June 2006

675 U. S. Courthouse

Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Telephone: 615/277-2531

FAX: 615/277-2577

Message from the State Conservationist

Current

Inside This Issue....

Upcoming Events

Developments

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Helping People Help the Land

I

am proud of your work, and I know that NRCS-Tennessee is very fortunate to have

 such a committed workforce dedicated to putting conservation on the ground. Let us

 continue to work hard in achieving our mission of Helping People Help the Land.

I want to express my sincere appreciation for all your help and support in implementing

the organizational restructure plan announced at our recent statewide teleconference. I

hope that the meeting helped answer your questions about the plan and the direction in

which our agency is headed. If you have questions that were not answered, or if you are

in need of further clarification, I urge you to contact your Area Conservationist or State

Office manager.

As you know, the details of the restructuring plan are still being worked out, and as next

steps are determined, we will inform you of them. In the meantime, managers are

available to discuss your concerns. Working together, we will successfully implement the

formation of our watershed teams and help meet the goals of the agency and satisfy the

needs of our customers.

James W. Ford

State Conservationist

Milan No-Till Field Day

Milan, TN

TN RC&D Council Annual Meeting

For more information, contact:

Cumberland Mtn. RC&D

865.494.2343 ext. 5

July 27, 2006

Tennessee Small Farms EXPO &

Recognition Program

Tennessee State University Research &

Extension Demonstration Farm

For more information, contact:

Michael McLendon @ 615.963-2598

August 3, 2006

August 3-4, 2006

Museum of Appalachia

Clinton, TN

Anderson County Landowner 3

 Protects Water Quality

RC&D Awarded Grant by 10

 Major League Baseball

Conservation Education Events 8

Control Burn Training 9

Earth Team News 4

Envirothon State Winner 7

Hinds Creek Farm Tour 11

NRCS Partners to Restore 4

 Piney River Bank

Robertson County Landowner 2

 Achieves Goals

Smith Co Youth Board Named TWF 5

 2006 Youth Conservationist

Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work 6

Page
- 2 -

Robertson County Landowner Achieves Conservation Goals

When Elvis Bellar first started working with NRCS and the Robertson County SCD to enhance

the natural resources on his farm, he was working full time for Montgomery Farmers Co-op

and farming part time. His first project was to convert 25 acres that had been cropped that he

felt would be better suited for pasture since his farm is located in the bend of the Red River

and there were some runoff concerns. He was approved for funding under the Tennessee

Department of Agriculture to install a Best Management Practice. The 25 acres was sown in

fescue and clover. After establishment this provided another pasture/ hay field for him so he

could expand his cattle herd. This was the first of many projects that were completed over the

next several years, all the time working towards Elvis Bellar's long range goal of farming full

time. 

Mr. Bellar now has 90 acres of cropland and 98 acres of pasture/hay and he raises corn,

wheat, soybeans and tobacco on his farm in the Mint Springs community of northwest

Robertson County. He is very conscientious in his farming practices. He plants his corn and

soybeans using no till methods and leaves his crop residue on the surface throughout the year and also uses cover crops. 

He has improved his cattle operation by participating in the Environmental Quality

Incentives Program available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He

received cost share on exclusion fencing, cross fencing, pipeline and a livestock watering

system through EQIP. Mr. Bellar said, “After the installation of the alternative water

system, I saw an increase in my weaning weights. The water flow is consistent

and there is fresh water available at all times.” His cattle were previously using a pond

for water that in the summer needed significant amounts of rain to keep it full. The cattle

have now been excluded from this pond and now use a centrally located watering system that was installed as part of the rotational grazing

plan under the EQIP program. 

Mr. Bellar also wanted to enhance the wildlife habitat on his farm. This goal has been achieved through the Conservation Reserve Program. 

Last year he installed a 3.5 acre field border around the upper side of his crop field. This border was sown in a native warm season grass mix. 

This spring we installed a 3.2 acre filter strip next to the

Red River. This filter strip was also sown in a native warm

season grass mix. The filter strip accomplishes two goals

Mr. Bellar had filtering runoff from his crop field and

providing habitat for wildlife. He and his son like to do a

little hunting in their spare time. Mr. Bellar said, “The CRP

program has improved the quantity of wildlife on this farm

that would have been nonexistent.”

