2013 Tennessee Cattlemen's Convention
Cannon County does it again!!
TCA Distinguished Service Award
Nelson Owen
As of the convention luncheon, Nelson had served Tennessee’s cattle industry for 80,141 hours. Which means two weeks from today, February 1st, will be his 41st anniversary as a Livestock Marketing Specialist with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, where he now serves as the Senior Livestock Specialist in charge of livestock grading for the state.
Nelson Owen has known farming since the beginning. His parents raised cattle, hogs, goats, sheep, tobacco, hay, corn and milked cows on a 300 acre farm in Woodbury, TN. They farmed the hillsides with mules and didn’t purchase a tractor until the 1970’s. Nelson used to ride the mule with his
dad and he would sit backwards throwing off the corn to plant in the furrows on the hillsides. They raised tobacco the hard way, no tobacco setter, everything done by hand.
When Nelson graduated from high school, Mr. Claude Harris offered him a job to grade hogs at the Woodbury sale barn, and later Claude hired him as a state grader. His primary responsibility when hired was to assist in the grading of feeder pigs which was a primary source of income for Tennessee producers. At that time, Tennessee was one of the leading states providing graded feeder pig sales in the U.S. Since then Nelson has evolved into one of the most respected livestock graders in the industry. From feeder pigs to slaughter hogs his primary role now is overseeing and grading feeder cattle, sheep and goats. Just last year, he and his staff graded over 50,000 head of feeder cattle across the state of Tennessee. His duties do not end there, Nelson performs numerous cattle grading and livestock demonstrations for local cattlemen’s associations
throughout the state annually. Dedication, hard work and service are just the tip of the iceberg when describing Nelson Owen. Nelson and MaryBeth have a son, Travis age 20 and daughter, Annaliese age 15. Travis and Annaliese have been involved in showing market goats, horses
and in other farm related projects. Cattle, Dairy and commercial goats and hay are still being produced on their family farm.
"Nelson is one of the most respected men in the industry in Tennessee. He is honest in his opinions and sincere"
Darryl Ailshire, Tennessee Livestock Producers
Nelson has been with our family for 3 generations. He's a good fellow and a straight shooter. It doesn’t matter who calves belong too or where they come from, he grades them like he sees them. He’s got thicker skin than a boar hog.”
David & Michael Simpson, Warren County Livestock
Nelson Owen has known farming since the beginning. His parents raised cattle, hogs, goats, sheep, tobacco, hay, corn and milked cows on a 300 acre farm in Woodbury, TN. They farmed the hillsides with mules and didn’t purchase a tractor until the 1970’s. Nelson used to ride the mule with his
dad and he would sit backwards throwing off the corn to plant in the furrows on the hillsides. They raised tobacco the hard way, no tobacco setter, everything done by hand.
When Nelson graduated from high school, Mr. Claude Harris offered him a job to grade hogs at the Woodbury sale barn, and later Claude hired him as a state grader. His primary responsibility when hired was to assist in the grading of feeder pigs which was a primary source of income for Tennessee producers. At that time, Tennessee was one of the leading states providing graded feeder pig sales in the U.S. Since then Nelson has evolved into one of the most respected livestock graders in the industry. From feeder pigs to slaughter hogs his primary role now is overseeing and grading feeder cattle, sheep and goats. Just last year, he and his staff graded over 50,000 head of feeder cattle across the state of Tennessee. His duties do not end there, Nelson performs numerous cattle grading and livestock demonstrations for local cattlemen’s associations
throughout the state annually. Dedication, hard work and service are just the tip of the iceberg when describing Nelson Owen. Nelson and MaryBeth have a son, Travis age 20 and daughter, Annaliese age 15. Travis and Annaliese have been involved in showing market goats, horses
and in other farm related projects. Cattle, Dairy and commercial goats and hay are still being produced on their family farm.
"Nelson is one of the most respected men in the industry in Tennessee. He is honest in his opinions and sincere"
Darryl Ailshire, Tennessee Livestock Producers
Nelson has been with our family for 3 generations. He's a good fellow and a straight shooter. It doesn’t matter who calves belong too or where they come from, he grades them like he sees them. He’s got thicker skin than a boar hog.”
