandfarm.com/highway-411
Botanic Garden Blooms

We are very excited about the new
Photo Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archive, Bugwood.org Herb Garden [at Memphis Botanic
Garden, Spring 2011]. Since we had
Cicada Central such a cold winter, we held off on

installation of most of the tender herb
The 13-year Brood XIX cicada is the big buzz in parts of Tennessee this seedlings until all the chances for
summer. Find cicada fun facts, tips, photos and Pettus Read’s thoughts on heavy frost passed.
these big red-eyed bugs at www.cicadacentral.com, where you can also Planting will be an ongoing process,
share your own cicada stories and photos for a chance to win a prize. as things are seasonal, and it is a
massive undertaking. A good deal of
the planting happened mid-April, with
Online Library Read past issues and new online-only magazines things really growing in and taking
shape by this summer.
There are plenty of things to see at
simply
Summer A COLLECTION OF REFRESHING SUMMER RECIPES
CICADA
Memphis Botanic Garden, and other
new projects in the works, so come on
out and watch the progress as the Herb
CENTRAL
The buzz on the bugs of summer Garden, Wildlife Photography Garden
and other areas spring into bloom!
Jana Gilbertson
Sponsored by Tennessee Farm Fresh Director of Marketing/PR
Memphis Botanic Garden
Editor’s Note: Flippens Fruit Farm,

Connect with us online! which we mentioned in the peach tree
pruning story in our Spring 2011 issue,
no longer has a year-round market.
Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/tnhomeandfarm They do still have a peach orchard and
operate seasonal markets from May
Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tnhomeandfarm through October.
Visit us on YouTube at youtube.com/tnhomeandfarm
Questions, comments and story

Share with us on Flickr at flickr.com/groups/scenictn
ideas can be sent to: Jessy Yancey,
725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400,
Sign up for the e-mail newsletter at tnhomeandfarm.com Franklin, TN 37067, or email us at
thaf@jnlcom.com.

Read All About It
Just Leave It Alone

Run-ins with the changers of what makes sense in life
I
t never fails that when I find something shape of the pills I take. I have enough trouble
that works the way I want it to, fits my body keeping up with what pills I need to take at
the way it should, tastes the way I like it, what time of the day without the pill
smells the way it should smell and costs the companies changing the color or size on a
amount it should cost, somebody from out of regular basis. I even went to the extra effort of
nowhere will go and change it or completely do getting one of those boxes with the days of the
away with it. And these days, it doesn’t take week on them so I could remember to get the
long for the process to happen, either. right pill at the right time. Now, I’m catching
Just the other day I had a run-in with the myself having to remind myself what day it is,
“changers of what makes sense in life” when so I’ve put a calendar up close to the pillbox.
I went to buy a new gas can. All I wanted was But when the pill companies change the color About the Author
a simple two-gallon gas can to fill up my to look like another pill I’m already taking, Pettus L. Read is
lawnmower. You know, the kind with a cap and then I’m completely confused. It makes me editor of the Tennessee
a spout made from plastic with a little vent in wonder if there is some person at the pill Farm Bureau News
the back. But, thanks to the “changers,” our company who gets a kick out of making life and director of
communications for
environment no longer can survive with those difficult for those of us who have a few extra
the Tennessee Farm
types of dangerous cans, and we now have the miles on us. Bureau Federation.
environmentally friendly cans that have no I had a door-to-door preacher stop by the
vent or caps you can screw off. Instead, to pour house not long ago inviting me to come to his
the contents from the can, you must push church. I appreciated his visit and told him
down on the back of the spout while also I already attended church elsewhere and
sliding the lever down and lifting the can. thanked him for coming by. He didn’t want to Read More About It
You must also lift one leg while placing your leave right away and asked me, “Have you ever Read has collected his
tongue to the left side of your cheek and thought about the hereafter?” favorite columns into a
holding your breath while pouring. I told him I thought about that all the time, book titled Read All
These cans are supposed to prevent more and he looked kind of surprised. “You really About It. Part of the
proceeds of the book
fumes from escaping into the atmosphere than think about the hereafter all the time?” he
sales go to Tennessee
the older cans, but I wonder if anyone took into asked. 4-H and Tennessee
account the extra amount of gas that is poured “Yes I do,” I answered. “Just this morning I FFA programs.
all over the ground due to the inability of the went into the back bedroom and asked myself, Buy a copy online at
pourer to handle these creations made for a ‘Now what am I here after?’” tnhomeandfarm.com/
contortionist. Change is something that is going to store.
Plus, if you happen to be using these new happen, and we all have to get used to it, but
caps on a five-gallon can, then forget lifting I wonder if it has to happen as often as it
that sucker to pour fuel into a top-loading does. Maybe it is important to change the
tractor unless you happen to be made like the color of a pill or its size, the design of the
Hulk. The environment may be safe, but your label or even do away with my favorite item
back is going to be a goner. on your menu. Change does keep us on our
The same thing happens with medicines. toes, but these new gas caps are literally
They are all the time changing the size and keeping us on our toes.
Short Rows
1 2
a great tomato sandwich. For links to

1/ Camp Back in Time 2 / Make ’Mater Memories his tomato sandwich video and all of
Kids can travel back to the 1800s Tennesseans love their tomatoes, these festivals, visit tnhomeandfarm.
and into the world of Civil War legend and towns across the state celebrate com/tn-tomato-festivals.
Sam Davis at a series of summer camps the summer fruit with tomato festivals.
at the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna. The Lauderdale County Tomato
The Apple Valley School camp, Festival in Ripley honors area tomato 3 / Relaxing Amongst
growers July 8-9. The weekend’s events
which runs June 20-24, allows boys
include tomato tasting, carnival rides, the Rhododendrons
and girls ages 8-12 the chance to be
arts and crafts and live music. Perched between the Doe River and
19th-century students and role play as
Travel to the Grainger County the steep slopes of the Appalachians,
members of families from long ago.
Tomato Festival in Rutledge July 29-31 Roan Mountain Bed and Breakfast is
They will enjoy authentic lessons from
to enjoy work from local artists and an idyllic getaway.
the 1800s, make crafts, play games,
craftsmen and a wide variety of Managed by Ann Campbell, Robert
and visit the historic house and Morgan and their families, the B&B sits
tomatoes from local growers.
grounds. Period costumes are optional. Highlighting the artistic side of the on 120 acres in Roan Mountain near the
Other weeklong camps include the summer fruit is the Tomato Art Fest in North Carolina High Country. It’s been
Jane Davis Academy for girls and East Nashville. This annual festival is in the Morgan family for more than a
School of the Soldier for boys. held in August and includes a tomato century and dates back to World War II.
To learn more about the Sam Davis art show, the TomatOlympics and Guests can hike 10 miles of the
Home and its 2011 summer camps, visit tomato jewelry making. Appalachian Trail between Carver’s Gap
www.samdavishome.org. And don’t forget, Pettus Read makes and Hump Mountain or enjoy antique

TN TN
FARM FARM
FRESH FRESH
shops and restaurants in nearby
Elizabethton, zip-lining at Seven Devils,
and boat rentals at Watauga Lake.
Where the Red Fruits Grow
The 65th annual Rhododendron In the beautiful mountains of Unicoi County, you can find a bounty of
Festival is June 18-19, held during the fresh strawberries, tomatoes and more at Scott Strawberry and Tomato
peak of rhododendron bloom. Farms. The Scotts have been selling their produce to the public since 1959,
To learn more about the Roan when Wayne and Mary Lou Scott moved to the farm in Unicoi. They raised
Mountain Bed and Breakfast, visit five children on that farm, two of whom are still full-time farmers today.
www.roanmtbb.com. Brothers Steve and David have degrees in horticulture and agriculture,
respectively, and use their experience and education to work hard and
maintain the level of standards that their parents set for them years ago.
4/ Don’t Waste Your Energy Needless to say, farming has not only been just a job but a way of life for
the Scott family. Even with the changes and demands affecting farming,
There is wasted energy in every
there’s an optimistic drive that farmers share. “When farming, you make a
Tennessean’s home, and the Tennessee
living and enjoy what you are doing at the same time,” Steve Scott says.
Valley Authority is offering a free
“Even with all the changes, I still enjoy farming.”
online audit to help its customers find
The Scotts take pride in their livelihood and strive to offer high quality,
and reduce those wasted kilowatts.
fresh and safe products for consumers. Strawberries are the first major crop
Customers who complete the online
of the year, beginning in May and typically lasting until mid-June. The
audit or schedule an in-home audit with
Scotts sell their strawberries straight from the farm and throughout East
a TVA-certified evaluator will receive Tennessee. You can find their berries at local Food City stores and roadside
an energy conservation kit, which stands in Knoxville, Greeneville, Morristown, Elizabethton, Unicoi, Johnson
includes two compact fluorescent light City and Bristol.
bulbs, two faucet aerators and a hot Tomato season follows beginning in mid-July, with vine-ripened ’maters
water temperature gauge. available to the public in addition to what they ship nationwide. The Scotts
The online audit will ask customers also raise sweet corn and green beans that, as with the tomatoes, are
to describe their house including the available steadily through early fall or until the first frost.
number of rooms, levels, and types of Weather willing, this July should see the inaugural harvest of the farm’s
heating and cooling systems installed. Scott Unaka Mountain Blueberries.
To start a free online audit, visit the If you would like to enjoy these Tennessee Farm Fresh products from the
TVA website at www.energyright.com. Scotts, visit www.scottfarmstn.com or call (423) 743-4511 to learn about
This site also provides resources such their crops, market locations and more.
as an energy calculator to compute a – Tiffany Howard
home’s actual energy use and cost.
5/ Green Your Thumb

Gardeners can ask their tough plant
questions and tour the UT Gardens in
Jackson at the annual University of
Tennessee Summer Celebration Lawn
and Garden Show on July 14.
The all-day event held at the West
Tennessee AgResearch and Education
Center begins at 10 a.m. and features
workshops by regional gardeners,
a variety of plants on display and
homegrown recipe ideas. Guests can
also purchase plants that thrive in
West Tennessee at the plant sale.
Admission is $5. For more details,
visit tnhomeandfarm.com/green-
your-thumb or call (731) 424-1643.
Food
The
Culinary
BECOME A FIRESIDE CHEF WITH LESSONS FROM Johnny Nix
Story by Carol Cowan

