Summer 2008

675 U. S. Courthouse

Nashville, Tennessee 37203

615/277-2531

www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov

Message from the State Conservationist

Inside This Issue....

Developments

Helping People Help the Land

Page

Current

AgStar Leadership Program 9

Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Awards

 Five Community Grants 9

Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Receives

 Rural Development Award 6

Congratulations Mandy & Trent 5

Conservation in McNairy County 10

David Garland Memorial 10

Earth Team News 3

EQIP Participant Receives 2008 Tennessee Governor’s Environ- 

 mental Stewardship Award 2

EWP in Perry County 8

Farm City Day in Franklin County 12

Keeping Your Farm Profitable 

 Workshop 12

Lynda LeMay Retires 7

Meet Dot Griggs, Area 2 Adm. Asst. 7

Meet Kim Johnson, HR Manager 6

Sanders Receives Circle

 Of Excellence Award 2

Smithsonian Exhibit in Tennessee 11

Soil & Water Conservation News 4

Tree Day in Williamson County 8

Update on Retiree Vic Simpson 5

 25th Milan No-Till Field Day July 24, 2008

 6:00 a.m. - ???

 For more info, Research and Education Center @

 (731)686-7362 or email: tennu@bellsouth.net

 State Annual Meeting of TN RC&D Councils August 7-8, 2008

 Fall Creek Falls State Park

 For more info, contact Hull York Lakeland RC&D

 Smithsonian’s “New Harmonies Celebrating 

 American Roots Music” traveling exhibit June 20 - August 8, 2008

 Celina Fairgrounds

 For more info, http://www.museumonmainstreet.org (click on New Harmonies) 

 or http://www.freehillcommunity.org/

After months of uncertainty, the “Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008”—otherwise 

known as the Farm Bill—is now law. That means we can stop wondering about the bill and start 

implementing it. 

The Conservation Title of the new law includes an increase in conservation program spending 

overall. The Farm Bill emphasizes a focus on agricultural and forestry working lands, and 

it significantly expands the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). WHIP, CRP, 

CSP, WRP, and other Farm Bill programs will continue, and they will be joined by some new 

programs, including the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP). The Department 

is currently in the rule-making phase of implementing the new Farm Bill, so more details about 

how we are to implement these programs will be available in a couple of months. 

It is very important that each of us read and understand the new Farm Bill’s Conservation Title. 

Our customers and partners expect and deserve expert advice about the opportunities and 

responsibilities outlined in the new law, and they will be looking to us to get it. I urge you to 

read the Conservation Title and view a powerpoint presentation highlighting the Conservation 

Title. Both the presentation and the text of the “Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008” 

are at the top of the Programs section on the Tennessee NRCS website.

We all need to understand the Farm Bill, however, we cannot forget that the important goal is 

getting conservation on the land. Thank you for your patience throughout the Farm Bill process. 

I am proud of your work and your ongoing commitment to help people help the land. 

Kevin Brown

State Conservationist 
- 2 - Helping People Help the Land

Current Developments

NRCS Chief Arlen Lancaster and Agriculture Secretary Ed 

Schafer have awarded the Circle of Excellence Award to 

Tennessee State Resource Conservationist Jeff Sanders. 

The award is recognition for Jeff’s service in Afghanistan. 

Jeff is one of only 14 NRCS employees in the United States to 

receive the Circle of Excellence Award. Each recipient has been 

honored for their contributions and sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

NRCS has had more employees volunteer to serve in both countries 

than any other agency in the Department.

This is not the first award Jeff has received for his service. In 2006, 

Jeff received the “Commander’s Award for Excellent Service,” the 

fourth highest military honor that a civilian can receive from the Army. 

Congratulations on a job well done, Jeff!

Jeff Sanders Receives Circle of Excellence Award

EQIP Participant Receives 2008 Tennessee 

Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award

McMinn County Farmer Robert Thompson has been 

named the recipient of the 2008 Tennessee Governor’s 

Environmental Stewardship Award. Thompson operates a 

beef farm in northern McMinn County. He is a participant in EQIP as 

well as programs with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and 

the TVA. On his farm, which contains a large beautiful stream and a 

number of creeks, Thompson has implemented livestock exclusion, 

stream buffers, water tanks, and other conservation practices.

The Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards 

are the most prestigious environmental and conservation awards 

in the state. For over 20 years, the awards have been presented to 

individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the 

conservation of our wildlife and related natural resources, the natural 

elements upon which all life depends.

