Quinton Smith

Quintin: 1954-2024  Vicki: 1954

Married: 1975

Children: Jamie & Daren Nicholson, Sonya & Matthew Wright,

Robbie & Heath Springer, Callie & Kyle Hayner

Grandchildren: Josie & Roland Springer,

Spencer, Reagan, & Ella Wright,

Lily & Quinn Hayner

Quintin and Vicki met at MTSU in the Fall of 1974 at an AGR Fraternity party.  It was not quite love at first sight, as Quintin brought another woman to their first date, but after tasting Vicki’s home cooking he knew she was the one.  The two began their married life in March of 1975 with their first daughter, Jamie born in 1976. Sonya and Robbie were soon to follow.   It would take another nine years for Callie to make her appearance into the world.

James Quintin Smith was born in Lebanon, Tennessee to James Ray and Dorothy Jean Hankins Smith.  He was the oldest of four boys.  Quintin, along with Dintin, Lanas, and Allen grew up on the family farm on Cainsville Road where his mother still resides.  They raised cattle, tobacco, and corn.  He attended Shop Springs School and Lebanon High School where he was on the Wilson County 4-H Livestock Judging Team which competed in Chicago at the International Livestock Expo.  After graduating high school, Quintin attended Cumberland College, (now Cumberland University), then transferred to MTSU where he received his B.S. with a double major in Animal Science and Plant and Soil Science.  While at MTSU he was active in the Block and Bridle Club, AGR, and a member of the MTSU livestock judging team where he received several high individual awards.

Vicki Kay Walker was born to W.C. and Robbie Hardin Walker in Lincoln County, Tennessee.  She was the youngest of four siblings.  She grew up on the family cotton farm in Elora where schools were closed for "Cotton Pickin Vacations," these were the days before fancy mechanical pickers.   Vicki attended Elora elementary school and Central High School in Fayetteville.  She began college at MTSU in the fall of ’72.  She graduated with a B.S. in Sociology and minors in Agricultural and History.  Vicki was one of the first 30 women to participate in the Army ROTC program at MTSU, marching, repelling, and shooting rifles.

They attended Bethel Church of Christ where Vicki taught Sunday School and was a teacher with the World Bible School Correspondence program.  Both Quintin and Vicki were members of the Lebanon Jaycees chairing various projects such as the annual Christmas Shopping Trip for underprivileged children.  Vicki chaired the Muscular Dystrophy Marathon Committee and was also chairman of the Lebanon Democrat Classic Charity Horse Show.  Quintin served on the MTEMC nominating committee, the Farm Bureau, and as Chairman of the Junior Show at Agribition.  Quintin was a charter member of the Wilson County Ag Management Committee and served on the board until he took over as the James E. Ward Agricultural Center’s director in 2017.

Farming had always been a family affair for both Quintin and Vicki growing up and that is how they raised their daughters. Vicki thought cotton farming was hard work until she started tobacco farming with Quintin.  Together with the girls and lots of good friends help, they continued to raise tobacco with the final crop harvested in 2000.   Angus cattle was Quintin’s passion and he shared his love with Vicki and passed this down to their daughters.  Quintin began showing Angus heifers in 1968 with his brothers and continued this tradition with his grandchildren, picking out show heifers for them until his final breath.

Quintin and Vicki were also partners with Charles and Elaine Bell starting in 1978 and had an annual production sale for over 20 years. During that time, they bred the Angus Show Bull of the Year and one of the top A.I. sires in the country.

The Smith girls showed two Bred and Owned Reserve Grand Champion Heifers and three Grand Champion Cow Calf Pairs at the NJAS, three Roll of Victory Cow/Calf Pairs and two Reserve Champion Roll of Victory Cow/Calf Pairs, just to name a few.  Quintin knew and bred good cattle and was never shy about giving his opinion.  There is a long list of cattle shows Quintin judged from the biggest shows in the country and Canada; to little county fairs and 4-H shows, including a chicken show when a judge wasn’t able to make it.  He loved them all, especially working with the juniors.  There is a list of juniors from across the country who interned at the Smith Farm, becoming a part of the extended family and continuing a tradition for the love of agriculture.