Mr. Bellar, and many other Robertson County landowners,

have been able to accomplish their goals and alleviate

environmental concerns on their farms by utlizing the

multitude of programs available through the Natural

Resources Conservation Service and other conservation

agencies. This was accomplished through assistance

provided by the EQIP, CRP and TDA cost share

programs. 

Robertson County landowner Elvis Bellar has utiilized

EQIP, CRP and TDA costshare funds to attain his

conservation goals.

After the installation of the alternative

water system, I saw an increase in my

weaning weights. The water flow is

consistent and there is fresh water

available at all times.

Current Developments

by Jennifer Chastain

Elvis Bellar, Landowner
Anderson County Landowner Protects Water Quality

Donley and Eunice Hill own a thirty-eight acre farm that runs along the Clinch River in Anderson County. Mr. Hill recently retired from the

United States Forest Service with the National Forests in North Carolina. His wife, Eunice, is a librarian with Norris Middle School in Anderson

County. They are both avid supporters of soil and water conservation and being good stewards of the environment they knew the process of

establishing and/or maintaining a livestock operation while keeping the potentially harmful effects of production at a minimum would be

especially arduous.

With these issues in mind, the Hills contacted the Natural

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Anderson County

Soil Conservation District (SCD) in Clinton for technical

assistance with several conservation, wildlife habitat, and

production concerns they had on their property. Due to the

constant fluctuation in water level and flow of the Clinch River

when Norris Dam is generating, the banks of the river were

becoming saturated and eroding severely. A survey of the

eroded areas was completed by the NRCS with assistance from

Anderson County SCD on two different locations totaling 300

feet on the banks of the Clinch River. Using diagrams and

recommendations from NRCS, the banks of the river were

sloped back, geo-textile filter fabric was installed, and rock riprap was placed to stop the erosion of the river bank and stabilize

these areas from eminent water fluctuations. Another

conservation concern was a tributary which essentially dissects

the farm into two management areas and empties into the Clinch River. There were three main locations that were eroding on this tributary.

Geo-textile filter fabric and large diameter rock rip-rap was installed to stabilize these areas. Also, the critical areas adjacent to the

construction zones were sown to a high rate of winter wheat and mulched.

To further stabilize all the areas of concern, a variety of riparian and wildlife friendly species were planted by Earth Team Volunteers along the

banks of the river and the tributary. Eight Clinton High School Agriculture students, their teacher, David Rogers, NRCS, and Anderson County

SCD logged forty-five hours of volunteer service on this task. There were approximately 1000 trees and shrubs planted totaling one and one

half miles of riparian area including: loblolly and white pine, sawtooth and nuttall oak, flowering dogwood, hawthorne, indigobush, sycamore,

and sugarberry. Some of these trees and shrubs were chosen for their extensive root systems, such as the sycamore and oak, others for their

benefits to wildlife, such as the sugarberry and indigobush, with the

pines providing a natural barrier and erosion control and flowering

dogwoods for their aesthetic value.

Another concern of the Hills was cattle access to the river and creek.

Knowing the possibility of detrimental effects to water quality from

prolonged livestock exposure, NRCS and Anderson County SCD

recommended exclusion fencing which has been installed along the

tributary and the Clinch River. Over one mile of woven-wire fencing has

been installed.

The Hills are in the process of installing additional streambank

stabilization utilizing cedar tree revetments, cross-fencing to promote a

rotational grazing system, and automatic watering facilities in strategic

places to provide water to their cattle due to exclusion of the animals

from the creek and river. The installed and future conservation

practices should enhance and maintain the Hill farm for a long time.

Photo above: Donley Hill, Anderson County landowner and Matthew Denton, NRCS

District Conservationist, with 8 students and David Rogers, advisor from Clinton High

School after completing the riparian area tree planting.

Photo above: The woven-wire exclusion fence that was installed on the Hill

farm. The area behind the fence has also been stabilized utilizing filter fabric

and rip-rap rock.

Current Developments

- 3 -

by Matthew Denton
Current Developments

- 4 -

On Saturday April 1, 2006 members from

Dickson’s BSA Troop 593 worked with the

Duck River Opportunities Project (DROP),

the Natural Resources Conservation Service

(NRCS) and the Volunteer River Restoration

Corps (VRRC) (a joint project of the Harpeth

River Watershed Association (HRWA) and

the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association

(TSRA)) to install over 1300 plants in an area

of the Piney River’s bank that had been

eroding.