The purpose of the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards 

is to recognize outstanding achievements by individuals, businesses, 

organizations, educational institutions, and agencies for successful 

environmental projects and conservation measures. Also to promote 

leadership by example and in turn increase conservation of the 

natural resources of the State of Tennessee – its wildlife, forests, 

soils, water, natural heritage, parks and recreation, and air. The 

awards are designed to bring about a greater knowledge and 

awareness of environmental and conservation practices and projects, 

and to give proper recognition to those persons and organizations 

that make outstanding contributions to the natural resource welfare of 

their community and the state.

Photos above & right: Jeff Sanders on duty in Afghanistan.

by Bill Dailey and Wayne Coates

McMinn County Farmer Robert Thompson with McMinn County 

SCD Board.
Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

T

ennessee’s very first Earth Team Volunteer has been recognized 

for his 25 years of service to conservation in Tennessee. State 

Conservationist Kevin Brown awarded Earth Team Volunteer 

Tom Pointer with a certificate of merit during National Earth Team 

Volunteer Week.

Tom signed up as a volunteer in the old Cookeville Area Office in 

1983 getting new vehicles serviced, cleaned and operational. He also 

assisted in getting annual maintenance inspections on other vehicles.

Tom has been the driving force behind many projects sponsored by 

the Hull-York Lakeland RC&D Council since becoming a director in 

1984. He was instrumental in the success of a program to restore the 

American Sweethart Chestnut to the area. Through his efforts, more 

than 7,000 seedlings have been planted in the fourteen county area 

of Hull-York Lakeland. He materially contributed to the success of a 

project to safely collect and recycle used motor oil, using his personal 

funds to purchase materials to prepared used oil collection site signs 

for each location.

Tom has served as a member of the executive committee as 

secretary/treasurer, prepared displays for meetings and been the 

driving force for the Regional Envirothon. He volunteers his time for 

each State Envirothon event, as well as TN RC&D Council Annual 

Meetings.

In addition to providing outstanding volunteer service to RC&D, Tom 

has also contributed immensely to the overall mission of the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service. He has spent many hours in the 

field office doing numerous tasks which allowed field personnel to 

spend more time assisting land users plan and apply conservation 

practices. Tom has presented programs on conservation, assisted with 

award banquets, helped assemble conservation plans, and performed 

numerous other tasks for the local Soil Conservation District 

In addition to his volunteer work, Tom is treasurer of the Algood Lions 

Club; treasurer of the Middle Tennessee Antique Tractor Association; 

a member of the finance committee of the Algood United Methodist 

Church; director of the Agriculture Foundation at Tennessee Tech 

University; a member of Upper Cumberland Genealogical Association; 

director of the Algood Alumni Association; a member Farm Bureau; 

a member of National Association of Retired Federal Employees; 

and a member of the Andrew Jackson Chapter of the Soil and Water 

Conservation Society. He also assists the Agriculture Extension 

Service and Rotary Club with special events.

Tom is an outstanding volunteer. Thanks to Tom for helping people 

help the land!!

by Dimple Geesling, State ET Volunteer Coordinator

Tom Pointer - Tennessee’s First Earth Team Volunteer Recognized for 25 Years of Service

Photo above: Tom Pointer receives a Certificate of Merit for 25 years 

of Volunteer Service from Kevin Brown, NRCS State Conservationist.

T

he Henry County Soil Conservation District and NRCS 

celebrated Earth Day 2008 with the fifth grade classes from 

Paris Elementary. A short presentation was given to the classes 

on how Earth Day was started and why we should celebrate the planet 

we live on not only on April 22 but every day of the year. After the 

presentation the classes planted two red maples and 3 red oak trees 

near their new playground. 

Earth Day Celebrated at Paris Elementary

by Pam Jewell, Secretary, Henry County Soil Conservation District

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- 4 - 

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

T

he Tennessee Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation 

Society conducted its annual spring state-wide meeting. The 

meeting was held Thursday, May 1 at the Lane Agriculture 

Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 

President Chester Bush welcomed 57 members and guests to the 

meeting. The technical portion of the program included presentations 

from Robert Karsh, Statewide Storm Water Coordinator with the 

Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC); Sharon Schutz, 

Engineer with the firm of Neel Schaffer; and Julie LaLonde, Project 

Manager with Volkert and Associates.

Other technical session presenters were Daniel Horne, District 

Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

(NRCS), and Jeff Hoilman, Project Manager with Arcadis. The 

group heard information relating to storm water management, 

site inspections and permit requirements. The group also saw a 

demonstration of materials and devices utilized in construction site 

stabilization.