4 Children: Jamie, Sonya, Robbie, and Callie

Quintin and Vicki met at MTSU in the Fall of 1974 at an AGR Fraternity party. It was not quite love at first sight, as Quintin brought another woman to their first date, but after tasting Vicki’s home cooking he knew she was the one. The two began their married life in March of 1975 with their first daughter, Jamie, born in 1976. Sonya and Robbie were soon to follow. It would take another nine years for Callie to make her appearance into the world. James Quintin Smith was born in Lebanon, Tennessee to James Ray and Dorothy Jean Hankins Smith. He was the oldest of four boys. Quintin, along with Dintin, Lanas, and Allen grew up on the family farm on Cainsville Road where his mother still resides. They raised cattle, tobacco, and corn. He attended Shop Springs School and Lebanon High School where he was on the Wilson County 4-H Livestock Judging Team which competed in Chicago at the International Livestock Expo. After graduating high school, Quintin attended Cumberland College, then transferred to MTSU where he received his B.S. with a double major in Animal Science and Plant and Soil Science. While at MTSU he was active in the Block and Bridle Club, Apha Gamma Rho Fraternity and a member of the MTSU livestock judging team where he received several high individual awards. Vicki Kay Walker was born to W.C. and Robbie Hardin Walker in Lincoln County, Tennessee. She was the youngest of four siblings. She grew up on the family cotton farm in Elora where schools were closed for "Cotton Pickin Vacations," these were the days before fancy mechanical pickers. Vicki attended Elora elementary school and Central High School in Fayetteville. She began college at MTSU in the fall of ’72. She graduated with a B.S. in Sociology and minors in Agriculture and History. Vicki was one of the first 30 women to participate in the Army ROTC program at MTSU, marching, repelling, and shooting rifles. They attended Bethel Church of Christ where Vicki taught Sunday School and was a teacher with the World Bible School Correspondence program. Both Quintin and Vicki were members of the Lebanon Jaycees chairing various projects such as the annual Christmas Shopping Trip for underprivileged children. Quintin served on the MTEMC nominating committee, the Farm Bureau, and as Chairman of the Junior Show at Agribition. Quintin was a charter member of the Wilson County Ag Management Committee and served on the board until he took over as the James E. Ward Agricultural Center’s director in 2017.

1918 – 1996

Married: Sara Dotson

Children: Ginny Perdue, Ed Stanford

5 Grandchildren and 4 Great Grand Children

Harold Edwin Stanford was born to parents, R.D. and Myrtle Meredith Stanford, on November 23, 1918 in Oklahoma City, but his family moved to Donelson, Tennessee in 1919 when he was just 6 months old. He grew up in the ante-bellum home "Bellair" on Lebanon Road with siblings, R.D. Jr. and Myrtle. His favorite time as a boy was spent on the family farm, where his father had Hereford and Angus cattle. He graduated from Donelson Elementary and High School. Later he graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1940 and then enlisted in the United States Navy.

In 1947 Harold began Stanford Farms where he established a herd of registered Aberdeen Angus. In 1959 he moved to Wilson County and bought a farm on Big Springs Road, where he actively farmed until the dispersal sale in 1991.

Stanford Farms showed the Supreme Champion Bull at the 1962 American Angus Futurity and the Grand Champion Supreme Champion Bull in the 1966 American Angus Futurity. However it was it 1972 when the first Chianina/Angus cross calves were born on his farm that Mr. Stanford began his work as one of the founding breeders of the Chiangus breed. Stanford Farms is assigned the 96th member number of the American Chianina Association. Mr. Stanford believed intensely that Chianina genetics should be used on his excellent registered Angus herd. He has been described as a visionary breeder, pioneer and the ultimate cow man. Mr. Stanford was not one to follow fads in the cattle business. Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s when bigger was supposedly better, purebred breeders of all breeds could not get their cattle big enough, fast enough. He was breeding the same type of cattle when he dispersed his herd in 1991 as he was 19 years before. He never wavered from the kind of cattle hat he liked and belief that the cattle industry would eventually return back to his kind of cattle. Mr. Stanford developed the most valuable maternal genetic line in the Chiangus breed, but his most enduring legacy is the genuine and sincere interest in giving advice to younger Chiangus breeders. When he dispersed his herd in 1991, he had two aged Angus cows that were 17 years old. He didn’t have the heart to send them to the sale barn, so he gave the cows to young Chiangus breeder, Tyler Winegardner. Several popular show animals are a direct result of that generous gift.

1950 - 2021

Married: Emmie Lou

2 Children: Connie Jo Steed Massey, Donald Nelson Steed

Nelson Steed was a cherished figure, remembered fondly as a devoted father, grandfather, Christian, businessman, and agriculturalist. His roots lay in Shop Springs, where he began life in a sharecropper family, a testament to his humble beginnings. His family moved several times before settling in LaGuardo, off Cairo Bend, during his freshman year of high school. It was here
that Buck Evans, an agriculture teacher, became a significant influence on him, instilling a deep love for farming. Nelson was industrious from a young age, always finding ways to cultivate whatever crops could bring in some income. After graduating from Lebanon High School, Nelson married Emmie Lou, then enlisted in the National Guard. Together, they moved to the Grave-Wright farm, a property that had been in Emmie Lou’s family. This move marked the beginning of Nelson’s venture into the construction business, where he specialized in building custom homes. Despite his burgeoning career in construction, Nelson never strayed far from his agricultural roots, engaging in truck farming. He and Emmie Lou had two children (Connie Jo Massey & Donnie Steed), and together, they started a venture in raising hogs, managing to balance the demands of business with the responsibilities of raising a family on the farm. In the 1970s, Nelson became a charter member of the Wilson County Promotion, initially established to host an agricultural fair. His involvement was instrumental, serving as vice president for over thirty years and playing a pivotal role in transforming the Wilson County Fair into the celebrated event it is today. Nelson’s career took another significant turn when he entered the banking industry, eventually becoming the chairman of Cedar Stone Bank. In this capacity, he was a staunch advocate for farmers, recognizing the importance of supporting their needs in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape. Upon retiring, Nelson, with the support of his family, expanded his farming operation significantly. His efforts culminated in the development of a USDA meat processing facility, marking another milestone in his remarkable career. Nelson’s legacy lives on through his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, who continue to operate the farm and uphold the values he cherished.