Wynne Mitchell, NRCS DC, Dickson County

contacted the Volunteer River Restoration

Corps (VRRC) to see if they would be

interested in helping a landowner complete

the stream restoration project. The

landowner had previously installed several

rock jetties – rock structures that point

upstream and deflect high flows away from

eroding stream banks.These particular jetties

were designed by NRCS bioengineers to protect the landowner’s fields along the eroding

pasture.

Once the jetties are installed, the area is planted in grass, tree seedlings and “live stakes.” Live

stakes are cuttings of black willow and sycamore treated with a rootone (makes roots sprout).

The live stakes are installed from the waters edge up about 10 feet to the top of the stream

bank. The seedlings are planted from the top of the stream bank out to about 25 feet. The 15

scouts installed just over 500 plants per hour, possibly a new VRRC record!

Troop 593 was led by Scoutmaster Ron Campbell of Dickson and assisted by Timothy Black.

Scouts helping out included John Campbell, Mike Coones, T.J. Black Jr., Mathew Welson, John

Gilliam, Spencer Trent, Mathew Mclendon, Andrew Nelson, Sam Hall, and Derek Hall and

others. Scouts were assisted by HRWA/DROP staff members Mike Cain (Restoration

Specialist) and John McFadden (Director of Science and Restoration).

The Piney River is one of the Duck River’s healthiest tributaries – and the Duck River is one of

the world’s most biologically diverse freshwater systems with 54 types of mussels (freshwater

clams) and 151 types of fishes. In addition the Duck River and its tributaries, such as the Piney,

serve as a drinking water supply for many communities and as a recreational resource for the

middle Tennessee area. This brings a significant economic gain to the local communities.

The VRRC has worked with scouts and other volunteers throughout the Harpeth River and

Duck River watersheds in an effort to improve the quality of the river system though a

combination of cooperative restoration and education. For more Information visit HRWA’s

website at www.Harpethriver.org.

by Wynne Mitchell

 Tennessee Earth Team News

Tennessee’s Earth Team is thriving and

proving why Tennessee is the volunteer

state. According to the FY06 National Earth

Team Mid-Year Status Report, Tennessee

ranks 4th in the nation for our number of

individual volunteers. Tennessee had 145

Earth Team volunteers at the mid-year mark,

following only Kansas (371), Missouri (167),

and Oklahoma (166).

Tennessee’s Earth Team is performing at a

high level in several other categories, too.

Compared to other states, Tennessee had

the 7th highest number of offices using

volunteers; the 9th highest number of

volunteer groups, and the 10th highest

number of members within volunteer groups.

Congratulations to Earth Team State

Coordinator Dimple Geesling and all the area

coordinators: West TN - Debbie Blankenship

& Faye Floyd; Middle TN - Heather Conner &

Cory Hodge; East TN - Lorella Jennings &

Terron Hillsman. Keep up the good work,

Earth Team!

Scouts from Dickson County Troop 593 installed just over 1300 plants in under 3 hours along the Piney River off

Mt Sinai road. (Photo by John McFadden

BSA Troop 593, Volunteer River Restoration Corp, and NRCS Help Landowner Restore Piney River Banks
Current Developments

- 5 -

T

he Smith County Conservation Youth Board, organized in May 2004, has become a

 leader and example to the community in a short time. They were recently recognized

 for their efforts when the Tennessee Wildlife Federation named them the 2006 Youth

Conservationist of the Year at a reception in Nashville in March 2006.

This young group of volunteers began by participating in Conservation Field Days held in

different counties in Middle TN to learn more about conservation and the roles that they could

play in conservation education. From there, they have taught youth about soil conservation

and the inhabitants of the soil. One particular project was to staff a booth at the Wilson County

Fair on “Kid’s Day”. The group gave presentations on earthworms and the layers of the soil

and provided handouts and hands-on activities for over 200 children.

The group held an event in November 2005 which they titled “Operation Clean Xstream”.

They built bluebird and wood duck boxes and hung them around Cordell Hull Lake and its

Wildlife Management Area. The group picked up litter and debris from multiple illegal

campsites and networked with agency personnel from USDA, UT Extension, US Army Corps

of Engineers, and TWRA. The students learned about global information systems and marked

the location of each of the wildlife boxes they hung in order to go back to them in the spring

for cleanout. They also learned about the nesting habits of both bluebirds and wood ducks.