Photography by antony boshier
C
ooking over a campfire is a lost some people she thought we’d become Win a Signed
art, but it isn’t rocket science – friends with at the ride,” Nix recalls. “So we Cookbook
at least according to Johnny Nix, got to cooking and having everybody over to Johnny Nix is giving
who’s drawn hundreds to his eat supper with us. One night we cooked for away a signed edition of
fireside with this signature invitation: over 200 people. Everybody loved it. Finally his cookbook, All Time
“Y’all eat yet?” we just ran out of food and had to shut the Favorite Recipes, to one
kitchen down about midnight.” of our email subscribers.
The folksy Alabama native shares his
Sign up for our free,
knowledge of cooking the cowboy way on his The encounter led to a pilot episode, and
monthly e-newsletter at
newly launched TV show, Cookin’ Outdoors Campfire Café was born. From scenic locations tnhomeandfarm.com for
With Johnny Nix, which airs on the Blue in state parks to a backyard series filmed at a chance to win.
Highways cable network each week. the producer’s home, Nix guided viewers
through the process of cooking everything from
Campfire Café beans and biscuits to bacon-wrapped spinach-
Nix is already known to people all over the stuffed turkey breast – all over an open fire.
country as the host of Campfire Café, a one- He even did a series featuring country
of-a-kind cooking show that aired on the RFD music stars, among them Mark Chesnutt,
network between 2001 and 2006. Avid riders Aaron Tippin, The Kentucky HeadHunters,
and campers, Nix and his wife, Wanda, had Joe Diffie and Ray Price. “We had a blast
been perfecting their open-fire cooking skills with all the country music artists,” Nix says.
for some 25 years. Their move into television “To think, the legendary Ray Price came on
came about when they met the producer of a my show and cooked with me.”
show at a trail ride in Missouri. Campfire Café was the top show on RFD
“She [the producer] parked us up with during its run. And although it went off the
Johnny Nix teaches home cooks how easy it is to prepare a gourmet meal over the campfire.
Food
Nix crafts recipes made for an open fire, such as stuffed peppers, Tuscan roasted chicken and a crescent apple tart. The cowboy
chef also uses a variety of equipment, such as a hooks and swing grills, to cook dishes at the precisely the right temperature.
air in 2006, Nix still gets recognized outside, keep it simple. Our cookbook is great Cowboy Peach
wherever he goes. because we have a lot of real simple, one-pot Cobbler
dishes that are easy to throw together.” “The peach cobbler is
top chef: cowboy edition Because there are no temperature control one of our most highly
Nix has never stopped sharing his passion knobs on a fire, beginners are easily intimidated, recognized dishes, and
for cowboy cooking, and he remains busy Nix notes. But his cooking setups allow people a lot of people ask to
conducting demonstrations across the country. to use different length hooks to set their dishes have us do it because
“I’ve had the privilege around the campfire to it’s a real simple recipe
over the fire at varying temperatures.
cook with some great chefs,” he says. “In and it’s really hard to
“I make all the cook sets by hand myself,” mess up,” Nix says. “All
Colorado, I cooked with the Galloping Gourmet, he says. “The hooks are different lengths, for you do is take two large
Graham Kerr. We did a family reunion down in the different temperatures, and I make the pit cans of peaches, dump
Florida for Mr. Art Smith, who was Oprah itself. We make the swing grills, the warming them in the pot, sprinkle
Winfrey’s personal chef. He had chefs from trays and all that. I want people to have a some cinnamon on top
Chicago, New York and other places come in; good experience when they’re cooking – of the peaches, and then
everybody had their own specialty foods that dump a cake mix on top
’cause cookin’s fun.”
of it. Then pour a stick
they were cooking. He had linen and china and
of melted butter on top
crystal delivered down there in a cow pasture,
of the cake mix and just
and we cooked over a fire for these people.”
Recipes & Resources let it boil. Once it boils,
it mixes the cake mix
Essential Equipment Johnny Nix’s cookbook All Time Favorite Recipes into the peaches. Then
“One of the big events we do every year is the features close to 100 dishes readers can cook you just put top coals
outdoors. It also offers tips on building a fire,
National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, on top of the lid and
estimating temperature, baking in cast iron and
Tenn., where the Lodge factory is,” Nix let it brown. Once it’s
adapting Nix’s methods for use with charcoal.
continues, referring to the Lodge Manufacturing browned, it’s done.
His two-hour DVD Cookin’ With Wood takes the
It takes about 45
Co., whose cast iron Dutch ovens and skillets process a step further and actually shows viewers
minutes.”
figure prominently in Johnny’s demos and TV how to build a fire pit, choose the right wood, set
shows. In fact, the Lodge skillet and camp up the equipment and cook everything from
coffee to pork chops and cornbread casserole.
Dutch oven top his list of essential equipment.
The cookbook, DVD, campfire cooking set and
With the right cookware, open-fire cooking cookware are available at www.yalleatyet.com.
is easier than you might think, Nix says. “The For a chance to win a cookbook, sign up for
main thing is just to relax, enjoy your meal, our e-newsletter at tnhomeandfarm.com.
and when you’re picking dishes to cook
Travel

Sweet on the
Bonnie Blue McMinnville B&B gives guests a taste of
the farm through its cannery side business
Story by Cassandra M. Vanhooser

Photography by antony boshier
W
hen Rebecca Merritt opened her owners. “We grow most of what we use in the See video
McMinnville bed-and-breakfast
in 20 05, she wanted to give
cannery,” Merritt says. “It’s not a major part
of our business right now, but we’re hoping it
online
guests something to take home, continues to grow.”
something that would help them remember While the interest in her canning business
their visit to the Bonnie Blue Inn. She found has been a little unexpected, Merritt says
her inspiration on the family farm. she has dreamed of running her own bed-
“Fresh produce is a byproduct of our and-breakfast for years. When husband
nursery business,” Merritt explains. “I really Brett purchased a neighboring farm to
Jam Session
just started canning to have something expand his nursery business in 2003, she
Rebecca Merritt shows
special to give my guests.” finally got her opportunity.
how to make blueberry
A former University of Tennessee Extension “When we bought the farm where the jam topping in a video at
agent, Merritt has now created her own line house sits, I immediately started trying to tnhomeandfarm.com.
of jams, jellies, fruit butters and relishes. convince my husband that we should open
She freezes the fruits as they ripen, then a B&B,” she says. “I pictured the house just
sets aside one Friday each month for like it is today.”
canning. The Bonnie Blue Cannery is What’s now known as the Bonnie Blue Inn
licensed, and its products have been was then just a rundown early 19th-century
designated a Pick Tennessee product by farmhouse with no plumbing, an outhouse
the Department of Agriculture. and an active beehive humming away in the
Every guest receives a jar of something walls. “We don’t know the exact date the
tasty as a gift when they check out and head house was built, but we have found records
home. It’s a homegrown, homemade gift that where someone sold it in 1908,” Merritt notes.
is a true reflection of the Bonnie Blue and its “We tried to keep as much original as
Rebecca Merritt runs Bonnie Blue Inn in McMinnville, which includes a tea room and cannery.
Travel
possible, but it needed a lot of repair.” house to guarantee privacy. A Grandmother’s If You Go:
Opened in 2005, the house has been Tea Party highlights the spring, and there’s a Contact Bonnie Blue
updated but retains its charm and character. luncheon the Saturday before Mother’s Day. Inn at (931) 815-3838 or
Outside, there’s a tin roof, lazy porch with Especially popular is the Santa Tea Party, a www.bonnieblueinn.com.
rocking chairs and wide green lawn. Inside, treat for the younger set. Rates are $90-$100 per
the Bonnie Blue is at once both modern and No matter what brings guests to the Bonnie night. The Tea Room is
open 11 a.m.-2 p.m.,
old-fashioned. Hardwood floors run Blue Inn, Merritt hopes they feel at home.
Tuesday-Thursday, from
throughout and fresh colors don the walls, but “Some days we’re bustling, and some days
March to December.
antiques and farm “finds” make up the décor. it’s quiet around here,’ she says. “But I like Jams, jellies and other
Remarkably, Merritt has resisted the urge for people to be able to relax and enjoy the canned goods are
to fill every nook and cranny with keepsakes, feel of the place. To me, that’s the most available at the inn
giving the inn a clean, welcoming feel. “We important thing.” or by mail order.
tried to keep the feel of 100 years ago, but we
have all the modern conveniences,” she says.
“We don’t live in the house, so it is very
private. We’re not far away, but our guests
Can You Can?
really have the place to themselves.” There’s a renewed interest in the old-fashioned art of home canning
The inn only has two guest rooms: the Rose these days, Rebecca Merritt says. While she doesn’t allow guests to
observe her canning process, she suggests contacting your local UT
Room downstairs and the Esposita Suite
Extension office for guidance and free materials on how to get started.
above. Both boast queen beds and private Merritt also sends out a quarterly email that includes musings and
baths, but the suite claims a daybed with news, as well as favorite recipes. Guests are so sweet on the blueberry
trundle that’s perfect for families. Room rates topping she serves at the inn that she agreed to share her recipe and
include a decadent homemade dessert in the canning instructions.
evening and a full breakfast in the morning,
with both sweet and savory options. Blueberry Jam Topping
Still, overnight guests make up only a ½ cup sugar
portion of the Bonnie Blue’s business.
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Merritt’s culinary skill is well known,
1 cup water
making the inn a favored spot for staging
4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
events, from bridesmaids’ luncheons to
corporate meetings. The dining room
In a large saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and water,
becomes a restaurant called the Tea Room
until smooth. Add blueberries. Bring to a boil over medium
from spring through Christmas and is open
heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove
to the public for lunch Tuesday through
from the heat. Topping may be processed in sterilized jars
Thursday. She even delivers lunch in for 6 minutes.
McMinnville on those days.
Whatever the occasion, Merritt prides
herself on offering only the best homemade
foods. Her “special ingredient” chicken salad
tops the list of favorites at the Tea Room, but
the Reuben runs a close second. Specials
range from quiche and stuffed pasta shells
to shepherd’s pie and sloppy joes.
“My favorite thing on the menu is the
‘special’ because I don’t cook on Thursday
nights,” Merritt admits with a laugh.
“Whatever is leftover, that’s what I serve my
own family. The ‘special’ is something a little
heartier. I try to do something men would like.”
Merritt caters locally but also hosts her
own special events throughout the year. For
Valentine’s, she serves dinner to eight lucky
couples, with tables spread throughout the
Tennessee Living
Carving
His Niche
Retiree uses woodworking hobby to show appreciation
Story by Jessica Walker
Photography by jeff adkins
W
Carving Artists hen Dean Wyatt retired from the While he’s willing to take on just about
Visit tnhomeandfarm. work force, he was hoping to any challenge when it comes to carving and
com/carving to find find something to occupy his building, he does admit the process – taking
more of Tennessee’s newly acquired free time. He anywhere from 40 to 200 hours – can be
carving artists, such as found himself 15 pounds heavier – and bored pretty time consuming. “It depends on the
Roger Smith, who carves – just one month into his retirement. “I had to complexity of the toy you’re building,” Wyatt
creations out of peach
have something to do to get me out of the says. “Most of my stuff is very detailed.”
seeds in Culleoka, and
house and away from the air conditioning But he’s in no hurry; Wyatt’s creations are
H. Dee Moss, who carves
wood into wildlife at his and the television,” Wyatt says. not for sale. And don’t even think about
studio at Casey Jones After working with his hands for most of his making a request. He makes what he wants
Village in Jackson. life – building cabinets and furniture, sub- to make, when he wants to make it – and then
contracting, and performing other hands-on gives it away. “I’m retired,” he says. “There’s
jobs – he found his way back to a former no pressure; I can work at my leisure.”
passion: creating woodcarvings. That’s right – Wyatt is committed to being
“I’ve been making them off and on all my truly retired, refusing to turn his hobby into a
life,” Wyatt says, “but I really got into it when business. “I’d rather just build something
I retired.” and give it to someone,” he says.
Now in his seventies, he uses poplar and So, receiving them as gifts, a lucky few
red cedar wood with a little glue to create can call Wyatt’s creations their own. “I also
a variety of objects, including tractors, build wooden vases and bowls and give
bulldozers, motorcycles, helicopters, pickup them away at Christmas,” he adds.
trucks and lawnmowers – and that’s just the In fact, Wyatt donates much of his work.
short list. “If I see something I want to build, He gave the Dover Library a fire truck,
I try to build it,” Wyatt says. complete with extending ladders, in memory
When he spots something he wants to of his late friend Edward Smith, who chaired
recreate, he takes a picture of the item and the Stewart County Volunteer Firefighters.
measures it. Then, he goes home to his shop Wyatt’s inspiration comes from individuals
and begins to fashion a new creation. in his community who he feels are rarely