Following the technical meeting, the Chapter held a members 

business session.

Darrell Beason, Chairman of the Scholarship committee, announced 

that Kayla Brown had been selected to receive the Society’s annual 

scholarship for 2008-2009. Miss Brown will receive a $600.00 

scholarship and will be attending Middle Tennessee State University 

in the fall.

In other Chapter business, the members elected to send Janette 

Peters as the Chapter’s delegate to the International Annual Society 

Conference to be held in Tucson, Arizona, July 26-30, 2008. Don 

Tyler was selected to serve as alternative delegate.

President Chester Bush closed the meeting by thanking out-going 

President Mark Buckreis for his excellent service to the Society. Bush 

stated that “Mark’s efforts had been very instrumental in making the 

Society a viable organization in Tennessee again.” 

The SWCS mission is to advance the art and science of soil, water, 

and related resources management to achieve sustainability. Anyone 

interested in membership in the Tennessee Chapter of the Soil and 

Water Conservation Society may contact any member or online at 

www.swcs.org or tn-swcs.org.

Tennessee Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society Conducts Annual Spring Meeting

by Charles Roberts, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist 

 (Water Resources)

Photo above: SWCS participants observe an outdoor demonstration 

of storm water management. Photo by Charles Roberts.

Photo above: Past SWCS President Mark Buckreis leads discussion 

on materials and devices to control and stabilize construction sites. 

Photo by Charles Roberts.
- 5 - 

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

Congratulations Mandy & Trent

Former State Resource Conservationist Vic Simpson retired earlier 

this year, but he is busier than ever. We wanted to check in with Vic to 

find out what he’s up to.

“I have finally adjusted to the retirement schedule and highly 

recommend it to those thinking about it. Like all the others that have 

retired, I find it difficult to understand how I ever had time to hold a full 

time job.”

“Of course, I have been busy with my photography. I produced 

a video for the neighbor’s wedding of her daughter. It was a 

combination of old scanned photos and VHS videos of the couple 

growing up and meeting. It really turned out pretty good.” 

“Also, I am still restoring the old photos given to us by my wife’s 

mother, lots of fixer-up duties and chores long put off, gardening, 

landscaping, and naps. I am supposed to teach a Facilitation course 

for NEDC later this summer as a volunteer. We are also spending a 

lot of time with family. I have a new grandson as of last week, Colton 

Simpson - that makes 4 now. 

“My best to everyone - the thing you miss the most is the great people 

that work for NRCS - they are the best!”

Retiree Vic Simpson....

S

oil Conservationist Trent Cash and 

District Conservationist Mandy 

Silvey are officially husband and 

wife. The twosome said their vows before 

friends and family on June 7, 2008. 

State Resource Conservationist Jeff 

Sanders was among those on hand, 

saying, “I hope this happy union produces 

at least a few little soil con technicians 

down the road!” Trent and Mandy will 

make their home in Marshall County.
Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land - 6 - 

T

he Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Council has been named the 

recipient of the State Rural Development Committee Award for 

2007. Council president Troy Kilzer accepts the award from 

Assistant Commissioner Joe Gains of the Tennessee Department of 

Agriculture.

Congratulations Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D!

Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Council Receives State 

Rural Development Committee Award for 2007

Photo at right: Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Council President Troy 

Kilzer accepts the State Rural Development Committee Award 

from Joe Gains, Assistant Commissioner of TDA.

If you see a deliriously happy lady 

wandering the halls of the State Office, you 

have probably run into me, Kim Johnson. 

I’m the new HR Manager. I came to NRCS 

from spending the last 23 years in the 

Washington, DC area. I moved with two 

children ages 21 and 15, two dogs, five 

cats and one ferret in February. It looked 

like Noah’s Ark traveling down Interstates 

81 and 40 to get here. I settled into 

Lebanon with my menagerie and have been 

extremely busy ever since. 

I started my career 23 years ago with USDA 

and I’m pleased to be back. In 1985, I 

worked in the front office for FCIC in the 

South Building. I now feel that I have 

come full circle in my career and I plan on 

being here a long time. The people are 

wonderful, the work is terrific; besides I love 

Tennessee! 

Being in Washington, DC, I have had the 

opportunity to work for several different 

agencies. That is part of the beauty of 

Human Resources and Washington. 

The majority of Federal Agencies are 

headquartered there and everyone has HR.

