Spring 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

Dana York Honored by TTU 2

Earth Team News 6

RC&D & TN Department of

Agriculture--Division of Forestry 

Host Firewise Workshops 5

Ground Penetrating Radar used 

to verify post-Revoluntionary War

Cemetery in Jefferson County 3

RC&D News 4

Secretary of Agriculture 

Ed Schafer Comes to Nashville 2

TACD Highlights 7-8

T

ennessee farmers have experienced many challenges over the past year. A late cold 

snap last spring, a long drought through the summer and fall, and then deadly tornados 

in February all contributed to an estimated $500 million hit on agriculture in Tennessee, 

according to State Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens. 

It would be easy to be discouraged, especially with the new Farm Bill still pending approval. 

But as we approach spring, the renewal of plants, aquatic life, and wildlife should bring a new 

sense of hope. People are paying attention to what’s happening in Tennessee. Last month, 

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer visited Nashville and requested a briefing on what we 

have done—and can do—to help landowners impacted by the weather. Already, we have 

received word that Emergency Watershed Protection funds to help out in hard-hit Macon 

County have been approved, and there is reason to believe that more help is coming.

The 64th annual TACD convention last month was another bright spot in the new year. 

Attendance was up, and so was the level of enthusiasm. I thought the convention was positive 

and productive. Congressman Lincoln Davis, who delivered the keynote address, is a farmer 

himself as well as a former soil scientist who used to work for the Soil Conservation Service. 

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Davis knows the needs 

facing Tennessee farmers and landowners. 

While issues such as the new Farm Bill remain unresolved, there’s reason for hope that a 

resolution can be reached soon. Whatever happens in Washington, our responsibilities and 

duties here in Tennessee are unchanged. We continue our mission of helping people help 

the land, and we are doing so with the knowledge that our work is important because we are 

making a tangible difference in the lives of Tennessee landowners. I am proud of you, what 

you do, and how you do it. Keep up the good work!

Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar

April 25, 2008 16th Annual Border Wars Golf Tournament

 8:00 a.m. - ?

 Dale Hollow State Resort Park

 Contact: Charles Roberts 615-277-2575

May 1, 2008 TN Chapter of Soil & Water Conservation Society Meeting

 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

 Agri-Lane Center-Murfreesboro
2 Helping People Help the Land

Current Developments

Tennessee native Dana York, who oversees 

daily operation of the US Department 

of Agriculture’s Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, was honored in 

February by Tennessee Tech University in 

Cookeville. Ms. York, whose title is Associate 

Chief of NRCS, was named 2008 Alumnus 

of the Year from the university’s College 

of Agricultural and Human Sciences. She 

spoke to a gathering of over 100 students 

and fellow alumni as part of the school’s 

John Rose Distinguished Lecture Series.

At the lecture and luncheon, Ms. York 

was welcomed by Agricultural and Human 

Sciences Dean Pat Bagley, State FFA 

President Chelsea Doss, and State 

Conservationist Kevin Brown—another Tech 

alumnus. 

Ms. York shared her “ladder of success” with 

students, which included a solid educational 

foundation; a good attitude; a focus on 

problem-solving; being creative; being a 

good observer and listener; and surrounding 

yourself with talented people. Her top advice 

to students is to get a mentor so they can 

learn from the best. 

Last year, Ms. York received the President’s 

Distinguished Rank Award, the highest 

award given to a career federal employee 

for leadership. She is the highest-ranking 

female who has ever served in NRCS. 

She and AnnSue Wattenbarger were the 

first female District Conservationists in 

Tennessee.

Dana York Honored by TTU

Left to right-State Engineer Robert Anderson, STC Kevin Brown, Secretary Ed Schafer, ASTC Programs 

John Rissler

The newly confirmed Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, delivered the keynote speech at a 

USDA Black Heritage luncheon in Nashville on February 29th.

The Secretary was in Nashville to speak at the Commodities Classic convention at the 

Opryland Hotel. He also requested a briefing from NRCS, the Farm Service Agency, 

Agricultural Extension, and Rural Development about actions taken since the deadly tornados 

of February 5th. NRCS State Engineer Robert Anderson reported on debris removal efforts in 

Macon County, where a dozen people died during the storms. 