recognized for their good work, such
as those serving in the Stewart
County EMS or the local sheriff’s
office. “They are constantly on the go,”
he says. “I want them to know there is
somebody in the world that does
appreciate them.”
Even when he’s not carving and
crafting, Wyatt can typically be
found working with his hands. “I quit
hunting and fishing years ago, and
I’m not too much into sports,” he
says. Instead, he spends time doing
yard work and renovating his home.
Though his work is in high demand
in his community, don’t expect Wyatt
to change his mind any time soon. He
has no plans to put his hand-carved
creations up for sale. “If I started
selling, I’d be back to working,” he
laughs. “I just want to keep it as a
relaxing hobby.”
For now, Wyatt simply intends to
continue enjoying his retirement –
with a little carving, building and
designing, of course. “It keeps my
mind working and active,” he says.
“To me, that’s special at my age.”
Home & Garden

A Place for
Everything
Learn easy and fun ways to organize kids’ rooms
Story by Carol Cowan

Photography by brian Mccord & Jeffrey S. otto
S
chool’s out for summer, and even unused, broken and age-inappropriate items. Clutter-Free
though those of us who are parents Rather than asking if your child wants to get in Tennessee
are thrilled to have more time to rid of a particular item, Jenkins recommends Many of us don’t have
spend with our kids, some of us are asking, “Do you want this to go to Cousin kids and still have trouble
less than excited about the disaster zones Mary (for example) or donate it to the church staying organized. Mary
we know their rooms will quickly become. nursery, thrift store, etc.?” Pankiewicz, who runs
Franklin-based home organization expert Set up play zones, and keep things where Clutter-Free & Organized
in upper East Tennessee,
Liz Jenkins says it doesn’t have to be that they are used. For example, if your child
offers some sage words
way. With the right setup, your child’s room loves to do arts and crafts, set up an art zone of advice: “If you can
can provide hours of happy, focused play and store the paper, markers and related weed your garden, you
and stay neat and orderly during summer items in open bins near the desk or easel. can declutter your
break and all year long. home.” Get more tips
“There are three key components to a Storage Solutions from Pankiewicz at
well-organized child’s room,” Jenkins says. Use wall cubbies, open bins, under-bed www.clutterfree.biz.
storage containers, stacking trays, shelves For more of Liz Jenkins’
“Kids need an empty area in which to play,
lessons on home
a surface to do things on, and creative and and wall hooks to keep like items together.
organization, visit
accessible storage.” Pop-up laundry hampers make great
www.afreshspace.com
Let’s face it: Kids are not naturally inclined containers for stuffed animals and balls. or follow her at twitter.
to put things away. But when they are not Storage containers are useless if your com/afreshspace.
overwhelmed with too much stuff and the child can’t reach them. Make sure shelves,
toys they do play with have a clearly bins and cubbies are on their level.
designated “home,” tidying up is no big deal. Labels help kids remember where things
go, especially when they get to do the
What To Do labeling. Photos, clip art and drawings work
Start by observing your child at play and for non-readers, and kids who can read get
asking directly, Jenkins says. What does he a big kick out of using a label-maker.
or she actually play with? What does he or When organizing your child’s room,
she like to do? What items are precious to Jenkins says, keep in mind that it should be
your child, and what items get ignored? a space where kids can find what they want,
Take inventory of everything in your have an appropriate place to use it, and be
child’s room and purge all the unwanted, able to put it back by themselves.
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Farm Bureau Bank
Auto Loan HughesNet
Refinancing
For a more complete

list of benefits, visit
www.tnfarmbureau.org/
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TN Farm Bureau Member
Benefits Facebook page.
By visiting our page you
will be able to stay
informed on new benefits,
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• Save up to $1,365 in interest
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**Savings comparison based on a financed 60-month new vehicle loan as view of the southern sky. Service and hardware sold separately.
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Policy. Actual speeds may vary. Speed and uninterrupted use of
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Taste of
Tenness Farmers markets and roadside stands offer
a bounty of farm-fresh summer Ingredients

Food
ee Story by K aren Schwartzman

Photography by brian Mccord & Jeffrey S. otto
food styling by kristen winston catering
E
njoy the freshness of your local
farmers’ fare with TN
surprisingly easy
a few of these
FARM
FRESH Shopping
treats.
locally and directly from your
TN
FARM
FRESH
Find a Farmer
farmer is becoming easier than ever.
Looking for farm-fresh
Farmers markets, roadside stands and
fruits and vegetables?
Community Supported Agriculture
Find a farmer online at
programs (CSAs) present an easy way www.tnfarmfresh.com.
to partake in the trend, and crowds are
flocking to take advantage of the bounty
that the market scene offers.
In honor of summer and all the homegrown
goodies it brings, we’ve compiled a list of
recipes perfect for the health-conscious, the
serious foodie or just the casual cook. It’s an
easy – and delicious – way to support your
local farmers. Of course, these recipes may
also be enjoyed any time of the year with a
trip to your neighborhood grocery store.
Give the traditional salad a new spin by
trading lettuce for freshly picked zucchini.
Zucchini, Corn and Tomato Salad flavored
with a sweet lemon vinaigrette is a healthy
addition to any summer meal.
Gazpacho, a chilled soup, makes a tasty
lunch or flavorful start to supper. Simply
throw together your market favorites such as
tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions and
garlic, blend in your food processor, and
chill overnight for a refreshing summer soup.
Finally, put those eggplants to use with
our take on the classic eggplant Parmesan,
in which the purple veggie is just one of
many layers, along with mozzarella cheese,
pesto and marinara sauce. Combine these
Eggplant, Mozzarella and Pesto Gratins with
garlic bread and a salad, and you have a full
Italian meal.
Eggplant, Mozzarella and Pesto Gratins
¼ cup + 6 tablespoons olive oil Combine the flour, salt and pepper on a dinner plate.
1 18-ounce eggplant, sliced into eight Beat the egg with 1 teaspoon water on a second plate.
½-inch-thick slices Mix the breadcrumbs with ¼ cup Parmesan on a third
plate. Dredge the eggplant on both sides in the flour
½ cup all-purpose flour
mixture, then dip both sides into the egg mixture and
½ teaspoon kosher salt roll in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing lightly to coat.
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of
olive oil in a large sauté pan, and cook the breaded
1 extra large egg
eggplant on medium-low for about 3 minutes on each
½ cup panko breadcrumbs side, until just cooked through. Don’t crowd the pan.
¼ cup + 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese Add more butter and oil, and cook the rest of the
Unsalted butter eggplant. Allow eggplant to drain on paper towel.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place four slices of
½ cup pesto sauce
eggplant on baking sheet. Top each with ¼ cup
1 cup marinara sauce (can use store-bought marinara marinara, three slices mozzarella cheese, 1
or see our recipe online) tablespoon pesto and 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese.
2 8-ounce balls buffalo milk mozzarella cheese, Top with remaining eggplant slices. Bake until heated
each cut into six ¼-inch thick slices through, about 8 minutes. Serve hot.
Check out our marinara

recipe online at
tnhomeandfarm.com/marinara.