I was working for FEMA on September 11, 

2001. It profoundly changed my life. It was 

that day that I decided I no longer wanted 

to work in DC. My children didn’t want me 

to return to my job following that horrific 

day. I had to explain to them that this is 

what mommy does; I go into Washington to 

do my job. Many people do not know that 

when you work at FEMA, you perform your 

normal job, but you are also assigned to an 

Emergency Support Team that rotates every 

3 months. 19 days later, the Emergency 

Support Team that I was assigned to began 

their tour. October 1, I started working from 

7:00 pm to 7:00 am, 7 days a week. I was the 

Administrative Supervisor at the Command 

Center. This wasn’t for a few days as it had 

previously been when a natural disaster had 

occurred. This was continuous, till the next 

team’s turn. This was TERRORISM it doesn’t 

go away. It changed the way we live. The 

silver lining to this, I did get to meet and shake 

hands with President George W. Bush. He 

came to FEMA and personally thanked us for 

our efforts.

In May of 2002, I accepted a position with the 

Drug Enforcement Administration. I must say 

it was an honor and privilege to have spent 

the past six years working with an agency that 

has such a powerful mission. These public 

servants are the most dedicated that I have 

ever worked with. Every day I walked past 

the Wall of Honor that was dedicated to our 

fallen co-workers. It reminded me daily of the 

sacrifices that are being made.

It was a difficult decision to part ways with DEA. But when you know with all your heart that 

you are supposed to be in a particular place, you go. I am here. I am Kim C. Johnson, the 

new HR Manager for NRCS in Tennessee. Please come by and see me when you get the 

opportunity. I would love to meet you.

Meet Kim Johnson, HR Manager

State Conservationist Kevin Brown is encouraging all employees to familiarize themselves 

with the Conservation Title of the new Farm Bill. Some new links have been uploaded to the 

Tennessee NRCS website that should help. 

http://www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/index.html

The link above takes you to the Programs page where four new items have been placed 

explaining the Farm Bill’s impact on conservation. 

One link is to a summary of the Conservation Title from the US House Agriculture Committee; 

another is a similar summary from the NACD; a third link will take you to the complete text of 

the entire Farm Bill; and a fourth link will bring up a new powerpoint presentation from NHQ 

summarizing the Conservation Title. Tho last two files are large, so please be patient while 

they load. 

The 2008 Farm Bill

Kim Johnson, HR Manager
- 7 -

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

We have Hurricane Katrina to thank for Dot Griggs coming to NRCS. Dot, who has been 

in her new position as Area 2’s Administrative Assistant since early January, is a New 

Orleans native. She and her family evacuated before the hurricane but returned a 

few days later where they lived off a generator, ate MREs (meals ready to eat), and picked up 

ice from the Army. The experience made Dot decide to try something new. “I thought I’d enjoy 

knowing what it’s like to live above sea-level for awhile,” she says.

Dot has about 13 years of federal service. She has spent most of her career as a Department 

of Defense civilian employee, though her most recent federal position was with the Bureau of 

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. While spending several years home-schooling her 

children, Dot worked as a professional organizer—a very important skill she uses daily as an 

area administrative assistant.

Dot’s husband, Roy, is a retired navy public affairs officer who now does public affairs as a 

civilian for naval support activity in New Orleans. Dot says living apart has been tough, but Roy 

is job searching in middle Tennessee, so she hopes they’ll be together again full-time soon.

Dot and Roy have a 27-year old daughter and a 24-year old son, and they are the proud 

grandparents of six—with the latest grandbaby coming into the world this past March.

Dot’s passion is fitness, nutrition and exercise, and “anything health-related.” Her lifelong commitment to being healthy is inspired by her dad, 

who suffered with diabetes and heart disease. She lifts weights, does aerobics, and is well-versed in vitamins and natural supplements. And 

she’s enjoys giving advice, too. “Cinnamon helps control blood sugar, you know,” says Dot. Still, there’s one sure way to get on her good side. 

“My weakness is bread pudding. I love it!” 

Dot says she’s very happy to be at NRCS. “I love my new job. My boss is one of the nicest people I’ve ever worked for. And I like credit leave! 

I’ve never worked at an agency that allowed that, so I appreciate it a lot. I’m just glad and thrilled to be here. I’ve never worked with a nicer 

group of people in my life.” 

Photo above: Dot and husband Roy.

Meet Dot Griggs, Area 2 Administrative Assistant

A

fter 25 years of service to NRCS, the 

State Office is saying goodbye to 

Lynda LeMay. Lynda retired in June 

after 32.7 years of federal service.