While in Nashville, the Secretary spoke to a joint gathering of employees from USDA marking 

Black History month. During his ten-minute speech, the former North Dakota governor thanked 

local employees from NRCS, FSA, and RD for all they have accomplished in Tennessee in the 

aftermath of the tornados.

The luncheon included entertainment from present and former NRCS employees along with 

recognition of present and past achievements of African American employees at USDA. The 

luncheon was organized and hosted by Black Emphasis Program Manager Danny Jones, who 

serves on the NRCS-Tennessee Civil Rights Committee.

Schafer told the group that he was happy to be selected as USDA Secretary because of the 

opportunity it provides him to see the work achieved by USDA employees across the nation. 

After his address, Secretary Schafer spent about half an hour visiting with employees and 

posing for pictures.

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer Visits USDA Offices in Nashville
3

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

Photo above: A ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey was conducted at Taylor Cemetery. GPR has 

often been used to help identify and locate buried artifacts and detect soil disturbance and cultural 

features associated with burial sites.

NRCS-Tennessee Resource Soil Scientist 

Anthony Khiel has used his knowledge of 

soils and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) 

to investigate rumors of unmarked graves 

in an historic cemetery in Jefferson County. 

In December, Kheil and North Carolina 

Soil Scientist Wes Tuttle used GPR to 

determine whether the cemetery may be 

the site of several unmarked former slave 

graves. Landowner Mike Thompson told 

the soil scientists that he’d always been told 

there were slave graves just outside the 

perimeter of the cemetery, but he didn’t know 

how to confirm the story without disturbing 

the ground.

Kheil suggested the soils investigation 

study utilizing GPR to see if rumored burial 

sites of some slaves could be verified in 

the post-Revolutionary War era cemetery. 

Taylor Cemetery is about seven miles east 

of Dandridge in the Baneberry community 

of Jefferson County. The cemetery has 

historical significance as the final resting 

place of Col. Parmenas Taylor (b. 1753, 

d.1827), a soldier in the Revolutionary War 

and the War of 1812.

Kheil and Tuttle determined that some graves 

of unknown origin were found between 

the marked graves within the cemetery 

boundary, but none was detected in the 

areas surrounding the cemetery where it was 

thought that slaves might have been buried. 

Survey flags were placed at potential burial 

sites inferred from radar records where they 

serve as temporary markers since no grave 

markers are present. Many of the older 

burials in the cemetery occurred before 1850.

Kheil says he was happy to help the 

landowner using ground-penetrating radar. 

“It’s non-invasive. We didn’t have to do any 

digging. As a soil scientist, I don’t like to dig 

around cemeteries. Even if there’s a fence 

around it, if you stick an auger in the ground, 

you never know what you might hit. The GPR 

is a great tool to let you know if there’s been 

any ground disturbance.”

Ground-Penetrating Radar Used by NRCS Soil Scientists to Verify Burial Sites in post-Revolutionary War 

Cemetery in Jefferson County

NRCS Associate Chief Dana York recognized and thanked Paul Fulks for his years of service to the 

agency on his last official day as Area 2 Area Conservationist. 
- 4 - 

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

Creating a Regional Sense of Place: Four Counties 

Focus on Heritage Tourism

 by Larry Lofton

L

ocal leaders from Hickman, Lewis, Perry and Wayne counties 

are creating a unique initiative by developing regional based 

heritage tourism to strengthen their local economies. This effort 

focuses on the conservation, preservation and enhancement of the 

area’s natural and cultural resources.

The initiative began as partnership project between local, state and 

federal partners including the Buffalo/Duck River RC&D Council, the 

Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University, 

the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, the US Forest 

Service, the USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources 

Conservation Service.