Zucchini, Corn Gazpacho
and Tomato Salad 48 ounces tomato juice
1½ p ounds zucchini 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1¼ teaspoon salt / cup red onion, chopped
34
1 cup fresh corn kernels (cut from 2 ears) 2 English cucumbers, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 green pepper, chopped
½ teaspoon sugar 1 yellow pepper, chopped
¼ teaspoon black pepper 1 red pepper, chopped
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 pounds fresh tomatoes, peeled,
8 ounces grape or cherry tomatoes, seeded and chopped
halved lengthwise 3½ teaspoons kosher salt
¼ cup thinly sliced fresh basil 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Working with one zucchini at a time, cut Combine ingredients in a large food processor or
lengthwise into very thin (julienne) strips with slicer, blender, and pulse to desired consistency. Cover
turning zucchini and avoiding core. Discard core. tightly and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
Toss zucchini strips with 1 teaspoon salt and let The longer it chills, the more flavorful it will be.
drain in a colander set over a bowl, covered and
chilled, for 1 hour.
Gently squeeze handfuls of zucchini to remove
excess water and pat dry with paper towels.
Cook corn in a small saucepan of boiling water
until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain, then rinse under
cold water and pat dry.
Whisk together lemon juice, sugar, pepper, and
remaining ¼ teaspoon salt in a large bowl, then add
oil in a slow stream, whisking. Add zucchini, corn,
tomatoes and basil; toss well.
See More online
No zucchini? Any summer Discover our twist on a Southern

squash will work in this recipe. summer staple, stuffed peppers.
Try the crookneck or straightneck Instead of using the traditional
varieties of yellow squash. beef and rice, our Mediterranean
Stuffed Peppers call for a filling
of lamb and couscous. Find a link
to the recipe at tnhomeandfarm.
com/farmers-market-recipes.
Country Classics
Pretty in Pink
strawberry cake is a farmers market specialty
K Strawberry Sheet Cake

aren Norton, a Mt. Pleasant baker and
caterer, reads cookbooks like most
people read newspapers and magazines. Strawberry Cake:
Her most popular cake is a cool and
2 cups self-rising flour
refreshing Strawberry Sheet Cake that her
2 cups sugar
sister-in-law, Faye Hallmark, clipped out of a
magazine or newspaper around 20 years ago. 4 eggs
“She is like me and collects (recipes),” 1 cup canola oil
Norton says. 1 cup milk
Members of Norton’s family spend time almost ¼ cup mashed sweetened strawberries
daily cooking up tried-and-true recipes such 1 small box dry strawberry jello Hungry for More?
as the strawberry cake, a variety of cupcakes Each issue of
and muffins, and a unique take on chicken Mix all ingredients and pour into greased Tennessee Home & Farm
salad at the family’s growing business, Family 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 highlights recipes like
Bakery and Catering in Mt. Pleasant, which minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. those featured in
Country Classics
does special orders for delivery or pick-up
Icing: Volume II. Copies of the
at the farm. cookbook are available
Norton originally began selling her culinary ½ stick softened margarine
for $17 each, including
creations after she and her husband bought a 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar shipping and handling,
farm in Maury County. In 2001, she set up shop ¼ cup mashed sweetened strawberries from county Farm
at the Franklin Farmers Market at The Factory, Bureau offices, or by
Mix all until smooth – may need to add calling the Tennessee
offering vegetables grown on the farm as well
more powdered sugar or strawberries for a Farm Bureau home office
as baked goods such as zucchini bread. As the
spreading consistency. Mix well first before at (931) 388-7872,
number of crops grew, so did their menagerie ext. 2217.
you add extra sugar or strawberries.
of treats – including the strawberry cake.
Store in refrigerator.
Four years later, Norton started the bakery
and catering service, which gave her another
outlet to experiment with dessert concoctions.
“My mother never went by a recipe when she
made a cake,” she says. “I like putting something
together and not knowing the outcome.”
Norton’s popular Strawberry Sheet Cake
isn’t a dessert that needs much tweaking
nowadays. It is pretty much the same as it’s
been for two decades, except the pink cake is
now also baked in cupcake form as a special
treat more appealing to children.
The cake is one of her staples at the farmers
market. Norton says she always sells out when
the strawberry cupcakes are put out in the
display case.
This recipe is a symbol of spring, she says,
but the pink cake with pink frosting is a fan
Jeffrey S. Otto
favorite any time of the year. The cold dessert

with flecks of strawberry is at its best the
longer it is refrigerated. – Erin Edgemon
Restaurant Review
What a
Catch
The Catfish Hotel in Shiloh
Treats Patrons Like Family
C
ulinary artistry assumes many forms,
from avant-garde molecular wizardry to
the centuries-old farm-table cuisines
of Italy and France. But whether it’s trendy
or eternal, one thing holds true of all fine
craftsmanship of the edible variety: love. If a
meal tastes delicious and authentic, you can
bet that somebody in the kitchen loves the food
they prepare and the people whom it nourishes. The Dish on the
At the Catfish Hotel in Shiloh, the tradition of Catfish Hotel
lovingly prepared whole catfish hasn’t changed In each issue,
we feature one of
much since owner Jim Hagy’s grandfather
Tennessee’s tasty
cooked meals for his fishing buddies in a rough-
Photos by Antony Boshier

eateries, and you can
hewn shack on the banks of the Tennessee find a collection of our
River. Hagy says his granddad taught him his favorite restaurants in
simple and (some would say) perfect method the Food section of
for dressing and frying whole fiddler catfish. tnhomeandfarm.com.
“There’s no written recipe,” he says. As always, please call
ahead before traveling
Hagy’s family has owned this riverside
long distances.
travelers’ haven since before the Civil War, Hagy’s Catfish Hotel,
veteran, nurtures the place as her own with
when riverboats plied the Tennessee and used located at 1140 Hagy
help from her family. And generations of
that log shack as a storehouse. In the 1930s, Lane near Shiloh
regulars have found their way to these tables National Military Park,
the Hagys’ legendary hospitality prompted
overlooking the Tennessee River to enjoy Hagy is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
then-governor Gordon Browning to suggest
family recipes, old and new. Tuesday-Sunday (until
that the family open a catfish restaurant there,
From the traditional spread – all-you-can- 10 p.m. Friday and
so impressed was he by a catfish-fry fundraiser
eat whole catfish, hush puppies, French fries Saturday), and closed
they’d hosted in his honor. Mondays (except Labor
Since then, the Catfish Hotel has come to and cole slaw with homemade dressing ladled
Day and Memorial Day).
embody “family restaurant” in the broadest on – to newer menu items, such as lemon- You can reach them at
sense. Jim Hagy fondly recalls generations of pepper broiled catfish and barbecued ribs, (731) 689-3327 or
Hagys pitching in to fry up mountains of hush each recipe represents a Hagy’s creative www.catfishhotel.com.
puppies on an early morning. And the building energies … not least of which includes Jim
itself was a constant work in progress, as ad hoc Hagy’s grandmother’s lemon rub pie, his
additions rose from the original shack. “It was mother’s German chocolate pie and his sisters’
this monstrosity, a crazy fun place,” he says. white chocolate banana cream pie.
The restaurant was rebuilt after a fire in For Hagy and the rest of the Catfish Hotel
1975, and Jim Hagy now lives in Nashville. But family, feeding folks delicious, traditional fare
he says the restaurant still connects the Hagy is an expression of caring for the travelers
descendants and offers them an extended who’ve journeyed here. “It’s like having people
family that transcends blood relation. Manager in your home,” Hagy says. “You just want it to
Barbara McAfee, a 31-year Catfish Hotel be good.” – Kim Green
Gardening
Moles and Voles in

the Garden, Oh My!
Learn the difference between and how to combat
these lawn- and garden-destroying critters
T
hese mouse-like critters can wreak to vole damage, the most obvious sign of
havoc on your lawn and garden, but which is a dead or dying plant.
control depends upon which you have. Pine voles are active day and night, looking
So how do you know if you’re fighting moles or for food in a home range of about a quarter
voles? Though similar in habit and size, moles acre. They seldom venture into exposed places,
and voles are really very different. They have instead using elaborate tunnel systems that
completely different diets, and they cause create the all too familiar and unsightly raised
different types of damage in your landscape. ridges in your lawn.
Voles Moles
About the Author Voles are rodents. They are commonly called Moles belong to the same family as shrews
mice, meadow mice or field mice. They are and bats. They have large paddle-like front
Dr. Sue Hamilton is
Director of the about 3 inches long, weigh 1 ounce or less and feet with prominent claws designed for very
University of Tennessee have reddish-brown fur, a short half-inch tail, efficient digging. They are about the size of
Gardens. The gardens tiny ears and eyes that are not visible. Of the chipmunks and can weigh anywhere from 3-6
are a project of the 23 species of voles in the United States, the ounces. Total length can be 6-8 inches. Moles
University of Tennessee pine vole, the prairie vole and the meadow vole are covered by a soft grey fur, and variegation
AgResearch program,
are the most common for our region. in color is common with patches of orange or
with locations in
Knoxville and Jackson: Meadow voles (found in East Tennessee) and white. The Eastern mole and the grey mole are
http://utgardens. prairie voles (Middle and West Tennessee) the most common in Tennessee.
tennessee.edu. mostly live above ground. They live in and feed Moles love to eat worms, insect grubs and
on grasses, although they can chew saplings at adult insects. Moles tunnel in search of food,
ground level. Tall fescue in orchards and lightly and in your lawn and landscape beds their
grazed pastures are typical habitats. They are tunneling raises the soil into ridges. Moles
usually less troublesome than the pine vole, produce two types of “runways.” One type runs
which loves to infest our landscaped gardens. just beneath the surface. These are feeding
Pine voles spend most of their lives under tunnels and appear as raised ridges running
the ground in burrows feeding on plant roots. across your lawn. The second type runs deeper
You are more likely to see signs of voles than and enables the moles to unite the feeding
the voles themselves, but sometimes you may tunnels in a network. It is the soil excavated
glimpse one scurrying from one planting bed from the deep tunnels that homeowners find on
to another. They like living in mulch, leaf and their lawns, piled up in mounds that resemble
grass piles, and tall ground covers. They love little volcanoes. Moles can dig surface tunnels
to eat roots of lawn grass, trees, shrubs, flower at a rate of about 18 feet per hour, and speed
bulbs and hostas. Where protective cover is through existing tunnels at 80 feet per minute.
available, voles may girdle the main stem of
plants just above the ground. On occasion they How to Tell the Difference
will eat bark. Vegetable gardens, ornamental Proper identification of these unwanted
plantings and young trees are all susceptible varmints is critical to control. If you never