Terry Thomas Thompson was born in Wilson County to William Dean and Mildred Neal Thompson. He grew up with brother, William Dean Thompson, Jr. on the family farm on Central Pike in the Bairds Mill Community. The Thompson farm was home to a dairy operation, Suffolk Sheep and Duroc hogs along with crops of tobacco and hay. Terry attended Major and Flatt Rock Elementary Schools and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1970. He was active in the FFA serving as an officer and earned his State and American FFA Farmer Degrees. He was also recognized as Star Farmer of Middle Tennessee during his senior year.

Terry then attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville graduating with a Bachelor of Science for Dairy Science and Production in 1974. His summers were devoted in helping William Dean and wife, Nelda on the dairy farm. In 1975, Terry married Nell Scott and began working for Brown Milling Company of Gallatin as an outside salesman in Wilson and Sumner Counties. He also was raising beef cattle and harvesting hay, gardening and growing fresh corn for the farmers market. In 1976 Terry was hired by the Wilson County School Board of Education to be the new Vocational Agriculture teacher at Watertown High School. Terry says the worst headache he ever had was his first day of teaching, but things did get better. He feels that he was blessed throughout the years to have good students which included students from farms and students who lived in town. Students, parents, grandparents, and the community were always supportive of the FFA chapter and its activities. Teaching and mentoring students are a source of great enjoyment when they grow and become successful at all levels of life.

One of Terry’s passions is the love of the land and raising livestock. He and his family raised and sold produce at the farmers market for 35 years. He gives A.C. Hill the credit for getting him interested in growing sweet corn and tomatoes. Terry, Nell, and their family have worked very hard raising tobacco, sows, feeder pigs, beef calves and 25 acres of corn. Now they raise feeder calves, a family garden, and make homemade country sausage. Their favorite activity is watching the grandchildren grow. Terry humbly acknowledges that his 40-year successful teaching and administration career at Watertown High School was due to his principal and mentor, John D. Johnson, and principals Rick Martin and Jeff Luttrell and all the faculty members that supported Agricultural Education and FFA.

William Dean Thompson, Jr.
March 2, 1944 – June 4, 1998

Nelda McDonald Thompson
July 9, 1945

Children: Chris Thompson, Melissa Gilmore, Courtney Carter

5 Grandchildren, 1 Great Granddaughter

William Dean Thompson was born in the Bairds Mill community in 1944 to William Dean Sr. and Mildred Neal Thompson on the farm where Nelda still lives today. Nelda Ann Thompson was born on Grandpa McDonald’s Farm on Gilmore Hill Road in 1945 to J.A. and Louise Tripp McDonald. At age 5, Nelda moved to Beasley’s Bend where she helped her mother on the farm by milking the cows and helping in the garden.

William Dean’s father died in 1961 leaving he at age 17 and his brother, Terry age 9, to keep the farm going. He was a junior at Lebanon High School. Raising tobacco, Suffolk sheep, hogs, beef cows and milking before and after he went to school, he graduated in 1963 to begin farming full time. After graduation he worked with Mr. Berry and Mr. Goodall, soil conservationist for a short time, while building a dairy barn and milking.

In 1966 he married Nelda McDonald who was raised on a farm - she fit right in. She worked at Lebanon Bank for 4 years until the first child, Chris, was born in 1970. She then stayed home to raise the family. Melissa was born in 1972 and Courtney in 1974. Nelda placed a playpen in the barn to watch the children as she milked cows everyday. These children were literally raised in the barn.

Thompson Dairy has always been a family affair. A new dairy barn was built in the early 70’s along with a silo and free-stall barn. Crops of hay and silage were also grown on the farm. They also grew tobacco for many see that years. Nelda and the girls would rather milk cows any day!

Everyone in the family had jobs to do: William Dean and Chris mainly did crops – chopping silage, hay, feeding the herd on the 146 acres; Melissa and Courtney were feeding bottles, cleaning stalls and helped with the milking; Nelda was the homemaker, the accountant but she was the milkmaid most of the time.

William Dean and the children all took Artificial Insemination courses at Select Sires in Franklin, TN. Melissa and Courtney were the youngest girls to take the class at the age of 15. A top producing herd was built based off of this knowledge. Melissa’s love for registered Holsteins won her many awards for top producing cows. She carries her love on today by showing Holsteins at county fairs, state and national expos and passing this tradition along to her girls.

William Dean received the Agricultural Accomplishment Award in 1962. In 1969, he received the Outstanding Young Farmer from the Jaycees. In 1980, he received the Wilson County Outstanding Conservation Farmer. In 1985, he received the Wilson County Top Alfalfa Hay Producer. Multiple years they were recognized by DHIA with the Top Dairy Herd. Wm Dean was a deacon at Adams Grove Church of Christ. He was a board member of the following: Select Sires; Wilson Farmers Co-op; Wilson County Fair Board (William Dean and Nelda). He was a member of th e Holstein Association of America and Wilson County DHIA (William Dean served as President).

Nelda retired from Wilson County Schools in 2014 after 14 years as a special education assistant. She still attends Adams Grove Church.

