Jacob is at it again! Selling pumpkins that is. He has a variety of pumpkins this year, including all the old favorites and has added a few new ones such as the yellow cushaw and many others.
Jacob is a senior at Union County High School where he studies with Mr. John Fugate and is his teacher’s assistant. Mr. Fugate has been a big influence on him by encouraging him to participate in the TVA Fair where he has won several ribbons. This year he took 17 first place ribbons in different categories, one being the tallest corn stalk at 15’7”. Jacob will also take place in the competition land judging on October 6.

TVA tests have gaps of years; NLPA will test year-round
By Helina Bailey
With over 800 miles of shoreline, Norris Lake is an Appalachian aquatic treasure trove. Nestled in our backyard, this beautiful lake breathes life into the region and attracts both weary travelers seeking to enjoy the great outdoors as well as locals. Anglers, boaters and vacationers flock to the water during the summer, but locals can be spotted all year long.

Local educator selected to statewide consulting body to help determine the best resources to combat learning loss in students
Dr. Lauren Effler, Union County Schools K-12 Curriculum & Instruction Supervisor and Pre-K Director, has been named to Governor's Early Literacy Foundation's (GELF) 2022-2023 Executive Council, a group of 28 educators from rural, urban, and suburban communities across Tennessee who will help GELF determine the resources to best meet the needs of students statewide.

This year our County Farm Bureau Board, Farm Bureau Women, and the new agents and staff have been busy in the Union County. The Farm Bureau has always been more than ready to help out the community and support positive projects and there is much opportunity. Through community outreach, our local Farm Bureau is doing its best to promote the importance of agriculture as well as support other needs when possible.

Submitted by Sharon Hansard, Big Ridge FCE Reporter
The Big Ridge FCE Club of Union County had an eventful month in September. To kick off the month, a regular meeting was held to elect officers. Congrats and thank you to those who are serving to keep the club doing great work in our community.
In September, members also attended “FCE Day at Tennessee Valley Fair” where they got to reconnect with members across the region. Neal Denton spoke all about beef. Members learned a lot and even won a few prizes in the trivia contest!

Follow your heart and bake a pie to enter the Union County Heritage Festival Pie Baking Contest. On Friday, September 30, take that pie to the Farmers Market Pavilion from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Red cabbage is so pretty resting there in the produce counter next to its green cousin. I had never found a satisfying recipe for red cabbage until recently. The flavor is different from that of the green variety so it needs to be prepared differently. Try this.

My dad was born in 1942 and although electricity was starting to be available, he grew up without electricity or running water.
When I asked my dad about that kind of life he reminded me that even though he grew up poor without much in East Tennessee, so did every other family he could remember. He did not realize the struggle that his mom must have had to endure at the time because everyone lived the same way. His mom raised nine kids in a tiny home without any of the modern conveniences that we require today.

We all have memories of unusual things. Well, I remember when you could buy gasoline cheap, really cheap. That was back in 1940, before the, War, a long time ago. Don't believe me? I have a picture to prove it. Mother took a picture of goats pulling some sort of contraption. Dad was standing off to the left side in the picture. A gas station sign happened to be caught on camera on the right side.. There it is: anti-knock for 14 cents per gallon and ethyl for a penny more at 15 cents per gallon. So for a penny more, you got a better grade.

Fall is a great time to plant trees, as it allows the tree roots to settle in and get established during the dormant season, making it better prepared for the Spring growth spurt and summer heat. You can plant even in early winter as long as the soil is not frozen. Here are some tree planting guidelines:

Muster up a bit of competitive spirit or follow your nostalgic heart for some good ole memories of pumpkins, pies and pictures. The 18th Union County Heritage Festival has a contest for everyone.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — State Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, and State Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, today announced $36.8 million has been awarded in broadband expansion grants that include Anderson, Campbell and Union counties. The funds were made available through a portion of Tennessee’s American Rescue Plan funding from the federal government.