Before coming to NRCS in 1983, 

Lynda worked at Vanderbilt University’s 

Department of Campus Planning. Prior 

to that she spent a few years as an office 

manager at the Yearwood & Johnson 

Architecture firm. She began her professional 

career at the Food & Drug Administration.

In her quarter-century with NRCS, Lynda 

has held positions in every department of 

the State Office from the State Admin’s 

office to public affairs to the SRC staff and 

Programs, Ecological Sciences, and finally 

as supervisor of the Business Support Staff. 

So what’s in store now that she’s retired? 

Lynda says for a couple of months she’s 

going to rest, relax, and de-stress. “Then I’m 

going to be involved with taking care of my 

mom and spending time with my grandsons. 

And perhaps eventually I’ll find some other 

kind of work I really want to do. That’ll 

happen when I get bored. I haven’t gotten 

bored yet,” she says with a smile.

Lynda says she will miss her coworkers a lot, 

but she’s looking forward to sleeping in and 

having time for herself. Her hobbies include 

working in the yard, gardening, and the 

outdoors. She particularly loves to fish. 

“I think most of all, I’m going to miss going to 

the farmer’s market with Sheila (Caradine),” 

she says, adding, “And I’m still smoking 

cigarettes but I’m planning on quitting. 

They’re getting too expensive.”

Good luck, Lynda. We’re all going to miss 

you! 

Lynda Lemay Retires After More than 32 Years of Federal Service
- 8 - 

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

T

he Perry County Highway Department 

and NRCS have been working together 

the last few years to repair roads in the 

county that have been damaged by heavy 

rainfall events. 

The Emergency Watershed Protection 

Program (EWP) is a program administered by 

the NRCS with funds allocated by Congress 

is a recovery effort that relieves imminent 

hazards to life and property caused by floods, 

fires, and other natural occurrences. 

During 2007, the Perry County Highway 

Department repaired 31 sites throughout the 

county that had been eroded dangerously 

close to the roadways. The accompanying 

picture is a site on South Fork Toms Creek 

Road that was repaired by a relatively new 

process of placing preformed blocks at the 

bottom of the slope then placing rock rip rap 

above the blocks to stabilize the streambank 

and to repair and prevent any future damage to 

the roadway. This allows areas that if only rip 

rap is used would extend into the stream and 

restrict normal flow.

The total cost of the 31 sites in 2007 was over 

$700,000.00 with the EWP program providing 

75% cost share that exceeded $500,000.00.

EWP Cost Share Funding Used on 31 Sites in Perry County 

by Gregory M. Taylor

This site on South Fork Toms Creek Road was repaired by a relatively new process of placing 

preformed blocks at the bottom of the slope and then placing rock rip rap above the blocks to 

stabilize the streambank and to repair and prevent future damage to the roadway. Photo by 

Greg Taylor. 

The Williamson County Soil Conservation 

District celebrated Arbor day this year with a 

free tree giveaway. The Williamson County 

SCD’s annual tree day event was held on 

March 4, 2008. More than 75 residents 

came out to take advantage of the tree 

seedling giveaway. District and NRCS 

employees provided information about the 

trees, which included 500 pine seedlings, 

500 tulip poplars, and 100 dogwoods. 

The complete success of the event has 

resulted in plans for a similar tree giveaway 

next year offering even more selections.

Tree Day in Williamson County

by Trent Cash

The Williamson County Tree Day was a success with county residents.
Current Developments

- 9 - 

State Conservationist Kevin Brown and TN Farm Bureau Field 

Director Joe McKinnon present Tammy Hargett from Crockett 

County with her AgStar Class of 2008 graduation plaque. 

This is the seventh year of successful AgStar Leadership Programs. 

Tammy was one of 11 class members this year. 

The AgStar Leadership program is sponsored by the ChickasawShiloh RC&D Council, along with the West Tennessee Leadership 

Development Corporation, Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee 

Farmers Cooperatives, and UT Agricultural Extension Service. 

AgStar Leadership Program in 7th Year

Photo above (l to r): Kevin Brown, NRCS State Conservationist; 

Tammy Hargett, Crockett County AgStar Graduate; and Joe 

McKinnon, TN Farm Bureau Field Director

T

he Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Council 

has awarded five Community Grants 

for $1,000 each to allow community 

groups and organizations, schools, and 

local agencies the opportunity to implement 

small scale projects that have significant 

importance in the RC&D Area. Grants were 

awarded to Adamsville Elementary School for 

Conser-vation Education materials for their 

library; Bethel Springs Elementary School to 

renovate the school’s playground; The Bird 

Dog Foundation to continue development of 

an interactive Nature Trail; Hardin County 

Middle School to help the students produce 

a conservation education video; and the 

Savannah Christian Academy for an outdoor 

classroom. 

