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.

December 24, 1897 to April 17, 1973

Married: Bertha Swaffer March 2, 1929

Adopted: Great Nephew Jim Goodall

Albert Harrison Goodall was born December 24th, 1897 to William Hardin Goodall and Bell Carson Goodall. He was the youngest of 5 sons, all born in the Tuckers Crossroads community. He was a member of Bethlehem Church of Christ all his life.

Albert’s father died when he was an infant, but the farm continued to operate under his mother’s guidance along with the help of his older brothers. This was an exceptionally hard time for Albert and his family, but with hard work and help from the community they made it through.

Albert later purchased the farm from his brothers and started his own farming operation raising hogs, sheep and cattle. Later he implemented a grade B dairy operation. He soon found his passion was in Angus cattle. He became a member in the American Angus Association in 1944, then began showing registered Angus cattle on the local, state and national levels. He was very successful in this endeavor and won many trophy’s, ribbons and awards in the process.

In later years he focused solely on raising and showing registered angus cattle, becoming one of the top breeders in the area. He enjoyed not only showing his own cattle but was very involved in helping young people in the 4H and FFA. He was always open to new and improved technology that had anything to do with breeding or agriculture. He welcomed the new artificial insemination form of breeding to bring superior genetics to the herds of Wilson County.

On November 21, 1949 Albert was on of a group of farmers that had a dream to organize a farm supply store where farmers could pool their purchases for a better selection and more affordable prices. At the time money was hard to come by, but Albert being one of the visionary farmers who seeing the obvious need went door to door selling Co-op membership for $1.00 each. He severed on the first Board of Directors for the Wilson Farmers Cooperative along with eleven other farmers who had the same vision.

He was elected in 1954 to serve on the Quarterly Court now known as the Wilson County Commission representing the Tuckers Crossroads area.

With losing his father so early in life he learned the importance of being helped and helping others. This life lesson and passion for helping people, especially farmers, served him well in the position of manager of the Production Credit Association. There he was able to loan money to farmers who might not be able to borrow from traditional lending institutions. He served the community in that capacity for 21 years helping farmers with their farm credit needs.

Born in 1953

Married in 1976

Children: Josh, Seth, Jared Lee, and Summer Davis Major

Grandchildren: Carter Lee and Addison Rose Major

Roy and Diane met during their last semester at MTSU. Roy is a Wilson County boy raised in the Norene community. Roy's parents Will Allen and Sammie Bradshaw Major and brothers Allen and Dan milked cows and raised tobacco on their Century Farm. Tobacco crops, custom work and Wilson Farmers Coop helped Roy earn his degree in ag business and education. And even though he was offered a teaching job at Lebanon, he stayed on the farm. Diane, however, was raised in a subdivision in Murfreesboro with roots in the Twelve Corner Community. She graduated with a degree in secondary education with plans for teaching and coaching but decided that this farming occupation was worth a try. There were a few of Roy's family and friends who did not think this was a good idea. But proving those people wrong has been fun.

After their marriage in 1976, they rented the Robert Rose homeplace from Mr. Bob Donnell in the Doaks Crossroads community. Three years later, they purchased the farm. Diane quickly learned that her education was just beginning. Roy began milking Grade B in a side shed of the old barn and in 1985 a new Grade A facility was built. The old house soon became home to three sons. After 44 years Roy and Diane still reside in one of the most historical homes in Wilson County. The one Diane picked out from the road and never intended to leave.

Roy served as a State FFA officer, Noble Ruler of AGR Fraternity. He currently serves on the Wilson County Planning Commission, Tennessee Dairy Producers Association and the Tennessee Dairy Promotion Board and Farm Bureau member. He has been honored as the Wilson County Conservation Farmer of the Year.

Diane raised all the baby calves, set tobacco, drove trucks and tractors, coached baseball teams, and coached the 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl and the Dairy Judging teams who qualified for national contests.

Currently you can find Diane at the Wilson County Soil Conservation Office always listening to stories about the history of Wilson County agriculture. Diane is a long-time member of the Livestock Committee for the Wilson County Fair, Treasurer of the Wilson County Agricultural Hall of Fame and the Hale Moss Memorial Scholarship, and the coordinator of the 19-year Farm Days for all second graders in Wilson County.

Major Dairy now includes 650 acres that are owned or operated with 240 milk cows. Originally the milking herd was commercial Holsteins. But as the boys got older, change was coming. The Al program brought a registered herd program. Pop-A Top is the prefix for all the registered herd that were bred by Major Dairy. Many years of selective breeding has produced Holstein and Brown Swiss that have been winners in local, state, regional shows. And we have even added a few Jerseys for granddaughter Addison.

