Published for the family members of the Tennessee Farm Bureautnfarmbureau.org

tnhomeandfarm.comFall 2012

Home & Farm

Comfort in a JarCrossville woman finds new

life making apple butter

tennessee on two wheels

Bikers revel in rides throughout the Volunteer State

Tennessee

TRH.COM

2 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

AnofficialpublicationoftheTennesseeFarmBureauFederation©2012TFBF

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federationtnfarmbureau.org

Editor Pettus Read

circulation managEr Stacey Warner

Board of dirEctors President Lacy Upchurch, Vice President Danny Rochelle

dirEctors at largE Jeff Aiken, Charles Hancock, Catherine Via

district dirEctors Malcolm Burchfiel, James Haskew, Eric Mayberry, Dan Hancock, David Mitchell

statE fB womEn’s chairman Jane May

advisory dirEctors Dr. Larry Arrington, Brandon Whitt

chiEf administrativE officEr Joe Pearson

trEasurEr Wayne Harris

comptrollEr Tim Dodd

managing Editor Jessy Yancey

projEct managEr Blair Thomas

contEnt coordinator Rachel Bertone

contriButing writErs Jessica Boling, Melissa Burniston, Mary Carter, Carol Cowan, Shelley Davis-Wise, Nancy Dorman-Hickson, Kim Green, Sue Hamilton, Nancy Henderson,

Tiffany Howard, Anthony Kimbrough, Leslie LaChance, Jessica Mozo, Bryan Wright

crEativE sErvicEs dirEctor Christina Carden

sEnior graphic dEsignErs Stacey Allis, Laura Gallagher, Jake Shores, Vikki Williams

crEativE sErvicEs analyst Becca Ary

photography dirEctor Jeffrey S. Otto

sEnior photographErs Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord

staff photographErs Todd Bennett, Michael Conti

wEB crEativE dirEctor Allison Davis

wEB contEnt managEr John Hood

wEB dEsignEr ii Richard Stevens

wEB dEvElopmEnt lEad Yamel Hall

wEB dEvElopEr i Nels Noseworthy

proofrEading managEr Raven Petty

ad production managEr Katie Middendorf

ad traffic assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan

i.t. sErvicE tEchnician Daniel Cantrell

color imaging tEchnician Alison Hunter

accounting Diana Guzman, Maria McFarland, Lisa Owens

intEgratEd mEdia managEr Robin Robertson

chairmanGreg Thurman

prEsidEnt/puBlishErBob Schwartzman

ExEcutivE vicE prEsidEntRay Langen

sr. v.p./salEsTodd Potter

sr. v.p./opErations Casey Hester

sr. v.p./agriBusinEss puBlishing Kim Newsom Holmberg

v.p./salEs Rhonda Graham

v.p./visual contEntMark Forester

v.p./ExtErnal communications Teree Caruthers

v.p./contEnt opErations Natasha Lorens

controllErChris Dudley

distriBution dirEctorGary Smith

rEcEptionist Linda Bishop

Tennessee Home & FarmisproducedfortheTennesseeFarmBureauFederationbyJournalCommunicationsInc.,725CoolSpringsBlvd.,Suite400,Franklin,TN37067,(615)771-0080.

Allrightsreserved.Noportionofthismagazinemaybereproducedinwholeorinpartwithoutwrittenconsent.

Member AssociationofMagazineMedia

Member

CustomContentCouncil

Pleaserecyclethismagazine

Tennessee

Home & Farm

Finally Fallthe first day of fall isn’t until sept. 22, but we are already welcoming

autumn with open arms. after a summer with record-breaking heat, we’re looking forward to the cool breezes and colorful leaves the season brings. the travel feature (page 38) explores tennessee drives perfect for a weekend ride. our cover story (page 8) celebrates a favorite fall preserve through the story of a woman carrying on her family’s tradition of making apple butter the old-fashioned way. you can also read about a different type of preservation – a business that gives new life to old barnwood by “reclaiming” the lumber and repurposing it into new uses (page 12). the barnyard provides inspiration for another tennessee resident – an artist who paints farm scenes (page 16).

autumn means the start of school for many families, so our fall recipes (page 22) focus on five-ingredient, one-dish dinners that primarily use staples you may already have on hand. and if you’re hungry for more, be sure to check out extra recipes online at tnhomeandfarm.com.

Jessy Yancey, managing editorthaf@jnlcom.com

Tennessee Home & Farm (USPSNo.022-305)IssuedquarterlybytheTennesseeFarmBureauFederation,147BearCreekPike,Columbia,TN38401,(931)388-7872.PeriodicalpermitpaidatColumbia,TN,andadditionalentryoffices.

POSTMASTER Sendaddresscorrectionsto:Tennessee Home & FarmExecutiveOffices,P.O.Box313,Columbia,TN38402-0313.

SUBSCRiBE OR CHANGE ADDRESSContactyourcountyFarmBureauoffice.TH&Fisincludedinyour$25FarmBureauannualdues;nootherpurchasenecessary.

ADVERTiSiNG POLiCY Foradvertisinginformation,contactRobinRobertson,(800)333-8842,ext.227,orbye-mailatrrobertson@jnlcom.com.

Alladvertisingacceptedissubjecttopublisher’sapproval.Advertisersmustassumeallliabilityfortheiradvertisingcontent.Publisherandsponsormaintaintherighttocanceladvertisingfornonpaymentorreadercomplaintaboutserviceorproduct.Publisherdoesnotacceptpoliticaloralcoholicbeverageads,nordoespublisherprescreenorguaranteeadvertiserserviceorproducts.PublisherassumesnoliabilityforproductsorservicesadvertisedinTennessee Home & Farm.

At a Glance/a sampling of destinations in this issue

4/Nashville

5/Henning

6/Brownsville

3/Crossville1/Erwin

2/Corryton

1/ Enter the recipe contest at the unicoi county apple festival page27

2/ meet an artist from corryton who finds inspiration in agriculture page16

3/ learn how making apple butter may have saved a crossville woman’s life page8

4/ visit nashville for the tennessee state fair in september and the music & molasses festival in october page6

5/ return to historical roots at an author’s museum in henning page18

6/ find fresh flowers in the fall at a Brownsville nursery page7

Editor’s note

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 3

On the COver Old-fashioned apple butterPhoto by Brian McCord

Features 8/comfort in a jar

CarryingonthefamilytraditionofmakingapplebuttergavenewlifetoYolandaHeuser

12/ Barns rebornEagleReclaimedLumberunveilsbeautifulwoodfromantiquebarns

16/the art of farmingKnoxCountyoilpainterSarahWebermakesthebarnyardcomealive

18/retracing rootsAlexHaleyMuseummakesliteraryhistoryinHenning

22/fast fiveFive-ingredientmealsaretheperfectquick-fix,one-dishweeknightdinners 8

Departments 5/read all about it

Alife-changingjack-o’-lanterntheft

6/short rowsWinticketstotheTennesseeStateFair

27/country classicsAppleCheesecakewinsrecipecontest

29/restaurant reviewApplewoodFarmhouseturns25

30/gardeningNewplanthardinesszonemap

33/farmside chatSixth-generationfarmerraisessheep

35/to good healthRememberingthedentistdebacle

37/member BenefitsThehuntforgoodneighbors

38/travelExploreTennesseeontwowheels

42/Events & festivalsThingstodo,placestosee

48/view from the Back porchPorchponderingsinstilledtrust,faith

22 29

18

Table of Contents

FOOD Travel HOme & GarDen aGriculTure Tn livinG

tnhomeandfarm.com

Questions, comments and story ideas can be sent to: Jessy Yancey, 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, or email us at thaf@jnlcom.com.

garden of hopeIreallyenjoyedthearticle[onthe

RutherfordCountyDetentionCenter’s“GardenofHope,”Summer2012].Itshowswhatsomeonecandoiftheyknowthatsomeoneishelpingthem.Alloftheoutsidehelpisgreatlyappreciated,butthemainappreciationgoestotheyoungmenwhomarelearninghopefullyatradethatcanbeusedintheirfuture.

Betty Deal, via tnhomeandfarm.com

when west meets middleIwasbornandraisedinthe

beautifultown[ofLinden,“PaintingtheTown,”Spring2012],andI’mabout100percentpositiveit’sa“smallMiddleTennesseetown”–it’snotconsideredWestTennesseeuntilyoucrosstheTennesseeRiver.

Ilovethisarticle,bytheway!ImovedoutofPerryCountyaboutsixyearsago,butIstillgobackveryoftentovisitfamily.AndIhavelovedwatchingthetransformationofLindenandLobelvilleoverthepastsixyears.It’sabsolutelystunningnow!

Brandi raymer, via tnhomeandfarm.com

through the lensJustwantedtogiveabigTHANK

YOUforthephotocontest.Ilovelookingatallthewonderfulentries.

Lisa Hammett, Lenoir City

Editor’s note: You’re very welcome! We love the excitement from our readers every year during the photo contest. Remember, you vote for your online favorites in the readers’ choice contest during the month of August at tnhomeandfarm.com/photocontest. The winners selected by our judges will be announced in our next issue.

From Our Readers

It’s Voting Time!No,we’renottalkingaboutpolitics–it’stimeforthe3rdannualReaders’ChoicePhotoContest!VoteforyourfavoritephotosduringthemonthofAugustattnhomeandfarm.com/photocontest.Asalways,onlyonlineentrantsareeligible,andnomonetaryprizesareawardedforthiscategory–justbraggingrights.Inthemeantime,ourjudgeswillbeporingoveralloftheentriesandwillannouncethoseprize-winnersinourwinterissue.

Online Library Readpastissuesandnewonline-onlymagazines

Connect with us online!

Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/tnhomeandfarm

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tnhomeandfarm

Visit us on YouTube at youtube.com/tnhomeandfarm

Share with us on Flickr at flickr.com/groups/scenictn

Sign up for the e-mail newsletter at tnhomeandfarm.com/newsletter

Bill Jones

4 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org 4 Home & Farm|Spring2011 tnfarmbureau.org

FOOD Travel HOme & GarDen aGriculTure Tn livinG

Questions, comments and story ideas can be sent to: Jessy Yancey, 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, or e-mail us at thaf@jnlcom.com.

In Ice Is NiceMyhusbandandIweremarriedin

1995whenIwasworkingwithMatt[Simonds,“ArtistryinIce,”Winter2011]attheCrownePlaza.Asaweddinggift,Mattofferedtocarveabusinicetosurprisemyhusband,whoownedabuscompanyatthattime.Itwasbeautifullydisplayedasyouwalkedinthedoorofourreception,andmyhusbandwasthrilledwhenhesawit.Hestilltellsthestorytodayofwhatagreatsurprisethatwasandhowbeautifulthebuslookedinice.Thanks,Matt,forgreatmemories!

Hilary spellings via tnhomeandfarm.com

missing recipesWhathappenedtotherecipearchive?

Thereusedtobeasaladrecipethatincludedmaplegingerwalnutsforgarnish.Ifounditasrecentlyasamonthago,andnowit’sgone.

Jennifer Goode stevens via Facebook

Editor’s note: Don’t worry – we have big plans for our recipes! Not all of them made it onto our new website yet, but recipes are being added seasonally. Stay tuned for a big announcement about our recipes soon.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a specific recipe, let us know by posting on our Facebook page as Jennifer did, or by e-mailing us at thaf@jnlcom.com, and we’ll send it your way.

CorrectionWemadeanerrorintheTurkeyPot

Pierecipeonpage27ofourWinter2011issue.Therecipecallsfor6tablespoonsflourand2tablespoonsheavycream.Viewthecorrectversionoftherecipeinitsentiretyattnhomeandfarm.com/turkey-pot-pie.

From Our Readers

Photo Contest OnlineVisittnhomeandfarm.comtoenterourannualphotocontest.Onlineentrantsarealsoeligibleforspecialweb-exclusivereaders’choicecontest.

SummerA COLLECTION OF REFRESHING SUMMER RECIPES

Sponsored by Tennessee Farm Fresh

simply TENNESSEE RESTAURANTS

vol. 1

Online Library Readpastissuesandnewonline-onlymagazines

Connect with us online!

Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/tnhomeandfarm

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tnhomeandfarm

Visit us on YouTube at youtube.com/tnhomeandfarm

Share with us on Flickr at flickr.com/groups/scenictn

Sign up for the e-mail newsletter at tnhomeandfarm.com

tnhomeandfarm.com

Jim

my

Ram

sey

_THFspring11.indb 4 2/3/11 9:09 AM

Read All About It

the great pumpkin thiefStealing a jack-o’-lantern can change your life

it’salmostthattimeonceagaintogetoutthekitchenknifeandGrandma’solddishpanandstartcarvingawayata

helplesspumpkintomakeitlooklikesomethingoutofanorthodontist’snightmare.WithHalloweenapproaching,I’mremindedofmyyouthfuldays,whenjack-o’-lanternsbecamevaluableonthatfrightfulnight.

Inourlittleruralcommunity,weallgrewpumpkinsbetweentherowsofcorn,eitherinthefieldorinthegarden.Wegrewthemtofeedourhogs,butsomeofthechoiceoneswouldbecomefalldecorationsforthefrontporch–andatargetforjack-o’-lanternthievesaswell.Jack-o’-lanternthieverywasalmostamajorsportinmyneckofthewoodsonHalloweennight,withtryingtocatchwhostoleyourpumpkinrunningaclosesecond.

Therewerethosewhosatupwiththeirpumpkinsallnight,asatawakewithadeceasedfriend,andtheyweretheonestargetedonthe“BigHalloweenNightPumpkinPilfer.”Oneyear,agroupofmyfriendsplannedforweekstostealMissBaskin’spumpkin.ShewasanEnglishteacherfromthebigcityhighschoolandneverletanyonestealherpumpkin.Itwassaidsheguardeditwithashotgun,andnoonewasbraveenoughtostealherholidaygourd.Thatwas,untilRonnietookthechallenge.

OnHalloweennight,heandhisfriendBubbadevelopedaplan.Bubbawouldcauseadistractionatthehousenextdoor,causingMissBaskintolookawayandgivingRonniethechancetosnatchherpumpkin.Hewoulddressallinblackandcrawllikeasnaketotheporch.Meanwhile,hisfriendwouldgrabMr.Hayes’pumpkinofftheporchnextdoor.Mr.Hayesalwaysletyougethispumpkin,buthealwayscarriedonaboutit,makingalotofnoise,whichRonniehopedwouldbeenoughtoallowhimto

gettheBaskingourdandhitthetrail.Halloweenarrived,andaround10p.m.ona

spookymoonlitnightthetwojack-o’-lanternthievesapproachedtheirtargets.BubbaheadedouttoMr.Hayes’andRonniecrawledlikeaserpenttotheedgeofMissBaskin’sporch.Ronniecouldseehersittinginherstraight-backschoolchairintheshadowsofthecorneroftheporchwithsomethinglonginherhandsthatresembledaweaponofsomekind.ThetwoboyshadmadetheirplanthatwhenMr.Hayesstartedmakinghisracket,Ronniewouldmakehismove.

Justasthemoonwentbehindacloud,RonnieheardallkindsofholleringgoingonoverattheHayes’houseandhesawMissBaskingetupoutofherchairandmovetogetabetterlook.Ronniemadehismoveaswell,andgrabbedthepumpkin,preparingtomakehisescape.However,asheturnedtorun,MissBaskinstuckabroomhandleinhisribs,andatthesametimeMr.HayesthrewalargefirecrackeroverwhereBubbawasrunningwithhispumpkin.

Hearingthefirecrackerexplode,RonnieassumedMissBaskin’sbroomwasagunandhisminuteswerenumbered,andhefellflatontheground.Forthenextfewminutes,headmittedtoalotofthingsrightthereinfrontofeveryone,includingBubba,whichwasn’tagoodthing,andaskedforalotofforgivenessuntilherealizedhewasnotinjuredbuthadonlybeengoosedbyaschoolteacher’sbroomintheribs.

ThenightRonniegotshotbyabroomisstillafavoriteHalloweenstoryinmyneckofthewoods,butpumpkinthieveryisnowathingofthepast.Pumpkinshavegoneplastic,kidsdon’tcareandEnglishteachersnolongerguardpumpkinsfromteenageboys.Whathavethetimesgottento?

about the authorPettusL.Readis

editoroftheTennessee Farm Bureau NewsanddirectorofcommunicationsfortheTennesseeFarmBureauFederation.

read More about itReadhascollected

hisfavoritecolumnsintoabooktitledRead All About It.PartoftheproceedsofthebooksalesgotoTennessee4-HandTennesseeFFAprograms.

Buyacopyonlineattnhomeandfarm.com/store.

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 5

1 4

2

1/FallIntoGardeningPlantyournewtreesandshrubsin

October,whendormantplantswillbe

underlessstress.

AccordingtotheUniversityof

TennesseeGardens,newlyplanted

deciduousplantsrequirealmostno

wateringduringthewintermonths,as

longastheyarethoroughlywatered

whentheyarefirstplanted.

Monitoryourevergreens,including

junipers,holliesandarborvitae,

throughthewinteriftheseasonis

particularlydry.Winterwindscanhurt

evergreentreesiftheydon’thave

enoughmoisture.

Tolearnmoreaboutpreparingyour

plantsforthewintermonths,visitthe

UTGardenswebsiteonlineat

http://utgardens.tennessee.edu.

2/PicktheStateFairEventhegreatesttraditionsneeda

littlechangenowandthen.Visitorsto

the2012TennesseeStateFaircan

expectaneventwithabiggeremphasis

onagriculture,abrighter,moremodern

twist–andanewlogo,toboot.

Thisyear’scelebration–themedthe

“PickTennesseeStateFair”–will

featurethenewGreenCollarExhibition,

aplaceforfairgoerstoseecurrent

energytechnology,greenandorganic

displays,andvisitthefairlectureseries

ontopicssuchasurbanagandenergy.

Anewdairyandpoultryshow

competitioncalledChampionof

Championswillshowcasewinning

animalsfrompoultryordairyshowsat

localcountyfairs.

Bluegrassmusichaslongbeena

popularstage,butbanjo-pickin’performerswillbeplayingall10daysthisyear.ThefairrunsSept.7-16.

We’vepartneredwiththefairtogiveaway25familyfour-packsoftickets.Entertowinattnhomeandfarm.com/fair.

3/MusicandMolassesCelebratetheharvestseasonwith

goodmusicandold-timemolassesmaking.TheannualMusicandMolassesArtsandCraftsFestivalfeaturesseveralmusicstages,dancing,andmanyactivitiesfromtimespast,includingstir-offsatthesorghummill,basketweaving,potterymaking,hamcuringandblacksmithing.

Kidscanpullontheirbootsforstickhorseraces,apettingzoo,pumpkindecorating,ponyridesandgoatmilking.

Short Rows

6 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

TNFARMFRESH

TNFARMFRESH

falling for flowersLookingtoaddsomecolortoyourgardenthisfall?Plantprettypansies

orviolastomakeyourlandscapepopthisseason.AtWillowOaksFlowerFarminBrownsville,Tenn.,thefloralchoicesare

abundant.OwnerDavidLevyoffersmorethan50varietiesofcold-tolerantflowersinadditiontopumpkins,mumsandotherperennials.

Levysaysithastakenawhiletomastergrowingplants.HegrewuponthefarminWestTennessee,helpinghisparentsraisecotton,chickensandpigs,aswellasanorchardfilledwithappleandpeachtrees.Asanadult,hehadnotplannedtoreturntothefarmbutfoundhimselfthereonceagain.

Levy’smotherhaddiscoveredplasticgreenhousesatahorticulturemeetingin1953,andshejusthadtohaveone,whichprovedtobeafruitfuldecision.Aftersomehardfreezesinthe1950s,thefamilyventuredoutoffruitproductionandintothegreenhousebusiness.Levyhasbeenraisingplantshimselfsince1974.Thoughhelikesworkingwiththeplants,hethoroughlyenjoysbuildingthegreenhouses.

CustomerscanbuyplantsfromWillowOaksonsiteattheflowerfarm,orjoinLevyandothersonSaturdaysthroughOctoberattheMemphisFarmersMarketindowntownMemphis.

“Iencouragepeopletocomeoutandenjoythegreatproduce,wonderfulflowers,musicandmore,allunderoneroof,”saysLevy,whoisveryinvolvedatthefarmersmarket.Hesaysitssuccesscomesfromtheapproximately30dedicatedvolunteerswhoshowupeveryweekendtoassistconsumersandmakesuretheyarehavingagreatexperiencewhiletheyshop.

FormoreinformationonWillowOaksFlowerFarm,goonlinetowww.tnfarmfresh.comorcontactthefarmat(731)772-9654.

– Tiffany Howard

ThefestivalisOct.20,9a.m.to4p.m.,andOct.21,10a.m.to4p.m.attheEllingtonAgriculturalCenterinNashville,located7milessouthofdowntown,withentrancesonHoganRoadandEdmondsonPike.Formoredetails,visitwww.tnagmuseum.orgorcall(615)837-5197.

4/TheCrowdGoesWildforPasta

Theperfectfalltailgatingpartyrequirestheperfectpastasalad.

ThePastaShoppe,basedinNashville,makespastawithunique,funshapes–includingyourfavoritecollegefootballteamcolors,mascotandlogo.

TeamupwithaUniversityofTennesseeorangeandwhitepastasaladwithaGameDayVinaigretteseasoningmix.You’llscoreextrapointsservingyourfavoritesportsfanswiththePastaShoppe’sselectionofmorethan50officiallylicensedteampastasaladsatyournexttailgateorcookout.

Seethefullcollectionofcollegiatenoodles–includingVanderbiltpasta–andtherestofthe“pastabilities”atwww.pastashoppe.com.

5/ForWhomtheBellTollsAspecialbellringsoutsidethe

PioneerHallMuseuminPleasantHill,Tenn.OneofthelastbellscastbyPaulRevere,justtwoyearsbeforehisdeathin1819,thisbellhungintheoriginalacademybuildinginPleasantHill.

Themuseumistheonlysurvivingbuildingontheacademy’scampustoday.OperatedbythePleasantHillHistoricalSociety,themuseumstrivestopreserveandsharethehistoryofthePleasantHillAcademy,amissionschoolthattaughtthechildreninthecommunityfrom1884to1947.

PioneerHallisopenMay1throughOct.31from2-5p.m.onSundaysand10a.m.to4p.m.onWednesdays.Privatetoursareavailablebyappointmentbycalling(931)277-5313.

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 7

8 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org 8 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

Tennessee Living

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 9

CARRYiNG ON THE FAMiLY TRADiTiON OF MAKiNG APPLE BUTTER GAVE NEW LiFE TO YOLANDA HEUSER

When tragedy and illness struck cumberland county farm Bureau member yolanda heuser’s

life, she found comfort and healing in a surprising source: jars upon jars of rich, delicious homemade apple butter.

as far back as she can remember, yolanda heuser’s mother and grandmother gardened, canned and made apple butter for their families. But heuser never imagined herself carrying on that tradition – that is, until a couple of years ago.

“my grandparents were born in the 1800s. my grandmother had 11 children in the heart of the depression, and they just had to do what they had to do to survive. she used everything. when the apples fell, making apple butter was what you did to preserve something for your family,” heuser says. “my father died when i was seven, and my mother raised us singlehandedly.

she raised chickens and pigs and cows and had a big garden; that was just a part of our lives.

“But times change,” she continues. “it wasn’t something i intentionally set out to do just because i was the third generation.”

actually, heuser and her husband, Bud, agreed to make apple butter for the 2010 homesteads apple festival in crossville because someone asked them for help. the timing turned out to be providential.

“my mother was diagnosed with alzheimer’s in 2006, and she did oK for three years. But in november of 2009, she started getting really bad and had to go into a nursing home. it was devastating. it was like a death, and yet she was still here,” heuser says.

meanwhile, her own health began to decline, as she began to lose weight and became easily fatigued. thinking it was just the stress of her mother’s illness, heuser did not see a

doctor until several months later when she developed severe pain in her upper back and found it difficult to breathe. after extensive testing, her doctor delivered some difficult news.