David & Michael Simpson, Warren County Livestock
TCA Stocker Producer of the Year
Mark Barker
Mark Barker currently operates his family’s farm in Readyville, Tennessee in Cannon County. The original 575-acre farm was purchased by Mark’s grandfather Oscar Barker and his two brothers Lawrence and Vance in 1914. Upon his marriage to Willie Bell Holmes in December of 1914, Oscar took sole possession of the farm and together they moved there in January of 1915. Oscar made a living as a livestock trader and farmer, with special emphasis on horses and mules. His most famous horse was Barker's Moonbeam, a Palomino stud who has the distinction of
being the sire of Roy Roger's horse Trigger, Jr.
1923 marked the birth of their only child, Mark’s father Ray Barker. Ray was born on the farm and subsequently spent his lifetime farming. Upon
graduating from high school in 1942, Ray purchased his first tractor, a Farmall H. In 1952, Ray married Henrietta Tenpenny and together they were blessed with three sons, Mark, Boyd and John. Through the years, Ray expanded the farming operation to over 1000 acres and mainly raised Hereford cattle, sheep and hogs and grew various crops including corn, soybeans, hay, wheat and oats. During the 1950's, Ray upgraded his
tractors to Farmall M diesels, a couple of which are still in service on the farm. In 1963, Ray built his first silo and purchased silage equipment in order to add value to his weaned calves. Backgrounding calves that have been weaned on the farm or purchased continues to date on the Barker farm.
Upon graduation from Middle Tennessee State University, a second set of Barker Brothers (Mark, Boyd and John) started faming in a general partnership with an emphasis on hog production and growing grain. During this time, Mark married Cindy Smith and together they were blessed with a son, Luke, and a daughter, Lydia. The Barker Farm continued to expand to approximately 1200, but with tight margins in the swine industry in the early to mid 1990s, John and Boyd left full-time farming for careers with Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture respectively. However Mark has continued to operate the Barker family farm raising crossbred
commercial cattle and hogs and growing corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. Swine production was phased out several years ago leaving cattle production as the lone livestock enterprise on the farm.
Mark has served on numerous boards including the Tennessee Beef Council, Cannon County Farm Bureau board of directors as President, Tennessee Farm Bureau Livestock Advisory Committee, Resolutions Committee and as District 4 Caucus chairman, represented Farm Bureau on the national level as a voting delegate to the American Farm Bureau Convention and on lobbying trips to Washington D.C. He serves locally as Cannon County Commissioner, serves on Cannon County Soil Conservation District Board and The University of Tennessee Extension
Agriculture Committee.
Mark was in Colorado visiting his son Luke who is an ophthalmologist in Fort Worth, TX. Mark regrets that he is unable to be here personally to accept this honor and recognition, but already had travel plans and is enjoying this time with three of his grandsons. Mark's daughter Lydia lives in Murfreesboro and is employed by Dempsey Vantrease and Follis. She is married to Chris Hancock who is the District Conservationist at NRCS in Rutherford County and together they have a son and daughter, rounding our Mark's five grandchildren.
Mark was represented today by his brothers Boyd and John, and by his mother Henrietta.
being the sire of Roy Roger's horse Trigger, Jr.
1923 marked the birth of their only child, Mark’s father Ray Barker. Ray was born on the farm and subsequently spent his lifetime farming. Upon
graduating from high school in 1942, Ray purchased his first tractor, a Farmall H. In 1952, Ray married Henrietta Tenpenny and together they were blessed with three sons, Mark, Boyd and John. Through the years, Ray expanded the farming operation to over 1000 acres and mainly raised Hereford cattle, sheep and hogs and grew various crops including corn, soybeans, hay, wheat and oats. During the 1950's, Ray upgraded his
tractors to Farmall M diesels, a couple of which are still in service on the farm. In 1963, Ray built his first silo and purchased silage equipment in order to add value to his weaned calves. Backgrounding calves that have been weaned on the farm or purchased continues to date on the Barker farm.
Upon graduation from Middle Tennessee State University, a second set of Barker Brothers (Mark, Boyd and John) started faming in a general partnership with an emphasis on hog production and growing grain. During this time, Mark married Cindy Smith and together they were blessed with a son, Luke, and a daughter, Lydia. The Barker Farm continued to expand to approximately 1200, but with tight margins in the swine industry in the early to mid 1990s, John and Boyd left full-time farming for careers with Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture respectively. However Mark has continued to operate the Barker family farm raising crossbred
commercial cattle and hogs and growing corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. Swine production was phased out several years ago leaving cattle production as the lone livestock enterprise on the farm.