This project involved multiple partners and educated the community on the importance of

their natural resources and conserving them.

They held a Christmas Tree drive where they collected trees after the holidays to be used as

fish attractors. The students learned about the advantages and disadvantages of these

attractors and once again gained the attention of the community when over 80 trees were

donated for the project. On March 4th, the youth board met at Defeated Park on Cordell Hull

with TWRA, US Army Corps of Engineers Rangers, local Bass Clubs, and other Earth Team

Volunteers to anchor the attractors on Cordell Hull Lake. The Corps was able to provide buoys

labeled for fish attractors on all the sites.

The group had a large truckload of wood donated to them that they plan to use for wildlife

boxes. They plan to build and hang several bluebird boxes in an area at the back of the local

nursing home for the patients to enjoy. They also plan to build and hang several more wood

duck boxes along the Caney Fork River in the Smith County Agriculture Complex. The

Complex entertains hundreds of sports enthusiast from soccer to baseball and houses a

walking trail for locals to enjoy by the river. The group thought this would be a great place to

hang the boxes along with signage to educate the sports players and walkers on the

importance of providing habitat for these birds.

The Smith County Conservation Youth Board prides themselves in their volunteer work and

believes in the importance of educating everyone in the community. Whether youth education

or adult education, they haven’t found any job they aren’t willing to take on. This group

displays extraordinary zeal for conservation and wildlife, and makes community involvement

and education prime goals in any of their projects. Often youths in communities tend to lean

toward hobbies and activities that leave them indoors instead of enjoying the open outdoors.

This group not only enjoys and appreciates the outdoors but they have made it their mission

to make others aware of the Great Outdoors.

by Heather Conner

Smith County Conservation Youth Board TWF Youth Conservationist of the Year

Photo above: Smith County Conservation Youth

Photo above: Tennessee Wildlife Federation names

Smith County Conservation Youth Board the 2006

Youth Conservationist of the Year.

Photos above and below: Members of the Smith County

Youth Board collected Christmas trees for use as fish

attractors.
Federal Women's Program Current Developments

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

- 6 -

On Monday, June 5, we observed the Ms

Foundations "Take Our Daughters and

Sons To Work Day" here at NRCS in

Tennessee. 20 children across the state

participated. I’ve heard from many of the

employees, and they and the children enjoyed

the time spent together. This program is

intended to "expand opportunities for girls and

boys, expose them to what adults in their lives

do during the work day, show them the value of

their education, and give them an opportunity to

share how they envision their future."

Some of the employees took the children in their

personal vehicles to look at RC&D projects,

EWP sites, and conservation practices. Some

traveled to other offices where other disciplines

were located and the children were shown other

aspects of the agency and the diversity of our

workforce and the work that we do. Some

children spent the day in the office, observing

the normal routine of the day, and being shown

the “inside” part of what we do. I heard ice

cream treats were also an enjoyable part of the

day for many of the adults and children!

Whether you spent a half day or a full day with

the children in your lives, you have created a

memory and planted a seed. This is the workforce of the future. I appreciate the cooperation

and participation of all the employees who took

part in this day. Whether you brought children,

or just took the time to show someone else’s

children what you do, I thank you. The children

will receive a goodie bag, a certificate for participating, and a memory that will last a lifetime.

Photo's above: Jake Hoskins, age 9, and Katie Hoskins, age 7, participated in “Take our Daughters and Sons to

Work Day” with their mom Pam Hoskins. They had a chance to visit both the Woodbury FO where Pam works,

and the Murfreesboro FO/AO where they met with Larry Robeson, DC; Paula Schroth, Administrative

Coordinator; and Mike Hart, GIS Specialist. Larry Robeson discussed the uses of corn and soybean products.

Jake and Katie then visited with Mike Hart, whom they quickly named the “Map Man”. Mike showed them the

maps and map tools he has and how they are used and explained how rainfall flows from the top of a watershed

to the bottom. Paula Schroth explained that she helps employees with their administrative and computer

problems.

Photo's above, l to r: Sarah Woodall, age 13, and Hannah Woodall, age 11, enjoyed working working on the

computer, looking at maps, and even helping Dad James Woodall use the digital camera.