“the doctor looked at me and said, ‘you have got, more likely than not, bronchoalveolar carcinoma. it is a genetic cancer; it isn’t environmentally induced. there’s nothing you’ve done to bring this on, and there’s no cure. you will not be taking chemotherapy, because it does not respond to chemo. you have to have part of your lung removed, and you have to have it done now,’ ” she recalls.

as she prepared for surgery, heuser researched her condition. the type of cancer doctors suspected she had was likely to come back, and more and more of her lung tissue would have to be removed, eventually requiring a lung transplant.

“in the meantime, we’re doing apple butter,” heuser says. “But what

STORYBYCAROL COWANPHOTOGRAPHYBYJEFFREY S. OTTO

Comfort...in a Jar

YolandaHeuserpeelsandcoreseachapplebyhandtomakeherold-fashionedapplebutter.Abatchtakesabouteighthourstomake.

fbitn.com

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 11

started out as just a venture to help this lady at the apple festival in crossville ended up saving my life. as i would do the things that i had seen my mom do, it was like she was standing right there beside me. as i would tighten the lids on those jars of apple butter, it was just like the way she did it. all those years of seeing her do all of her canning came back to me, just like second nature. it was just like my mama was there with me, guiding me through all of it, because of everything she had done and taught me. it was the most healing thing i’ve ever done.”

during surgery, heuser’s doctors removed a tumor from her lung, but what they found was not the aggressive cancer they had seen on the scans. it was diagnosed as a “necrotizing granuloma,” a dead, benign tumor. heuser calls it a miracle.

“god healed me,” she says. “i had lung cancer, and god healed me.”

Because making apple butter was such a meaningful part of getting through that year of loss, grieving, sickness and healing, heuser decided to keep it up. she attended a university of tennessee Extension service class

at the Ellington agricultural center in nashville and got her kitchen certified by the tennessee department of agriculture in order to sell her apple butter commercially.

although she created her own recipe, she honors her mother, christine, with the product’s name: ma maw ’teen’s old fashioned apple Butter. and she honors her history by using traditional cooking methods.

heuser and her husband buy their apples from a local orchard – eight bushels are required per “cooking.” then they wash them, and, using a small peeler that hooks onto the kitchen table, they peel, core and slice the apples one by one. the apples, along with 20 pounds of sugar and a gallon of pure apple juice, go into a 15-gallon pot to cook down.

“my husband and i take turns, but you stand there with a huge paddle and you stir and you stir and you stir,” heuser says. “it’s all manual; there’s nothing automatic about it.”

then she adds her own secret blend of spices and continues cooking the mixture until it reaches the perfect consistency. it takes about eight hours to finish one

how to BuyMa Maw ’Teen’s Old Fashioned

Apple Butter is not available in stores, but you can buy it – and see how it’s made – at the Homesteads Apple Festival in Crossville, Sept. 22-23, 2012, at the Cumberland Homesteads Historic District. The Heusers also sell directly

from their kitchen. In order to preserve the meaning and history of their craft and to keep from being overwhelmed by a large-volume business, they decided not to build a website. However, customers can call their office to arrange a time to buy direct from the pantry shelves. Contact Bud Heuser at (931) 484-7317.

Heuser’skitchenhasbeencertifiedbytheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculturesoshecansellherapplebuttercommercially.

batch, which makes between 80 and 88 pints of apple butter. in 2011, they made 10 batches and sold more than 900 jars at festivals around the state.

when it comes to comfort food, it’s hard to beat a slather of apple butter atop a steaming biscuit. for heuser, the comfort goes way beyond flavor. “apple butter’s been good to me,” she says.

Tennessee Living

12 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

Barns RebornEAGLE RECLAiMED LUMBER UNVEiLS BEAUTiFUL BARN WOOD

When homeowners buy lumber from Eagle reclaimed lumber of murfreesboro, they aren’t getting factory-produced wood

from who knows where. instead, they’re getting a one-of-a-kind piece of tennessee history.

founded in 2008, Eagle reclaimed lumber is the brainchild of michael watson, who buys old barns and buildings, refurbishes the antique lumber, and sells it to be made into everything from hardwood flooring and cabinets to entertainment centers and countertops.

“it’s one of the prettiest forms of recycling you could ever see,” says watson. “when you see lumber being reused instead of burned or bulldozed, it becomes an emotional product because it has a story – it didn’t come out of a big-box store. with most of our lumber, we can tell customers exactly where it came from and when the barn was built. it creates great conversation.”

Barn againwatson and his team have dismantled

approximately 50 barns so far, many of which were built between the mid-1800s and

the 1930s. he started with an old barn that was on his own farm in rockvale.

“i wanted to do something with the barn because there was a lot of beauty in the wood. i didn’t want to just tear it down,” watson says. “i cleaned the wood and shaved off the old grayed surface and discovered it was red oak and beech wood. the gray or brown surface of old wood often hides its color and character, and once you open that up, you see its character come out.”

next, watson dismantled a barn for a man in walterhill who was building a new barn and simply wanted the old one removed without bulldozing or burning it.

“it was a beautiful barn made of oak, poplar, beech, pine and walnut,” watson recalls.

watson took the wood to his warehouse in murfreesboro, where it was sorted, graded and cleaned.

“we made some of it into six-inch heart of pine flooring, and we made some tables to let people see how the wood grain looks after being repurposed,” watson says. “our business spread by word of mouth. people were surprised by how pretty the wood is.

STORYBYJESSiCA MOzOPHOTOGRAPHYBYJEFF ADKiNS

Tennessee Living

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 13

MichaelWatsoncameupwiththeconceptofEagleReclaimedLumber,whichrecyclesoldwoodintonewuses.

got an old Barn?Ifyouareinterestedin

buyingantiquelumber,orifyouknowofanoldbarnthatneedstoberemoved,youcancontactEagleReclaimedLumberat(615)427-9759oronlineatwww.eaglereclaimedlumber.com.

14 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

EagleReclaimedLumberemployeeIsraelCruztearsapartthestructureofanoldbarnwhileseparatingthegoodwoodfromthebadwoodatafarmnearOrlinda.Thewoodmayberepurposedintoanythingfromflooringtofurniture,suchasthiscoffeetablemadewithreclaimedpinewoodstandingonareclaimedmaplefloor.

the tightness of the grain is far greater than lumber you see in today’s market, so it has a more decorative appearance.”

WonderS in Woodshrouded beneath decades of dirt,

wear and tear, watson’s team has discovered many varieties of wood, including walnut, chestnut, cherry, heart of pine, southern yellow pine, red and white oak, poplar and beech. customers use the lumber for flooring, wallboard, wainscoting, trim work, farm tables, coffee tables, entertainment centers, counter and bar tops, and more.

“we encourage customers to come pick out their wood so they can see different varieties. walnut is my personal favorite because of its rich brown earthtones and distinctive grains,” watson says. “Beech is another of my favorites because it has a very decorative grain pattern. it’s one of the most underestimated products i’ve seen – when people actually see it made into a table, they love it.”

people often ask watson about the integrity of the antique wood, wondering if it will hold up for many more years to come. But he says the lumber is actually sturdier than some of the lumber you’d find in today’s market, and Eagle reclaimed lumber puts the old lumber through sterilization and drying processes to ensure it is bug-free and of high quality.

“it’s amazing the old world craftsmanship that went into these old barns – how they were put together and how sturdy they are,” he explains. “today, we’re seeing more metal barns because they are more cost-effective, and we’re losing history in the process. By repurposing the wood from an old barn, the barn lives on.”

watson says the best part about his work is getting to meet so many interesting people.

“we talk to them as we’re taking the barns down, and they tell us stories about the barns – like the things they used to do in there when they were kids,” watson says. “it seems to bring back a lot of great memories.”

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 15

Tennessee Living

The

16 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

KNOx COUNTY OiL PAiNTER SARAH WEBER MAKES THE BARNYARD COME ALiVE

In the portrait, lucy the lamb looks so cuddly you can almost feel the soft white curls of her wool and the silkiness of her

ears. But it is her gaze, that look of pure innocence and trust, that makes the oil painting come alive.

“i love their eyes,” says corryton, tenn., artist sarah weber, referring to the pigs, cows and other barnyard critters she often depicts on canvas. “that’s what i’m painting for – to get the expression in the eyes, and then the rest comes from that.”

weber, whose family has been in the greenhouse business for more than a century, worked as secretary for the East tennessee farmers association for retail marketing, selling bedding plants in Knoxville and oak ridge.

“it was just natural,” she says of her former career. “i think i have green in my veins.”

art, too, apparently runs in her bloodstream. after taking a few art classes at maryville college in the 1960s, she didn’t pick up a brush again until 2005, when the spark of the hobby she’d put on hold for years

fanned into a flame.“and i jumped in with all four

feet,” she says. “somebody said i ‘burst forth.’ it had just been in me all those years.”

first came the barnyard scenes, which rekindled weber’s fond childhood memories of raising goats and riding ponies. after that, she began painting exotic wildlife such as lemurs, chameleons and elephants, using her own photographs and composites created from magazine images. then she developed a sideline doing pet portraits on commission. recently, she ventured beyond her mainstay medium – oil paint – and started experimenting with a palette knife and acrylic color straight out of the tube.

“at first it looks pretty awful, very elementary,” she says, describing the process of turning an idea into a sketch and, eventually, a finished painting. “But i just keep going. it’s very common for people to over-paint – what i call ‘lick the canvas’ – keep going and going and not know when to stop. But when that point comes,

STORYBYNANCY HENDERSONPHOTOGRAPHYBYJEFF ADKiNS

you just lay your brush or your palette knife down and you know you’re finished.”

more than anything, weber hopes her customers enjoy a childlike sense of wonder about the furry, feathered and finned creatures in her paintings.

“i want them to remember how they felt when they were young and they saw animals on their grandfather’s farm, how the animals felt, how they smelled, how they would just stop and stand and stare at you like statues,” she says. “i love to stare back!”

animal printsSarah Weber’s barnyard scenes can

be found at Bears Valley Antiques in Sevierville, Roper Mansion’s Edward James Gallery in Dandridge and Artisun Gallery in Hot Springs, N.C. She also sells her original paintings, prints and giclee reproductions at festivals and art shows throughout Tennessee and North Carolina. See www.sarahbweber.com for more details.

of Farming

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 17

18 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org 18 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

Kunta Kinte. Kizzy. chicken george. in the mid-1970s, these characters became household names thanks to author alex haley. his 1976

novel Roots: The Saga of An American Family, and the television miniseries Roots, which aired a year later, changed what many americans thought they knew about african-american heritage, taking the story of slavery and the quest for freedom out of dry-as-dust history textbooks and making it come alive in our living rooms.

haley often said his novel had its own roots in oral history, inspired by the stories he heard as a child from his grandmother and aunts on the front porch of the family home in henning, tenn. this 1919 craftsman-style

bungalow in west tennessee has been transformed into the alex haley museum, where visitors can sit on that same broad front porch, sharing their own stories. inside, they’ll find period furnishings from the 1920s along with haley family artifacts and photographs, including one of the legendary chicken george, the former slave and patriarch who brought the murrays, haley’s maternal ancestors, out of north carolina to settle in henning in the late 1800s. a tour through the house is also a journey through the family’s history.

chicken george’s granddaughter, cynthia murray palmer, was haley’s grandmother, and she and her husband, will palmer, built the henning home. it was one of the finest

STORYBYLESLiE LaCHANCEPHOTOGRAPHYBYJEFF ADKiNS

if you goTheAlexHaley

MuseumandInterpretiveCenter,200ChurchSt.inHenning,isopenTuesdaythroughSaturday10a.m.to5p.m.Thephonenumberis(731)738-2240.Formoreinformation,visitwww.alexhaleymuseum.com.