The RC&D Council received 24 grant 

applications this year which proves there is a 

tremendous need for community development 

in the area. Congratulations to all the grantees!

Photo above: Debbie Blankenship, NRCS RC&D Office Assistant, (center) awards a $1,000 

Community Grant to members of the Bird Dog Foundation at the Hardeman County Soil 

Conservation District Banquet March 13, 2008.

Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D Council 

Awards Five Community Grants

by Debbie Blankenship

Photo above: When State Conservationist Kevin Brown conducted 

a field visit in Madison County in June, he got put to work doing 

some surveying. Photo by Benton James.

Kevin Brown Visits Madison County
- 10 - Helping People Help the Land

Current Developments

William Rhodes Platt is no stranger to the field of natural 

resources conservation. Rhodes is a former soil 

conservationist with NRCS who currently works for the Farm 

Services Agency in Selmer.

You can get a first hand view of his dedication to the wise use of soil, 

water, air, plant, and animal resources management by observing 

the Best Management Practices installed on his farm located in 

the Michie community of McNairy County. Over the past 16 years, 

he has applied three grade stabilization structures and 500 feet of 

diversion which protect the soil resources by reducing excessive gully 

erosion. During the period of May 2005 to December of 2007, he 

has installed an alternative watering system and a heavy use feeding 

pad for his cattle herd. These measures protect water quality and 

improve herd health. Additionally, he has converted twenty acres to 

Bermuda grass hay. 

He also has installed wildlife friendly conservation buffers under the 

Conservation Reserve Program. To-date he has installed 3.1 acres 

in field borders consisting of Switchgrass and Kobe lespedeza. 

Four- and-a-half acres of riparian forest buffer were installed in 2003. 

These buffers provide a wide range of environmental benefits. Those 

most noted are soil erosion reduction, improved air and water quality, 

and wildlife habitat enhancement. 

Rhodes Platt Is No Stranger to Conservation

Photo above: Rhodes Platt addressing group of local landowners. 

Bottom left: Grade stabilization structure. Bottom right: Rhodes Platt 

planted field borders consisting of Switchgrass and Kobe lespedeza. 

by Donald Roan

F

ormer TACD President David Gordon 

Garland, 75, died in his home in 

Johnson City on Saturday, June 21, 

2008. “We have lost a good friend and a 

longtime supporter of conservation,” stated 

Kevin Brown. “David Garland was a strong 

advocate for conservation, not just in East 

Tennessee but across the state. He will be 

deeply missed, but he left a legacy that will 

remain far beyond his lifetime.” 

Throughout his life in Washington County, 

as a dairy farmer and conservationist, David 

served the community in many capacities. 

He received the Tennessee Outstanding 

Young Farmer Award in 1966, awarded by 

the Tennessee Jaycees. David served as 

President of both the Tennessee Holstein 

Association and the Tennessee Association 

of Conservation Districts. He served as 

chair for the Washington County Soil 

Conservation District from 1977 to 1995, 

was a member of the Governor’s Council on 

Agriculture and Forestry in Tennessee and 

was a Board Member for the Johnson City 

Area Home Builders Association. 

David was a graduate of the University of 

Tennessee in 1957. He was a member of 

the Westminster Presbyterian Church in 

Johnson City. 

He was the son of the late Gladys and Jesse 

Garland. In addition to his parents, he was 

preceded in death by two sisters, Anne 

Garland and Kathryn Garland Stokes, his 

son David Garland, III and a nephew, Phillip 

Stokes, Jr. 

Survivors include: his wife of 50 years, Jane 

Garland; a daughter and son-in-law, Sarah 

and Normand St. Onge and grandchildren 

Alex, Nathan and Darby St. Onge; son and 

daughter-in-law, Michael and Jackie Garland 

and grandsons Josh and Danny Pressley; 

grandson Jesse Garland and daughter-inlaw Sherry Garland Spooner; brother-in-law 

Phillip Stokes, Sr.; and nephew Thom Stokes 

and family. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests 

memorials be made to the following: The 

Westminster Presbyterian Church Building 

Fund, or the Mission to North America for 

Curtis Stapleton’s Church Planting, both 

at this address: 2343 Knob Creek Road, 

Johnson City, TN 37604 or the Tennessee 

Association of Conservation Districts 

Scholarship Fund, 126 Mesa Drive, Gray, 

TN 37615. 