The daily management of Major Dairy is now led by Seth and Jared with Josh being there for the morning milking and silage chopping. Summer, Carter, and Addison are actively involved in many aspects if the dairy.

Major Dairy has seen some tough times but has never lacked for encouragement and help of family and dear friends. Their lives have been enriched by the extended Major family, Adams Grove Church of Christ family, the Clinton and Lucille McPeak, and all the friends of the boys who have brought wonderful times and memories to Major Dairy and the part-time employees that have worked so hard. The Major family is a strong supporter of small family farms and the life experiences that are learned living and working on the farm.

Cows and crops bring great pleasure to Roy and Diane, but the pride of watching their sons growing into caring men takes second place only to the joy of watching Carter and Addison grow up on Major Dairy.

Henry: 1919-1988

Paula: 1925-2015

Married 1943

Daughters: Pam Hoffman, Laleta Shipper, Kristina McKee and Nicola Vantrease

Henry Odell Oldfield, the oldest of six children, was born in the Watkins Community of Van Zandt County, Texas. Henry was educated in the Wise community near Canton, Texas. In 1941 he enlisted in the US Coast Guard, serving five years.

Paula Evelyn Groom was the middle daughter of six children. She spent her childhood in Liberty, Tennessee, before the Groom family moved to Watertown when she was a freshman. Paula graduated from Watertown High School in 1941 at the age of 16.

In the summer of 1941 Paula moved to Canton, Texas, to live with her mother’s sister in hopes of continuing her education. It was there that Paula first met the handsome, red-headed Henry Odell Oldfield. During World War II while stationed in Memphis, Henry would hitchhike to Watertown to court Paula. After several trips across the state he proposed to her on the little bridge across from the Stephens Building on Main Street in Watertown. They were married on March 21, 1943 and made their home on Linwood Road in Watertown.

When the war ended, Henry built a house for his family on the Groom home place. He used his military money to purchase land on Poplar Hill Road that become known as the "Poor Farm".

Henry and Paula milked cows on the Groom farm for several years before buying the Borum place next door. He built a Grade A dairy parlor with a pipeline-pit style herringbone system that was top of the line. His dairy was visited by county agricultural students, numerous area dairy farmers, and neighbors. The daughters all had a hand in getting the cows to the barns, washing out the milk tank, cleaning out the barn and feeders, and also doing the painting and cleanup. Henry and Paula operated the dairy for 35 years.

Paula was the glue! She had homemade biscuits and oatmeal every morning when he returned from milking. She kept the finances in order and cooked for farm hands during tobacco cutting and silage chopping season. She stripped tobacco, ran to town for parts, and kept spirits up during all the difficult events that define life on the farm. Paula was a beautiful seamstress, making most of the girls’ clothes, keeping Henry’s jeans patched, and making "sausage sacks" for hog killing time.

She was a volunteer 4-H Leader for 20 years and was awarded the Florence Lester Memorial Leadership Award in the 1970’s. Paula transported numerous 4-H participants to County and District competitions. She served as President of the American Legion Auxiliary and was active in the TXR Grange, Home Demonstration Club and Senior Citizens Club.

Henry served on the Watertown Special School District Board and the Wilson County Board of Education, as well as being a Deacon and church treasurer for many years. Henry raised and educated four daughters on a farmer’s salary.

After the girls graduated and left home, he sold the dairy and purchased a bulldozer, starting his second career. He loved land clearing and improving the looks of his community. Stories too numerous to be included could be told about Henry redesigning brand new farm equipment and assisting neighbors with repairs.

The Oldfield family has a special connection to all the 2021 inductees. Henry chopped silage for Albert and Bertha Goodall as well as attending TXR Granges functions with them. He purchased farm equipment and parts from Donald Rowland. Roy and Diane Major considered purchasing the Oldfield dairy farm in Watertown prior to making the move to Cainsville Road. The girls consider it an honor for their parents to be included in this group of inductees.

January 10, 1935

Married: Doris Cripps

Daughter: Cindy (Mike) Marks

Grandchildren: Josh and Amber Marks

Donald Gene Rowland was born January 10, 1935 in Dekalb County, Tennessee to Elmer and Berdie Rowland. He is the oldest of three children. His sister is Sue Manning and a brother, Albert, who passed away in 2010. When he was eleven years old, his mom and dad bought a dairy farm on Tuckers Gap Road in Lebanon. In addition to the dairy, they also raised tobacco, hay, corn and a garden. His mom also worked at the Lebanon Garment Factory.