Tennessee Living

TheAlexHaleyMuseumandInterpretiveCenterinHenningcelebratestheauthorofRootswithinteractiveexhibits,artifactsfrom

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 19

ALEx HALEY MUSEUM MAKES LiTERARY HiSTORY iN HENNiNG

houses in town and the first african-american home in henning to have a telephone. will palmer owned a successful lumber company, and the spaciousness of the house and quality of the construction indeed show that the palmers were people of means.

the son of the palmers’ daughter Bertha and college agriculture professor simon haley, alex haley spent his younger years moving around the country with his parents as his father pursued an academic career, but he thought of his maternal grandparents’ house in henning as home. it was there he first heard about an ancestor his

elders called “the african,” who was kidnapped by slave traders in west africa, survived the brutal middle passage (only one in six africans typically did), and was enslaved in colonial america. this tale and others would fire the author’s literary imagination. haley, who died in 1992, is buried in the front yard, not far from the porch.

the haley site also boasts a new building, the interpretive center, dedicated in 2010. the center houses exhibits that provide an overview of haley’s literary career, from his early days as a journalist in the coast guard, through his struggles as a

freelancer, to his ultimate success with Roots, a book he spent 12 years researching and writing. additional exhibits educate visitors about other haley writing projects, including a series of magazine interviews and his collaboration with civil rights leader malcolm x, which resulted in the acclaimed biography. other displays provide background on haley’s family history and historical context for Roots, with information about the colonial slave trade and slavery in america. a genealogist is on staff at the center to help inspired visitors learn something about their own roots.

hislifeandmementosfromhiscareer.Haley’sgraveislocatedathisboyhoodhome,whichsitsinfrontofthemuseum.

20 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

www.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits

FREE security system – $850 value.

• $5 off monthly monitoring

• Free smoke detector OR free remote – you pick!

*Offer valid for new installations only. 36-month monitoring agreement required at $31.99 per month ($1,151.64). $99 customer installation charge. Form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account. Offer applies to homeowners only. Local permit fees may apply. Certain restrictions may apply. Offer valid for new customers only. Other rate plans available. Cannot be combined with any other offer. PowerLink, LLC TN. Cert. #C-0332.

Identity Theft Restoration & Consultation Services• Included with your Tennessee Farm Bureau membership

• Consultation and restoration services

• Comparable services can cost $10-$15 per month per individual

• Through a limited power of attorney personalized licensed investigators work on member’s behalf to restore credit and save members countless hours of frustration

If you have been a victim of identity theft, call (877) 329-3911.

*You must be an active member of the Tennessee Farm Bureau for a minimum of 60 days to be eligible. Membership eligibility and offer subject to change without notice.

*Offers subject to change without notice. **HughesNet is available anywhere in the contiguous U.S. with a clear view of the Southern sky. Service and hardware sold separately. 24-month commitment required. Early termination fees apply. Visit legal.HughesNet.com for details. Minimum term required. Monthly service and termination fees apply. Usage is subject to a Fair Access Policy. Actual speeds may vary. Speed and uninterrupted use of service are not guaranteed. Visit www.legal.HughesNet.com for details.***Wireless router available to customers after 30 days of active service. Already a HughesNet customer, but have questions about your service? Call (866) 347-3299 ©2012 Hughes Network Systems, LLC. HughesNet is a registered trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.

*Some restrictions apply based on the make and model of vehicle offered as collateral. Loans are subject to credit approval. Rates and financing options are limited to certain model years and are subject to change without notice. Finance charges accrue from origination date of the loan. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau, FB, and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by, and used by Farm Bureau Bank FSB under license from, the American Farm Bureau Federation. FDIC.

Drive your dream ride home today!• Special Farm Bureau member rates*

• Up to 100% financing

• Call (866) 645-8123 or visit farmbureaubank.com/tfbf to apply today

• Competitive financing for motorcycle, boat and RV loans also available

Discount Home Security PowerLink – (877) 832-6701

Prescription Discount Program www.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits

TFBF members are eligible to receive prescription discounts with up to 60% savings at over 56,000 chain and independent pharmacies on over 12,000 FDA approved drugs, including both name-brand and generic drugs.

Simply present your membership card at a participating pharmacy to receive your discount (information on back of card).

Don’t have a membership card? Visit our website to reprint your card or to check for participating pharmacies and drug pricing.

*This card is not an insurance benefit and will not offer additional savings on pharmacy discounts offered through insurance plans.

• Save between 15-30% on core list supplies including ink, paper and toner

• Save 5% on almost everything that Office Depot sells*

• Visit our website to print your store discount card – www.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits More Perks section

• Present your discount card at any Office Depot location during checkout to receive these great savings!

*Some restrictions may apply. See local store for details. Offer does not include electronics.

Auto Loan Refinancing from Farm Bureau Bank (866) 645-8123

Best Farm Bureau Hughes Offer Ever!• $49.99 basic package for life of contract

• $100 additional rebate for Farm Bureau members

• Free wireless router – $49.99 value*

• Free professional installation

• Ask about Hughes instant $99 savings offer

No Cable, No DSL, No Problem• You deserve better than dial-up!

• Available everywhere in Tennessee today**

• Get HughesNet today!

• Available to new HughesNet subscribers only, and only by calling Perfect 10

High-Speed Satellite Internet HughesNet – (800) 472-9462

Exclusive Farm Bureau Member Savings!

On average, our members have saved $61 per transaction when choosing to do business with our Preferred Partners!

Office Supply Discountswww.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 21

www.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits

FREE security system – $850 value.

• $5 off monthly monitoring

• Free smoke detector OR free remote – you pick!

*Offer valid for new installations only. 36-month monitoring agreement required at $31.99 per month ($1,151.64). $99 customer installation charge. Form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account. Offer applies to homeowners only. Local permit fees may apply. Certain restrictions may apply. Offer valid for new customers only. Other rate plans available. Cannot be combined with any other offer. PowerLink, LLC TN. Cert. #C-0332.

Identity Theft Restoration & Consultation Services• Included with your Tennessee Farm Bureau membership

• Consultation and restoration services

• Comparable services can cost $10-$15 per month per individual

• Through a limited power of attorney personalized licensed investigators work on member’s behalf to restore credit and save members countless hours of frustration

If you have been a victim of identity theft, call (877) 329-3911.

*You must be an active member of the Tennessee Farm Bureau for a minimum of 60 days to be eligible. Membership eligibility and offer subject to change without notice.

*Offers subject to change without notice. **HughesNet is available anywhere in the contiguous U.S. with a clear view of the Southern sky. Service and hardware sold separately. 24-month commitment required. Early termination fees apply. Visit legal.HughesNet.com for details. Minimum term required. Monthly service and termination fees apply. Usage is subject to a Fair Access Policy. Actual speeds may vary. Speed and uninterrupted use of service are not guaranteed. Visit www.legal.HughesNet.com for details.***Wireless router available to customers after 30 days of active service. Already a HughesNet customer, but have questions about your service? Call (866) 347-3299 ©2012 Hughes Network Systems, LLC. HughesNet is a registered trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.

*Some restrictions apply based on the make and model of vehicle offered as collateral. Loans are subject to credit approval. Rates and financing options are limited to certain model years and are subject to change without notice. Finance charges accrue from origination date of the loan. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau, FB, and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by, and used by Farm Bureau Bank FSB under license from, the American Farm Bureau Federation. FDIC.

Drive your dream ride home today!• Special Farm Bureau member rates*

• Up to 100% financing

• Call (866) 645-8123 or visit farmbureaubank.com/tfbf to apply today

• Competitive financing for motorcycle, boat and RV loans also available

Discount Home Security PowerLink – (877) 832-6701

Prescription Discount Program www.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits

TFBF members are eligible to receive prescription discounts with up to 60% savings at over 56,000 chain and independent pharmacies on over 12,000 FDA approved drugs, including both name-brand and generic drugs.

Simply present your membership card at a participating pharmacy to receive your discount (information on back of card).

Don’t have a membership card? Visit our website to reprint your card or to check for participating pharmacies and drug pricing.

*This card is not an insurance benefit and will not offer additional savings on pharmacy discounts offered through insurance plans.

• Save between 15-30% on core list supplies including ink, paper and toner

• Save 5% on almost everything that Office Depot sells*

• Visit our website to print your store discount card – www.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits More Perks section

• Present your discount card at any Office Depot location during checkout to receive these great savings!

*Some restrictions may apply. See local store for details. Offer does not include electronics.

Auto Loan Refinancing from Farm Bureau Bank (866) 645-8123

Best Farm Bureau Hughes Offer Ever!• $49.99 basic package for life of contract

• $100 additional rebate for Farm Bureau members

• Free wireless router – $49.99 value*

• Free professional installation

• Ask about Hughes instant $99 savings offer

No Cable, No DSL, No Problem• You deserve better than dial-up!

• Available everywhere in Tennessee today**

• Get HughesNet today!

• Available to new HughesNet subscribers only, and only by calling Perfect 10

High-Speed Satellite Internet HughesNet – (800) 472-9462

Exclusive Farm Bureau Member Savings!

On average, our members have saved $61 per transaction when choosing to do business with our Preferred Partners!

Office Supply Discountswww.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits

22 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

FiVE-iNGREDiENT qUiCK-Fix MEALS ARE THE PERFECT ONE-DiSH DiNNERS FOR WEEKNiGHTS

Add the following recipes to your emergency list for weeknight relief. mealtime is important. it can provide a moment of connection for

busy people, nourishing body and soul.scheduled meals offer an opportunity to

relax and reflect. people who plan regular, balanced meals experience steadier weight control and lower stress and enjoy better health management (even improved sleep). whether you’re a busy single, a parent or an active retiree, the benefits are the same.

stocking the pantry and refrigerator are step one. take a good hard look at the items you’re storing. give away the foods you don’t eat and stock your kitchen with convenience.

kitchen keeperSPantry: olive oil, sesame oil, vegetable oil,

balsamic vinegar, chicken stock, rice, pasta, couscous, ramen, canned beans (a variety of garbanzo, kidney, refried, black, navy, etc.), salsa, seasonings, herbs and spices

refrigerator: Eggs, tortillas (flour and corn), fresh spinach, cheese (some pre-shredded melting cheeses and grated parmesan), greek yogurt, slaw mix, fresh garlic, onions

More Quick fixeSFresh Spinach: all of these dishes are

enhanced with a few handfuls of fresh, chopped spinach, which melts like butter into any warm dish. it adds flavor, iron and lots of vitamins a and c. stir it in and enjoy.

Greek Yogurt: super-high in protein, calcium and vitamin d, creamy greek yogurt is a great alternative to higher-calorie sour cream. stir it into some herbs to make a quick, creamy sauce for pork or poultry.

Pasta emergency: prepare any shape of pasta. toss it with a can of garbanzo beans, garlic sautéed in olive oil, parmesan and chopped spinach. the beans paired with pasta make a complete protein. this low-fat dish takes about 10 minutes to prepare.

Each of the following recipes takes about 30 minutes to prepare (including cooking time). they consist of five main ingredients. play with the seasonings and sides to fit your taste. But, don’t think too hard. you can save that energy for the project you offered to do at work, or the night class you’re taking.

oh, and remember, you also need to go to the store to buy supplies for that science project that junior just told you is due tomorrow.

STORYANDRECIPESBYMARY CARTERPHOTOGRAPHYBYJEFFREY S. OTTO

Food

FastFIvE

hungry for More?Findmorefive-

ingredientrecipesattnhomeandfarm.com,includingMigas,asouthoftheborderdishconsistingofscrambledeggs,beans,cheese,tortillachipsandsalsa.

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 23

this soup is also delicious with snow peas or shredded carrots stirred in with the egg. the veggies

will cook just slightly and offer a nice crunch. also, it has nearly magical curative powers for colds and flu.

Quick greek lemon Soup6 cups chicken stock

¼ cup converted rice*

3 eggs, beaten

juice of one lemon2 cups chopped cooked chicken, salmon or 2 cups

cleaned and trimmed medium-size shrimp, optional

*Convertedriceisbrownricethathasbeenconvertedtoawhitericetexture,whichallowsittocookfasterthantraditionalbrownrice.Anotherlong-grainwhitericewillsubstitute,butconvertedricewillhavemorefiber.

in a large saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer. stir in rice and simmer for about 15 minutes (until rice is soft). stir in eggs and lemon juice. lightly whisk until the egg is thoroughly cooked. add chicken, shrimp or salmon, if desired. season to taste with salt, pepper and chopped parsley.

