Extension partnership brings new opportunity to Union County 4-H

Ann Ramsey, Union County's new TSU Extension agent.

The University of Tennessee Extension programs throughout Tennessee are put into place to provide "Real. Life. Solutions." for communities across the state. This concept is widely known and accepted across the county as our Extension agents are often seen working with youth, families, and farmers across the county.
Similarly, Tennessee State University has a Cooperative Extension Program to educate and provide information to limited resource urban and rural communities. Together, UT and TSU work closely to create a diverse number of opportunities for Tennesseans.

Local equestrian wins big at State 4-H Horse Show

Collette Russell shows off her string of awards from
the State 4-H Horse Show

After a string of strong storms and heavy rain across Middle Tennessee, the weather couldn't have been better to kick off the week-long 4-H State Horse Show held in June at the National Walking Horse Celebration Grounds in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Collette Russell traveled with her coaches, Leila and Sam Hilliard of Bull Run Ranch and Jeffery Oaks of Knoxville, and two horses, Darling and Dixie, to represent Union County 4-H at the big event.

Tractor Supply fundraiser helps send 4-H to summer camp

Union County 4-Her's get ready to head to Junior Camp in Greeneville, Tennessee

Union County 4-H was pleased to partner again this year with Tractor Supply for their annual Clover Sale, which helps youth raise money to pay for a week at summer camp at the Clyde Austin 4-H Center in Greeneville, Tennessee.

Summer Celebration July 13 at West TN ag center

Jason Reeves, curator of the UT Gardens, Jackson, gives an outdoor seminar at a previous Summer Celebration. July 13 marks the final annual Summer Celebration. The event will return as a biennial event in 2025. Photo courtesy UTIA.

Free event provides educational sessions, activities for all ages
JACKSON, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is hosting their highly anticipated Summer Celebration on Thursday, July 13, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center.
This event is free to attend and open to the public.

Center for Profitable Agriculture commemorating 25 years

The Center for Profitable Agriculture will commemorate 25 years of service to Tennessee farmers with a fall celebration event in Columbia. Photo courtesy UTIA.

Celebration scheduled for September 18
COLUMBIA, Tenn. – The Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA) will commemorate 25 years of service to Tennessee farmers with a fall celebration event in Columbia, Tennessee.
A partnership between the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, the CPA has worked hard for the past 25 years to help farmers analyze and develop value-added agriculture enterprises.

Paulette Beta Club goes National

Briar Smith placed 10th in the nation
with his woodworking project.

Paulette Beta Club members have secured their place in the National Competition.
For the past few months, National Beta members from Paulette have been working hard to prepare their entries for the National Beta Convention.
The club originally competed and received awards during the state convention held in November. Their victories at the state level provided an opportunity to compete at the national level.

4-H Clover Bowl teams compete at regional tournament

Maynardville Elementary School team Tealyn Graves, Presley Lay, Coty Webb, Scarlett Hughes and Natalie Yerdon

Two 4-H teams from Union County participated in the 2023 Eastern Region Clover Bowl that was held at the Alumni Memorial Building at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
One 4th grade team from Maynardville Elementary School and one 5th grade team from Big Ridge Elementary School earned their spots in the tournament-style competition by putting in hours of studying on topics relating to 4-H, the State of Tennessee, Agriculture, and Family and Consumer Sciences to become the top competitors within their individual 4-H clubs.

Ol' Brushy

Country Connections By James and Ellen Perry
It’s late March of 1962 and spring is breaking in upper East Tennessee. We have had a late snow in March of this year, but here in Union County our last snow has melted and grass is greening up.
Flowers are popping out, fishing in Norris Lake is great and life here is good.

Night of the Dying

By Robert Wyrick
Nothing is colder than a winter’s night from childhood and this was one of those nights from long ago that remains frozen in time and space. I couldn’t have been over four, for the old man’s tombstone reads nineteen thirty-eight and that would have me about that age. I was rolled in a blanket and draped over my father’s shoulder. Both arms held me tight as he walked at a brisk pace across the field toward a flickering light in the distance.

A church gone wild

The church at Corinth had a lot of problems! The Christian Bible doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is a prime example of the blunt truth, often detailed in the pages of the Bible.