After moving to Lebanon, he went to McClain School where he played basketball and football and he attended Lebanon High School. Donald then joined the United States Navy in November 1953. During his navy years, he served in Japan as an aviation mechanic. He served on the USS Essex and was discharged in September 1957.

After returning home, Donald married Doris Cripps and worked at Otis Elevator for a short while. Soon he went back to farming on the family farm. In 1959, he bought his first new tractor, a John Deere 730 which he still uses on the farm today. Little did he know that this purchase would be the start of his long-time career.

One day during hay season, he walked into Donnell Motor Company, the local John Deere dealer, needing a part for his hay baler. He was told that they only kept one of this particular part on hand and they had sold it the day before. The part would have to be ordered. Frustrated and on his way out the door, he mumbled a little too loud "I ought to just buy the darn (not the word he used) place"!! Enoch Comer, the parts man who had just waited on Donald, followed him out the door and said, "it’s for sale". So, Donald borrowed the money and his little brother’s pickup truck, rented the building and opened Rowland Implement Company in April 1963.

Donald’s dad and brother continued to farm full-time and helped with the business when they could. He then became a part-time farmer, milking every morning before going to the shop. During the early years of the business, Doris was the bookkeeper while also helping with the dairy and caring for their daughter, Cindy.

As property around the dealership became available for sale, Donald bought it and built and new, much larger building in 1975. This allowed space for a showroom, several offices, a larger parts and service department and much more room outside for new equipment.

Also, in the early 70’s Donald began buying land between Leeville Pike and Hickory Ridge Road. Much of it was overgrown and had to be cleared and cleaned up. To this day he likes nothing better than burning a brush pile. This farm or "the hill’ as it’s called grew into 230 acres. Now he raises beef cattle, hay, and of course a garden.

In 2006 John Deere decided that it was time for him to close. He always said he wanted to work for 50 years, but that was not to be. After 43 years of hard work, employees who became family, lots of wonderful customers, and a whole lot of joy, in September 2006 Donald closed the doors for the last time. At 85 years old he has come full circle, he’s back to farming full-time that would be after the Price is Right goes off. Stop by anytime and visit, he would love to see you.

Billy Joe was born in Smith Co. and moved to Wilson Co. at an early age. He was an only child to Victor and Irene Winfree Allison. His parents owned a grade A dairy farm where he learned milking when he was very young. They also grew tobacco, hay and corn. Jean grew up on her parent’s farm approximately five miles from the Allison farm. Her parents were Lacy and Ethel Simpson. She has one sister, Mrs. Jackie Wright. Jean always loved the farm following her Father many times to check on livestock. He was a farmer and livestock trader. They raised sheep, hogs, cattle, mules and goats.

Billy Joe graduated from Watertown High in 1955 and Jean followed in 1956. Jean went on to attend Cumberland University and Billy Joe went to work in Nashville at Western Electric. In 1958 they were married and moved to the farm where they still live. This started their farming career on nights and weekends. However, the dairy cows were calling, so in 1964 they built a Grade A milk barn which began a thirty-year shared career. In 1993 the dairy cows were sold and so began the Allison’s commercial beef herd which allows them to travel. Jean has served on the Farm Service Agency County Committee for nine years. She currently serves a minority advisor for this committee; a position she has held for six years. Billy Joe has served as a director for the Wilson Farmers Co-op and the Wilson County Farm Bureau. Jean and Billy Joe are members of the Wilson County Livestock Association. Billy Joe was an original member of the Community Council for Wilson Bank and Trust.

In 1989 they were recognized as the Conservation Farmer of the Year and have completed the Master Beef Producer program. They are both members of the Commerce Church of Christ. Home is the same farm where they have lived for sixty-one years. Their picturesque farm can be seen on the north side of I-40E being the last farm in Wilson County. They will tell you farming is and has been a rewarding life. Their greatest accomplishment is their children and grandchildren and the caring people that they have become.

On May 16, 1933, Sammie Forbes was born at home, on the family farm located on Shop Springs Road in Wilson County. He was the only son born to Ebb and Maude (Merinda) Tucker Forbes. The log cabin that Sammie was born in was relocated to the Fiddler’s Grove Historic Village in 1992. Sammie began school at the age of four and attended Shop Springs School first through eighth grades. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1950. He was an active member of FFA, 4-H, and he proudly played high school football. Sammie began farming early in life. He raised a variety of livestock which included both beef and dairy cattle, horses, mules, chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep and hogs. Tobacco was grown; but the primary focus of the farm was growing produce. When not in school, to financially help his parents, he went to work for his Uncles in the food concession and meat business.