Photo above: Hannah Johnson, 8 year old grandaughter

of Dimple Geesling, enjoyed working in the office and

seeing the erosion problems at Cane Creek Lake - a

Hull-York RC&D project (photo at left).

Photo above: Rusty Walker's youngest daughter,

Rachel, age 9, spent a few hours learning how Dad

“helps save the world, or at least our little corner of it,"

stated Rusty Walker.

Debbie Brasfield

Federal Women’s Program Manager
Current Developments

- 7 -

Each RC&D council in Tennessee hosts a

regional competition open to area high schools

in their RC&D area. The event allows student

teams to demonstrate their knowledge of

environmental sciences and natural resource

management. Students are tested on Forestry,

Soils, Wildlife, Aquatics, and a special topic

each year. This year’s special issue is Water

Stewardship in a Changing Climate.

The Northwest High School Team from

Clarksville, Montgomery County, TN won the

state competition after winning first place in the

Five Rivers RC&D area. A team from

Northwest High school has won first place for

11 consecutive years in the Five Rivers

regional competition. The team’s coach is Ms.

Lena Brown, and team members were Whitney

Barnes, Danielle Jones, Crystal Kane, Jaime

Taylor, and Jerika Taylor. 

The Northwest team, with one substitution,

Adam Travis who replaced team member

Whitney Barnes, represented Five Rivers at

the TN RC&D Council’s State Envirothon

contest held April 18-19 at Indian Creek Camp

in Liberty, TN. Their hard work and diligence

paid off and the Northwest team won the state

competition by a margin of 45 points, which

advances them to compete in the weeklong,

2006 Canon National Envirothon in Winnipeg,

Manitoba, Canada the week of July 23-26 at

the University of Manitoba.

Various state and federal agencies contribute

their time and expertise to help make the

regional and state events possible. Included

are many dedicated volunteers, university

professors, and employees of the Tennessee

Department of Agriculture, TDA’s Forestry

Division, Tennessee Wildlife Resources

Agency, the USDA-Natural Resources

Conservation Service (NRCS) and others. A

special thanks to all who are involved from

loyal financial supporters to in-kind volunteers

who together ensure the continued success of

this program across Tennessee.

Northwest High on the Trail to

International Envirothon

Photo above, l to r: Bill Mayo - Five Rivers RC&D Council President; Dale Grandstaff - TN Wildlife Resources

Agency and Asst Coach, Team Members: Crystal Kane, Jaime Taylor, Jerika Taylor, Adam Travis, Danielle Jones;

Lena Brown – Team Coach; Bill Williams - TN RC&D Council President.

The Small Farms EXPO & Recognition

Program will be held August 3, 2006 at the

Tennessee State University Research and

Extension Demonstration Farm at 3101 River

Road in Ashland City.

The EXPO will run from 9am to 4pm and the

Small Farmer Recognition Program will last

from noon till 2pm.

For more information, contact Michael

McLendon at the TSU Cooperative Extension

Program 615.963.2598.

TSU Small Farms EXPO &

Recognition Program

Paul Fulks, Area Conservationist,

reports that Middle Tennessee is in

the process of working with

Conservation Security Program

(CSP) applicants. Between June 19 and June

30, Area 2 will have processed, signed, and

made into contracts 117 CSP applications.

The first year’s contract payments are also

being certified and approved.

Watersheds in Tennessee selected for 2006

CSP eligibility include the Upper Elk River, the

Barren River, and Pickwick Lake, all in Middle

Tennessee.

 CSP Update

The Tennessee RC&D's Council Annual Meeting will be held August 3-4, 2006, at the

Museum of Appalachia in Clinton. Entertainment will be provided by Bill Landry from the

"Heartland Series".

For more information and a registration packet, go to www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov or call the

Cumberland Mountain RC&D at 865.494.2343, ext 5.

RC&D's Council Annual Meeting - August 3-4, 2006
Current Developments

The McNairy County Soil ConservationDistrict presented Cody Knight and Tabitha

Jernigan the 2006 Clyde Treece Agricultural

Scholarship. The presentations were made

during the McNairy Central and Adamsville High

School Awards Day Ceremonies.

These $500 scholarships were presented on

behalf of the Soil Conservation District to

encourage young men and women to pursue

a career in the field of agriculture.

