Union County was well represented at the Region 4-H Grill Masters Challenge Competition on September 16th, 2025. We are so proud of all our youth who competed and showcased their grilling skills!

Junior Individual Placings

Beef – Jaxson Moore – 6th Place
Beef – Asher Firkin – 9th Place
Lamb – Coral Davis – 3rd Place
Pork – Aspen Davis – 2nd Place
Poultry – Caleb Miller – 5th Place
Poultry – Caleb Firkin – 8th Place

Junior Team – 3rd Overall

(Aspen Davis, Coral Davis, Jaxson Moore, Caleb Miller)

Union County was well represented at the Eastern Region 4-H Goat Show held during the Tennessee Valley Fair on September 14th. Local 4-H members showcased their skills and dedication by placing high in their respective classes, excelling in showmanship, and performing strongly in the skill-a-thon competition.

The event highlighted not only the hard work of the youth but also their sportsmanship and commitment to excellence. Each participant demonstrated the knowledge and responsibility gained through their 4-H project work, making Union County proud.

So on October 4, 2025, the Union County Heritage Festival is giving a nod to our agricultural heritage with the theme, “Plowing the fields”. Let's hop on Carl's tractor and tour Wilson Park. At the entrance, take a selfie with Smokey and drill into a log to guess its age. Inspect the Antique cars and pick up a copy of Historic Union County Newspaper. Inside HUC is the program map to guide our tour.

Our memories of growing up on a farm shape our minds and our bodies to tackle life's struggles. But these farm memories also allow us moments of sheer joy. So it is with the memories that Betty Bullen recalls regarding the 2025 Heritage Festival Collectible Print, “Following the Plow”. In Betty's own words, she describes this vividly fond memory: “ I grew up in Union County and lived here all of my young life.

I, like many others, have been profoundly affected and deeply shaken by the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk. He was a man who used his platform to express his beliefs and his unwavering passion, leaving a significant mark on the world. Now that he is gone, it is clear that he indeed made an impact. One of the recurring thoughts in the past few weeks has been that death is not just the end of a life, but also a moment to reveal a legacy. Many people around the world are taking this time to reflect and ask themselves: What will we be remembered for when our time comes?

To survive, animals have instinctive reactions to the weather, migrating birds being just one example. By knowing how game animals react in differing weather conditions can up a hunter’s chance of a successful kill.

Deer depend heavily on scent to protect themselves from predators. They usually respond to a strange scent by bugging out before hunters get close. Deer move into the wind to better pick up scents. To take advantage of this, a hunter must move and stay downwind of his prey. This can be determined by the old wet finger trick.

I never knew I had an Uncle Amos until I was eight years old.
Amos Mincey lived in what is now known as Black Fox Hollow (formerly known as the Thomas Holler). He was my father’s half-brother, one of six children born to my grandfather James Lafayette (“Pa”) Mincey and his first wife (I believe her name was Bessie Thomas).

Big congratulations to Mrs. Coffey, whose project “STEM for All” was recently awarded a $1,500 UCOR Education Mini-Grant. The funding will bring her innovative vision to life, giving students exciting hands-on learning opportunities.

There were two instances when I tried to stay awake as a child. The first was so I could catch Santa Claus leaving my present and filling my stocking with goodies. Since we didn’t have a chimney, I didn’t know how he got into our house. The other was so I could watch the Tooth Fairy exchanging my tooth for a quarter. I couldn’t understand how she could be small enough to fit under my pillow and yet be able to carry a quarter and all those teeth she had gathered.

As with many forms of health care, people will sometimes ask: If I’m feeling good, why do I need it? In terms of chiropractic treatment, one answer could be, “Are you feeling the best you could be?” Are you reaching maximum capacity?