The love of the farm and agriculture continues today with all three children continuing to be involved in agriculture. Chris all beef herd cow-calf operation and raises hay on both farms. Melissa and her family have beef cattle and produce hay. Courtney and her family continue to farm and have a beef cattle herd. All 3 children graduated from MTSU with agriculture degrees.

As you can see, the entire family is still involved in agriculture and hopes to continue. There is no better life!

Feb. 24, 1948

Married: Anne Buhler

Daughter: Lisa Anne Tomlinson

David Means Tomlinson was born on February 24, 1948, in Lebanon, to Frank and Nettie (Lemons) Tomlinson. He was born a 7th generation Wilson Countian, and farming was his family’s business. On December 21, 1955, he moved from his grandparents' Beasley’s Bend farm along with his parents to their newly purchased farm located off Hartsville Pike. Tomlinson has resided on the farm, now known as Tomlinson Place, for almost 60 years, and has lived intermittently in one of two houses located on the property ever since. He began farming at age ten, and raised sheep, sows, and chickens. He had his first half-acre tobacco crop at age thirteen. He was an active participant in 4H and FFA. He was educated in the Wilson County School System, and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1966.

Tomlinson married Anne Buehler, of Carlyle, Illinois, on April 20, 1968, and reported for basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky on June 3, 1968. He served as a door gunner and first echelon crew engineer of the Bell UH1H helicopter flight line at Vihn Long Airbase, Vihn Long, Vietnam from November, 1968 until November, 1969. He served with meritorious distinction in the United States Army Air Calvary and flew approximately 700 combat flight hours. After returning stateside, he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas from November, 1969 until April 3, 1970, but was granted a two-month agricultural deferment, to return home to plant more than one hundred acres of crops for the 1970 season.

In 1973, he was honored by the Wilson County Jaycees as Outstanding Young Farmer. During the 1970's, Tomlinson served eight years on the Wilson County Farmer's Co-op board of directors, and "seconded" the motion to build the current Co-op building at its 107 Babb Drive location. In his last years on the board, Tomlinson served as vice president, and then president pro tem. He also served as a director for the Wilson County Farm Bureau, and was an active member of the Wilson County and Tennessee Cattleman's Association. During his farming career, Tomlinson was a producer of beef cattle, hay, corn, soybeans, and tobacco. He and his beloved wife, Anne, will soon celebrate 49 years of marriage, and they have one daughter, Lisa Anne Tomlinson. He continues to raise hay and cattle, and is an active member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Blackhawk Vietnam Veteran's Association, and he is an avid sporting clays shooter.

June 1907 - August 1989

Married: Ruth Swain of Gladeville, October 29, 1927

Daughter: Edna T. Word

Grandchildren: Stanley and Stacey Word

Great grandchildren: Montana and Bode Word

Aubrey Towns was the oldest son of Daniel and Callie Towns and siblings Earle and Sarah of Gladeville. They grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Gladeville raising a vegetable garden. He attended Gladeville School which was 1st grade through high school. He was a member of the Gladeville Baptist Church. He was a member of the Wilson County Farm Bureau, Wilson County Livestock Assoc. and Wilson County Co-op.

After he married Ruth in 1927, he opened a barber shop on the crossroads in middle of Gladeville. After his daughter, Edna, was old enough at the beginning of World War II, he purchased the old bank building down to the corner and built a feed store on the corner of Gladeville Road and Stewarts Ferry. He would cut hair on weekends and worked at Vultee Aircraft Manufacturing during the weekdays during World War II. They also had a farm on Central Pike during this time. They lived in the old bank building with a grocery store downstairs, barber shop next door and a feed store on the corner lot. Ruth operated the store. He would pick up feed to sell to farmers in the Gladeville area after he got off work. He would always ask local farmers what type of feed they needed to make sure it was available at his store. They bought another farm property located on Stewarts Ferry in 1950. He sold the farm on Central Pike.

He joined the National Poland China Association in 1950 and the National Polled Hereford Association in 1952. He showed hogs and cattle during the early 1950’s. He had a prize-winning Poland China sow in 1954. His passion grew for building his stock of Polled Hereford cattle.

While still running a barber shop and store up till late 1950’s, he sold the farm on Stewarts Ferry and purchased another large farm property located 3 ½ miles up the road from their current property in 1960. This is when he started focusing in on building his Polled Hereford cattle herd. He began traveling around going to sales and selecting top breeding animals to build his herd. He wanted to be able to provide good breeding stock to local farmers in Wilson and surrounding counties.

In 1974, he had the opportunity to travel on the Leadership Advanced Tour that visited several large farms and farm cooperatives in different states that was sponsored by Tennessee Farmers Coop. From this tour, he gained knowledge of new methods and technology used with growing of crops, hay, and livestock. When he returned home, his hay fields were re-seeded with different grasses and a different regiment was used in feeding weaned calves to obtain better weight yields.

In the 1970’s, he got his 2 grandsons involved in showing cattle through 4-H and FFA shows and fairs. This provided a greater opportunity for him to show off the type of breeding stock he was producing on the Towns farm. Several Champion prizes were won by his heifers and bulls shown at these events. More people began to travel to the farm to purchase breeding stock, mainly bulls, from all over middle Tennessee and Kentucky. He believed it took hard work and a desire to achieve your dreams. He even let Fred Laine bring small groups of FFA members out to the farm to train them on judging beef cattle for the state fair competition.