Photo Courtesy of David Reber Photo Courtesy of Michael L. Kennedy
come face-to-face with the pest, identification tunnels and surface holes associated with vole More on Mole
must be based on their signs and the damage and mole activity. Removing their food sources and Vole Control
they do in your landscape. Key indicators for (insects) goes a long way in preventing moles. Find more detailed
moles are volcano-like mounds of soil. Well- Exclusion methods for voles call for woven wire prevention and control
defined, visible runways about 2 inches wide, or hardware cloth fences, extending 1 foot methods for moles and
above and 6 inches below ground. Commercial voles at tnhomeandfarm.
at or near the surface indicate voles.
com/moles-voles.
repellents are available for both, while home-
Prevention and Control Methods made repellents range from ammonia to Juicy
Methods to prevent and control damage for Fruit gum. Trapping and poison are lethal to the
both pests are habitat management, exclusion, pests; however, they may not entirely solve your
repellents, trapping and poison bait. Fumigants problem. Typically a combination of control
are generally ineffective due to the expansive methods will produce the best results.
Clockwise from left: A mole tunnel; dianthus, a flower that attracts voles; a prairie vole.
Farmside Chat
Meet John Butler

West Tennessee resident farms corn, soybeans, wheat and cattle
A
“ re you doing the right thing, or are you
doing it right? The key is to do both,
because the gray area is what makes
the difference.”
This mantra runs John Butler’s life; it’s what
he strives to do on a daily basis on his West
Tennessee farm.
Butler, his wife, Dana, and their three
children live and work on a fifth-generation
family farm in Dyer and Obion counties, where
they raise cattle, corn, soybeans and wheat.
Butler, who took over the then-primarily row
crop operation in 1995 when his father retired,
added cattle breeding in order to remain
profitable – and also because of his love of
Antony Boshier
caring for animals.
Why did you choose to become a

full-time farmer?
When it’s 15 degrees below zero, I have a What do you want the non-farming public See More Online
fever and I’m still outside taking care of my to know about what you do? Read more of our Q&A
animals, I ask myself the same question. It’s Those involved in agriculture, especially the with John Butler at
simple: You either love it or you don’t. I have a animal side, have an innate sense of caring for tnhomeandfarm.com.
love for animals in my care, and although it is a their animals. Yes, it is a business, but many Learn more about the
job – the way I take care of my family – it’s also times the bottom line doesn’t matter – I do well-being and care of
what I love. You spend a lot of time with them, animals by visiting
whatever I can to help those animals. I do have
www.conversations
in 100-degree heat or freezing rain, to make money in the long run, but sometimes oncare.com.
understanding what they need and providing you just do the right thing and hope things
it, be it clean water, food for extra energy or turn around later.
medical attention; but I wouldn’t trade it.
As a farmer, what is your biggest challenge?
What advice would you give to someone who To make sure that people who aren’t farming,
is interested in becoming a farmer? be it legislators or someone at the corner
Start small, and ease your way in. Don’t try market, have a feel for what I’m doing. We have
to hit a home run first; hit a couple of singles the safest, most economical, most abundant
to get the feel of it. Take every class you can. food supply in the world, and people have
Dealing with livestock is a lot like dealing with forgotten that. That’s why I’m involved in Farm
children: If you say they can’t do something, Bureau, because communicating our story is
they’ll figure it out. It’s like telling a 4-year-old vital for the future of agriculture. We need to
“no” – he’s going to find out for himself share with everyone why we do what we do and
anyway, so you just have to prepare for every how much we love and care for all aspects of
eventuality. agricultural life. – Melissa Burniston
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To Good Health
Meaningful Message
Handwritten thank-you notes are still important today
S
mall, red-brick ranch house. Short ‘villains’ at TRH Health Plans today cover more
concrete driveway ending at one-car than 190,000 Farm Bureau members and pay
carport, basketball goal anchored above, out daily an average of more than $1 million in
bordered by beaten-down bare spots on either claims payments to doctors, hospitals and
side – testimony to endless hours of basketball. other providers.
Today, it would most likely be a garage instead But this particular note was a thank-you note
of a carport, the goal on an adjustable pole and from a member, thanking us for insuring their
not the roof, and no bare spots because the family and for ‘staying true in trying times.’
endless hours will have been inside on the Covered by our health plan for several years,
computer instead of outside with the they chose us ‘because of rate and benefits …
neighborhood kids. Then, it was 306 Gibson the most bang for our money.’ Maybe we should About the Author
Road. Today, it would be akimbrough@trh.com. hire them to guide our marketing efforts,
Anthony Kimbrough
Most of us can probably quickly recall the because they captured perfectly what we have is vice president
physical address of our childhood home even sought to do as a service company of the of marketing and
after all these years. The mailbox meant Tennessee Farm Bureau. government relations
something back then. Letters home from Dad We have all been in the midst of a long debate for TRH Health
on military duty or work travel, birthday cards over a national health-care reform law, much of Plans. His email is
akimbrough@trh.com.
from family and friends, and letters from which has focused on the government – and not
For more information
Grandmother. Often, letters were ripped open its citizens – making decisions about what
about TRH Health Plans,
and read before I ever reached the carport. should be covered and not covered by certain call (877) 874-8323 or
Sometimes a bit of translation might be health plans. Much of what we’ve done as a visit www.trh.com.
needed from Mom or Dad to help read words company in the past year has been in response
written by an aging and less-than-steady hand. to a dramatic change in the law, not in response
And not to lament the technology today that to what you our members have suggested.
allows us to talk instantly with someone across For nearly 65 years, TRH has made available
the world, there’s still something a bit special to members a variety of health plans, for
about receiving a handwritten note in the mail. individuals, for families, for senior citizens, for
It means a little more, maybe, that they took small employers. To do so, our focus has been
that extra effort, that extra time. All the letters very narrow: to offer as wide an array of benefits
are filled in – no texting shortcuts, so ‘luv’ is as possible, for as many members as possible,
love, ‘u’ is you, and ‘lol’ is laugh out loud. at rates that are as affordable as possible. That
Those kind of notes I can drop into my keepsake means we’ve never tried to offer health plans
file, to where I occasionally turn and flip with extremely rich benefits, because most of
through notes scribbled by daughters, parents, our members can’t afford that. They want a
friends; such sentimental journeys have a reasonable plan that will also protect them if
knack for pushing away the hard edges of life. a catastrophic health situation occurs.
(Okay, I know I can print out an email or text It truly is about the most bang for your buck.
message if I wish to keep it – and I often do!) It has always been our belief that you should
All this said, it caught our attention at work be free to make your own choices in a
a while back when we received a handwritten competitive marketplace. So thanks for
note in the mail. It was a kind note, and choosing TRH Health Plans, or, if you haven’t,
insurance companies aren’t exactly come by and see us at your local Tennessee
accustomed to receiving lots of love letters Farm Bureau office, call us or visit our website,
in the mail, being that we are usually or even write us a handwritten note. We’ll be
characterized as villains. For the record, we sure to read it.
Farm Bureau Almanac
The Flavor of Fresh

Farm bureau program connects farmers to consumers
H
See More Online ow does the Tennessee Farm Bureau important to maintain a strong agricultural
Find a Tennessee Farm Federation work for you? By offering a community in Tennessee. Assisting producers
Fresh farmer in your variety of programs and services with promotion of their farm products and
county, learn more about exclusively benefiting you, its members. Learn providing consumers with a connection to
the program and see the about even more Farm Bureau programs at these local products are just a few ways
recipe of the month at www.tnfarmbureau.org. we can contribute to keeping agriculture
www.tnfarmfresh.com.
viable in Tennessee.
What is Tennessee Farm Fresh?
Tennessee Farm Fresh is a specialized Why should people buy locally?
program in cooperation with the Tennessee Buying locally is beneficial in many ways.
Farm Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Buying locally supports your local economy,
Agriculture. This program is in place to help area farmers and agriculture. The best benefit
producers market their farm fresh products of all is that you get to enjoy the freshest
and to educate consumers on how to find them. product around. People enjoy the experience of
Buying products straight from the farm or communicating with farmers and being
farmers market is a growing trend nationwide, educated about the products they are buying
and this program’s goal is to give the local and the food they are eating, and Tennessee
producer the ability to sell their farm fresh Farm Fresh can assist with this opportunity.
products – including fruits, vegetables, meats,
plants and herbs – directly to their neighbors. How do I sign up?
If you are a producer and would like to
What is the purpose of this program? participate in Tennessee Farm Fresh, sign up
The program offers producer identification by visiting www.tnfarmfresh.com and clicking
and consumer communication. Tennessee has on “For TFF Producers,” or contacting Tiffany
a variety of locally produced specialty crops Howard at (931) 388-7872 ext. 2763 or
and other agricultural products. It is very thoward@tfbf.com.