David Garland Memorial

Photo above: David Garland, former 

TACD President and lifelong supporter of 

conservation.
- 11 - 

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

Well before the Civil War, Virginia Hill, 

a slaveholder from North Carolina, 

came to Celina and granted her 

slaves their freedom and gave them 2,000 

acres of rough timbered land. The former 

slaves called the mountain Free Hill, because 

Mrs. Hill freed them and the land was on a 

hillside. The area has since been referred to 

as Free Hill. Among the slaves was a free 

woman by the name of Betsy Manny and her 

son Rubin, a slave. Rubin married a Sarah, a 

housekeeper and they had three sons-Tom, 

Joshua, and Polk Hill. Virginia Hill gave Rubin 

400 acres and divided the rest among the rest 

of the slaves. The newly freed slaves were 

never expected to survive. 

However, the ex-slaves not only survived but 

prospered. They made their living rafting, 

logging, and farming. The women provided 

extra income by getting day jobs. It wasn’t 

easy; they withstood the night riders who 

beat and ran off the males, while violating 

and raping the women. Against all odds, they 

endured and triumphed over the rough hill and 

valley farms. Eventually, other runaway and 

freed slaves migrated to the area and intermarried. Residents of Free Hill built their own 

stores, clubs, and eateries. 

Free Hill, once the home to over 300 residents 

is now home to only 75. These residents, 

many direct descendants of the original free 

Blacks who owned the land, have organized 

the Free Hill’s Community Club, and continue 

in their efforts of Keeping Free Hill Alive. 

One of their initiatives is partnering with 

the Smithsonian Institution and Humanities 

Tennessee to bring Museum on Main Street

to the Putnam County area. Museum on 

Main Street brings rural Americans one-ofa-kind access to prestigious Smithsonian 

exhibitions and first-rate educational programs 

while providing rural museums a chance to 

demonstrate their tremendous talents and 

their meaningful contributions to small town 

life. Museum on Main Street is funded by the 

United States Congress.

According to the Smithsonian, the New 

Harmonies exhibit will let you, “Listen to 

America’s music and hear the story of 

freedom. It’s the story of people in a New 

World, places they have left behind, and 

ideas they have brought with them. It is the 

story of people who were already here, but 

whose world is remade. The distinct cultural 

identities of all of these people are carried in 

song -- both sacred and secular. Their music 

tracks the unique history of many peoples 

reshaping each other into one incredibly 

diverse and complex people -- Americans. 

Their music is the roots of American music.

The music that emerges is known by 

names like blues, country western, folk 

ballads, and gospel. The sounds are as 

sweet as mountain air, and as sultry as a 

summer night in Mississippi delta country. 

The instruments vary from fiddle to banjo 

to accordion to guitar to drum. But a drum 

in the hands of an African sounds different 

than one in the hands of a European. And 

neither is the drumbeat of an American 

Indian. Yet all the rhythms merge, as do 

the melodies and harmonies, producing 

completely new sounds -- new music. The 

music’s merge because this is America. New 

waves of music ride ashore in the hearts 

Smithsonian Institution’s 

Museum on Main Street comes 

to Tennessee Locations

State Annual Meeting, August 7-8th, 2008

"Al l p rog ram s a n d a ssi sta n ce of th e NRCS an d RC& D Cou n ci l a re a vai la ble wi tho u t re ga rd to ra ce , col o r, na ti on al o rig in , g en de r, reli gi on , a ge , di sa b ili ty, 

p ol iti cal be lie fs, se xu a l o rie n ta ti on , an d m a ri ta l o r fam il y sta tu s. P e rso n s wi th di sa b ili ti e s wh o req ui re a lte rna ti ve m ea n s fo r com m u ni catio n o f p ro g ram i nform a tio n (B raill e , la rg e p rin t, a udi o ta p e, etc.) sh o ul d co nta ct th e US DA 's T A RGET Cen te r at (2 02 )7 20 -2 60 0 (vo i ce an d T DD)."

and heads of new immigrants and they 

create still new sounds from what they have 

brought with them and what they find here. 

And nothing expresses the tensions -- or the 

triumphs -- of this journey into democracy 

quite like the music that it spawns.

The main beat of the exhibition is the 

on-going cultural process that has made 

America the birthplace of more music than 

any place on earth. The exhibition provides 

a fascinating, inspiring, and toe-tapping 

listen to the American story of multi-cultural 

exchange. The story is full of surprises about 

familiar songs, histories of instruments, the 

roles of religion and technology, and the 

continuity of musical roots from “Yankee 

Doodle Dandy” to the latest hip hop CD.”