The Best Marriage Counselors

I have a relative who married on April Fool’s Day. As a result of COVID, the wedding reception was held several months later on Friday the 13th. I thought, “What brave souls.”
I also thought, “From the way some people’s marriages have turned out, these dates would have been perfect omens of what was to come!”
A politician once said, “I believe love is the answer, but you should own a gun, just in case.”
The politician wasn’t talking about marriage, but you have, Dear Reader, heard of a “shotgun wedding.”
Did you ever hear of a “shotgun divorce”?

Fresh Tomato Relish

It is that time of year again when tomatoes are in season. This is not a sweet relish like chili sauce. It is more like a salsa. Freeze a batch for next winter. In a small saucepan over medium low heat, bring vinegar and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and cool completely. Meanwhile, in large bowl combine remaining ingredients. Add vinegar mixture and mix well. Spoon into pint or half pint canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch headroom. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 12 months. Makes 6 pints.

A Long Time Ago

I have been reading more Westerns since receiving large print books from the Tennessee Library for Accessible Books and Media. I have a special attachment to the late 1800s because of my father-in-law and my dad.
My husband’s father, Grover McMurtrie, was born in Pennsylvania in 1865, but didn't stay there. At five years of age, he walked behind his folks’ covered wagon to the Homer Flats in southern Michigan. That was the area between the present-day Battle Creek, Jackson and Eaton Rapids. It was not yet a settled place.

Cocoon In the Window

I don’t like to admit this, but when I was a little girl, I used to run over caterpillars that crawled into the carport with my tricycle. I thought they were nasty worms.
Then my mom told me those worms were special in that they were caterpillars that turned into butterflies. So, every time I killed one, I was actually killing a butterfly.
At first, I was horrified because I loved chasing butterflies. They were so beautiful and graceful as they flittered through the air. But, being the geek that I was (and still am) I wanted to know how the magical transformation happened.

Mountain Coffee

By Steve Roark
Volunteer, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Chicory was a popular wild plant back in early settlement days when it was used to make a coffee-like beverage. Its blue flowers are easy to spot right now growing along roadsides.
Close up, these dandelion-like flowers have fringed, flat tipped petals, which can sometimes be white or pink. The flower will usually close in the late afternoon or on overcast days. The leaves at the base of the plant also remind you of dandelion, being in the same family, and will bleed a milky sap when broken off.

An effective new treatment for chronic back pain targets the nervous system

For people challenged with chronic back pain, a new experimental treatment that focuses on retraining how the back and the brain communicate offers a clinically meaningful effect on pain intensity and a clinically meaningful effect on disability, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. People were happier, they reported their backs felt better and their quality of life was better. It also looks like these effects were sustained over the long term; Twice as many people were completely recovered.

Bowling Shock

Have you ever done something and not known that you did it? I’m talking no clue. Or maybe there was one.
Not many people know this, but my parents were talented bowlers. They not only bowled in a league, but their team won the championship one year. When I went to the bowling alley with them, I would bowl with the other kids. Most of them there were good bowlers. I bet you’re thinking: “I can see that since their parents bowl too.” Unfortunately, that didn’t apply to me. As we say around here: “I couldn’t bowl my way out of a paper bag.”

Accentuate, Eliminate, Tune In

Once again, the Fourth of July holiday hovers just over the horizon. Perhaps by the time you’ve read this, Dear Reader, it will already be past.
It was 247 years ago, after a tedious time of separation from the “Mother Country”, resulting in the Revolutionary War, that our great nation officially came into existence.
Time wreaks many changes. There was a time that the school day began with the reading of a selection from the Bible, prayer was said, and the pledge to the American flag was dutifully recited.

Snake Lore Dispelled

Snakes have fascinated and frightened people for centuries, which has led to some interesting stories about some of them. I did some research on some sayings about snakes I heard as a kid to see how they held up under the science of animal behavior. Here’s a rundown of what I found.

Tossed Tuna Salad

Most of us have a favorite Tuna Salad. Here is another one to add to your recipe box. It contains a few ingredients that you don't usually find in a tuna salad - bean sprouts and spinach. It is great that we can now buy fresh spinach in the produce aisle at the supermarket. You will find the canned bean sprouts in the canned vegetable aisle. Let's get started

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