In the 1960s, Sammie purchased the family farm from his parents where he continued to farm. In 1953, Sammie married Edna Gannon from the Norene community and they began married life living with Sammie’s parents. Shortly afterwards, they purchased a house on State Highway 26 (now known as State Highway 70 East, Sparta Pike). Unbeknownst to them at the time, this purchase would prove to be one of the most valuable decisions in Sammie’s life. At the Sparta Pike location, in 1963, Sammie began his Shop Springs produce stand; now known as Shop Springs Farms. Sammie became known as "The Tomato Man" to all his roadside customers. He earned that name due to his outstanding ability to grow an excellent and early tomato crop as well as other garden produce. He ran his roadside Farmer’s Market for 52 years before handing it over to the next generation in 2015. Sammie became the owner of the family’s food concession and part-owner of the family’s Tucker’s Sausage meat business. He would sell his own home-grown farm products through these two businesses.

Sammie was a "Master" salesman and promoter. Even though Sammie was in many businesses, if "Occupation" was asked, he always answered "Farmer"; his proudest achievement. As an adult, he was active in his community. Sammie was a member and a past President of the Lebanon High School Parent-back Club. He coached several Lion’s Club Babe Ruth baseball teams and was an avid fan and supporter of his children’s and grandchildren’s sports teams, especially Watertown football. Sammie and Edna were honored in 2008 as Old Timer’s of the Wilson County Fair and Grand Marshals of that year’s Fair. Sammie was a member of Greenwood’s Bethel Church of Christ and attended that church his entire 83 years; from birth until death.

Gilbert Graves was born on his grand-parents farm in 1932 to Grafton L. and Clara Bell Hamblen Graves. The family bought a farm on Central Pike to be near his paternal grand-parents, Edgar and Essie Philpot Graves. Gilbert later built his house on this farm and lived there until his death. Gilbert was involved in farming from a very early age as farming was the natural way of life on Central Pike. He milked cows before going to school each day. He helped tend to his great Uncle’s farm that he later came to own. This farm was certified a Tennessee Century Farm in 2002. It was established in 1816 by his fourth great grandparents. Gilbert was a member of the Mt. Juliet High School FFA Chapter for four years.

After graduating high school from Mt. Juliet in 1950, he went to work at AVCO, while still farming. It was also when he bought his first tractor, a used 1948 red belly Ford. In January 1955, he married Mary Lou and a week later was inducted into the United States Army. He spent two years at Fort Knox in Kentucky serving as a Military Policeman. After his military service, he accepted a job with Southern Tire Service in Nashville, creating a career in sales that lasted for more than fifty years. A special election was held in December 1965 for Magistrate in the 25th district. Gilbert won the seat and retained it in the 1966 August General Election. When he took office in 1965, Gilbert Graves was the youngest member on the County Court and when he left the seat in 2010, he was the oldest member on the County Commission.

While serving on the County Commission, Gilbert was involved in many projects that have improved life for Wilson county citizens. He was among those who were instrumental in preserving our farm heritage and history by supporting the purchase of land for the James E. Ward Agricultural Center. During his 45 years, he served for many years as Chairman Pro Tem and on various committees and boards some of which included the Planning Commission, Road Commission, Ag Management Committee and the Joint Economic Development Board. Gilbert was a lifelong member of Center Chapel Church of Christ. He was a charter member of the Mt. Juliet Breakfast Rotary Club, Big Brothers of Mt. Juliet, Wilson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, and the Wilson County Fair Board. Gilbert Graves was passionate about all things Wilson County. He dedicated the bigger part of his life trying to make it a better place for all of us to live.

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.

Born: 1952

Married: Paula Tidwell Kinslow

3 Children

4 Grandchildren

Coleman Phillip Kinslow was born in 1952, in Carthage, Tennessee to Coleman and Ann Phillips Kinslow. He grew up with sister Judy on the family farm on Lost Creek in the Rock City community. Phillip attended Union Heights Elementary School and graduated from Smith County High School. He was active in 4H and FFA and received the State Farmer Award. He graduated from Tennessee Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. In 1975, he married Paula Tidwell, a nurse raised in Nashville, and that summer he worked at Opryland. In the fall of 1975, he was one of only fifteen Tennessee students to be accepted into Auburn University’s Veterinary Program. Upon graduation in 1979, Phillip, or as many know him today as Doc, became partners with Dr. David Bennett in a clinic that was located beside The Wilson County Livestock Market on West Main Street in Lebanon. In 1984, he became sole owner of the practice and for the next 30 years was a permanent fixture at the sale barn. In 1986, while Doc continued to work cattle in town, he purchased the clinic’s current property on Southside Park Drive where it continues to grow as a mixed animal practice, servicing large animals as well as a very modern small animal practice. Through the years over twenty veterinarians have had the chance to learn and practice medicine under his care. He has served as President of the Upper Cumberland Academy of Veterinary Medicine, served on the Advisory Committee to the State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, and the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association Legislative Committee, and is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association, and the Society for Theriogenology. Doc and Paula have three children Paul Alan, Jennifer, Amy and four grandchildren.