He served as a county commissioner for 8 years in 1970’s representing the Gladeville area. He served on the Tax Rate and Budget Committee during this time. He became very interested in seeing a building built on the new fair grounds for showing livestock and becoming an attraction for cattle association shows.

August 24, 1932

Married: Alice C. Moss

Children: Andy & Angela

5 Grandchildren

John R. Trice was born August 24, 1932 on his family farm on Trice Road in Wilson County which is a certified Century Farm. He was raised in a Christian family by his parents, Henry and Era. They taught him to be honest and truthful, to value his integrity and to never be a stranger to hard work.

Johnny walked to and from Oakland Elementary School each day. At that time the school had two rooms with 8 grades and 2 teachers. Summers meant going with his Daddy to run their thrasher. They traveled the community thrashing wheat, oats and barley for neighbors who paid with part of the grain.

Jim Ward was the 4-H leader and Johnny participated in the 4-H clubs where he remembers showing steers on the Public Square in Lebanon. He attended Lebanon High School, now the current Criminal Justice Center, where he graduated in 1950. While there he was active in FFA for four years under the guidance of Mr. Buck Evans. He served as an officer, and went on to earn his American Farmer Degree in 1953. In 1993 he received an award for Outstanding Service to 4-H.

After high school, Johnny went back to farming with his father. He loved farming, but realized that another occupation would allow him to make more money to help support his farming interests. For the next 19 years he worked for Bland Motors selling Massy Ferguson tractors and equipment. This allowed him to meet and work with other farmers of Wilson and surrounding counties. In 1973, he established Trice Bookkeeping and in 1993 he founded Trice Appraisals where he still goes to work every day.

Johnny married Alice Conatser Moss of Mt. Juliet on November 11, 1955. They purchased the Neal Farm on Coles Ferry Pike where they built the house in 1965 where they still live. Johnny and Alice have two children, Andy and Angela, and grandchildren Lauren, Lexie, Ryan, Allison, and Jonathan.

Johnny enjoys being involved in all aspects of community life. He helped organize Young Farmers and Homemakers and served as President. He also served as president of the Wilson County Livestock Association and as a Director of the Wilson County Farm Bureau. Johnny has been on the board of the Wilson County Farmers Co-op for 21 years.

Johnny was concerned when the old fairgrounds sold that there was no place for young people to showcase their livestock. He was instrumental in encouraging the County Court to purchase the current James E. Ward Agricultural Center. He went on to help organize Wilson County Promotions, sponsors of the Wilson County Fair and served as the first President.

Some of his civic interests led him to serve on the Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Board, Wilson County Industrial Board and the Wilson County Water Authority Board.

He was instrumental in organizing the Peoples Bank in May 1967. He also helped establish Wilson Bank and Trust where he served on the board for several years.

Johnny and Alice attend College Hills Church of Christ where he serves on the finance committee.

In addition to Trice Appraisals, Johnny operates Alanjohn Farm which consists of 400 acres. His beef cow/calf operation boasts 80 cows. Soon you will find him cutting and rolling his own hay and enjoying every minute on the farm.

1921 - 1975

Married: Betty Patton

3 Children

8 Grandchildren

7 Great-Grandchildren

Troy Vanatta was born in 1921 on a farm in the Mahone Community near Watertown. He had an identical twin brother, Roy Vanatta. Troy was raised on the family dairy farm
where they milked cows, raised tobacco, corn and other similar crops. He attended Watertown High School where he graduated with honors in 1940. He was drafted in July 1942 during World War II and when the war ended he returned home to help his parents on the family farm.

In 1951 he started working as a technician for the Tennessee Artificial Breeding Association with office's and bull stud located i n Brentwood, TN. His area of service was Wilson and DeKalb Counties. In 1968 he was elected to the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the Bull Committee of the Central Association of the Tennessee Artificial Breeding Association. In the late 60's Select Sire's bought the Tennessee Artificial Breeding Association and their operations in Brentwood and Troy continued as one of their top technicians. For many years he served on the Wilson County Fair Board, usually in charge of the dairy section at the fair. He and Roy where also part owners of the fair in the late 60's.

He was a member and Deacon of First Baptist church in Alexandria. He served over 30 years as their song leader. He was Chairman of the Building Committee, and was instrumental in planning a new church building, that was built six months after his death in 1975. He married Betty Patton of Watertown in 1947 and they had three daughters. Wanda Vanatta Craig, Gay Vanatta, Amy Vanatta Buckner, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

1907

Married: Ruth Hudgins

Children: Jim Hudgins Ward, Rosalyn Ruth Ward, Sarah Jane Ward Jaeger

Mr. Ward, was reared in Bedford County and graduated from Middle Tennesse State College in 1930. Did graduate work at the University of Arkansas and University of Tennessee. After graduation he taught math in Coffee County until 1936 when he became the Agricultural Extension Agent in Wilson County. During his career he helped establish the Wilson County Soil Conservation District (1942), the Wilson County Purebred Hereford Association (1936), The Purebred Sheep Producers Association (1941), the Rural Electrification Program and the Artificial Breeders Association.

