“Can I take a picture please?” I often begged my grandparents as they tried to take one. Mamaw Jo wouldn’t let me, but Papaw would.

The Union County 4-H Public Speaking Contest showcased the talent and hard work of our youth, highlighting their dedication to honing skills that will help shape them into future leaders. Held at Horace Maynard Middle School, this year’s competition was a resounding success, and we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made it possible.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our judges, who generously gave their time and expertise to evaluate the speeches. Your support is invaluable, and we are deeply appreciative of your role in encouraging these young participants.

The 2025 Union County 4-H Poster Contest brought together the creativity and talents of local youth with an impressive 70 posters submitted by students across the county. This annual event serves as a platform for youth to showcase their artistic abilities.

Get Your Limited-Edition TN State Swine Show Shirts – Now Online!
Due to the weather at the event, we have extra TN State Swine Show shirts featuring 4-H and FFA logos! These shirts are perfect for showing your support for youth in agriculture and make amazing gifts!
Available Options:

Hoodies: tiny.utk.edu/Hoodie

Long Sleeves: tiny.utk.edu/LongSleeveSwine

These shirts are available in a variety of sizes and are the perfect keepsake or gift for any 4-H or FFA supporter. Don’t miss out on this limited opportunity!

There was a program on TV I found interesting. It was called "How Its Made." One evening when no baseball game was on, I checked it out. The topic hit a familiar cord with me. It explained how beet sugar was made.

I am familiar with sugar beets. They are a major crop in the Saginaw Valley of Michigan. My maternal grandparents had a twenty acre farm about a mile from the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron. The soil was fertile. It had been part of an ancient flood plain formed when the glacier melted long ago. That soil would grow anything.

This is a good hearty salad any time of the year. The ingredients are available anytime you can get to the grocery store. In mixing bowl combine shells, tomatoes and crumbled bacon. Set aside. In a small bowl combine dressing ingredients. Spoon dressing mixture over pasta mixture. Stir lightly to combine. To be the most flavorful, chill at least 2 hours before serving. On individual salad plates, on a small pile of shredded lettuce, divide salad into 6 portions and serve.

By Steve Roark
As a forester, I often get asked tree health questions, and one involves flat blotches stuff growing on well-established yard trees. It’s often blue-green but can come in other colors. These are Lichens, of which there are many species, have found a niche where they can grow off the ground and away from competing plants. They are perfectly happy living in the high-rise apartment provided by tree trunks, especially in deep shade areas. Most older trees in our area have at least one small colony of lichen growing somewhere.

Union County FCE began 2025 with an engaging January meeting that highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness. Chase Filip from the American Red Cross served as the guest speaker, delivering an informative presentation on how to be ready for unexpected emergencies. Members learned essential tips, such as the need for at least three days’ worth of food, water and medicine per person in an emergency kit.

There were two things that I dreaded as a child. One was getting a shot. I still do. The other was having my picture made.

Researchers at Texas A & M University gathered demographic data on workers and information on how they used office equipment such as footrests, monitor arms, keyboard trays or anti fatigue mats at their workstation. They also collected data on the amount of time the workers spent standing at their workstation and their use of a sit-stand or stand- biased workstation. Participants were asked about discomfort in the neck, upper back, lower back, shoulder, wrist and hand, hips, knees, and ankles and feet.