1917 – 1989

Married: Jeanne Justice

2 Children

On April 12, 1917, Ralph McKee was born in Wilson County to Tom and Byrdie Knox McKee. Following the declining health of his grandparents, Alex and Martha Haley McKee, his parents, an older sister and Ralph returned to the 413 acre farm purchased by his grandparents in 1877. The family home was constructed from timber harvested from the farm and remains the center of the farm now honored as one Tennessee’s Century Farms, having remained in continuous operation for more than 100 years by the McKee family. Ralph graduated from Central High School in Murfreesboro in 1936 and completed his Bachelor of Science degree at Tennessee State Teachers College (now MTSU) in 1940. Following graduation, he was drafted into military service. He served four years during WWII with most of the time being spent in Reykjavick, Iceland at Base Command. In 1944, Ralph married Jeanne Justice and they had two children, Carol and Ralph, Jr. Following his military discharge, Ralph and Jeanne bought a farm in the Milton community where he served in numerous leadership roles for the Milton Community Improvement Club. He attended and served as a Ruling Elder of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church in the Milton Community. In the early 1950’s, Ralph and Jeanne purchased his parent’s family farm where he and his brother continued to farm the land and do custom farm work in the community and in surrounding communities. At the age of 44, Ralph suffered a catastrophic illness, the residuals of which terminated his active participation in farming activities and necessitated the land be used for cattle and hog farming. In the early 1970’s, Ralph, Jr. and his wife, Opal, changed the operation to an active dairy farm and Ralph, Sr. began a new career as the first Executive Director of the Wilson County Water and Waste Water Authority, where he served until his retirement. He was a member of the Wilson County Court (Commission) for 27 years. Ralph was a leader of the Agricultural Committee of the County court which was instrumental in securing land and funding for the James E. Ward Agricultural Center. Ralph McKee passed away on December 21, 1989.

Born: 1958

Married: Julie

3 Children

Lanas was born December 23, 1958. He was raised on the family farm on Cainsville Road between Lebanon and Norene where his mother still resides and his oldest brother, Quintin, still farms. He is the third of four boys, born to Ray and Dorothy Jean Smith. Lanas has always been proud of being a "fifth grade graduate" of the now closed Shop Springs School. He then attended schools in Lebanon and in 1976, graduating from Lebanon High School. While in high school, he served as President of the Wilson County 4-H Club and was an officer in the Lebanon FFA Chapter. He received his State FFA Degree and later his American Farmer Degree. In 1979, Lanas graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Animal Science and a minor in Agricultural Education. He won numerous individual and team awards as a member of the Livestock Judging Team and served as President of the Block and Bridle Club. It was during this time that he met his wife, Julie, who was on the Horse Judging Team at the same time he was on the Livestock Judging Team. In the fall of 1979, Lanas received a teaching fellowship to the University of Kentucky where he taught animal production and evaluation classes and coached the collegiate Livestock Judging Team while working on his graduate degrees. He received his M.S. degree in Animal Sciences in 1983 and his Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition in 1986. In the fall of 1986, Lanas accepted a position in St. Louis with Purina Mills as a cattle nutritionist. He was then transferred to Liberal, Kansas in 1987 as a consulting feedlot nutritionist. In 1989, he left Purina and started his own feedlot consulting business, Midwest Feedlot Nutrition. It was later that same year that he entered an agreement to do consulting for a small liquid premix company, Midwest PMS, Inc. It was from that small group of cattle specialists that they were able to build a cattle consulting nutritionist group that today services more than 40% of cattle on feed in the United States. In 1996, Julie and Lanas moved the family to Colorado, where they now reside on their horse and cattle farm outside of Boulder. Lanas operates his consulting business out of his home office and maintains accounts in ten states. He has also consulted internationally with cattle firms in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and South Africa. Lanas and Julie have three children, Paige, Parker, David.

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.