Take time to view the exhibit while it’s in 

Tennessee. It will be located at various 

locations across the state. Go to www.

museumonmainstreet.org for locations and 

dates.
- 12 -

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

Woody the Talking Tree joined Sammy Soil and Ruby Raindrop at this year’s annual Farm City 

Day in Franklin County.

Presenters include the USDA-Farm 

Service Agency, USDA-Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, USDA-Rural 

Development, The Center for Historic 

Preservation, Land Trust for Tennessee, 

Tennessee AgriAbility Project, University 

of Tennessee Extension Service, The 

Center for Profitable Agriculture, the 

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation and 

the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

The project is funded through a partnership 

with the USDA-Farm Service Agency and 

the Tennessee RC&D Program. Workshops 

will be held on the following dates and at 

these locations:

August 12, Knoxville-at the USDA/NRCS 

Area Office, 9737 Cogdill Road

August 19, Nashville-at the Ellington 

Agricultural Center, 440 Hogan Road 

August 27, Jackson-at the University of 

Tennessee-Jackson Experiment Station 605 

Airways Blvd.

Onsite registration begins at 8:00AM. The 

workshop starts at 8:45AM and ends at 

3:30PM. Lunch is free. 

Interested participants may contact one of 

the following RC&D offices.

For the Knoxville Workshop, contact;

Eston Williams

Email: eston.williams@tn.usda.gov

Telephone: 865/671-3830 EXT.4

Fax: 865/671-4852

For the Nashville Workshop, contact:

Allen Persinger

Email: allen.persinger@tn.usda.gov

Telephone: 615/444-1890 EXT. 110

Fax: 615-444-4894

For the Jackson Workshop, contact;

Debra Blankenship

Email: debbie.blankenship@tn.usda.gov

Telephone: 731/668-0770 EXT.100

Fax: 731/668-8510

T

he Franklin County Soil Conservation 

District introduced its newest participant 

in the annual Farm City Day this year. 

His name is “Woody, the Talking Tree”. 

Woody, Sammy Soil, and Ruby Raindrop 

educated approximately 500 kindergarten 

students, teachers, and their helpers on 

the importance of taking care of our natural 

resources. 

Woody started in the imagination of the 

district’s newly hired secretary, Donna 

Woodall. After many hours of research on the 

project, the cost to purchase a mechanical 

type talking tree was too excessive for the 

district. After discussing the idea of Woody 

with local carpenter Ray Cole, he agreed to 

volunteer his time to construct the tree from 

peeled bark donated from a local lumber yard. 

It didn’t take much persuasion for Lester Hayes, Franklin County FSA CED, to jump on board to hand-carve Woody’s face. Carving is a unique 

talent that Lester has that only a few people know about. 

Woody relates to his captive audience by waving his branches and occasionally speaking a few words to each group of children who stopped 

for our program. The branches shake as though he is a living tree. The choreography was set to the music, “Dirt Made My Lunch”. We 

surrounded Woody with all sorts of living things such as real grass, spring flowers, and a picnic setting. The turkeys were there, too. When 

Woody talked he sounded a lot like Adam Daugherty DC. LaDonna Caldwell (Soil Conservationist), Ms. Helen Mullins (SCD board member), 

Donna Woodall (Franklin County SCD secretary) and the Franklin County 4-H youth also assisted the district with their educational program for 

Farm City Day 2008. Many of the items used in the program display were donated by local businesses. 

“Your Farm-Keeping It Profitable, Keeping It in the Family” - Reaching Out to Socially Disadvantaged 

Farmers

T

he Tennessee RC&D Program will be 

conducting three outreach workshops 

across the state for women, minorities 

and limited resource farmers, and those 

with disabilities who are actively engaged in 

agriculture.

Entitled “Your Farm-Keeping It Profitable, 

Keeping It in the Family”, the workshops 

focus on programs and assistance that can 

provide both economic and conservation 

based opportunities to farmers who have 

historically faced difficult challenges.

Planned topics for the workshops include 

Value-Added Agriculture & Ag-Tourism, 

Tennessee Century Farms, Farm 

Preservation, Assisting Agricultural Producers 

with Disabilities, Renewable Energy & Energy 

Efficiency Improvement, Estate Planning, 

Women & Minorities in Agriculture and Farm 

Support & Conservation Programs. 

by Larry Lofton

“Woody” Makes His Debut at Farm City Day 2008

by Donna Woodall and LaDonna Caldwell