2006 Farm Day - Cannon County

The 4th graders of Cannon County learned

about “Soils of a Different Color” on a recent

farm day held at the Raymond Pedigo farm.

The students were encouraged to touch, smell

and look at soils of different colors. The

students learned that these differences can

affect plant growth, moisture holding capacity

and microbial (soil bugs) activity. Students

learned that healthy soils are alive and colorful.

The Farm Day was coordinated by the UT

Extension Service and participating sponsors

included USDA/NRCS and FSA, Cannon

County SCD, the TN Division of Forestry,

Woodbury Police Dept., Farm Bureau Women’s

Organization and the US Fish/Wildlife Service.

2006 Clyde Treece Agricultural

Scholarship Recipient

Photo above: Peggy Mitchell, Soil Conservation

District Office Administrator presents Cody Knight the

2006 Clyde Treece Agnriculture Scholarship at the

Awards Day ceremony.

by Pam Hoskins

Jennifer Chastain, NRCS Soil Conservationist in

Robertson County, shows Ms. Twist’s 3rd grade class

the importance of clean water through a pollution

water exercise.

Third Graders Participate in Soil

and Water Stewardship Week

The Robertson County Soil Conservation

District in conjunction with NRCS in

Springfield recently visited Ms. Sharon Twist’s

third grade classroom at Watauga Elementary

School. The purpose was to educate students

about conserving natural resources,

specifically water. April 30 - May 7 was

designated as Soil and Water Stewardship

Week, celebrating the theme “Water Wise”.

The school visit helped teach children in

Robertson County how important it is to

conserve water and other resources.

Stewardship Week is overseen by the

National Association of Conservation Districts

(www.nacdnet.org). It is one of the largest

national annual programs to promote

conservation.

Many people may take their water supply for

granted, but a large network of private and

government agencies help protect, treat, and

deliver our water. In the United States, over

53,000 community water treatment systems

deliver drinking water to millions of people.

Over 13 million private wells provide water to

families and businesses.

Agriculture, electric power generation,

industry, and transportation all depend on

water resources. For more information on this

year’s theme “Water Wise”, visit

www.stewardshipweek.com.

- 8 -

Photos above & below: Cannon County Farm Day provided

hands-on activities to teach 4th graders the importance of

healthy soils.
Current Developments

Control Burn Training

A very successful control burn demonstration and field training was held

on April 13th 2006. The training was conducted on a 5 acre woodland

block. Mike Huddleston, Area Forester for Houston, Montgomery, and

Stewart counties conducted the controlled burn training at the Stewart

State Forest. Mr. Huddleston and his coworkers explained strategy,

preparation, equipment, clothing, and onsite conditions that should be

observed before lighting for a burn.

With prescribed fire, low-intensity flame is applied by trained experts to

clear the ground of dangerous fuels like dead wood and brush. Crews

use a drip torch, a hand-carried device that pours out a small stream of

burning fuel.

Prescribed fire is used only when the temperature, humidity, wind

speed, and fuel moisture are within the prescribed fire plan objectives.

Prescribed fire is a useful tool for managing forested land. It not only

reduces fuels but also enhances habitat for wildlife. It can also

minimize insect epidemics and the spread of disease in crowded forest

stands.

Conservationists Jennifer Chastain, Robertson County; Wynne Mitchell,

Dickson County; and Phillip Wilson and Louis Boyd from Montgomery

County participated in the training. Trainees were surprised by the

speed and efficiency of the back burn procedure in removing fuel from

the forest floor.

Mike Huddleston noted that TDF provides controlled burn service to

clients at a rate of $10.00 per acre if requested.

- 9 -

Photo above: A TN Division of Forestry employee uses a drip torch to pour out a

small stream of burning fuel at the prescribed burn training.

Photo above: NRCS employees participate in Prescribed Burn training.

Photo above: Mike Huddleston, TN Division of Forestry, explains the strategy and

equipment used in a prescribed burn to NRCS employees.

 Current Developments

Current Developments will be issued again in September. Please

submit your success stories and items of interest to Perry Stevens

(perry.stevens@tn.usda.gov) and Jeanne Eastham

(jeanne.eastham@ tn.usda.gov) no later than September 12.

Items may be submitted at anytime for inclusion in the newsletter

or posting on the web. Please submit good-quality photos as a

separate attachment, not embedded in the word document. (If the

photo is embedded in the word program, please submit a

separate jpeg file as well.)