Mr. Ward implemented improved farming methods over the county and was instrumental in expanding the beef, sheep, hog and poultry industries. He established Community Improvement Clubs throughout the county which raised the standard of living for many in Wilson County. He was a member of the Lebanon Rotary, Sportsmen Club, and director of the Chamber of the Commerce. He received the Distinguished Service Award for County Agent and represented the 46th District as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

The James E. Ward Agricultural Center is named in his honor.

December 17, 1896 – February 10, 1964

Wife: Tressa

Children: Henry Dean, Margaret Brown Reed, Kathleen Lindsley Sewell, David Anderson

Mr. Waters was born on a farm in the Greenwood community of Wilson county. He was the sixth of nine children born to Edgar and Kate Lindsley Waters. Greenwood Farm, as it was known, was given to Henry’s great, great - grandfather as a Revolutionary War Land Grant in the 1790’s.

Henry was instrumental in establishing the dairy industry not only in Wilson County, but throughout the state and nation. He was one of the pioneer Jersey breeders, and imported the foundation of his registered herd from the Isle of Jersey. Through his efforts great progress was made in the dairy industry which led to the sale of milk becoming the county’s leading income producing industry.

He was President of the Tennessee Jersey Breeders Association and a director of the American Jersey Cattle Club. He was a charter member of the Wilson County Farm Bureau and served in several official positions. He was a director of the Middle Tennessee Production Credit Association and a member of the original Wilson County committee of the Farmers’ Home Administration and served as the chairman of the county Agricultural Extension Service committee.

In 1918 he organized the Wilson County Dairy Improvement Association for which he served as secretary-treasurer for many years. During this time, Wilson was the only county south of the Mason-Dixon line that could furnish the U.S. Department of Agriculture complete records on sires, dams, and daughters. He was baptized in Spring Creek and was an elder at Bethel Church of Christ.

In 1932 the Waters family had the highest testing Jersey herd in America regardless of the size of the herd. For twelve years the herd was the highest producing of its size. Henry and his wife, Tressa, were ambassadors for the Jersey breed. They spoke at local, state and national forums on the importance of the dairy industry. Their Jersey cows and bulls were successful in the show ring and provided the basis for many other herds. Tressa was named one of 50 leading rural club workers in the nation in 1940. Perhaps their favorite community work involved 4-H and FFA students. They were great supporters of these organizations and donated breeding stock for these young people to raise and show. From 1922 to 1934 Henry served a junior dairy leader for Wilson County. Most of this time there was no county agent. In 1929 his group of young dairymen won first place in the National Dairy Show.

In 1919 under his leadership the county 4-H group won first place in the State Fair Production Show and the National Dairy Show. It is likely that he helped more Wilson County farmers get started in the dairy business with assistance in many ways, than any other individual.

1913 - 2003

Married: Mary Alice Seay, 1939

Children: Mary Davis, Ruth Wharton, AC Wharton Jr., Kenneth Wharton, Velma Lowe

9 Grandchildren and 7 Great-Grandchildren

A.C. Wharton was born July 22,1913 in rural Wilson County as the eldest son of Jim Wharton and Estella Hearn Wharton .There were nine siblings for whom he served as surrogate father after his father passed at an early age. His father was a sharecropper or tenant farmer which meant that as a young boy he had to assume the responsibility of providing for the family. He often commented on how this affected his opportunity to attend school on a regular basis.

AC married his loving and caring wife, Mary Alice Seay on April 22 ,1939 on the Public Square in front of General Hatton. They lived on the Johnny Smith farm in the Spring Creek area in a two room cabin with a leaky roof. They were blessed with the birth of two daughters, Mary and Ruth while living there. AC possessed an overwhelming desire to provide better living conditions and educational opportunities for his family so he began looking for work in Lebanon. Later, AC bought a farm in Linwood and raised sheep and calves and Mary served as midwife during the birthing of new animals. Agriculture was always a family affair for the Wharton’s in that there were always feedings, pickings of produce, herding calves and hogs from one place to another etc.. His last farming purchase was only one half mile from his home where he raised calves and hogs and a large garden. He had a pond stocked with fish and had an old tractor seat mounted so that he could sit, think and fish. AC was one of the first to raise Duroc hogs which were considered one of the best breed of hogs.

Mr. and Mrs. Wharton were actively involved as members of the Market Street Church of Christ and demonstrated their Christianity by always taking care of the less fortunate regardless of their need. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Wilson County Civic League, McFarland Hospital Board of Trustees, Lebanon Housing Authority and the Emergency Communications 911 Board. Although AC did not have a formal education he was a master of human relations and admired by all who knew him. The success of his five children brought him so much joy in that they graduated from universities and have successful careers.

1930 - September 11, 2012

Married: Dorothy Roach Willoughby

Children: Al & Don Willoughby

2 Grandchildren

Charles Willoughby was the second of five sons born to A.H. and Edna Willoughby of Morristown, Tennessee. He was raised on the family farm and began milking cows at age fifteen as part of the family’s Grade B dairy operation.