Member Benefits
For Members Only

use your membership card to save on prescriptions
A
s I grow older, I spend more time discount program; and best of all it’s free.
reflecting on those who have made an To use the discount, simply take your
impact on my life. My grandfather, who membership card by a participating pharmacy
we affectionately referred to as Pap, had a and show them the numbers on the back of the
major influence on me. Pap didn’t want for card. If you need to find a participating
many material things in life; in fact, a good felt pharmacy, check the price of a drug or reprint
hat, a good pocket knife and a good pair of your membership card, go online to
overalls just about covered his needs. He www.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits.
didn’t believe in much debt, led singing at If you have other questions, call us toll free
church every Sunday, never met a stranger and at 1-877-363-9100.
always had a smile. He never had a lot of Oh, I also forgot to mention that Pap also About the Author
money, but he was one of the richest men I liked saving money, and somehow I think that
Bryan Wright is the
have known in terms of happiness. saving a few dollars on his prescriptions would associate director of
A while back, my dad and I were reminiscing have made him smile. organization/member
about some of the laughs that we shared with benefits for TFBF.
Pap and talking about the tough times that he His email is bwright@
and my grandmother (Ma) had endured during tfbf.com.
To learn more about
their marriage of over 75 years. He asked me,
member benefits, visit
“Do you realize how much Pap and Ma spent on
doctor’s visits and prescriptions?” After a few memberbenefits or call
more minutes of conversation, I understood the member benefits
how the cost of health care had significantly hotline toll free at
impacted the lives of my grandparents. 1-877-363-9100.
Maybe you can identify with my
grandparents’ story. If so, you might be
interested to know that prescription drug
discounts are included with TFBF membership.
Savings typically range from 10 to 40 percent
off of the retail price of eligible prescriptions.
Before you grab your car keys and head out
the door to the pharmacy, I need to clarify a
few things. This discount will not stack on
top of any existing discount that you are
getting through your health insurance plan;
it is not insurance; it is a point of sale
discount; most chain and independent
pharmacies participate in the prescription
Travel
Jeffrey S. Otto
Jeffrey S. Otto

Farm Camp
or Bust
Tennessee farm camps provide a healthy, educational
alternative to video games and iPods
Story by Jessica Mozo
Y
ou might say Tap Root Farm from her parents, her teenage children farm has been selling its certified
offers a primer on agriculture and farm manager Russ Harkai. Angus beef directly to consumers
for the farm-challenged. The In 2008, Ingraham kicked off the since 1996. “The campers get to go out
300-acre cattle operation in first summer day camp for kids from and fiddle with the cows, and they
Franklin is one of several Tennessee kindergarten through eleventh grade, learn about fencing or whatever is
farms that host summer farm camps. and it has grown steadily each year. happening on the farm at the time,”
“We noticed many years ago that In 2011, Tap Root Farm is offering Ingraham says. “We are on spring and
people love to come and hang out at three weeklong camps with a well water, so we teach them about
the farm for a day,” says Susan maximum of 50 campers at each. water and play tug-of-war across the
Ingraham, director of fun at Tap Root “We have done school field trips creek. They ride horses every day and
Farm and president of the Tennessee and farm tours, and we still do. But learn about tack, and horse and cattle
Agritourism Association. “My dad has I’m more of a relationship person, so feeding. And if we have any baby
taught many a young man how to I like camps because we get to know animals, they help take care of those.”
work on Saturdays, and we love using the kids, along the same lines as my The farm’s beehives are always a
our farm to bring joy to other people.” dad did teaching kids how to work on popular topic, followed by a snack of
the farm,” Ingraham says. “These hot biscuits topped with fresh honey.
Tap Root Farm Camp kids experience farm life and do what “We do a lot of activities on our
Ingraham’s parents, Frank and we do – they don’t just come see what large screened-in porch,” Ingraham
Frances Ingraham, bought Tap Root we do and then leave. They garden says. “No TV, iPods, handheld games
Farm in 1961 and have been raising all week, planting, hoeing, harvesting or cell phones are allowed at camp.
beef cattle, row crops and hay ever and working in our orchard.” But parents can always reach their
since. Today, Susan Ingraham Campers also learn about Tap kids through our camp staff.”
oversees farm operations with help Root Farm’s beef sales program. The The week concludes with the kids
Falcon Ridge Farm in Hardeman County, top right, and Tap Root Farm in Williamson County offer summer farm camps for kids.
When you buy from local farmers you: support local economy,
enjoy a fresh product and keep local agriculture viable!
(931) 388-7872 ext. 2763

www.tnfarmfresh.com

Photos by Jeffrey S. Otto
cooking a lunchtime feast. “They pick, wash, offering a horse camp for adults in the future. Camping With
snap and cook green beans they hoed earlier “We teach campers how to get the horse 4-H and FFA
in the week, and we cook burgers with our out, clean the stable and groom the horse, Tennessee 4-H offers a
beef,” Ingraham says. “We make squash and we go over the anatomy of a horse – why variety of camps geared
casserole with cheese and cracker crumbs, his heart beats 40 times per minute, why his to specific age groups
and the kids love it. When they tell their legs are so long, how his vision is different from fourth grade
moms they ate squash, the moms are just than ours,” Gilmer says. “Once we get them through twelfth grade.
For more information,
amazed.” acclimated, we’ll put them in our indoor
contact your county’s
Friday night, parents are invited for a riding arena. By the second day, they’re UT Extension office.
bonfire, and kids can camp in tents with usually riding by themselves.”
Tennessee FFA members
chaperones overnight under the stars. “We A world champion rider and trainer, Gilmer
travel across the state
always go on a night hike,” Ingraham says. has been teaching people to ride horses for to attend Camp Clements
“These are life experiences many people more than three decades. The Gilmers offer in Van Buren County.
never get to do if they don’t live on a farm.” riding lessons year-round. “I got my first Visit www.tnffa.org to
horse when I was 4, and I haven’t been learn more.
Falcon Ridge Horse Camp without one since,” he says. “They are a great Find links to these and
In West Tennessee, Falcon Ridge Farm hobby, and if children learn the right way to other summer camps at
offers its own version of farm camp with an handle them, it’s a really safe sport you can tnhomeandfarm.com/
emphasis on horses. The three-day camp do all your life. I love watching a child farm-camp.
near Jackson is held twice each summer for interact with a horse – it gets them off the
kids ages 6 to 16. It focuses on horsemanship couch and out of the house, and they love it.”
basics such as riding and grooming, as well Back at Tap Root Farm, Ingraham says her
as hayrides, a petting zoo, and arts and crafts. camps are all about building relationships
“In 2010, we had kids from 250 miles and integrity. “We’re helping them learn to
away,” says Ray Gilmer, who owns Falcon become a human being who knows how to
Ridge Farm with his wife, Mary Ellen, their contribute to the world.”
son, Bart, and daughter-in-law, Becky.
“Parents will sometimes come for a mini-
vacation and stay in a hotel in Jackson and
bring their children to horse camp.” 2011 Camp Dates and Costs
Falcon Ridge is a working farm where Tap Root Farm, Franklin
Tennessee Walking Horses are trained and June 13-17, July 18-22 and August 1-5
boarded. Bart runs the farm’s agritourism Limit 50 campers per session
business, which includes a fall festival, Easter Early registration (ends June 15 for Home & Farm readers), $249/week
egg hunt, Christmas trees and country store. Late registration (after June 15), $339/week
Visit their website, www.taprootfarm.com, to print application
The farm’s summer horse camps for kids have
been so popular, the Gilmers are considering Falcon Ridge Farm, Toone
June 20-22 and July 18-20
Limit 12 campers per session, $200 registration fee per child
Campers at Tap Root Farm learn to make meals Contact them at www.falconridgefarm.net or call (731) 658-5200
with food raised on the farm, as well as ways to to request application
have fun without video games or iPods.
Events & Festivals
The 65th Annual Rhododendron Festival takes place June 18-19, 2011, in Roan Mountain in East Tennessee.
Tennessee Events & Festivals Blue Plum Art & Music Festival –
June 3-5, Johnson City
Free outdoor music and art festival
spanning seven city blocks in downtown
This listing includes a selection of events of statewide interest scheduled Johnson City. Features children’s
in June, July and August as provided to Tennessee Home & Farm by the entertainment, music and more. CONTACT:
423-928-3479, blueplum.org
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
To include your local events in our listing, please contact them at (615) 741-7994 National MooFest – June 4-5,
or jamielynn.thompson@tn.gov. Due to space constraints, we are unable to Athens
include all of the events provided, but additional information and events can Annual festival celebrating the important
be found online through the department’s website, www.tnvacation.com. role the dairy industry plays within one of
Tennessee’s most historic towns. CONTACT:
Events are subject to date change or cancellation; please call the contact 423-746-9041, nationalmoofest.com
listed before traveling long distances to attend.
Sycamore Shoals Native American
Festival – June 4-5, Elizabethton
Come and discover the arts, music, dance,
JUNE
arrangements of traditional folk and
bluegrass music. CONTACT: 615-696-1300, crafts, legends and stories of Native
smokenightriders.com Americans. CONTACT: 423-543-5808,
sycamoreshoals.org
Rutherford County Heritage Day A Taste Of Country – June 11,
Memphis Italian Festival – June
Camp – June 2-3, Murfreesboro Springfield
Learn the rich history of the Davis and
2-4, Memphis
Enjoy family-oriented fun with music, food, This Robertson County country festival
Maney families and their lives during the includes country cooking, arts and crafts,
events, games and arts and crafts. Learn
Civil War. Children tour the houses and live music, a garden tour and plant sale,
about the Italian-American tradition.
grounds, make crafts and play games. farmers’ market and more. CONTACT:
Benefits the Holy Rosary Parish School.
CONTACT: 615-893-0022, 615-384-3800, robertsonchamber.org
CONTACT: 901-543-5310,
oaklandsmuseum.org
memphisitalianfestival.com
Rockabilly Revival Festival and
Smoke: A Ballet of the Night Antique Car Show – June 11,
Riders – June 2-4, 9-11, Adams Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival – Selmer
A ballet depicting the history and the June 3-4, Townsend The festival features rockabilly music from
emotional struggle of the citizens of the Red The festival features a variety of fine pottery old and new artists alike. Held in
River area during the time of the Night in beautiful styles and exciting techniques. conjunction is an antique car show, antique
Riders. The musical score consists of CONTACT: 865-273-1242, tractor show and motorcycle ride & show.
original compostions and new smokymountainfestivals.org CONTACT: 731-697-9149, mcnairy.com