Sweet potatoes and pork over garlic egg noodles1 cup cubed sweet potato

1 medium red onion, chopped

1 apple, cubed

1 pound pork tenderloin or boneless chops, sliced very thin

12 ounces hearty egg noodles (such as kluski or spaetzle)

garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste

saute onion and sweet potato in a large heavy skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil until they begin to brown. if sweet potato is hard and uncooked in the center, add ¼ cup water to the skillet, stirring until water is absorbed and sweet potato is softened. if needed, this step can be repeated.

in a medium saucepan, prepare noodles according to package instructions. lightly butter and toss noodles with garlic powder, salt and pepper.

add the pork and apples to the skillet, stirring often, until pork is evenly cooked and apples are softened. season to taste with salt, pepper, fennel seed, bouillon powder, herbs (sage would be lovely), or red pepper flakes.

spoon pork mixture over buttered noodles.

Food

24 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

Season the crust with fresh garlic and olive oil or pesto, and bake for about 5 minutes before layering

other ingredients. this freshens up a store-bought crust.

cheesesteak pizza1 pound flat iron steak, sliced very thin*

1 onion, sliced

1 green pepper, sliced

2 cups pizza cheese

1 pre-baked pizza crust

*Uncookedmeatsliceseasilyifplacedinthefreezerforabout15minutes.

preheat oven to 400 degrees. saute onions and green pepper with 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy skillet. when onions are soft and begin to caramelize, spoon them into a bowl.

add the steak to the skillet and saute until just done, using tongs to even out the cooking.

place 1 cup cheese on the pizza crust. layer onion, green pepper and steak on top. sprinkle remaining cheese over all. season according to taste with garlic, red pepper flakes, italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden and bubbly. serve immediately.

asian noodles With rotisserie chicken and Vegetables1-2 tablespoons sesame oil

1 (12-ounce) bag broccoli slaw mix or stir-fry veggie mix

2 packages chicken-flavored ramen noodles

1 rotisserie chicken, meat removed and coarsely chopped, about 1 pound (or 2 large cooked chicken breasts, chopped)

½ cup thai peanut dipping sauce

in a large skillet, stir-fry slaw mix in sesame oil. meanwhile, cook the noodles according to

package instructions. when done, drain liquid from noodles.

toss hot noodles with vegetables, chicken and peanut sauce. garnish with chopped green onion, cilantro and crushed peanuts, if desired.

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 25

Pick Tennessee sTaTe Fair For agriculTure, arT, educaTion and Family Fun!

(And, Pick Tennessee Lottery!)

The State Fair is a leading Tennessee agricultural event. Our mission is to engage and educate people on the importance of agriculture in everyday life. Visit Kid’s Country and the Barnyard

Animals for the little ones. The Green Collar Exhibition is the place to learn the latest on energy technologies. You don’t have to live on a farm to appreciate agriculture!

To purchase tickets and ride wristbands, visit www.tnstatefair.org.

Bring a non-winning loTTery TickeT To geT $3 oFF

adulT Fair admission!

September7-16, 2012

apple delightelizaBethton Man WinS unicoi apple feSt conteSt

in a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs, ¼ cup sugar and butter. press onto the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of prepared pan. place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. cool on a wire rack.

in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, cook caramels and milk, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth. pour 1 cup over crust, and sprinkle with ¼ cup pecans. set remaining caramel mixture aside.

in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, 1 tablespoon flour and remaining sugar until smooth. add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. combine the apples, cinnamon and remaining flour, and fold into cream cheese mixture. pour into crust.

place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 inch of hot water to larger pan. Bake for 40 minutes.

reheat reserved caramel mixture if necessary; gently spoon over cheesecake. sprinkle with remaining pecans.

Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until center is just set. remove pan from water bath. cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer.

refrigerate overnight.

hejusttooktophonorsinabakingcontest,soit’ssomewhathardtobelievetherewasatimewhenJoeShultzdidn’tcook.

“Iusedtocomehomefromworkandputmyfeetupwhilemywifefixedthemeal,”herecalls.Oneday,hedecidedtomakedinnertosurpriseher.

“IrealizedIenjoyedit,”saysSchultz,wholivesinElizabethton.

Overtheyears,Shultzdiscoveredapassionforbaking–andexperimenting.

“I’lltakearecipethatseemstohavegoodpossibilitiesandmodifyit,”hesays.

That’sjusthowhecreatedhisCaramelAppleCheesecakeforthebakingcontestatthe2011UnicoiCountyAppleFestival,wherejudgeschewedovercontenderswiththreedifferenttypesofapplerecipes:applepies,applecakesandanyotherappledish,thecategorySchultzwon.There’salsoaseparatecompetitionforyouth.

The2012UnicoiCountyAppleFestivaltakesplaceOct.5-6indowntownErwin.Inadditiontothebakingcontest,activitiesincludecraftsellers,atalentandbeautypageant,livemusic,food,andachildren’sarea.Findmoredetailsattnhomeandfarm.com. – Jessica Boling

apple caramel cheesecake1½ cups cinnamon graham cracker crumbs

(about 8 whole crackers)

¾ cup sugar, divided

¼ cup butter, melted

1 (14-ounce) package caramels2/3 cup evaporated milk

½ cup chopped pecans, divided

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1½ cups peeled and chopped apples

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

place a greased 9-inch springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 inches square). securely wrap foil around pan.

Country Classics

Jeff

rey

S. O

tto

hungry for More?Eachissueof

Tennessee Home & FarmhighlightsrecipeslikethosefeaturedinCountry Classics Volume II.Copiesofthecookbookareavailablefor$17each,includingshippingandhandling,fromcountyFarmBureauoffices,orbycallingtheTennesseeFarmBureauhomeofficeat(931)388-7872,ext.2217.

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 27

www.fordspecialoffer.com/farmbureau/tn

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 29

the dish on applewood farmhouse

Ineachissue,wefeatureoneofTennessee’stastyeateries.YoucanfindacollectionofourfavoriterestaurantsintheFoodsectionoftnhomeandfarm.com.Asalways,pleasecallaheadbeforetravelinglongdistances.

ApplewoodFarmhouseRestaurantislocatedat240ApplevalleyRoadinSevierville,justnorthofPigeonForgeinEastTennessee.Therestaurantisopen8a.m.to9p.m.daily,withbreakfastfrom8-11a.m.,lunchfrom11a.m.-4p.m.,anddinnerfrom4p.m.untilcloseMondaythroughSaturday,andSundaydinnerfrom11a.m.untilclose.Formoreinformation,call(865)428-1222orvisitwww.applewoodfarmhouserestaurant.com.

good food to the coreSeVierVille’S appleWood farMhouSe reStaurant turnS 25

celebratingits25thanniversaryin2012,theApplewoodFarmhouseRestaurantoccupiestherenovatedfamilydwelling

ofwhatwasonceaworkingSeviervillefarm.Appletrees,plantedasapastime,weresecondarytocropsandcattle.Whenthemainstaycropfailedandthetreesbegantobearabundantfruit,however,thehobbybecameanopportunity.Whenlifegivesyouapples,well,youmakeapplecider–andsell’em,too.Thus,thegenesisoftheAppleBarnandCiderMill.Afterafewyearsofsuccessandcontinuedcustomers,youmakeapplebutter,fritters,applecake,applepie,dumplingsanddonuts.Youtransformthethrivingbusiness,flourishinglikethetreesthemselves,intoacelebrationofallthingsapple.Then,youopenarestaurant.

Theoriginalfarmhouse,refurbishedin1987,ispaintedcrispwhitewithneatgreentrimandoverlooksagreenseaofmanicuredlawn.Outside,numerousbenches,rockingchairsandacoupleofflower-ringedgazebosinviteonetositaspell.Inside,separatediningareaswithnamesliketheParlor,thePantryandtheSunPorchpreservetheintimacyoftheoriginalfamilyspace.Everywhere,thearomaofsomethingwarmandsweetlingersintheair.

Aroundthetable,insteadoftraditional

yeastrolls,patronsareservedabasketofthesignatureapplefritterswithapplebutterandaglassofsweeticedApplewoodJulep.Themenuboastsheartycountryfare,suchasSouthernFriedChickenandMomma’sCountryMeatloaf,yetincludesenoughvarietytopleaseeverypalate.Entreesareamplyportionedandcomewithavegetablesideandhomemadesoup.Sundaydinnerincludesallofthisaswellasagardensaladandahouse-madedessert.Yousurelywon’twalkawayhungry.

Infact,WilliamB.StokelyIV,presidentofStokelyHospitalityEnterprises(whichrunsApplewoodanditson-sitesisterrestaurant,ApplewoodFarmhouseGrill),saysheloveshearingfromcustomerswhohavebeenreturningforyears.Andthey’renotthe onlyones.

“Themajorityofouremployeeshavebeenwithusforaverylongtime,”Stokelysays.“Wehavecometoknowoneanotherwell...andthatmakesusfeellikefamily.”

Tina,aserverattherestaurant,doesn’thesitatetoagree.

“We’reonebigfamilyhere,”shesays.“Everyonehelpseachotherout.”TheApplewoodFarmhouseRestauranthasindeedcultivatedthesecretoflongevity.

– Shelley Davis-Wise

Restaurant Review

Ph

otos

by

Jeff

Ad

kin

s

30 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org 30 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

about the authorDr.SueHamiltonis

DirectoroftheUniversityofTennesseeGardens.ThegardensareaprojectoftheUniversityofTennesseeAgResearchprogram,withlocationsinKnoxvilleandJackson:http://utgardens.tennessee.edu.

Gardening

get in the ZoneuSda unVeilS neW plant hardineSS zone Map

ifyouhaven’theard,oneofthebiggestitemsingardeningnewslatelyistheunveilingofthenewU.S.Departmentof

Agriculture(USDA)PlantHardinessZoneMap.Themapisthestandardbywhichgardenersandgrowerscandeterminewhatplantsaremostlikelytoendurewintertemperaturesatagivenlocation.

Eventhough2012wasanunusuallywarmwinterformuchoftheUnitedStates,lowtemperatureduringthewinterisacrucialfactorinthesurvivalofplantsatspecificlocations.TheUSDAPlantHardinessZoneMapisbasedontheaverageannualminimumwintertemperature.Whilethezonesdorepresenttheaverageannualextrememinimumtemperaturesatagivenlocationduringa30-yearperiodinthepast,theydo

notreflectthecoldestithaseverbeenoreverwillbeataspecificlocation.

TheUSDAzonemaphadnotbeenupdatedsince1990,andthenewversionofthemapincludes13zones,withtheadditionforthefirsttimeofzones12(50-60degreesFahrenheit)and13(60-70degreesFahrenheit).Eachzoneisa10-degreeFahrenheitband,furtherdividedinto5-degreeFahrenheitzones“A”and“B.”Thenewmap–jointlydevelopedbyUSDA’sAgriculturalResearchService(ARS)andOregonStateUniversity’s(OSU)PRISMClimateGroup–isavailableonlineatwww.planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Forthefirsttime,theUSDAzonemapoffersaGeographicInformationSystem(GIS)-basedinteractiveformatandisspecificallydesignedtobeInternet-friendly.

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 31

Ifyouareinterestedinlearningmoreaboutthehistoryanddevelopmentofthemap,notedhorticulturistTonyAventofPlantDelightsNurseryoffersawonderfulin-deptharticle.Findalinkattnhomeandfarm.com/usda,alongwithotherzonemapsofthestateandcountry.

SEE MORE ONLiNE

ThemapwebsitealsoincorporatesafunctionthatallowsgardenerstofindtheirzonebyZIPcode.

