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.