Kyle Owen from Smith County represented Tennessee last week at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia. He was named Tennessee Farmer of the Year by the UT Extension Service and was one of ten farmers nominated for South-east Regional Farmer of Year.

Owen said the experience was invaluable for him and his family. “We were able to learn a lot, met new people and built relationships.” The event is known as the South-east premiere farming event with over 1200 exhibiters showcasing the latest in farming technology.

Kyle Own is a first generation farmer who has grown his farm to over 6,000 acres in Smith County. He grows corns, soybeans, wheat, tobacco and watermelon.

The first of two Tennessee young sportsman deer hunts for the 2023-24 season will be held the weekend of Oct. 28-29. Youth ages 6-16 may participate using guns, muzzleloaders, or archery equipment.

Young sportsmen must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 21 or older who must remain in position to take immediate control of the hunting device. The adult must also comply with the fluorescent orange regulations as specified for legal hunters. Multiple youth may be accompanied by a single qualifying adult.

Youth ages 6-9 are not required to have a license or hunter’s education certification. Youth ages 10-12 must meet hunter education requirements or have a Type 12 apprentice license. In addition to the requirements for youth 10-12, youth 13-15 must have a junior hunting license, and 16 year old youth must have the appropriate adult licenses.

Archery season began in the state on Sept. 23 and the first segment ends Oct. 27, the day prior to the opening of the young sportsman hunt. The second segment of archery only season is Monday, Oct. 30 through Friday, Nov. 3. Muzzleloader/archery season starts Nov. 4. In Unit CWD, gun/muzzleloader/archery season begins Oct. 30. The statewide gun/muzzleloader/archery season has the traditional opening date of the Saturday before Thanksgiving which this year is Nov. 18.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency recommends that all hunters obtain a 2023-24 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide lists license requirements, counties, and limits for each of the different deer management units. The guide is

available on the TWRA website, www.tnwildlife.org, the TWRA App, and where hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

Mandi’s Salon and Spa at 53 Cookeville Highway, recently celebrated joining the Smith  County Chamber of Commerce with a Ribbon Cutting. Owner Mandi Myers began doing hair in 2009 and purchased the current location in 2015.

Three stylists provide a variety of services including haircuts for men, women and children, blonding services, color services, fashion and vivid colors, color correcting, facial waxing, extensions, perms, tinsel/feather, updos, formal styles, manicures, pedicures, gel polish, acrylic nails and dip nails.  Two tanning beds are also open 24/7.

Mandi said that she loves that people know her by her first name.  She says people see me being “as real as it gets” and they love and respect me.  “Knowing families all the way from first haircuts, through special life events and even when we go to funeral homes to get loved ones prepared for their families to be laid to rest is as humbling as it gets.”  She said she is thankful for her family and friends who pushed her and stood beside her as she embarked on this business adventure. 

Mandi shared that she has been happily married to her best friend for 10 years. They have a beautiful, blended family that includes five children all who are grown or almost grown.  Outside of the Salon she enjoys ancestry, local history, metal detecting and helping families find their ancestors headstones on a findagrave.com. 

She said she moved to Pleasant Shade in 1991 having never heard of Smith County.  However, after doing some research into her own ancestry she found that her 6^th great grandparents lived in Smith County in the early 1800s.

Mandi said that most people come to the Salon and find exactly what they are looking for.  “We value that our clients find a friend in us. We are no judgement area and we treat everyone with respect, integrity and friendliness.”

Mandi’s Salon and Spa is open Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. -12 p.m. on Saturdays.  You can call to schedule an appointment 615-588-1111 or reach out on Facebook @Mandi’s Salon & Spa for more information.

Smith County 4-H News

by Rachel Petty – UT Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development

The Smith County 4-H Chick Chain Show & Sale on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, was the culmination of over six months of hard work for 23 Smith County 4-H’ers who completed this year’s Chick Chain project.

Through the 4-H Chick Chain, each participating 4-H’er received either 12 or 24 one-day-old baby chicks in April and was responsible for feeding and caring for the chicks throughout the spring and summer, ultimately raising them to become the outstanding laying hens that were brought to our show. This year, each 4-H’er raised either Black Star or Red Star chickens.

We were proud of all of the birds that were brought to the show, but two pens deserved special recognition. Abby Malone received the Grand Champion award, and Everett West was awarded Reserve Champion.