Zonehardinessisahandythingtoknow,butdon’tbefrustratedwhenaplantdies,andcertainlydon’tgiveuptryingtogrowthatparticularplantagain.Growingplantscanbeverycomplex,andmanyenvironmentalfactorscanimpactthewinterhardinessofaplant–wind,soiltype,soilmoisture,humidity,pollution,snowandwintersunshinetonameafew.Individualgardensmayevenhavelocalizedmicroclimatesthatmaybewarmerorcoolerthanthegeneralzoneforyourarea,sonohardinesszonemapcantaketheplaceofthedetailedknowledgethatgardenerspickupabouttheirowngardensthroughhands-onexperience.

Keepinmind,too,thatTennesseeisintheMid-South,meaningthe“transitionzone”betweentheNorthandthedeepSouth.ForTennesseegardeners,thismeansourplantsmaynotalwaysacquireagradualtransitioningfromfalltowinterorwintertospring.Wearen’tsurprisedbyaboutofextremelycoldweatherearlyinthefallthatmayinjureplantseventhoughthetemperaturesmaynotreachtheaveragelowesttemperatureforourzone.Similarly,exceptionallywarmweatherinmidwinterfollowedbyasharpchangetoseasonablycoldweathermayinjureplantsaswell.

Beawarethatthehardinesszonemapisagreatguide,butonlyaguide–andonlywhenthezonesassignedtoplantsbyproducersareaccurate.

Quantity: ______ @ $9.95 ____________

Sales taxQuantity: _____ x $0.92 sales tax ______ (TN residents add 9.25% sales tax)

Postage: first book @ $3.99 ___________

additional books ____ @ .99 ___________

Total amount: ________________________

1 book = $14.86

2 books = $26.72

3 books = $38.58

4 books = $50.44

5 books = $62.30

Includes shipping & sales tax

Make check payable to Journal Communications

Send to:

Name: _______________________________

Address: _____________________________

City: _________________________________

State: ________________ Zip: __________

Daytime phone #: _____________________

As author Pettus Read puts it, “country has been around for a long time.” In this book of his favorite Read All About It columns from the past 30-plus years, Read discusses pulley bones, the disappearance of stick horses, Christmases at Mop-Ma’s and the ever popular Uncle Sid and Aunt Sadie. Full of Read’s wisdom and wit, this Rural Psychology Primer will likely stir up your own feelings of nostalgia for the country way of life.

Tennessee Home & Farm presents:

By mail:

Journal Communications Inc.

c/o Retail Fulfillment Center

725 Cool Springs Blvd.,

Suite 400

Franklin, TN 37067

32 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 33

whenitcomestosheep,ReyesRichisn’tyourtypicalBoPeep.Heandhisfamilyrunthesixthgenerationof

GinnyRidgeFarms,whichincludesbeefcattle,broilerchickens,goatsandsheep.Heraisesmorethan100Suffolk,Hampshireandcrossbredhairsheepewes(femalesheep).

“Sheepareamazingcreatures,”Reyessays.“EventhoughIfarmmanyanimals,Iamthemostpassionateaboutsheep.Theyareextremelyefficient,versatileandmanageableanimalsthatcomplementsmallacreages,workprofitablywithinmanydifferentproductionsystemsandmixwellwithTennessee’sbeefcattle.”

six generations is a proud tradition. What do you value most?

Inthe1800s,ElishaRichfoundedthefamilyfarminruralClayCounty,andeventuallybequeathedaportionofitto hisdaughter,Virginia.Thatareabecameknownas“GinnyRidge,”andthrough theyears,manygenerationsofRichdescendantsproducedmostlycattleandsmallquantitiesofgrains,fruitsandvegetables.Ihavelivedaroundfarmsandruralcommunitiesallofmylife.The greatestthingaboutbeingonthefarm andlivinginasmalltownisthesenseofcommunityandknowingyourneighbors. Thefarmisalsoawonderfulplacetoraisechildrenandhaveafamily.

What is it like to raise an animal that sometimes flies under the radar?

Itisfunandenjoyablebecausesheepproductionisunusualandanoveltytomostfolks.Mostpeoplehaveabitofanostalgicperceptionofsheep.Manyinthegeneralpublicassumesheepareraisedforwoolproductiononlywhen,inactuality,wealsoprovidelean,lusciouslambthatappearsondinnertablesandinrestaurantsalloverthecountryandaroundtheworld.

meet reyes richSixth-generation farMer raiSeS Sheep, other liVeStock

ReadmoreaboutReyesRich’sfarmattnhomeandfarm.com.

SEE MORE ONLiNE

Farmside Chat

Jeff

Ad

kin

s

How do you tackle the topic of animal welfare with those outside of the agricultural industry?

Wehavetohelppeopleunderstandanimalwelfareisthetoppriorityforfarmers.Asanindustry,wetaketheresponsibilityoflivestockstewardshipveryseriously.Weworkhardeverydaytomeetouranimals’needsandmakegoodmanagementdecisionsontheirbehalf.Wehaveacommongoal–healthy,high-qualitylivestockonourfarmstodaywillbehealthy,high-qualityfoodontheirtablestomorrow,andthatisbeneficialtoeveryone.

What advice would you give someone interested in raising sheep?

Read,investigateanddiscuss!Therearemanyopportunitiesinthesheepindustry.Iwouldencouragethemtoexploreeachofthoseandvisitwithothersheepproducers.Thesefolksareverypassionateaboutwhattheydoandareverywillingtotalkaboutthisindustry.MembershipintheTennesseeSheepProducersAssociationisalsohelpful,asitprovidesaccesstomanyeducationalopportunitiesthroughouttheyear–guestspeakers,fielddays,tours,newsletters,magazinearticlesandmore.

– Melissa Burniston

ReyesRichwithsonEli,daughterGraceAnnandwifeCarla

34 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 35

stilltoday,Idon’tenjoygoingtothedentist.Ilikemydentist,personallyandprofessionally,andthekindandcapable

folkswithwhichhehassurroundedhimself.Butgivemeanarrayofoptionsforanygivenday,goingtothedentistisgoingtofalloutnearthebottomofthelist.

Thesights(toomanypointedobjectscapableofinflictingpain),thesounds(thatdrillmakesanoisebecauseit’scuttingsomething)andthesmells(kindoflikewhatweputthebullfroginbeforewedissecteditinhighschoolbiology)arejustnotthestufftowhichIlookforward.Idothedentalvisit,though,twiceayearbecauseitmustbedone,unlessIwishtofinishtheremainingyearsofmylifeeatingonlypre-chewedfood.

AndIdoitbecauseMomandDadtaughtmeto,beginningwithmyveryfirstvisitwaybackwhentoDr.McGraw.Really,Iremembernothingatallaboutthatvisitexceptforaboutatwo-tothree-minutesegmentoftimeoutsidethedentalchairinteractingwithDr.McGraw.Thatportionoftimehasforeverbeenetchedinmymemory.

Again,thetimesimmediatelybeforeandafterIdonotrecall,butthefamilystorygoesthatIdidnottaketothedentistofficeverywelluponmyinitialentrance.Thelarger-than-life-to-meDr.McGraw,whoIlatercametoknowasakindChristianmanbehindastrongexterior,mayhavefrightenedme,ormaybeIsawoneofthosewicked-lookingtools.Whatever,thistoddlerboymusthavecutloosewithoneheckofaTasmanian-sizedtantrumbecausetherewasnowayDr.McGrawcouldgetnearmymouth.IprobablythoughtIhadwonoutoverMomandDadandthismeanmaninhisbigwhitecoat.Notso.

Remember,thiswasbackinthegooddayswhenparentsdidn’tobjecttoauthorityfigures

actuallyexpectingchildrentobehave,andwhenyoudidn’thavetofeartramplingsomeone’sself-esteembysimplyrequiringchildrentorespectothersanddoright.Somyparentsdidn’tobjectwhentheywatchedtheirfamilydentistgrabuptheirscreaming,scramblingtoddlerandmarchhimdownthehallway.Thispointofthestoryiswheremybriefrecollectionbegins.Istillrecallthosebighairyarmsclosingthedoorbehindusandthenliftingmeup(that’sright)andploppingmylittletinyheinieontheedgeoftheporcelainsink.

IdesperatelywishIcouldrecountthosewordstoday,butIonlyrememberDr.McGraw’ssteeleyes,hisfirmholdonmeasIsatonthesinkandtheseriousnessinhisvoiceasheexplainedhowIwouldbehavefromthatdayforwardinhisdentaloffice.Withthosewordsstillswirlingintheairaboveus,hepluckedmeoffthesinkandtogetherwewalkedbackdownthehallway.Iwipedawayafewtearsandarunnynose,butIwasquietasImarchedtothedentalchair.

Dr.McGrawremainedourfamilydentistformanyyearsand,thoughnolongerwithus,hisimpressionstillremains.Ifhewerestillwithus,hemighttakethisopportunitytodolikewisewithyou,plopyoudownforaserioustalkabouttheimportanceofgooddentalhygieneandbehavior.HewasafairmanwhochargedfairratesandwouldappreciatethekindofdecentdentalplansyoucanpurchasetodayfromTRHHealthPlans.TalktousaboutthematyourlocalFarmBureauoffice–there’sautomaticapprovalandratesatonly$23.90permonthforanindividual,$46.20foratwo-personpolicyand$69.05forafamily.

Withthosekindsofrates,there’llbenoneedforatempertantrumandnoneedforachatwithDr.McGraw,either.

the dentist debaclea tooth doctor cureS a toddler’S teMper tantruM

about the authorAnthonyKimbrough

isvicepresidentofmarketingandgovernmentrelationsforTRHHealthPlans.Hise-mailisakimbrough@trh.com.

FormoreinformationaboutTRHHealthPlans,call(877)874-8323orvisitwww.trh.com.

To Good Health

I care because I wouldn’t feed anything less than the safest foods to my family and to yours.

Go to www.conversationsoncare.com and join one of the ongoing conversations on animal care.

Member Benefits

yearsago,IknewafellownicknamedMousebecausehefavoredamousequiteabit.Hehadalittlemustachethat

ranoutpastthecornersofhisupperlip,hisearsstuckoutabitandevenhisskincolorwaskindofapermanenttancolorfromyearsofworkinginthesun.Hewasaspindlylittlefellowwhodidn’tweigh130poundssoakingwet.Duringwarmweather,hisattirewaslimitedtoapairofoverallsandshoesthatwerenevertied.Itwasprettyeasytotellthatwasallheworebecausehedidn’tbucklethesidesofhisoveralls,nordidhebotherwithsocks.

Inthespring,Mouseenjoyedheadingtothewoodstohuntmorelmushrooms,whichfolksintheUpperCumberlandareacalldry-landfish.Whenthemorelsaresliced,batteredanddeep-fried,theyarenothingshortofexcellent.Yearsago,mealslikethiswereatreattofolkswhodidn’thavemuchvarietyintheirdiet,andtheystillareafinemealtoday.

Onespringday,Mousegotanearly-morningstarthuntingmorels,travelingacrosshillsandhollowsthathehadexploredallhislife.Aroundmid-morning,withhissackfullofmushrooms,heheadedbacktowardhishomeenjoyingthepeacefulnesswhilereminiscingaboutthetimespentinthewoodsasaboyandlookingforwardtoagreatmealthatevening.

Whilewalkingacrossafield,thetranquilityofthemorningcametoanabruptendwhenheheardapersonscreamingfromadistance.“Hey,whatareyoudoingonmyproperty?You’retrespassing!Getoutofhere!”

Mousedidn’trealizehewasstandinginthemiddleofasmallparcelofpropertythathadbeensoldtoagentlemanwhohadspenthisentirelifeinNewYorkCityanddidn’thaveMouse’sappreciationforruralneighbors.Mousewasn’tthetypeoffellowwholikedtobackdownfromaconfrontation,andhe

wantedtobeagoodneighbor,sohedecidedtomakehiswayovertothelocationoftheshoutstoaddresstheupsetfellow’sconcernsandintroducehimself.AsMousegotcloser,thefellowbecamemorebelligerentinhislanguage,leadingMouse’sbloodpressuretojumpafewnotcheswitheverystepandeveryhatefulwordspokenbytheneighbor.WhenMousegotwithinafewfeetoftheneighbor,theneighborsaid,“Youignoranthick!Didn’tyouhearmeaskingyouwhatyouweredoingonmyproperty?”