The Center for Historic Preservation conducted an inventory and 

assessment of natural and cultural assets for each community 

in consultation with local organizations and agencies. Four 

workshops were conducted by the CHP and the council to gain 

public input regarding the relationship of these assets in improving 

heritage tourism opportunities as well as building overall economic 

sustainability through a regional based approach. A guide entitled 

“Creating a Regional sense of Place” was published for distribution 

to communities in the RC&D area as a capacity building tool for 

increased cooperation and collaboration as this initiative evolves.

Grants from the US Forest Service and the Farm Service Agency 

provided funding for this project. Additional in-kind services were 

provided by the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, USDA 

Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Buffalo/Duck River 

RC&D Council.

Central Basin RC&D Receives 

Grant to Purchase Enviroscape 

Model

Photo l to r: Jerry Williams – Community 

Foundation board member, Carol Edwards 

– Secretary Central Basin RC&D, Allen Persinger 

– Coordinator Central Basin RC&D, Ellen Lehman 

– President of The Community Foundation of 

Middle Tennessee

Central Basin RC&D Council has 

received a $1,200 grant to purchase 

an Enviroscape non-point source 

pollution model to be utilized in educational 

programs within the RC&D area. Funding 

was made possible through a grant from 

the Lucius Burch Jr. Wildlife Habitat Fund 

of The Community Foundation of Middle 

Tennessee.

Tennessee Chapter of the Soil and Water 

Conservation Society (SWCS) to Spring Meeting 

Scheduled 

The Tennessee Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society 

(SWCS) will hold its Spring meeting at the Agri-Lane Center in 

Murfreesboro Thursday May 1, 2008. The technical portion of the 

meeting will focus on agricultural construction permits. Dr. James 

Buchanan of the University of Tennessee will be the featured speaker. 

The meeting begins at 10am and will last until about 3pm.

16th Annual Border Wars Golf Tournament

Kentucky vs Tennessee

The cost is $50.00 per person which includes 18 holes with cart, 

lunch and prizes. 

Tennessee golfers make checks payable to Charles Roberts 

and mail to his attention at 675 U.S. Courthouse, 801 Broadway, 

Nashville, TN 37203. Deadline for registering to play is April 

18th. 

If you plan to stay at the lodge you should call 1-800-325-2282 

ASAP to make your reservations. 

For more information, contact Charles Roberts at 615-277-2575 or 

email at: charles.roberts@tn.usda.gov.
Current Developments

- 5 - 

Being “Firewise” is Making an Impact in Tennessee

T

ennessee’s landscape is changing. In the last decade, homes 

and communities have merged into the state’s open/wildland 

space. This has been described as the wildland/urban interface. 

Developing areas meeting wildland areas have been and continue to 

be vulnerable to significant fire risks.

The Tennessee Firewise program is meeting the challenges posed by 

rapid development in these rural wildland areas. A significant part of 

this initiative is the Tennessee Firewise Communities program with the 

common goal being to reduce the loss of life, property, and resources 

to wildland fire by building and maintaining communities in a way that 

is compatible with our natural surroundings.

Over the past several years RC&D councils across the state have 

worked in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, 

Division of Forestry to involve homeowners, teachers, community 

leaders, planners, developers, and others in adopting the Firewise 

approach that emphasizes community responsibility for safer home 

construction and design and landscaping and maintenance. 

 RC&D is also assisting the Tennessee Division of Forestry’s Fire 

Prevention and Firewise Coordinator and Firewise program personnel 

with hazardous fuel mitigation grants to communities including Sprucy 

Ridge in Mountain City and Cumberland Lakes in Monterey. Other 

Firewise assistance has been provided to twelve other communities 

through grant services provided by TDF. 

RC&D thanks John Kirksey-Forest Protection Unit Leader, Jeffrey 

Piatt-Fire Program Specialist and Leon Konz-Fire Prevention/Firewise 

Coordinator for their leadership and is proud to be a partner with the 

Tennessee Division of Forestry in this important work.

by Larry Lofton

Tennessee Division of Forestry offiicals hosts 

Firewise workshops for homeowners, teachers, 

community leaders, planners, developers, 

and others that emphasize using the Firewise 

approach in home struction and design and 

landscaping and maintenance. 
- 6 - 

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

A

ppalachian RC&D Council has set 

an example to recruit volunteers that 

I would encourage all Field Offices 

and other RC&D Councils to follow if 

possible. If you would like to have volunteers 

that are interested in working on specific 

programs or in your own area, check out the 

Volunteermatch.org website. The site has 

been around and available for quite some 

time, and would be worth your time to visit.