1906 – 1995

Married: Gwendolyn Moss, 1931

Children: Gay Chamberlain, Sam Grady McFarland, and Jerry Allen McFarland

9 Grandchildren and 1 Great-Grandchild

Sam Bradshaw McFarland was born in 1906 in the Palmer House on the McFarland Family Farm on Coles Ferry Pike. The Palmer House was the second home the McFarland Family built and, in 1912, Sam’s father Dr. Jerry McFarland built the current house across from Friendship Christian School. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Jerry was a farmer and Sam and his brother James helped raise cattle, hogs and chickens on the family farm. Sam was a teenager working in the hayfield when he saw a farmer seriously injured when he fell off a haystack onto a pitchfork. It was then that he decided he wanted to follow in his father and grandfather’s (Dr. Billy McFarland) footsteps and become a doctor. Sam graduated Lebanon High School and attended David Lipscomb for his pre-med degree. He met, courted and married fellow Lipscomb student Gwendolyn Moss of Tuscumbia, Alabama. Sam obtained his medical degree at University of Tennessee at Memphis and came home to Lebanon to open his practice. Thereafter, he was affectionately known by his patients, friends and even family as "Dr. Sam".

Dr. Sam was kept busy throughout the 1940s with his practice and growing family. He and "Ms. Gwendolyn" had three children, Gay (Chamberlain), Sam Grady, and Jerry Allen McFarland. He also decided to take over operation of the McFarland Farm and concentrate primarily on Guernsey dairy cattle. His goal was to produce the richest milk with the highest buttery fat content at the largest volume possible. He traveled the United States purchasing the highest quality Guernsey and even bought cattle in Oregon and Washington State and had them flown to Nashville on an Eastern Airlines flight! The cattle from Robin Roost Farms gained a reputation as having the best appearance for showing purposes and for producing rich milk in high quantity. At the time, Robin Roost Farms boasted of having the most modern milking parlor in the Middle Tennessee area. Several of Dr. Sam’s cows won state awards such as First Place in the National Junior Guernsey Show in 1953 and the Gold Star Sire Award. Robin Roost Ruby was heralded as the best dame ever sired at the farm and she won awards across the State of Tennessee, the Southeast Championship, and showed at the National Championship. In the 1960s, the market for high fat milk hardened and that, coupled with the fact that factories moving to Lebanon had siphoned off most of his farm help, prodded Dr. Sam into changing Robin Roost farms from a dairy farm into a beef cattle farm. He raised Angus for several years before turning the farm over to his son, Jerry, who still raises Charolais beef cattle.

October 12, 1948

Married: Brenda Horton – 1973

Children: Joe and Lauren (wife) Moss

Hale Moss was born on October 12, 1948 at the old McFarland General Hospital in Lebanon. Hale is a lifelong resident of Wilson County. He graduated from Mt. Juliet High School in 1966 in a class of 63 students; most of whom started together in 1st grade at Mt. Juliet Elementary. Hale and his sister, Susan, were active in 4-H and showed beef steers and heifers for many years on the county and state level. In high school, Hale became very involved in FFA where he served on many judging teams and officers including Chapter President. At the annual FFA convention in May of 1966, he was elected state FFA President.

In the fall of 1966, Hale entered the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to pursue a degree in Agriculture. He joined the Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) Fraternity, a social and professional organization for college students interested in careers in agriculture. He served AGR in many capacities including Noble Ruler. While at UT, Hale was a member of Professor E.R. Lidvall’s livestock judging team and was the high scoring individual at the Southeastern Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest at the University of Georgia in 1969. He then graduated with a BS in Animal Science in 1970. After graduation Hale continued his commitment to AGR by serving as Regional Vice-President from 1973 – 1998. Hale married Brenda Horton on June 16, 1973. In the fall of 1970, Hale accepted the job as the VoAg teacher at Lebanon High School.

After teaching for 4 years, he accepted an appointment with the TN Department of Agriculture as Director of Fairs & Livestock Show in the summer of 1973. This was the start of a passion and years of tremendous success with the Wilson County Fair. Hale served as the Beef Cattle Superintendent of the Tennessee State Fair Advisory Board from 1977 -2005. In 1977 Hale returned to Mt. Juliet to manage the family business of Moss Bros Seed Co. and along with Brenda, his mother, Ilene, and his aunt opened Moss’ Florist and Garden Center. The family continued to work here for 39 years until their recent retirement in 2016. However, not much down time, son Joe and daughter in law Lauren have opened the next generation of Moss’ Florist at a new location. Hale and Brenda, along with Joe, and Lauren, dogs CJ and Jasper, cat Neylee enjoy spending time on their family farm "Knobblehurst" in Mt. Juliet where they raise Hereford based, black baldy beef cattle.

In 2016 Hale was inducted into the AGR National Hall of Fame as only the second Tennessean to be awarded this prestigious honor for his years of service. Hale Moss’ name is synonymous with the Wilson County Fair. Hale helped to form Wilson County Promotions in 1977 and has served as President of the Executive Committee for 35+ years. Ask Hale why he has spent thousands and thousands working and improving the Wilson County Fair; his answer is very simple: "It is all about the kids".