“Iheardyou,”Mousecalmlyreplied.“Well,whatareyoudoinghere?”the

neighborasked.“I’vebeenoutallmorningwalkingthese

hillslookingforahorse’sbehind,andI’vefinallyfoundone,”Mouseanswered.

Yousee,Mousewasthetypeoffellowwhoappreciatedthelittlethingsinlife,andiftheneighborhadjusttakenaminutetointroducehimself,hecouldhavefoundanewfriendandgottenenoughmushroomsforagoodmealthatnight.

That’sthewaywefeelaboutyouasourmember.Youareourfriendandourneighborwhoweseeattheballpark,thegrocerystoreandatchurch.Whilewecan’tgiveyouanymorelmushroomsforsupper,wecanofferyoudiscountsonproductslikehomesecuritysystems,Fordautomobiles,ChoiceHotelrooms,Enterpriserentalcars,Dollywoodtickets,GrandOleOpryticketsandmanymore.Gotowww.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefitstoseeallofthebenefitsassociatedwithmembership,orgiveusacalltollfreeat(877)363-9100formoreinformation.Wehavefolksonstaffwhoareasfriendlyasagoodneighbor.

Asalways,weappreciateyourmembershipandyourbusiness.

the hunt for good neighborsthe Search for Morel MuShrooMS turnS into SoMething More

about the authorBryanWrightisthe

associatedirectoroforganization/memberbenefitsforTFBF.Hisemailisbwright@tfbf.com.

Tolearnmoreaboutmemberbenefits,visitwww.tnfarmbureau.org/memberbenefitsorcallthememberbenefitshotlinetollfreeat1-877-363-9100.

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 37

38 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

Travel

38 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 39

Tennessee on 2 WheelSBiKERS REVEL iN RiDES THROUGHOUT THE VOLUNTEER STATE

For cyclists and avid motorcycle riders who crave a lonely byway short on traffic but long on natural spectacle, an abundance of rural

tennessee roads-less-traveled beckons. “it’s a beautiful place to ride,” says retired

construction equipment dealer chuck mason. the johnson city biker has been exploring the remote, snaking back roads of East tennessee for more than four decades from the seat of his harley.

“it’s my fishing pole and my golf clubs,” he says of his longtime hobby.

But even familiar roads, for him, always hold the promise of discovery.

“i’ve never gone on a ride when i didn’t see something new,” he says.

it’s that ever-changing, unrivaled scenery that lures Brentwood, tenn., real estate consultant Ken Barnes onto the saddle of a rented harley softail or street glide and out into the open air several times a year.

“you feel a part of your surroundings when you’re on a motorcycle,” he says. “the wind and the smells, everything is heightened. you can feel the stress just melt

away into the background. i love it.”mostly, Barnes enjoys leisurely rides

through the rolling middle tennessee countryside.

“i love to make the run to lynchburg,” he says. “or the natchez trace parkway, down to the alabama line and back, just a comfortable day ride. stop at leiper’s fork, eat at puckett’s, see a few galleries.”

But Barnes’ favorite rides of all require a journey east, and up (in elevation, that is).

“the dragon’s tail is a fantastic ride,” he says. “it has 318 switchbacks in 11 miles. and then we usually move over to the cherohala … it’s gentle and rolling, and the views are incredible, looking out over the mountains.”

those two famous rides – tail of the dragon, which straddles the tennessee-north carolina state line along the southwestern border of the great smoky mountains national park, and the cherohala skyway, which crosses the cherokee and nantahala national forests in both states – draw thousands of riders every year from all over the world, to test their mettle and take in the spectacular natural beauty.

STORYBYKiM GREENPHOTOGRAPHYBYJEFFREY S. OTTO

visittnhomeandfarm.com/bikestowatchavideooftheTailoftheDragonandentertowinabookabouttheNatchezTrace.

SEE MORE ONLiNE

FavoritefallridesincludetheNatchezTraceParkway,bottomright,andtheSnakeRidenearJohnsonCity.

40 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org 40 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

But chuck mason and his tri-cities harley owners group (h.o.g.) wanted the world to know there was more to mountain riding than “the dragon” and the cherohala. in 2005, the group mapped out 12 of their favorite rides, using johnson city as a launch point, and created a detailed guide for avid bikers visiting the area.

that project succeeded in convincing harley davidson to bring the first-ever state h.o.g. rally to East tennessee.

“since then, we’ve hosted 11 motorcycle rallies,” says Brenda whitson, executive director of the johnson city convention & visitors

Bureau (cvB), including Bmw and suzuki groups and even auto clubs for miata and corvette owners.

the cvB partnered with the tri-cities h.o.g. to rebrand and market the rides, now called the southern dozen and featured on a sleekly designed website, www.southerndozen.com.

“the beauty of the 12 rides,” mason says, “is that we have very flowing, easy rides where everybody’s skill level is acceptable. one of my favorites is the long dam ride. it takes in, i believe, nine dams from the tva system. another one, the spelunker tour, takes in some natural caves.”

for veteran bikers like mason, with the skills and moxie to zigzag a wildly twisting course and bank low and hard around tight curves, there’s the famous snake ride, a challenging 138-mile loop leaving from johnson city.

“the mantra is ‘three miles, one valley, 489 curves,’ “ he laughs. “so that really intrigues people.”

at the far end of the loop, the snake ride weaves into damascus, va., which bills itself as trail town, u.s.a., a mecca of trails for cycling types who prefer a non-motorized power source.

glen wanner, a nashville symphony bassist who is a past

AdozendrivesoriginateinJohnsonCity,allowingbikerstoexploreEastTennessee’sscenichillsandvalleys.

tnhomeandfarm.com Home & Farm 41

president and current board member of walk/Bike nashville, falls decidedly into that category.

“Biking combines fitness and travel,” he says. “going to the gym is just not as exciting as getting outside.”

wanner and his wife co-authored biking guides to middle tennessee and the natchez trace and have logged thousands of miles doing bike trips all over the country. he particularly enjoys doing the natchez trace parkway in autumn.

“the trace is kind of a mental journey,” he says. “it’s pretty and peaceful, and you really feel like you are in a different world, a different era.”

he likes to make lots of stops and check out the natural history exhibits and sights along the way.

“the boatmen, the indian cultures – my mind is always wandering, thinking, ‘who built these mounds? what was it like for those traders to walk 400 miles?’ “

wanner also recommends tackling the cherohala skyway, a beautiful but physically demanding ride that climbs above 5,000 feet; exploring the deep gorges and sheer cliffs of Big south fork’s o & w rail trail; and biking the mississippi river trail, a network of routes that follow that great american river from source to delta.

urbanites looking for short rides can take advantage of paved greenways throughout tennessee, from the new, still-in-progress greater memphis wolf river greenway to old favorites at percy and Edwin warner parks in middle tennessee.

“it was built in the ’30s during the depression,” wanner says of warner parks. “the roads really fit the land. there aren’t too many cities that have a ride to compete with that.

“of course,” he smiles, “you have to like hills.”

42 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

this listing includes a selection of events of statewide interest scheduled in september, october and november as provided to Tennessee Home & Farm by the tennessee department of tourist development.

to include your local events in our listing, please contact them at (615) 741-7994 or jamielynn.thompson@tn.gov. due to space constraints, we are unable to include all of the events provided, but additional information and events can be found online through the department’s web site, www.tnvacation.com.

Events are subject to date change or cancellation; please call the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend.

SEPTEMBERMemphis Music & heritage festival – Sept. 1-2, Memphistwo days and five stages of the best music, art, crafts, cooks, heritage talkers and storytellers the memphis/mid-south region has to offer. contact: 901-543-5310, southernfolklore.com

national folk festival – Sept. 1-3, nashvilleone of the most prestigious and longest-running celebrations of the arts featuring various music artists and performers from across the nation. contact: 615-891-4944, nationalfolkfestival.com

Boomsday festival – Sept. 2, knoxvillelargest labor day weekend fireworks display in the nation includes games, children’s activities, food, beverages and live entertainment. contact: 800-727-8045, boomsday.org

cotton field day – Sept. 5, jacksonut agresearch will host a field day and cotton tour beginning at 8 a.m. at the west tennessee research & Education center in jackson. contact: 731-425-4768, westtennessee.tennessee.edu

Southern heritage classic – Sept. 6-9, Memphisa football match-up between tennessee state university and jackson state university preceded by fun events. contact: 901-398-6655, southernheritageclassic.com

30th annual Smoky Mountain fiddlers convention – Sept.7-8, loudonfestival will be held rain or shine in historic downtown loudon at legion field. over $5,000 in prize money. contact: 865-986-6822, smokymtnfiddlers.com

25th annual pioneer power days – Sept. 7-9, eaglevillean antique tractor pull and gas engine show featuring a skillet throw, live music, and more. contact: 615-542-5656, eaglevilletvppa.com

tennessee State fair – Sept. 7-16, nashvillethis year’s fair, themed “pick tennessee state fair,” will showcase the culture and promise of the entire state. contact: 615-852-8997, tennesseestatefair.org

casey jones old-time Music festival – Sept. 8, jacksonoutdoor music festival dedicated to preserving old-time string, bluegrass and gospel music. contact: 800-748-9588, caseyjones.com

Bristol rhythm & roots reunion – Sept. 14-16, BristolBrings quality national, regional and local music to Bristol, the “Birthplace of country music,” in honor of its musical heritage and culture. contact: 423-573-4898, bristolrhythm.com

Step Back in time festival – Sept. 14-15, chapel hilla two-day festival celebrating tennessee’s history that features arts and crafts, expert demonstrators, food, and more. contact: 931-364-2222

armstrong pie festival & great Bed race – Sept. 15-16, lindena two-day festival in perry county featuring a pie-eating contest, pie cook-off, and a bed race to celebrate the armstrong pie. contact: 931-589-2453, chamber.perrycountytennessee.com

african Street festival – Sept. 16-18, jacksonthis event promotes african culture awareness with entertainment, workshops, educational seminars and more. contact: 731-267-3212, saaca.com

Tennessee Events & Festivals

Events & Festivals

Tod

d B

enn

ett

Eventsaresubjecttodatechangeorcancellation.Pleasecallahead. Home & Farm 43

eye full of paris Weekend – Sept. 21-23, paristhis celebration of the arts includes three full days of visual and performing arts in a variety of venues. contact: 731-642-9271, visitdowntownparis.com

heritage day with arts & crafts – Sept. 22, covingtona time-honored tradition with live music, good food, an abundance of arts and crafts, and more. contact: 901-476-9727, covington-tiptoncochamber.com

Buggin’ for a cure VW car Show – Sept. 22-23, greenevillean annual event benefitting the acs relay for life that features all vw cars with local vendors, food, and entertainment. contact: 423-638-4111

pumpkin field day – Sept. 27, jacksonut agresearch will host a field day at the west tennessee research & Education center featuring workshops for pumpkin growers and the impressive harvest display of 80 to 90 varieties of pumpkins and gourds. the field day begins at 1 p.m., but the pumpkins will be on display through nov. 27. contact: 731-425-4768, westtennessee.tennessee.edu

Southern fried festival – Sept. 28-29, columbiawatch a cooking challenge and scarecrow contest, run or walk a 5K, enjoy live music and much more at the annual festival in downtown columbia. designated a southeastern tourism society top 20 Event for september 2012. contact: southernfriedfest.com

louie Bluie festival – Sept. 29, caryvillethis all-day, family-fun festival is named in honor of howard “louie Bluie” armstrong (1909-2003), who grew up in lafollette in the 1920s and became one of the nation’s finest string-band musicians. features three stages of music including traditional old-time, blues, gospel and more. contact: 423-566-0329, louiebluie.org

Sardis antique farm & home Show – Sept. 29, Sardisthis annual free event is held at the sardis city park and features antique tractors, engines, cars and trucks, along with anything from farming’s past. contact: 731-858-2159

OCTOBER40th annual World’s oldest Barbeque cooking contest – oct. 4-6, covingtonBring the whole family to this annual festival where you’ll enjoy live music, tractor pulls, mechanical bull riding, and of course, barbeque! contact: 901-476-9727

unicoi county apple festival – oct. 5-6, erwinvendors, crafts, a children’s area and entertainment. contact: 423-743-3000, unicoicounty.org

40th annual national Storytelling festival – oct. 5-7, jonesboroughthis three-day event features compelling performances by internationally-known professional tellers. contact: 800-952-8392, storytellingcenter.net

reelfoot arts & crafts festival – oct. 5-7 reelfoot lake, tiptonvillevoted the no. 1 craft show in tennessee with 300 plus exhibitors. free admission and toe tapping old time style musical

entertainment. contact: 731-885-7295, reelfootartsandcrafts.com

15th annual liberty Square celebration & lester flatt Memorial Bluegrass day – oct. 6, Spartafeatures a full day of music, crafts, food, games, truck and car show and much more. visitors from across the country come to pay tribute to bluegrass legend lester. contact: 931-836-3248, sparta-chamber.net

allardt great pumpkin festival & Weigh off – oct. 6, allardtcrafts festival, entertainment, parade, car and motorcycle show and the weigh-off of giant pumpkins for world record consideration. contact: 800-327-3945, allardtpumpkinfestival.com

Tod

d B

enn

ett

44 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

(931) 388-7872 ext. 2763

Visit www.tnfarmfresh.com for a listing of local farmers.