At the conclusion of our show, each pen of birds was auctioned off to an eager crowd of buyers.

We want to say a special thank you to our judge, UT Extension Agent Trent Jones, and to our auctioneer, Jason Martin, who both gave their time and talents to make the Chick Chain show successful. Thank you also to Mike Sircy with Smith Farmers CO-OP, who purchased almost every single pen of birds and then donated them back to benefit our 4-H’ers.

This event would not be possible without our hardworking 4-H’ers and their families as well as the community supporters that attend this event, purchase birds, and help to make it a success year after year.

We are so proud of all the hard work that each 4-H’er put into this year’s Chick Chain project!

For further information regarding the 4-H Chick Chain or any other opportunities that 4-H has to offer the youth in Smith County, call 615-735-2900.

It seems stores are starting earlier and earlier with their deals and promotions for the holidays. Personally, I do my holiday shopping year-round. Once I see something that reminds me of an individual on my list, I either purchase it at a good price or keep an eye on it to buy at a better price when on sale. I make sure I write it on a list so I do not forget about it, and then store the item until it is time for the holidays; that way I do not feel pressured to buy in a designated time frame. Even with planning, purchasing, and packing ahead of time; there may be items that I forget to budget for holiday expenses.

“One reason it’s hard to budget for the holidays is that there are many expenses we may simply forget about,” says Christopher T. Sneed, UT Extension consumer economics specialist and assistant professor. “The holiday season is busy, and some costs that we wouldn’t normally think about can add up quickly, which means budgeting is even more important. We want to avoid debt, stick to our shopping plan, and enjoy the holidays without derailing our financial goals.”

Sneed has identified several areas that may become costly if they don’t make it into the holiday budget.

Extra Transportation Costs and Meals Out

Hidden expenses associated with holiday shopping may include extra fuel or other transportation costs while going from one shopping site to another or while making out-of-town shopping trips and meals during these trips. If shoppers plan an entire day of shopping, it’s likely they will need to eat at least one meal out. If multiple shopping trips are planned, then these food dollars can quickly add up. To reduce both travel costs and food costs, plan for one to two shopping days and no more. While shopping, purchase a few small gifts, like chocolates or other consumables, for anyone you may have inadvertently left off your shopping list. Reducing trips will limit transportation and food costs but it will also decrease the chances of buying more gifts than necessary.

Holiday Decorations

Holiday décor is another expense that is often forgotten. As more and more elaborate decorating styles become popular each year, the costs associated with decorating for the holidays add up. Sneed suggests adding holiday color to items you already have at home in order to achieve a festive feeling without the expense and trouble of purchasing and storing items that are only used a few weeks of the year. Greenery from around the home, such as pine, cedar, and holly, can also be brought indoors to unify décor both inside and outside and add flair to holiday decorations with minimal or sometimes no cost.

Taxes and Gift Wrap

Be sure to include taxes in budgets for individual gifts. In most areas of Tennessee, the sales tax rate is 9-10 percent, and a good strategy is to always purchase gifts with tag prices adequately under the limits you’ve set to allow for tax. So, if you have $20 budgeted for a gift, the tag price needs to be around $18 in order to stay under budget. Sales tax can quickly add up, tanking your budget without adding any value to your gifts. Paying extra for gift wrapping in the store is also a tempting add-on that can quickly derail a solid gift budget. Purchasing gift wrap after the holidays when it’s on sale for next season’s gifts can reduce costs, as can reusing holiday-themed gift bags. Alternative gift wraps, like reusing newspaper, tissue paper, paper grocery bags turned inside out, or fabric scraps are also popular ways to eliminate the cost of gift wrap and ribbons.

Unexpected or Last-Minute Gifts

Finding a gift last minute for someone inadvertently left off your list can be an expensive hassle, both in terms of time and money. And an invitation to a holiday gift exchange or holiday party where a white elephant gift exchange may occur is easy to forget in the busyness of the season. With all this in mind, it’s a good idea to wrap a few generic items, like books, bath soaps, or restaurant gift cards, as contingency gifts just in case. These items can serve as decoration until they are needed, and if they last through the holidays, unwrap them and celebrate all the decorations being put away.