Oaklands Victorian Craft Camp – Tobacco Beef & More – June 23, Antebellum Academy – June
June 13-15, Murfreesboro Springfield 27-July 1, Murfreesboro
Children 6-12 experience hands-on The Mid-South’s beef and tobacco producers Camp for girls 13 and up where they will
materials and craft making during this new will want to attend this free educational study etiquette, dance, penmanship, music,
camp offered at Oaklands Historic House event which features the state’s leading needlework and art. Space is limited and
Museum. CONTACT: 615-893-0022, experts on topics such as animal health, reservations are required. Contact:
oaklandsmuseum.org forage, burley and dark fired tobacco 615-893-0022, oaklandsmuseum.org
production. CONTACT: 731-425-4768,
Fruits of the Backyard – June 14, highlandrim@tennessee.edu
Spring Hill
This free educational event offers visitors a
chance to learn about the production of
Frontier Days – June 23-25,
Lynchburg
JULY
small fruits like grapes and blueberries,
and how they can easily be grown in the
Rodeo, carnival rides, games, shoot out, big Freedom Festival – July 3,
parade, contests and auctions. CONTACT:
backyard. The field day also trains guests
931-759-4111, lynchburgtn.com
Hendersonville
on maintaining the more traditional “fruits” Craft booths, music, children’s play area,
of their yards, such as beautiful shrubs and food and fireworks at dark. CONTACT:
lush lawns. CONTACT: 731-425-4768, Kuumba Festival – June 25-26, 615-824-2818, hendersonvillechamber.com
middletennessee.tennessee.edu
Knoxville Gatlinburg’s Fourth of July
Juneteenth Freedom Festival – Showcases local African American art and
artists sharing, educating and exposing rich Midnight Parade – July 3-4,
June 17-19, Memphis cultural art forms to the community. Gatlinburg
A three-day celebration with live Features more than 200 entertainers Beginning at midnight and stretching more
entertainment featuring gospel, jazz, R&B, performing on three stages, live than a mile in length, more than 100
blues, rap, classical and neosoul music. demonstrations, and more than 100 crafts decorated floats, helium balloons, marching
Food and merchandise vendors, exhibits, people and food vendors. CONTACT: bands and more. CONTACT: 800-568-4748,
dancers, storytelling, picnics and more. 865-546-9705, kuumbafesttn.com eventsgatlinburg.com
CONTACT: 901-543-5310,
juneteenthmemphis.com
Bell Buckle RC & Moon Pie ATHS Music City Chapter Antique & Working Truck Show –
Festival – June 18, Bell Buckle June 17-18, Cumberland County Fairgrounds, Crossville
Cutting the world’s largest Moon Pie. CONTACT: Features antique or working trucks from pickups to 18-wheelers, antique tractors and
931-389-9663, bellbucklechamber.com engines. Held in conjunction with Cumberland Plateau Antique Tractor and Gas
Engine Show. CONTACT: 931-200-3203, www.aths.org
Living History & Militia Muster –
June 18-19, Elizabethton
Re-enactors portray a variety of characters,
from hunters and farmers to land speculators
and backcountry gentry. Walk among
colonists and native peoples who share their
past through talks, mini-dramas, and
demonstrations of 18th century life. CONTACT:
423-543-5808, sycamoreshoalstn.org
Rose Mont Festival – June 18-19,

Gallatin
Browse through the antique, craft, jewelry
and furniture booths on the grounds of
historic Rose Mont. Tour of the mansion will
be available. CONTACT: 615-451-2331,
historicrosemont.com
65th Annual Rhododendron

Festival – June 18-19,
Roan Mountain
Celebrating blooming of rhododendron
gardens, crafters, folkways, musicians and
food. CONTACT: 800-250-8620,
www.roanmountain.com
Front Porch Pastimes Day Camp –

June 20-24, Murfreesboro
Children 6-12 have a chance to step back
into the past while being introduced to
period games, chores, crafts and cooking.
Limited spaces available. CONTACT:
615-893-0022, oaklandsmuseum.org
Anvil Shoot and Independence Day 20th Annual Great Celebration Summer Celebration Lawn &
Celebration – July 4, Norris Mule & Donkey Show – July 7-9, Garden Show – July 14, West
Old-fashioned celebration with musicians, Shelbyville Tennessee AgResearch & Education
craftspeople and demonstrations of old-time Three days of quality mules and donkeys. Center, Jackson
activities such as sassafras tea brewing, More than 25 states are represented for this Colorful blooms and lush foliage spark
shepherding, rail splitting and more. CONTACT:
fun-filled, family-oriented show. CONTACT: creative ideas and offer lessons in
865-494-7680, museumofappalachia.org
931-684-5915, twhnc.com horticulture management that can save
homeowners time and money. Hear
Fourth of July Celebration – July 4,
Adams Lauderdale County Tomato presentations from the region’s leading
gardening experts. Purchase great
This annual celebration includes picnicking, Festival – July 8-9, Ripley City Park, performing plants at the Master Gardener
family fun activities, food and firework Ripley Plant Sale. CONTACT: 731-425-4768,
display. CONTACT: 615-696-2687, A two-day celebration paying honor to area west.tennessee.edu
adamstennessee.com tomato growers. Festival activities include
carnival rides, games, baby crawling Thresherman’s Show – July 15-16,
July 4th Celebration at Cherokee contest, food and craft vendors, live music,
Park – July 4, Morristown tomato tasting and a beauty contest to
Adams
Free, day-long musical celebration for the Blacksmith, mule pulls, craft fair, flea
select Tomato Festival Royalty.
family. Enjoy a variety of bands, children’s market, children’s games, pony rides and
CONTACT: 731-635-9541,
games and activities, ending with a firework food vendors. CONTACT: 615-696-2687,
lauderdalecountytn.org adamstennessee.com
display at sunset. CONTACT: 423-581-5630,
citizentribune.com 2nd-Annual Tojo Creek Gourd Gala
Kingsport Fun Fest – July 15-23,
Smokin’ the Water Fourth of July and Art Festival – July 9, Wilson Kingsport
Festival – July 4, Kingston County Fairgrounds, Lebanon Run in the world’s fastest 8K, “the Crazy 8s,”
Celebrate Independence Day with a parade, Local gourd artists provide demonstrations listen to national talent at concerts, visit
Miss Firecracker Pageant, drag boat races, of their craft. Gourd art displayed and some Bays Mountain Park, watch hot-air balloons
food, live music, art show and an exciting for sale, as well as additional homemade and many more activities for the whole
fireworks show. CONTACT: 865-376-5572, crafts. CONTACT: 615-449-0335, family. CONTACT: 800-743-5282,
roanetourism.com gourds@tojocreek.com visitkingsport.com,

AUGUST
White Oak Mountain Bluegrass Highway 127 Corridor Sale: The
Festival – July 16-17, Tri-State World’s Longest Yard Sale – August
Exhibition Center, Cleveland 4-7, Highway 127
Highly-acclaimed bluegrass bands delight Tennessee State Square & Round Headquartered in Jamestown, the world’s
crowds at this event. Antique tractors, shade longest yard sale stretches for 654 miles
tree picking and food vendors will also be Dance Convention – August 4-6,
along Highway 127. CONTACT: 800-327-3945,
featured. CONTACT: 423-476-9310, tsec.org Gatlinburg 127sale.com
This convention has something to offer
Annual WEVL FM 90 Blues on the every casual or avid square, round or Rock-A-Billy Festival – August 5-6,
Bluff – July 23, National Ornamental line dancer. Fun activities such as
Metal Museum, Memphis workshops, fashion show, sewing clinic, International Rock-A-Billy Hall of
This event offers visitors a scenic view of the great shopping, prize drawings. Fame Museum, Jackson
Mississippi River while listening to some of CONTACT: 865-654-6747, The world’s largest gathering of rock-a-billy
the best blues, soul and rhythm and blues tnsquaredance.org artists and musicians, featuring the
artists. CONTACT: 901-543-5310, wevl.org
Grainger County Tomato Festival –

July 29-30, Rutledge
Free admission, food, fun, crafts, Civil War
encampment, and fresh Grainger County
tomatoes and produce for sale. CONTACT:
graingercountytomatofestival.com
Folklife Festival – July 30, Kingsport

Celebrate the good old days with traditional
entertainment from the East Tennessee hills.
Enjoy a day full of old-time music, games
and tales. Delight in traditional life skills
demonstrations and contests. CONTACT:
423-239-6786, state.tn.us/environment/parks/
parks/WarriorsPath
Cherokee Days of Recognition

– August 5-7, Cleveland
This annual event celebrates
Cherokee customs and culture with
games, food, demonstrations, a
blowgun tournament, crafts and
more. CONTACT: 423-478-0339, state.
tn.us/environment/parks/RedClay
Tennessee Home & Farm presents: Quantity: ______ @ $9.95 ____________
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Send to:
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As author Pettus Read puts it, “country has been around for a State: ________________ Zip: __________
long time.” In this book of his favorite Read All About It columns
Daytime phone #: _____________________
from the past 30-plus years, Read discusses pulley bones, the
disappearance of stick horses, Christmases at Mop-Ma’s and the By mail:
ever popular Uncle Sid and Aunt Sadie. Full of Read’s wisdom Journal Communications Inc.
c/o Retail Fulfillment Center
and wit, this Rural Psychology Primer will likely stir up your
725 Cool Springs Blvd.,
own feelings of nostalgia for the country way of life. Suite 400
Franklin, TN 37067
Get the Dish on Dumplings