Buy from a local farmer and

Enjoy the Best that Tennessee has to offer!

Eventsaresubjecttodatechangeorcancellation.Pleasecallahead. Home & Farm 45

art in the park – oct. 6, kingston Springsstroll along the harpeth river to see an impressive showcase of artists, artisans, and musicians. you can even vote for your favorite in the “people’s choice” award. contact: 615-952-5295

granville fall celebration –oct. 6, granvillethis festival features quilting, storytelling, arts and crafts, blacksmithing and jazz on the cumberland, as well as civil war and world war ii maneuvers re-enactments, children’s rides and great food. visitors can also explore museums, sutton homestead and much more. contact: 931-653-4511, www.granvillemuseum.com

national Banana pudding festival – oct. 6, centervillecome celebrate the ultimate southern treat – Banana pudding. Enjoy a fun-filled day of entertainment where the nation’s banana pudding champion will be crowned. this festival has been named a southeast tourism society top 20 Event. contact: 931-994-6273, www.bananapuddingfest.org

annual union county heritage festival – oct. 6-8, Maynardvillelocated at wilson park and the roy acuff museum. live country, bluegrass, and gospel music. art, crafts, and quilt show. free admission. contact: 865-679-7071, unioncountyheritagefestival.org

culture fest – oct. 7, chattanoogacelebrate diversity through performances, children’s events food and art. contact: 800-267-4232, artsedcouncil.org

northeast tennessee Beef expo – oct. 11, greenevilleregistration begins at 7 a.m. at the ut research and Education center in greeneville for this opportunity to learn from Extension specialists, industry leaders and researchers about new methods and techniques that can help beef farmers achieve a more efficient and profitable operation. contact: 423-638-6532, agriculture.utk.edu

goats, Music & More festival – oct. 12-13, rock creek park, lewisburgfeatures concerts, fainting goat shows, barbecue cook-off, games, food, entertainment and more. contact:

931-359-1544, goatsmusicandmore.com

ames heritage festival – oct. 13, grand junctionvisit ames plantation for a fun-filled and educational day for the entire family celebrating the exciting cultural heritage of tennessee. contact: 901-878-1067, amesplantation.org

Favorite fall recipes

From dinner plate to tailgate

Halloween treats

46 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

OFFiCiAL NOTiCE OF TRH ANNUAL MEETiNGNotice is hereby given to members of the Tennessee Rural Health Improvement Association (TRH Health Plans) that the annual meeting will be held at the Cool

Springs Embassy Suites in Franklin, Tenn., beginning Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, at 9 a.m. through Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012.

Business at the meeting will include: the annual membership report, election of the Board of Directors for the coming year, discussion of activities and service, and other

necessary business that may come before the membership.

Each member in attendance is entitled to vote on any issues discussed during the meeting and the election of the Board of Directors, which will occur on Dec. 4, 2012.

Lacy Upchurch, President Tennessee Rural Health Improvement Association Lonnie Roberts, Chief Executive Officer

Eventsaresubjecttodatechangeorcancellation.Pleasecallahead. Home & Farm 47

7th annual history hayride – oct. 13, Silver pointsponsored by friends of Edgar Evins state park and park employees, silver point is located between cookeville and smithville. ride on hay wagons back to the olden days with several stops along the way where costumed re-enactors will tell about past events and people of the area. contact: 800-250-8619, foeesp.ne1.net

zoo Boo – oct. 19, 20, 26, 27 and 28, Memphisthe Zoo’s most spooktacular event returns with more activities than ever! Enjoy old favorites like the costume contest and dracula’s disco, and take on the rock wall, one of our new activities. get your costume and get ready for the best halloween event of the year. contact: 901-543-5310, memphiszoo.org

14th annual fall folklore jamboree – oct. 20, Milanover 100 traditional folk artists, local bluegrass and gospel groups. demonstration traditional skills such as soap making, black smithing, weaving, quilting and more. contact: 731-686-8067, milan.tennessee.edu

Biomass: from grow to go – oct. 24-25, Vonorelast year’s biomass field day hosted more than 1,000 interested farmers, business representatives and students over the course of two days to learn from experts that cover the entire scope of biomass to energy. contact: 615-835-4570, agriculture.utk.edu

36th annual Mountain Makins festival – oct. 26-28, Morristownthe historic 1892 rose center is filled with juried fine arts and crafts, plus enjoy live music, dancing, storytelling, children’s activities, food and expert demonstrations of time-honored traditions. named a top 20 event by the southeast tourism society. contact: 423-581-4330, rosecenter.org

del rio days fall color festival – oct. 27-28, del riothe two-day festival features helicopter rides over the peak fall foliage in the mountains, bluegrass music, an auction on saturday, crafts, local foods and a car show, as well as the del rio song contest on sunday at 2 p.m. contact: 423-487-3161, delriosongcontest.com

jack daniel’s World championship invitational Barbecue – oct. 27, lynchburgthis event has been called the most prestigious barbecue competition in the world. a unique event not to be missed! contact: 931-759-6332, jackdaniels.com

NOVEMBERannual pontoon Boat color cruise on center hill lake – nov. 3-8, Silver pointsponsored by friends of Edgar Evins state park and park employees, ride pontoon boats from marinas at Edgar Evins state park on an approximately 1 to 2 hour color cruise on beautiful center hill lake. see homes of the rich and famous, maybe spot local landmarks like the old potato cave. contact: 800-250-8619, foeesp.ne1.net

Smoky Mountain Winterfest – nov. 6-feb. 28, gatlinburg, pigeon forge & Seviervillethe gateway towns to the smokies turn into a winter wonderland with more than 5 million light displays and special events. contact: 800-568-4748, gatlinburg.com; 800-251-9100, mypigeonforge.com; 888-766-5948, visitsevierville.com

annual dollywood’s Smoky Mountain christmas – nov. 10-dec. 30, pigeon forgethe smoky mountains’ family christmas destination features more than four million lights, fun rides and tractions, plus award-winning holiday shows. contact: 800-dollywood, dollywood.com

gaylord opryland’s “a country christmas” – nov. 16-dec. 25, nashvillesensational decorations, entertainment and some of the most delectable food anywhere. features the radio city christmas spectacular, icE!, and more. contact: 888-opry-872, gaylordopryland.com

deck the falls – nov. 22-jan. 1, chattanoogacelebrate the holidays 1,120 feet underground at ruby falls with holiday music, a light show and more festivities. contact: 423-821-2544, rubyfalls.com

christmas at graceland – november through january, Memphissee traditional lights and decorations, a life-size nativity scene, santa and much more originally displayed by Elvis. contact: 800-238-2000, elvis.com

Speedway in lights – november through january, Bristoltour this stunning display of more than 1 million lights and hundreds of displays by car. or make a reservation to bring your group through by bus. contact: 423-989-6933, bristolmotorspeedway.com

48 Home & Farm|Fall2012 tnfarmbureau.org

porch ponderingsWitneSSing a daily ritual taught truSt in faith, faMily and the future

shhhh…if we’re quiet the grownups might forget we’re here.

Idon’tknowifmyfriendMarilynandIeveractuallysaidthosewordsaloud,butwecertainlyactedonthem.Sometimeswe’dsitcross-leggedontheconcreteofherfamily’swraparoundporch,inclearviewofherparentsbutsilentaschurchmice.Othertimes,we’dsprawl,semi-hidden,inthebushessurroundingthehouse,listeningtothe“music”playingaboveus.Swoosh, tap, swoosh, tap, swoosh, tap–therhythmofthepalegreenwoodenswingrockingtoandfrofollowedbythepatteroffeetlightlylandingbeforeliftingagainwashypnoticandsoothing.

Year-round,Marilyn’sparentsremainedfaithfultotheirend-of-the-dayporchritual.Onbriskdaysoffallandearlywinteracozyfleeceblanketandhotcocoareplacedthehand-heldfanandlemonadeofspringandsummer.Onlythemostbitingofwinterdayskepttheminsideaftertheirdailyworkwasdone.

Marilyn’sfamilyfarmed.Herfatherlaboredinfieldsjustacrosstheroad.Duringsomeharvestseasons,thecropsburstwithbountifulabundance.Othertimes,thefieldslaydecimated,beatenbydroughtordrivingrain.Ifyouknewthelanguage,thelandacrossfromMarilyn’shouseforetoldherfamily’supcomingdaysandwhetherthey’dcelebrateatimeofplentyorendureatimeofwant.

Yet,inalloureavesdropping,Ineveronceheardanythingthatindicatedhowclosetothebonethefamilylived.Fromtheirrock-steadyporchtalk,it

wasobviouseventoachildthattheyconsideredthemselvesrichinwhatmattered.Andwhynot?Eachday,theyexperiencedwonderandjoy.

IrememberoncewhenMarilynandIperchedonthecovetedporchswingwhileherparentsworked.Fromadistance,wespiedherfather,tallandthin,approaching.Ashecamecloser,wesawthathiscallousedhandscradledaballcap.

“Look,”hesaidwithawidesmile.Wegaspedwhenwesawthreetinybunnies,bunchedinacuddlymassofbrownandwhitefur,allquiveringearsandtwitchingnoses.Fromthefieldwhereheworked,he’drescuedtheabandonedbabiesnearthespotwheretheirmother’sstillbodylay.Fortherestoftheday,theswingbecameamakeshiftcradleaswecuddledandfedMarilyn’snewpets.

Toandfro,upanddown,swoosh, tap, swoosh, tap,Marilyn’sfamilyrockedtogetherdayafterday,joking,laughing,teasingandcomfortingeachotherthroughthickandthin.Justastherhythmoftheswingneverfaltered,neitherdidtheircontentmentwiththeirlives.Theydrewstrengthdailyfromtheirclosenesstonature,tofamilyandtotheAlmighty.

Wewereyoung.Wecouldn’thavearticulatedwhywewantedtoimmerseourselvesinthosepurloinedporchmoments.Yetsomehowweknewthatwhatwewerewitnessingwentfarbeyondcasualconversation.Wrappedupinthosewords,woventightlyinandoutlikethethreadsofawarm,thickblanket,wasabidinglove,pureandsimple.

View From the Back Porch

about the authorNancyDorman-

Hickson,aSouthernauthor,writer/editorandspeaker,co-wroteDiplomacy and Diamonds,thememoirofJoanneKingHerring,whowasportrayedbyJuliaRobertsinthemovieCharlie Wilson’s War.Shehasalsoeditedthe“TennesseeLiving”sectionofSouthern LivingandservedonthestaffofProgressive Farmer.Readmoreaboutheronlineatwww.nancydormanhickson.com.

EnergyRight.com