Mark has served on numerous boards including the Tennessee Beef Council, Cannon County Farm Bureau board of directors as President, Tennessee Farm Bureau Livestock Advisory Committee, Resolutions Committee and as District 4 Caucus chairman, represented Farm Bureau on the national level as a voting delegate to the American Farm Bureau Convention and on lobbying trips to Washington D.C. He serves locally as Cannon County Commissioner, serves on Cannon County Soil Conservation District Board and The University of Tennessee Extension
Agriculture Committee.
Mark was in Colorado visiting his son Luke who is an ophthalmologist in Fort Worth, TX. Mark regrets that he is unable to be here personally to accept this honor and recognition, but already had travel plans and is enjoying this time with three of his grandsons. Mark's daughter Lydia lives in Murfreesboro and is employed by Dempsey Vantrease and Follis. She is married to Chris Hancock who is the District Conservationist at NRCS in Rutherford County and together they have a son and daughter, rounding our Mark's five grandchildren.
Mark was represented today by his brothers Boyd and John, and by his mother Henrietta.
TCA Cow/Calf Producer of the Year
David Parker
The DKM Farm was founded in 1907 by R. L. and Myrtle Parker. They were the parents of Kenneth, Houston, Opal, Homer, Mamie and Hilary. On forty acres, the family raised corn, sweet potatoes, oats, wheat, hogs, cattle, mules and chickens. A progressive farmer, R. L. participated in the early stages of the soil conservation program and also in the Grange. The family remembers they that took part in “old fashioned farm face lifts.” The family began a Registered Polled Hereford cattle business and held their first sale in 1966. This sale continues today after 45 years.
In 1958, Kenneth and Delois Parker, the son and daughter in law of the founders became the second generation to own the property. Their children are Marcus, David and Kathy. Kenneth and Delois increased the size of their farm from about 440 to about 1200 acres.
In 2004, the grandson of the founder, David Parker and his wife Paula became the owners and operators of the farm. Currently, the farm produces a wide variety of crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, crimson clover, peppers, alfalfa, sweet corn. In addition, they raise cattle, dairy cattle, chickens, horses and sheep. The original barn stands and is used on a daily basis.
Three generations of the Parker family live on the farm today. The farm is home to David and Paula and their daughters Krista, along with her husband Lynn Trail and their daughters Kaitlynn and Kathryn, and Angela who is married to Don Moore and their children, D.J. and Abigail and son Brian which has recently become engaged. David’s brother Mark is actively involved with the farm along with son Justin and wife Jessica which is expecting their first child in March.
The Parker Brothers Farm or better known today as DKM (named for David, his sister Kathy and brother Mark), is located half way between Manchester, TN (off I-24) and Woodbury. At DKM Farm/Parker Bros, row cropping and raising cattle is our way of life. Our livelihood depends on our crops and cattle.
“To insure the quality of his cattle, David uses artificial insemination from top producing registered bulls along with the high quality bulls he produces. The
character and integrity of David as an individual carries through to the qualityand integrity of his cattle production producing cattle that are healthy,
performance oriented and an asset to the buyer. David has been and continues to be very active in supporting his local Cattlemen’s Association and Tennessee Polled Hereford Association. I have had several opportunities to serve with David in cattle committees. I have found David to be
very easy to work with and he provides valuable ideas and leadership. His leadership and concern for others carries over into the area of cattle
production and teaching his grandchildren, nieces and nephews the love of cattle and showing cattle.”
Tom Carmouche
“I feel that David’s efforts as a Hereford breeder have greatly enhanced the popularity of Hereford cattle through-out Tennessee and the southeast. David is
a strong advocate of performance type cattle and maintains the records to back that, from birth weights to the collection of carcass information. His efforts
were again rewarded with a very successful production sale Labor Day week end. Parker genetics were in strong demand from breeders from all across the
nation.”
Tommy Coley
“I have known David since he was a teenager. He served as the first President of the Tennessee Junior Polled Hereford Association which was organized in 1972. He has served in many capacities over the last 40 years to improve the beef cattle industry and help other individuals as cattle producers."