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.

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.

Born: April 7, 1954

Married: Lesa Brown Fletcher

Children: Amy Fletcher Welch, Justin Latimer, Rachel Fletcher Lemon, Kristen Vaughn, Leslie Morgan Fletcher

Grandchildren: Ansley, Harper and Haylee

Louis was born to Morgan and Betty Fletcher. Louis was the youngest of three children. Older sisters, Myra Anne and Lois Jean. Myra died at the age of 10 in 1961. Diane and Theresa Huddleston became a part of the family in 1964 after both parents past away. The family was raised on a farm between Beckwith and Leeville in the Western part of Wilson County.

The family farm was a general farming operation that consisted of swine, beef cattle, tobacco, hay and corn. In 1964 the Fletchers got into the poultry business with AJ Smith from Nashville. The poultry operation consisted of 11,000 layer hens. All the children helped in the operation by gathering, washing, grading and packaging the eggs

Louis attended Leeville Elementary and Mt. Juliet Middle School. He graduated from Lebanon High School in 1972. While in high school, he was a member of the Lebanon FFA Chapter and a member of the Wilson County 4-H club. Louis served as chapter president his senior year and participated in several district, regional and state contests. Louis received his State FFA Degree and State Proficiency award for poultry production. His agriculture teachers were Hugh P. Evans and Hale Moss. The FFA organization and his agriculture teachers inspired Louis to want to be an agriculture teacher.

Louis enrolled at the University of Tennessee the fall of 1972 after graduation from high school. He became a member of the Farm House Fraternity and served as the fraternity president. While in college, he worked at the plant science farm, Stafford Angus Farm in Maryville, Staggs’ cabinet shop and the Gulf Service Station at 17th Avenue and I-40 in Knoxville. In August of 1975, Louis graduated from UT with a degree in Agriculture Education and a minor in Animal Science and was employed the same month to teach agriculture education at Antioch High School in Davidson County. While teaching at Antioch, Louis took members of the chapter to the National FFA Convention where he received his American FFA Degree.

After one year in Davidson County, Louis was employed by Wilson County Schools to teach agriculture education at Mt. Juliet High School. In 1980, the first greenhouse at a high school in Wilson County was built at Mt. Juliet High School as part of their agriculture program. Louis helped build seven other greenhouses for the Wilson County Schools. In 1987, the Mt. Juliet FFA Alumni was organized and is still very active. The Alumni provides the 1st and 2nd place Regional Skills Contest trophies each year and the Danny Gleaves’ Scholarship annually.

During his 25 years at Mt. Juliet High School, he had the first female to receive to State FFA Degree and the first female State FFA officer. Seven of his former students have become agriculture teachers. Numerous students received State FFA Degrees, American Degrees and Proficiency Awards.

Louis received his Master Degree in Vocational Technical Education from Middle Tennessee State University in 1988. In 1990, he received his +45 in Supervision and Administration from MTSU.

Louis left Mt. Juliet High School after 25 year to go to the new Wilson Central High School in the fall of 2001. During that first year, a new FFA Chapter was charted, a new greenhouse was built and the new shop was organized under his supervision. He also assisted teachers and coaches with their classrooms, shops and athletic fields. The teachers selected Louis as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year for WCHS to represent them in the county wide Teacher of the Year Program.

Louis left Wilson Central after one year to be the newly appointed assistant principal at the Wilson County Career Technical Center in Lebanon. He supervised students from all of the county high schools that attended the center to take CTE courses. He also continued to work with the agriculture teachers in the county during this time. He served as an assistant principal for 10 years until the center was closed, and the teachers and programs were moved to the new Lebanon High School that was opened the fall of 2012. Louis was assigned to Lebanon High to serve as one of the four assistant principals at the new school.

Experience from teaching agriculture was very helpful to him in being an assistant principal. Louis noticed that students didn’t care what you knew until they knew that you cared. Students liked to be called by their names and not by numbers. Louis had the skill to remember students by their names. His philosophy was to treat and talk to students the way you would want your own child to be treated and talked to.

After 38 years in education, 37 years in Wilson County, Louis retired from the education system in 2013 with 369 unused sick and personal days. He now does what he loves to do, as well as, raises beef cattle and talks to people about agriculture.