Extra Groceries and Food

It’s easy to underestimate the amount of baking ingredients, turkey and fixings, and other holiday meal needs can increase your spending. Generally, food expenses for a family can quickly jump 20 percent or more during the holiday season. While extra ingredients or dishes make a meal festive and special, they are often pricey at the supermarket. Food items are also typically overlooked when planning holiday spending. Begin to look at your holiday calendar now and add a couple items to your weekly grocery trip to spread costs out over several weeks. Also watch for sales as grocery stores stock up on popular items, like pumpkin or brown sugar, and purchase when costs are lower.

Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. utia.tennessee.edu.

Chicken Dijon

6 boneless, chicken breasts

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

½ cup butter, melted

¾ cup dry bread crumbs

¼ cup parmesan cheese

Mix melted butter and Dijon mustard. Mix bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Dip chicken breasts in butter and then coat with bread crumb mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Turning chicken over once during baking time. Submitted by Jan Knowles, Elmwood/Chestnut Mound FCE Club

On September 12th, 2023 Sergeant Matt White was notified that Wes Montooth with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture had inspected the horses owned Charles Massey. Additionally, Montooth had observed the horses and performed a body condition assessment. He had determined that probable cause existed for cruelty to animals charges. 

This determination was based on the fact that the horses were tied up in a field and didn’t have access to food, water, or shelter. Sgt. White contacted ADA Bare and advised that a search and seizure warrant was needed to remove the horses.

Mr. Montooth coordinated with Horse Haven of TN to assist in the rescue. Sgt. Gregory and Deputy Eddie went to the residence and placed Charles in custody. He was served with the search warrant and informed that the horses would be removed from his residence. Four horses were located tied up in fields with no food or water and shelter. Two horses were located in a barn with no food. All of the horses showed signs of hunger. They were taken by Horse Haven to their sanctuary. Charles was charged with 6 counts of Cruelty to animals.

Horse Haven of Tennessee is a non profit that relies primarily on donations to assist their staff and volunteers with rescues like this one in Smith County and make daily care possible. The organization assists law enforcement officials by transporting and caring for horses that are seized during criminal abuse and neglect cases. The horses are then cared for while the cases are litigated in court. Since its formation in 1999, HHT has cared for more than 1,300 horses and remains the largest nonprofit equine welfare organization serving the entire state of Tennessee. 

Smith County Agriculture News – By Katie Martin, Smith County Extension Agent

As Halloween approaches, witches and ghosts aren’t the only things you should be on the lookout for. If you’re a livestock owner, there are several toxic plants that cause problems in the fall that are even spookier!

As Extension Agents, we love nothing more than getting to talk with producers, make farm visits, and provide resources. Over the last couple of weeks, toxic plants resulting in livestock deaths have been a hot topic of conversation. Two common threats livestock producers should be aware of this time of year are Perilla Mint and acorns.

Perilla Mint causes more cattle deaths in Tennessee than any other toxic plant. It’s poisonous to cattle, small ruminants like sheep and goats, and horses. Plants can often be found in semi-shaded spots like fence lines, farm structures, and edges of wooded areas. Cattle typically will not feed on these toxic weeds unless other forages are in short supply, so ensure animals have access to sufficient feed during late summer and early fall. Control of Perilla Mint is most effective from late April to early June. Mowing before seed is produced can also help manage further spread of this toxic weed.

While acorns are great for wildlife, they can pose a significant risk to cattle. If acorns are overconsumed, kidney failure and death can be the result. Feeder calves from 400 to 700 lbs. seem to be especially susceptible, but acorns can also pose a problem for cows, causing malformed calves and decreased milk production for fall-calving cows.

Symptoms of acorn poisoning can include abdominal pain, excessive thirst, frequent urination, lack of appetite, a thin rapid pulse, and rough hair coat. While typically, acorns are not a favorite food for most cattle, occasionally there are cows that gorge themselves on them. If possible, keep cattle away from acorns by removing oak trees, fencing wooded areas out, or moving cattle to other pastures in the fall.

If we can be of assistance when it comes to managing toxic weeds or any other livestock and forage topic, contact the UT Extension office at 615-735-2900, or check out our library of publications at smith.tennessee.edu.

The Smith County Board of Commissioners held a meeting on the evening of Monday, October 9, 2023

You can watch the full meeting below.