Please rename your photos and identify each photo with a caption

that describes what the photo depicts.

For example:

 P10010087.jpg could be SumnerCo10087.jpg

(SumnerCo10087.jpg - Native wild season grass on Jackson farm)

If you have any questions, please contact the Public Affairs Staff.
Current Developments

Project partners review the proposed construction plans for the baseball field during the Baseball

Tomorrow Fund site visit to Jamestown, TN. Left to right are: Jan Lee, HYL RC&D Council President;

Kathy Bradley, Baseball Tomorrow Fund, New York City; Greg Qualls, York Institute Baseball Coach; John

B. Mullinix, Fentress County Mayor; and Scott Sandman, Fentress County Chamber of Commerce.

Over many years the local NRCS office in Springfield has benefited from the help of volunteers

who assist in the planning and installation of best management practices on land in Robertson

County. One such volunteer is Jesse Wilcox of Adams, Tenn. Mr. Wilcox has been volunteering

in Roberson County since September of 2000 and has overseen the design and installation of

practices such as grassed waterways,

grade stabilization structures, field

buffer strips, and critical area treatment

to name a few.

Mr. Wilcox has donated as much as

300 hours of time to the Earth Team in a year. Mr. Wilcox is no stranger to assisting in the soil

conservation efforts of Robertson County; he retired as a Soil Conservationist from NRCS with

an emphasis in agronomy. Mr. Wilcox says, “The Earth Team is an excellent opportunity for

people who want to give back to their community, and want to make a difference in

conservation of their natural resources”. In addition to his services in Robertson County, Jesse

volunteers in Montgomery County, for the Resource Conservation & Development Council

projects, and attends workshops and meetings in NRCS interests.

“Mr. Wilcox is a giving individual, whose true interests and hard work support the soil

conservation efforts and help to conserve our natural resources by donating his time to

implement best management practices on land in Robertson County, “ says James Brown, Jr.,

NRCS District Conservationist for Robertson County. “I appreciate our Earth Team volunteers

who make a significant contribution to the important work of the NRCS."

Earth Team Volunteer Jesse Wilcox is Making A Difference

The Earth Team is an excellent opportunity

for people who want to give back to their

community, and want to make a difference

in conservation of their natural resources.

- 10 -

Major League Baseball (MLB) and the

MLB Players Association has

announced its awarding the HullYork Lakeland RC&D office $78,942 to build

a youth baseball field in Fentress County.

The field will be built on the grounds of York

Institute High School.

The grant is being awarded through the

“Baseball Tomorrow Fund” (BTF). BTF

promotes and enhances the growth of youth

participation in baseball and softball by

funding programs, fields, coaches’ trainings

and the purchase of uniforms. The awards

are granted to non-profit and tax-exempt

organizations. About 30 BTF grants are

awarded each year totaling more than $1.5

Million. The average grant amount is

$51,000 and is designed to be sufficiently

flexible to enable recipients to address

needs unique to their communities.

The Hull-Lakeland RC&D Council will

receive its grant money upfront and oversee

the building of the field. “This is great news

for the council, and even greater news for

Fentress County,” said Hull-York Lakeland

RC&D Coordinator Jeff Sanders. “Fentress

County currently has just one field, and

that’s being used by the high school

baseball team, which prevents the youth

leagues from practicing on it until the high

school season is over. This will greatly

expand youth baseball opportunities in

Fentress County.” Construction is expected

to begin by early August with completion

scheduled for Spring 2007.

Congratulations Hull-York Lakeland RC&D!

RC&D Awarded Grant by Major League Baseball

24th Milan No-Till Field Day

with

Crop Variety Demonstrations

and Equipment Demonstrations

Thursday, July 27

7:00 am - 3:00 pm

North Tract of the Research &

Education Center

Milan, Tennessee
Current Developments

More than 120 landowners, students, and

conservation partners attended the Hinds

Creek Farm Tour on May 9, 2006. On the

first tour stop, Tiffany Foster with TVA,

highlighted different stream bank

stabilization practices including rock rip-rap,

coir fiber roles, V-weirs, and bank sloping

with tree plantings which were done by a

local Boy Scout Troup.