04/24/1926 – 10/13/1999

Married: Ina Mae Swan

Children: Pal, Pam, Phil, and Perry

Grandchildren: Houston, Hannah, Haden, Rachel, Mark, Kyle, and Adam

Kenneth Neal was a lifelong resident of the Tucker’s Crossroads Community in Wilson County. He worked on his farm in this community until his death in 1999. His three sons, Pal, Phil and Perry Neal continue to work on this farm with a beef cattle operation. Kenneth’s parents were Pallas and Bennie Neal. His grandfather was William Haskell Neal, the developer of Neal’s Paymaster Corn.

Kenneth married Ina Swan in 1957 and they built a house on the farm and raised their four children there. Ina taught school at Tucker’s Crossroads while Kenneth farmed full time. He primarily raised tobacco, corn, and beef cattle.

Although Kenneth had a very strong work ethic, he did enjoy a few hobbies. As he got older and scaled back a little on farm work, he spent more time fishing. One of his favorite places to fish was the Cordell Hull Dam. He also enjoyed dove hunting. He would always host a dove hunt on opening day of the season. He enjoyed spending long winter evenings playing rook with family and friends.

In addition to his farm work, Kenneth was active in his community and county. He attended Bethlehem Church of Christ his entire life and served as a deacon for 16 years and as an elder for 11 years. His wife and children still attend this church.

Kenneth along with John Eatherly and Newell Jenkins provided land and were instrumental in starting a softball park for the children of the Tucker’s Crossroads Community. Two generation of children have now enjoyed the opportunity to play softball in this park.

Kenneth was also an avid supporter of Friendship Christian School and served on the Board of Directors for 16 years. He and Ina made it possible for their children and grandchildren to attend this school.

Kenneth was very active in the Farm Bureau Agency; serving locally, as well, as at the state level. He was elected to serve as director-at-large at the state level from 1987 until 1994. He served as president of the Wilson County Farm Bureau from 1082 until he became ill in 1999. He also served on the board of directors for the Wilson County Farmers Co-op and Lebanon Bank. He was selected as Soil Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1972.

Kenneth Neal left behind a legacy of hard work, integrity, and community service.

July 25, 1938 – April 30, 2015

Married: Faye James Patton on September 1, 1958

Children: Lisa Patton Wheeler, Lora Patton Hall, Lyle Patton

8 Grandchildren

William Lee "Bill" Patton was born to Thomas William and Maymie Lee (Midgett) Patton of Watertown on July 25, 1938. As a boy Billy rode his bicycle to deliver groceries to customers of the Midgett family grocery in Watertown. However, it was being a little boy in overalls racing to keep up with his granddaddy Everett Patton on the Smith Hollow Road family land that stirred a life-long love of farming. Billy’s Aunt Janet remembers that he just couldn’t wait to drive the cattle across the creek.

As a teenager Billy embraced his hometown as quarterback of the Watertown High School football team and earned Most Valuable Player on the school’s basketball team his senior year. Within a couple of years of graduation, Bill married Margie Faye James of Mt. Juliet and joined the United States Air Force. The service took him to Japan for a year, then he and his young wife to Oregon for 2 ½ years. Afterwards the couple returned to Wilson County with a baby daughter and moved into a home in Mt. Juliet. Bill began a 40-plus year career with Western Electric and eventually AT&T, but he never left his love for farming and continued to raise produce and beef cattle by working early shifts so he would have the rest of the day to farm. Another daughter and a son blessed Bill and Faye, so he had three farmhands to plant tobacco, tie-up tomatoes, and rake the hay.

Bill’s commercial cow herd was generally multi-breed. His bull stock ranged from Charolais, Red & Black Angus to others. With multiple herds on his own land as well as various locations around the county, Bill was open to new thinking and challenges in today’s farming industry. He participated in the Advanced Master Beef Producers offered through the Tennessee Agriculture Enhancement Program which offers continuing education classes focused on economics, raising forage and herd management. Bill acted as a mentor aiding and encouraging young farmers in Wilson County. He worked tirelessly harvesting hay for his own herds as well as others.

Bill also worked in the logging business for a time. He was an active member of the Wilson County Farmer’s Coop, Wilson County Fair Board, Wilson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, The Cattleman’s Association as well as various other community organizations.

Bill also served his community government as an elected official of the Wilson County Commission for 16 years and the Mt. Juliet City Commission for one term in the 1980s. Bill and Faye are charter members of Victory Baptist Church in Mt. Juliet.

Above all, Bill’s love of God and family stood first in his life, but farming was a close second. Over his last 11 years, Bill fought an intense battle against cancer. His oncologist explained to Bill that he needed to limit activity and farming didn’t fit that prescription. In a soft but firm voice, Bill simply said, "Doc, if I’m not farming, I’m not living." Bill passed to his heavenly home at age 76 on Thursday, April 30, 2015 where he is certainly farming fields of gold.