The family moved to Mt. Juliet in 1946 and purchased Greenhill Farm, which had been widely known for bringing registered Jersey cattle to the area. The family continued the dairy operation with grade Holstein cattle. Charles attended and graduated Mt. Juliet High School in 1947, before enrolling at the University of Tennessee, Martin, where he began his agriculture major while playing football for two years. He transferred to UT Knoxville and completed his degree in Animal Husbandry in 1951, and returned home to Mt. Juliet to become the principal operator of the dairy.

While at UTK, Charles met his future wife, Dorothy Roach, of Columbia. They were married in 1954, and started the family with having two sons a few years later. Charles built the home in which they still reside on part of the family farm, moving in during 1960. During these years, he continued to run the dairy operation with 80 cows, and raised the majority of corn, hay, and silage needed for feed along with tobacco. He received the honor of Outstanding Young Farmer for Wilson County.

In 1965, long-time friend and high school vocational agriculture teacher, Bill Coley, took a job with the state department of education and asked Charles to fill his vacated position at Mt. Juliet High School. He accepted the proposal and taught high school agriculture while maintaining the farming operation. With the sons growing old enough to take a greater role in the farm, Charles accepted an appointment as county Vocational Director in 1975. His duties under a federal vocational reform act were to oversee expansion of what was primarily agriculture and home economics into a diverse program to include metalwork, building trades, electronics, business, culinary arts, nursing and others.

After the dairy cattle were sold in 1980, Charles and sons transformed the farming operation into soybeans, wheat, beef cattle, and hay; which are the main commodities produced on the farm today with the help of grandchildren, Dale and Kate.

Over the years, Mr. Willoughby has been a leader and mentor to men - youth and adult. While an FFA Advisor, he touched the lives of many young men and helped them develop the skills needed for employment and everyday life. He served as scout master, and was presented with the Long Rifle award. He has served as president of Mt. Juliet Kiwanis, Mt. Juliet Little League, and Tennessee Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association. He has been a member of Hermitage and Cloyd’s Presbyterian Churches serving in Deacon and Elder positions. He has served on the Wilson County Commission, West Wilson Utility District Commission, and later on the Farm Bureau Board of Directors and UT Institute of Agriculture Development Board.

Mr. Willoughby continues to advise the operation of the farm and support agriculture in the community. He is a life member of FFA Alumni, and was recently recognized as a member of the Tennessee FFA Foundation’s Century Club.

2 Children: Dale Willoughby & Kate Willoughby Grigsby.

Don was born to Charles and Dorothy Willoughby and joined his older brother Al on the family farm known at the time as Green Hill Farm. A Grade A dairy was the main farming operation along with raising crops for feed and forage, as well as tobacco. Don attended Mt. Juliet Elementary, Jr. High, and High School. He enjoyed athletics and balanced sports and his farm duties. His involvement in FFA, under the advisement of his father Charles, Cliff Ricketts, Tommy Brewer, and Louis Fletcher, was his main interest throughout high school. He was involved in many competitions in judging, public speaking, state champion Parliamentary Procedure team, and Dairy Proficiency. He received both State Farmer and American Farmer degrees and was elected State Reporter for the 1978-79 year. Graduating from Middle Tennessee State University in 1981 with a B.S. degree in Animal Science and Secondary Education, Don came back to live and work on the family farm. As the family began to grow, he saw the need to go outside of the farm for income and took a job with West Wilson Utility District for a couple of years before becoming an agriculture teacher at the 9th grade level of Mt. Juliet Jr. High in 1986. The program merged back to grades 9 through 12 a few years later. He returned to Middle Tennessee State University receiving a Master’s Degree in Vocational Education in 1990.

During the late 1980’s through the 1990’s Agriculture Education saw a huge curriculum change as fewer students were coming from farm families, and more had interests in other agricultural endeavors. Don was part of the development and implementation of the shift from farming courses to more diverse offerings in mechanics, horticulture, wildlife and forestry, leadership, agribusiness, small and large animal care, and courses that are now offered for college credit. He is a 1987 charter member of Mt. Juliet FFA Alumni continuing to support as Treasurer. He has served on the Wilson County Fair board since 1988, chairing the Country Ham Show since 2004, with a mission of increasing participation of youth and adults to showcase their skills in the art and tradition. He was elected to the board of directors of Wilson County Farm Bureau in 2016. Although the family farm has decreased in size, Don still enjoys working alongside his family raising beef cattle and high-quality square baled and rolled hay for feed and for sale to local livestock producers. Don has two children, Dale Willoughby & Kate Willoughby Grigsby.

Born: March 1, 1933

Grew up in Gladeville, TN

Sons: Stanley and Stacey Word

Grandchildren: Montana and Bode Word

Edna Word was born to Aubrey and Ruth (Swain) Towns on March 1, 1933 in Gladeville. She grew up on a small farm on Central Pike and helped her parents tend to the grocery and feed store they had in Gladeville. She attended church with her parents going to Gladeville United Methodist Church and part of the time to Gladeville Baptist Church. Currently a member of Gladeville United Methodist Church.

She helped the family raise livestock on the farm while in school and operating the store. She attended Gladeville Elementary School as a youngster and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1950. She was part of the Lebanon High School Band. She attended Martin Methodist College (UT Southern) in Pulaski and graduated with Associate Degree in Business in 1953.