Appalachian RC&D is the first in TN to 

use this website to recruit volunteers and 

a special thanks to Kris Hinds and Roy 

Settle for their good work in this effort. 

The Appalachian RC&D Council created 

a free profile on www.Volunteermatch.org

requesting volunteers for specific projects 

and programs. They received several high 

quality responses, and they brought onboard 

some new volunteers as a result. Roy says 

they have had other responses that did not 

pan out and from folks who never got back 

in touch after the first time, but he says 

the trade-off is worth it. He is very excited 

about the responses that have resulted in 

several new and productive volunteers. 

Congratulations, Roy and Kris, and thanks 

for the tip!

Appalachian RC&D’s 

Volunteermatch is an Innovative 

Way to Attract Volunteers

by Dimple Geesling, State Earth Team 

Coordinator

FY 2007 Earth Team Annual 

Status Report

More than 400 volunteers gave well 

over 7,000 volunteer hours as 

part of Tennessee’s Earth Team 

activities in fiscal year 2007. According 

to State Earth Team Coordinator Dimple 

Geesling, 405 people volunteered statewide 

last year. The volunteers gave of their time 

as individuals or as members of one of the 

29 group organizations that participated in 

ET projects last year. The total number of 

ET volunteer hours worked in Tennessee 

was 7,136.

TDA Forum Focus on 

Requirements for Farmer’s 

Selling Directly to Consumers

T

ennessee’s 4th Annual Farmers Market 

Forum will be held March 31 at the 

Smith County Agriculture Complex in 

Carthage. The event’s focus is opportunities 

and requirements for producers who plan 

to sell their farm products directly to the 

consumer. 

The event is free of charge, sponsored by 

the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. 

Registration for the day’s program, which 

includes lunch, opens at 8:30 a.m. The 

program begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 

4:30 p.m.

Rusty Walker Named Citizen of the Week

Giles County District Conservationist Rusty 

Walker was named “Citizen of the Week” by the 

Pulaski Citizen newspaper on February 5th. In 

an article headlined “Where’s That Rusty Guy? I 

Need Help,” the newspaper highlighted Rusty’s 

service to Giles County landowners. The report 

said Rusty “has been instrumental in helping local 

farmers with Best Management Practices (BMPs) 

through funding such as EQIP, WHIP, and many 

others.”

Rusty was nominated for the other honor by his 

coworkers, Kris Bailey and Carla Potts. Bailey 

told the paper that Rusty is always helping 

people. “It doesn’t matter if it is a farmer who 

needs help with how to fence off a field, poultry farmer trying to dispose of waste or a student 

doing a research paper, Rusty is there to help.”

Rusty says he was surprised but pleased with the honor. He and his wife, Myra, live in Giles 

County with their daughters, Stephanie and Rachel.

Announcement for 2009 TACD 

Convention

Farm Credit Services of Mid-America 

announced that starting next year, it will 

sponsor the TACD Conservation Farmer 

of the Year award. The contest will be 

sponsored by Farm Credit Services of 

Mid-America at the county, area, district, 

and state levels. County winners will receive 

a plaque and $250; Area winners will get 

a plaque and $500; Division level winners 

will receive a plaque and $750; the State 

winner will get a plaque and $1000. Rules 

for nomination and judging entries will be 

released soon.
- 7 - 

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

Conservationists from all across Tennessee gathered in Jackson 

February 24-26, 2008 for the 64th annual Tennessee Association 

of Conservation Districts. About 50 NRCS employees were among 

the participants who heard the keynote address from 4th District 

Congressman Lincoln Davis, who is himself a former Soil Scientist.