It’s Medicare renewal time again. The season starts in October and ends December 7th. That is not soon enough for me. I am satisfied with my Humana HMO coverage. I don’t want to change, thank you. I refuse to be lured with “possible” savings. I might get $144 back on my Social Security monthly check, they say. One company even suggested I “might” save as much as $1,500 in a year. That’s less than $144 per month. I need to call right now, they insist. Poppycock!

While hiking in the woods you may stumble across a tree with a gnarly, wartlike bulge growing on the trunk or upper branch. These are called burls, and while not particularly pretty on the outside, the inner grain is gorgeous for woodworkers to create some beautiful work.

In order to beautify Maynardville and all of Union County for the Heritage Festival, there will be a Business Front Decoration contest. In years past, the decorations required a hay bale. However, in order to be more inclusive, the contest requirements have changed. Now, any decoration for any business, organization, church, or individual will qualify to enter the contest. As Heritage Festival attendees arrive, lets greet them with festive decorations. The theme for the 2022 Heritage Festival is “Follow your heart.” Union County is known for its artist talent and creativity.

UT Extension and TN Dept. of Forestry is hosting a Free forestry Educational Field Day in Chuck Swan on Saturday Sept. 24th
Private forest landowners and professional foresters are cordially invited to attend the Tennessee Healthy Hardwoods (THH) forestry field day. The 2022 theme is “Cost Share Practices.” The partners of these educational sessions are providing the events at no cost to participants. The agenda at each event will generally be as follows:

Have you ever heard a noise you couldn’t explain? This happened to me many years at one of my previous jobs. I didn’t think anything about it until one of my coworkers yelled at me.
The office I worked in at this time was always cold. It was that way even in the summer time. Often, the customers who came into the office would complain: “You all hanging meat in here somewhere?”

You have no doubt enjoyed trees displaying a red canopy during the fall color blitz, which are likely as not red maples. The tree comes by its name honest, as there’s something red about it all year long. In spring they bloom red flowers, in early summer you’ll see the red of ripening seeds, and all summer long the leaf stem will show red. Come autumn, much of the brilliant reds in the mountains are from red maples. In winter the end twigs and buds are also red.

The Union County Board of Education has decided to meet at various schools for many of the 2022-2023 meetings. In August, the board met at Luttrell Elementary School.
It was a fitting venue to pay tribute to the outgoing board member of Plainview, Gerald Smith. Dr. Jimmy Carter, Director of Schools, thanked Smith for his 20 years of service and acknowledged his effort at Luttrell Elementary where he was also a parent volunteer for many years, especially when his daughter was a student.

The 2022 Heritage Festival Collectible Print, titled Follow Your Heart, the latest in the series from Union County artist Betty Bullen, acknowledges the barn and its important role in rural Appalachia.
Much of life in the country had its birth in the barn. It was the place where not only the farm animal work was done, but also the location where many a heart felt the spark of love at the local barn dance.

Congratulations and a job well done to our own Union County 4-H Outdoor Meat Cookery Team. There were 140 youth participants (16 teams) across the state that came together to show off their food and fire safety and grilling techniques at the Appalachian Fair in Gray, Tennessee, on Saturday August 27. Seven of our 4-H members participated in this event. These young men and women made Union County proud. Our Senior High Team placed fourth overall in this contest.

The Luttrell Music Festival (in Luttrell) will both be held on Saturday, September 24.
Luttrell Music Festival promises to be the best yet with a lineup of some of East Tennessee’s favorite bands and musicians including singer/songwriter Robinella, David West and the Ciderville Gang, The Beasons, Jason Coleman, Meagan Taylor (who is Chet Atkins’ niece and the old-time flavored Knox County Jug Stompers.
The Grainger County Ridgerunners will hold a cruise-in on the grounds.
The music kicks off at 3 p.m., and there will be plenty of fun for kids and adults.

The use of smartphones, tablets and laptops has become commonplace throughout the world and has been especially prevalent among college students. recent studies have found that college students accumulate higher levels of screen time, and they utilize multiple devices at higher rates compared to previous generations.

Life in Union County has dramatically changed for most families in the last 100 years.
In my last article I explained how the Tennessee Valley Authority started to provide electricity to the people in the area. At the time a lot of this electricity would be generated from the power of the Clinch River.