She worked for Internal Revenue Service in North Carolina and Virginia in late 1950’s while married to Donald Word. She moved back to Tennessee in 1960’s and took job with U.S. Army Corp of Engineers at Old Hickory Lock and Dam, Repair Station. She worked for U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for 33 years.

While working for the Corp, she took interest in helping her children get involved in 4-H and assisting them showing cattle for her father Aubrey Towns. She took off the days needed to tease the tail hair of the cattle for the show. She came up with the idea of using a hair net to help hold the hair on the tail in place. She ended up showing everyone showing cattle at that time in Wilson County how to use the hair net. As Stanley and Stacey grew up, she got more involved with assisting in 4-H and Lebanon FFA activities. She made sure that these activities were priority for the 2 boys, be involved.

She helped as an Adult Leader of 4-H at Southside Elementary from 1976 to 1978. She also received Outstanding Leader Award in Wilson County while assisting in this position. She is also a Charter Life Alumni member of 4-H in Tennessee.

She has been on the Wilson County Farm Bureau Board since 2000 and chairperson of Women’s Leadership Committee from 2003 till 2019. They always received the Blue Award which was one of the Farm Bureau state highest awards received yearly. She is still on the board as Emeritus.

She was on the planning committee in the start up of Farm Days at the Wilson County Fairgrounds which was first held in 2001. This was a day that schools in Wilson County brought 2nd grade students out to see how Agriculture impacts their lives and some of the foods they eat are produced. She participated every year in helping set up this special day. She felt that all children should know the importance of Agriculture and how farms are an important need for the community. They would average 300 to 400 students and teachers from all over the county school system each of the 2 days.

She is also a member of the Wilson County Livestock Association and Wilson County Co-op. From Field Days to Farm Days, she has always been involved in activities that promote the importance of Agriculture in Wilson County.

Born: 1933

Married: Wilma Hall Wright

3 Children

7 Grandchildren

9 Great-Grandchildren

In 1933, James H. Wright was born one of five siblings. He was always helping the family in farming. After his graduation from Mt. Juliet High School in 1951, James began farming and later, James took a few public jobs to support his family. The jobs always involved heavy equipment and the family traveled from Tennessee to Florida, building the interstates and highways we all know now. They eventually returned to the Mt. Juliet farm. This is when the joint effort of farming and excavation began.

James began his dozer business and formed a partnership with the Soil Conservation Program that exists to this day. James told of his relationship with Mr. Walter Goodall, Soil Conservationist at the onset of his career. In the
beginning, Mr. Goodall would accompany James to the site of the ponds and would stay onsite to make sure that it would be done correctly. It didn't take long for him to see that James was going to do it right, so he would discuss the project and leave him alone until he finished it and the outcome was pleasing to both. In the early 1980's,

James was one of the first farmers to grow a "No-Till" corn crop. It was a great success and earned him the honor of being the "Soil Conservationist of the Year". Mr. Wright currently owns a 325 acre farm in Taylorsville. The
dozer business complemented farming as James was instrumental in clearing and digging ponds for many farmers in this area along with doing his own work. In 1955, James married Wilma Hall Wright. Mr. and Mrs. Wright were married 58 years, until her passing in 2013. The couple had three children, Mark Wright, Eric Wright, Lisa Wright Thompson, seven grandchildren and nine great Grandchildren.

1937 – 1983

Married: Johnnie Mae Wright Yelton

2 Children

Noel Gray Yelton was born on June 12, 1937 with his twin sister, Neva Elton White, at St. Thomas Hospital in downtown Nashville. Mr. Clarence Gray Yelton and his wife, Mrs. Irene Hayes Yelton, brought their newborn twins home to Mt. Juliet; where they joined Noel’s older siblings (brother, Guy Yelton, and sister, Peggy Yelton) which completed their family. After living in Mt. Juliet for several years, they moved to what would become their family farm in Laguardo. During Noel’s high school years, he was introduced to more of what agriculture had to offer through the Future Farmers of America. Mr. Bill Coley was his teacher and FFA Advisor. Mr. Coley made a huge impression and inspired a life-long love for farming that Noel would happily embrace. The familiar blue FFA jacket that Noel wore during his Mt. Juliet days show where he served as FFA Vice-President and President of his chapter. He graduated from Mt. Juliet High School in 1956. Noel was to receive the FFA American Farmer Degree at the upcoming FFA Convention after graduation. However, having enlisted in the United States Army in order to serve his country, he had to leave a few days before the awards were given to the honorees. After serving in the Army, Noel returned home to Laguardo to resumed his love of farming. He worked hard raising cows and hogs, as well as, hay and tobacco. In 1961, Noel was named Wilson County’s Outstanding Young Farmer. Farming had not only found its way as something Noel enjoyed, but as a means to support himself and his new wife, Johnnie Mae Wright, who he met and married in 1969. They were blessed with two children, Allen and Angela. In 1978, Noel was named Wilson County Soil Conservation District’s Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year. Noel was a member of Cloyd’s Cumberland Presbyterian Church where he served as Deacon. Noel Yelton passed away on April 23, 1983 from lung cancer. He was 46 years old.