Congressman Davis, who has a degree in agronomy and owns a 

beef cattle farm with his brother, spoke about the needs facing rural 

America and rural Tennessee, calling the Farm Bill “the best bargain 

for American consumers that can be provided.” Davis provided 

an update on the status of the 2008 Farm Bill which has yet to be 

approved and signed into law. He said he and other members of 

Congress have a duty to conserve the soil and provide needed 

services to farmers. Congressman Davis is the only member of 

the Tennessee Congressional delegation to serve on the House 

Agriculture Committee.

Highlights of the 64th Annual TACD Convention

(L-R) Danny Sells, TACD Executive Director; Roy Gillis, National Association 

of Conservation Districts (NACD) Board Member; Barry Lake, TACD 

President; Phylis Vandevere, NACD Regional Representative; Steve 

Robinson, NACD President-Elect; Kevin Brown, State Conservationist.

Congressman Lincoln Davis and Kevin Brown, State Conservationist

Barry Lake, TACD President, presents Keynote Speaker Congressman 

Lincoln Davis with a basket of Tennessee products, following his keynote 

address.

Barry Lake, TACD President, presents Ken Givens, Commissioner of 

Agriculture, with a basket of Tennessee products.

Roy Gillis, NACD Board Member, and RuAnn Jones, outgoing President of 

TCDEA, enjoy the evening entertainment at the closing banquet.
Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land -8 - 

TACD recognized outstanding conservation 

efforts in Tennessee by presenting several 

TACD Poster Contest Winners

K-1ST GRADE

1st Place--Jalen S. Smith, 1st Grade, 

 McMinnville 

2nd Place--Sydney B. Bouldin, 1st Grade, 

 Spencer 

 

2ND-3RD GRADE

1st Place--Auburn Lynn Payne, 3rd Grade, 

 Morris Chapel

2nd Place--Destiny Nicole Baxter, 3rd 

 Grade, Adamsville 

4TH-6TH GRADE

1st Place--Cannon Harber Curtis, 5th Grade, 

 Chapel Hill

2nd Place--Isaac T Barkely, 5th Grade, 

 Telford 

7th -9TH GRADE

1st Place--Trey Cash, 9th Grade, Bolivar

2nd Place--Kendra Lynette Carey, 8th 

 Grade, Crossville 

10TH-12TH GRADE

1st Place--John Erik Neal, 11th Grade, 

 Crossville

2nd Place--Christen Elizabeth Plunk, 

 10th Grade, Bolivar

Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts Award Winners Bucky Edmondson, a 

Land Planning Process Specialist in Watershed Operations at the Tennessee Valley Authority, 

announced the Conservation District of the Year award which is sponsored annually by the 

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and TACD.

•Conservation District of the Year 

—Blount County Soil Conservation District

John P. Davis, Jr., Chairman

Albert Coning, Vice Chairman

Mary Gentry, Board Member

David Fugate, Secretary/Treasurer

Rob Walker, Board Member

Terron Hillsman, District Conservationist of the Year

Sandy Gregory, District Coordinator

Erich Henry, Soil Conservationist

•District Cooperator of the Year—George Smartt, Warren County 

•Tennessee Conservation District Employee Association Employee of the Year—Sara 

 Steelman, Coffee County SCD

•Conservation Educator of the Year—Ann Cherry, Hardeman County

•Special Recognition for Outstanding Service to TACD—Jeanne Eastham, NRCS Public 

 Affairs Specialist

2007 Earth Team Award Winners

•Earth Team Volunteer Coordinator of the Year—Lorella Jennings, Fentress County

•RC&D of the Year—Appalachian RC&D Council, Roy Settle, Coordinator

•Individual Award—Raymond Cooper, Cannon County

64th Annual TACD Convention Award Winners

Bucky Edmonson, TVA Land Planning Process 

Specialist, presented the Conservation District of 

the Year Award.

First grader Jalen S. Smith of McMinnville 

was the first place winner in the TACD Poster 

Contest’s K-1st grade category.

Tenth grader Christen Elizabeth Plunk won 2nd 

place in the TACD Poster Contest 10th-12th 

grade category. She accepted her award from 

poster contest coordinator Donna Kitts.