From Glenda Rickman, Rickman Farms
“Perhaps even more impressive than his credentials and status as a top tier cow/calf producer is the man himself. David is the type of person who
will give everything he has to assure success. I have observed this not only with his cow/calf operation but also in his row crop operation as well as his
care of feeding contract dairy heifers. David’s dedication and determination also extends well beyond the farm. David is a community leader in the truest
sense of the word. Whether it is serving on the local Telephone Cooperative Board, local Livestock Market Board, or working with his beloved church, David
is the person people seek out for leadership and guidance.”
Bruce Steelman, County Director in Cannon County
“I told Kaitlynn (my oldest child, 11) that we had to come today to accept Poppie's award for being TCA's Outstanding Cow-Calf Producer. She asked me what that meant, and I told her that he was getting an award for being a top cattle producer and breeder for Tennessee. She replied “oh!, so Poppie is getting an award for being Poppie.””
Granddaughter Kaitlynn Trail
In 1958, Kenneth and Delois Parker, the son and daughter in law of the founders became the second generation to own the property. Their children are Marcus, David and Kathy. Kenneth and Delois increased the size of their farm from about 440 to about 1200 acres.
In 2004, the grandson of the founder, David Parker and his wife Paula became the owners and operators of the farm. Currently, the farm produces a wide variety of crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, crimson clover, peppers, alfalfa, sweet corn. In addition, they raise cattle, dairy cattle, chickens, horses and sheep. The original barn stands and is used on a daily basis.
Three generations of the Parker family live on the farm today. The farm is home to David and Paula and their daughters Krista, along with her husband Lynn Trail and their daughters Kaitlynn and Kathryn, and Angela who is married to Don Moore and their children, D.J. and Abigail and son Brian which has recently become engaged. David’s brother Mark is actively involved with the farm along with son Justin and wife Jessica which is expecting their first child in March.
The Parker Brothers Farm or better known today as DKM (named for David, his sister Kathy and brother Mark), is located half way between Manchester, TN (off I-24) and Woodbury. At DKM Farm/Parker Bros, row cropping and raising cattle is our way of life. Our livelihood depends on our crops and cattle.
“To insure the quality of his cattle, David uses artificial insemination from top producing registered bulls along with the high quality bulls he produces. The
character and integrity of David as an individual carries through to the qualityand integrity of his cattle production producing cattle that are healthy,
performance oriented and an asset to the buyer. David has been and continues to be very active in supporting his local Cattlemen’s Association and Tennessee Polled Hereford Association. I have had several opportunities to serve with David in cattle committees. I have found David to be
very easy to work with and he provides valuable ideas and leadership. His leadership and concern for others carries over into the area of cattle
production and teaching his grandchildren, nieces and nephews the love of cattle and showing cattle.”
Tom Carmouche
“I feel that David’s efforts as a Hereford breeder have greatly enhanced the popularity of Hereford cattle through-out Tennessee and the southeast. David is
a strong advocate of performance type cattle and maintains the records to back that, from birth weights to the collection of carcass information. His efforts
were again rewarded with a very successful production sale Labor Day week end. Parker genetics were in strong demand from breeders from all across the
nation.”
Tommy Coley
“I have known David since he was a teenager. He served as the first President of the Tennessee Junior Polled Hereford Association which was organized in 1972. He has served in many capacities over the last 40 years to improve the beef cattle industry and help other individuals as cattle producers."
From Glenda Rickman, Rickman Farms
“Perhaps even more impressive than his credentials and status as a top tier cow/calf producer is the man himself. David is the type of person who
will give everything he has to assure success. I have observed this not only with his cow/calf operation but also in his row crop operation as well as his
care of feeding contract dairy heifers. David’s dedication and determination also extends well beyond the farm. David is a community leader in the truest
sense of the word. Whether it is serving on the local Telephone Cooperative Board, local Livestock Market Board, or working with his beloved church, David
is the person people seek out for leadership and guidance.”
Bruce Steelman, County Director in Cannon County
“I told Kaitlynn (my oldest child, 11) that we had to come today to accept Poppie's award for being TCA's Outstanding Cow-Calf Producer. She asked me what that meant, and I told her that he was getting an award for being a top cattle producer and breeder for Tennessee. She replied “oh!, so Poppie is getting an award for being Poppie.””
Granddaughter Kaitlynn Trail