At the second stop, which was on the David

Coppock farm, speakers Todd Reed and

Matthew Denton, both with NRCS,

discussed several different best management practices including watering system,

rotational grazing, heavy use area pads,

creek fencing, riparian forest buffers, willow

trees staking, and stream crossings.

At the third tour stop, participants got a

close-up look at a wetland as Daniel Horne

with the Knox County Soil Conservation

District, discussed the benefits of wetland

habitat.

Partners for this project included:

• Anderson County Soil Conservation

 District,

• Knox County Soil Conservation District,

• Union County Soil Conservation District,

• TVA-Tennessee Valley Authority,

• NRCS-Natural Resources Conservation

 Service,

• TDA-Tennessee Department of Agriculture,

• Earth Team Volunteers.

Hinds Creek Farm Tour

Photo above: Daniel Horne, Knox County Soil Conservationist, talked to participants about wetland plants and the

benefits of wetlands.

Photo above: Matthew Denton, District Conservationist in Anderson/Campbell Counties, and Todd Reed, DC in

Union/Claiborne Counties explained various best management practices installed at this site including a watering

system, rotational grazing, heavy use area pads, creek fencing, riparian forest buffers, willow trees staking, and

stream crossings. Photo at left: Hinds Creek Watershed Partnership signs recognize landowners who have

installed best management practices in the watershed.

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Current Developments

Nature Fest

The second annual Nature Fest for the Upper

Cumberland area was held on April 21-23 at

several sites throughout the community

including Tennessee Technological University,

Cane Creek Park, Ensor Sink Park, and

Burgess Falls State Park.

Nature Fest activities are a celebration of the

great outdoors and the natural resources.

More than 600 attendees enjoyed the event

thanks to the 30 volunteer presenters and

many others who worked behind the scenes.

Some of the most popular events included:

Nature Kid Activities, Salamanders of

Tennessee, SSSnakes, Scavenger hunt,

Canoeing, Rocks and Fossils, Night Chorus:

Frog Calls, Birds of the Night and the hike at

Burgess Falls.

The lead organizer Alfred Ballinger is a local

business owner, a newly selected RC&D

director and an avid outdoorsman. His

inspiration for the event came from his

involvement with the annual Pigeon Forge

Wildlife Week and his love for the outdoors.

Mr. Ballinger is an annual presenter at the

Pigeon Forge event and he wanted to have a

similar event in his own community.

Partners in the event included the local

recreation department, Tennessee

Technological University, Tennessee Wildlife

Resources Agency, the area Chamber of

Commerce, a local performer, and the Natural

Resources Conservation Service. Plans are

already under way for the third annual Nature

Fest, with talks of extending the number of

days and use of resources available in the

Upper Cumberland area.

The USDA SBIR program, led by CSREES, is joining its Department of Energy (DOE)

counterpart for the first DOE/USDA SBIR Energy Summit at Oak Ridge National Laboratories

(ORNL) in Tennessee, July 6-7, 2006. The event will provide a forum to help engage the

small business community in the development of renewable energy technologies.

Specifically, the meeting is intended to:

• highlight USDA and DOE SBIR program alternative and renewable energy-related

research and energy efficiency-related funding opportunities;

• enhance the ability of public and private researchers to conduct research on cost

efficient alternative and renewable energy;

• showcase the research and collaboration opportunities available at ORNL and at

regional university partners; and

• engage interested small businesses to facilitate the transfer of publicly supported

research results to real world applications.

The event will highlight USDA and DOE programs of interest to farmers and agricultural

scientists interested in crops and research related to alternative and renewable energy,

biomass, energy efficiency, and related funding opportunities. Federal Program Managers will

discuss opportunities to obtain more than $250M in research grants for product development.

Registration is only available by submitting the registration form as directed at

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/sbir/sbir_summit.html and ends June 28th.

•Questions about conference registration should be directed to Angie Fincher

 (phone: 865-574-5980, fax: 865-574-5738).

•Questions pertaining to the USDA-SBIR program should be directed to Dr. Siva

 Sureshwaran or Dr. William Goldner.

•Questions pertaining to the DOE-SBIR program can be directed to

 sbir-sttr@science.doe.gov or http://www.science.doe.gov/sbir/.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory hosts USDA/DOE SBIR Energy

Summit - Must Register by 6/28!

- 12 -

Photos left & above: Nature Fest offered indoor and outdoor activities for people of all ages.