Recipes From the World’s Greatest Down-Home Dumplin’ Cook-Off!
Presented by the tennessee Farm “World’s Greatest Down-Home Dumplin’ Cook-Off”
Bureau Federation and Tennessee contest, including those of grand-prize winner
Home & Farm magazine
Bea Farmer of Brush Creek, Tenn., and the other
Here’s your chance to own the cook-off finalists. Dumpling experts and novices
world’s best collection of chicken alike will enjoy reading the stories and trying out the
and dumplings recipes! different variations of these treasured family recipes!
Down-Home Dumplings is filled
with more than 50 recipes Purchase online:
entered by TFB members in the www.tnhomeandfarm.com
Order FOrm On sale
Quantity: _________________ Send to: nOw
copy(ies) at $9.95 each Order yOur
Name: _______________________________________ cOPy tOday!
Book total: ________________ Make check payable to
Tennessee residents Address: _____________________________________ Journal Communications
add 9.25% sales tax
(.92 per book): _________________
City: _________________________________________ By mail:
Postage: $3.99 for Journal Communications
first book, plus $.99 for State: ___________ ZIP: ______________ c/o Retail Fulfillment Center
each additional book: __________
725 Cool Springs Blvd., Ste. 400
Total amount: _____________ Daytime phone #: _____________________________ Franklin, TN 37067

pioneers of rock-a-billy music as well as
new artists. CONTACT: 731-427-6262,
rockabillyhall.org
Elvis Week – August 10-16,

Memphis
Shannon Cherry
Samuel Hobbs
Celebrate the music, movies and legacy of
Elvis Presley. Enjoy a full week of fun
events. CONTACT: 800-238-2000,
elvisweek.com
Smokin’ in McMinnville – August

11-13, McMinnville Civic Center,
McMinnville
A state championship BBQ contest and It’s Time to Enter the
backyard competition sanctioned by the
Kansas City Barbeque Society. The event 16th Annual Tennessee
features money prizes plus music, food
vendors, games and inflatables for kids.
CONTACT: 931-473-6611, warrentn.com
Farm Bureau Photo Contest
Pull out your camera and start snapping! Submit your best photos in
Davy Crockett’s 225th Birthday our annual contest, and you could be named the grand-prize winner.
Celebration – August 13, To enter, fill out the form below and mail your prints to us. Or, visit
Morristown tnhomeandfarm.com to upload your digital photos and enter online.
In celebration of the 225th birthday for Davy
Crockett, the annual event includes Winners will be announced in the winter issue of Tennessee Home
refreshments, music, children’s activities, & Farm. First-place winners in each of three categories will be awarded
re-enactors, tours of the Crockett Tavern $100 cash prizes; the grand-prize winner receives $200. Entries must be
Museum. CONTACT: 423-587-9900, postmarked (or submitted online) by Aug. 1.
discoveret.org/crockett
Appalachian Craft Fair – August Name_ ___________________________________________________

22-27, Davy Crockett Birthplace
State Park, Gray Address___________________________________________________
Traditional arts and crafts, bluegrass music
City ___________________________ State ________ Zip _________
and food. CONTACT: 423-257-2167,
tnstateparks.com Phone ____________________________________________________
Tennessee Walking Horse National County of FB Membership __________________________________
Celebration – August 24-
September 3, Shelbyville Category: ❒ Agriculture ❒ Tennessee ❒ The Animal
This event for the Tennessee Walking Is Life Gardens Kingdom
Horse encompasses exciting classes in
competition where more than $650,000 in
prizes and awards are given. Other Mail entry to:
activities include a barn decorating
contest, a trade fair and a dog show.
Tennessee Farm Bureau Photo Contest
CONTACT: 931-684-5915, twhnc.com P.O. Box 313, Columbia, TN 38402-0313
Charlotte Fall Festival – August 27, OFFICIAL RULES: Only original photos or high-quality reprints will be accepted via mailed
Charlotte entries. Color or black-and-white photos are acceptable in any size. Attach this entry form to the
This celebration features a parade, a variety back of the photo (copies may be made of entry form if more than one is needed). No digital
of local musical acts, children’s rides and media storage devices will be accepted via the mailed entry option. To submit a digital photo,
games, and a variety of foods. Free to the visit tnhomeandfarm.com and click on the photo contest entry form. Digital files must be high
resolution – minimum of 5x7 inches at 300 dpi. To avoid legal entanglements, make sure
public. CONTACT: 615-789-4184,
permission has been given for use of photos. Online entrants are automatically entered in a web-
dicksoncountychamber.com only readers’ choice contest, which has no monetary prize.
We offer three categories: Agriculture Is Life, Tennessee Gardens and The Animal Kingdom.
Fall Gardeners’ Festival – August Only one entry per category per person. Only Tennessee Farm Bureau members and their
30, Crossville immediate family (parents, children, siblings) are eligible to enter. Employees of Tennessee
This outdoor gardening festival offers 12 Farm Bureau, Tennessee Farmers Insurance Cos., county Farm Bureaus or their families are
educational sessions, wagon tours of the UT not eligible to win. This is an amateur photo contest. Professional photographers are not
Plateau AgResearch and Education Center eligible. Entries must be postmarked by Aug. 1, 2011. Photos will not be returned and will
and walking tours of the Plateau Discovery become property of Tennessee Farm Bureau and Journal. Images may be used in TFBF
publications with photo credit given. For additional information, call Tennessee Farm Bureau,
Gardens. Experts will be available to
(931) 388-7872, Misty McNeese, ext. 2211. For questions about the online entry form, call
examine diseased or pest-infested samples
Jessy Yancey at (800) 333-8842, ext. 217, or e-mail thaf@jnlcom.com.
brought in by participants. CONTACT:
931-707-0120, ccmga.org
View From the Back Porch
Southern Summers
As the temperature heats up, so does nostalgia
F
About the Author or a child of the South, summer days were flew willy-nilly into tree trunks and the sides of
Carole Garretson long and hot and lazy. Time was spent the house, collapsing to the ground, stunned
Becallo was raised on a belly-down on the cool boards of a shady and easily caught. A long thread was attached
farm in Lawrence porch with family dogs, or in soft grass beneath to the hapless beetle’s leg and held as the
County. She retired in mimosa trees watching butterflies and insect buzzed around in a frantic circle.
Waynesboro after a long hummingbirds flit among the blossoms, viewing Gardens grew ripe tomatoes, sweet bell
and successful career
fluffy white clouds peeping through branches. peppers and fat green peas to pluck and eat on
as an X-ray technician.
The road was layered in powdery dust, where the spot, or young carrots and radishes to pull
She enjoys gardening,
reading and writing. one could mark out maps or wiggle toes deep from soft earth, rinse, and crunch with root
into the fine, dry stuff down to the cool, damp hairs still attached. Apple trees begged to be
earth. A great cloud of dust far away signaled the climbed, offering their tart green orbs to
rare car, its passage causing much speculation. munch with a sprinkle of salt.
The air was alive with the chirp of insects Late-evening four-o’clocks and moonflowers
and the songs of birds, all interwoven with soft opened; the great sphinx moth came out to sip
whispers of the earth breathing. Hollyhocks their nectar. Late suppers were served as the air
buzzed with fat bumblebees, and June bugs cooled and the sun sank beyond the trees –
fried chicken or ham, garden-fresh corn, green
beans, squash and smooth, golden cornbread. A
favorite dessert was biscuit pudding: crumbled
leftover biscuits covered with rich, sweet
pudding, topped with fluffy meringue.
As dusk settled, the adults moved to the
porch, sweet tea tinkling in their glasses; kids
ran about the yard catching lightning bugs to
put into jars, lids pierced with small holes for
ventilation. These makeshift lanterns would
blink into the night in the sleeping household.
The children retreated to the porch and watched
the stars come out, close and bright in the
Photo by Pam Lewis, 13th Annual TFBF Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
summer sky. As breezes touched the treetops,

the stars danced, and the great swath of the
Milky Way was contemplated by young and old.
On unbearably hot nights, heat lightning
flickered along the horizon. Electric fans were
moved from room to room, and pallets were
spread on the floor near screen doors to
capture stray breezes. A forgotten June bug
tied to its string buzzed about the porch.
Mornings were mercifully cool, dew sparkling
on the grass, another long day of leisure ahead.
But these easy days would soon give way to
the rush of school, where the excitement was
tempered with boredom of drill and repetition,
the calendar marking time to the end of the
year, shorter days and damp chill, the long
summer becoming part of a child’s memory.

Tennessee Home and Farm Summer 2011

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Home & Farm

Moles & Voles

Chairman Greg Thurman

2 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

12 / Sweet on the Bonnie Blue

16 / Carving His Niche

18 / A Place for Everything

27/ Country Classics

36 / Farm Bureau Almanac

42/ Events & Festivals

48 / View From the Back Porch

18 On the Cover Photo by Antony Boshier,

Botanic Garden Blooms

Cicada Central such a cold winter, we held off on

Editor’s Note: Flippens Fruit Farm,

Visit us on YouTube at youtube.com/tnhomeandfarm

Questions, comments and story

4 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

Just Leave It Alone

a great tomato sandwich. For links to

6 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

5/ Green Your Thumb

Story by Carol Cowan

12 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

Story by Cassandra M. Vanhooser

16 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

18 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

Story by Carol Cowan

For a more complete

Looking for information

**HughesNet is available anywhere in the contiguous US with a clear

22 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

ee Story by K aren Schwartzman

Check out our marinara

24 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

See More online

No zucchini? Any summer Discover our twist on a Southern

K Strawberry Sheet Cake

favorite any time of the year. The cold dessert

Photos by Antony Boshier

Moles and Voles in

30 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

Meet John Butler

caring for animals.

Why did you choose to become a

The original premium

For more information or a FREE DEMO, visit our dealer

34 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

The Flavor of Fresh

36 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

For Members Only

38 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

Story by Jessica Mozo

(931) 388-7872 ext. 2763

40 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

42 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

Rose Mont Festival – June 18-19,

65th Annual Rhododendron

Front Porch Pastimes Day Camp –

44 Home&Farm |Summer 2011 tnfarmbureau.org

Grainger County Tomato Festival –

Folklife Festival – July 30, Kingsport

Cherokee Days of Recognition

Postage: first book @ $3.99 ___________