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May 5, 2008

Farm and Ranch Tour set for May 13

By Lauren Ricks

A train of chartered buses will roll through Henderson County on Tuesday morning, May 13.

The 45th Annual Henderson County Farm & Ranch Tour will once again tour three farms and ranches near Athens.

The tour will stop at Pine Ridge Ranch owned by Bill and Jane Travis; Champion Ranch owned by Marcus Smith; and Dogwood Nursery owned by Don McGee.

Pine Ridge Ranch raises registered Simbrah cattle. Rick Hirsch, co-chair of the Farm & Ranch Tour, said it is a premiere producer. He said the tour will focus partly on improving cattle genetics. Breeding programs and the system of selecting cattle will be discussed.

Champion Ranch will focus on land uses in the current era, according to Hirsch. He said the topic will focus on subdividing land.

“Selling them for ranchettes, smaller properties, recreational property and land for homes,” Hirsch said. “I think it is progress, with more people coming into the community.”

Dogwood Nursery will spotlight the horticultural industry. Hirsch said it is a major part of the agricultural industry. He said it provides bedding plants, trees, shrubs and greenhouse plants to several states in the south and southwest.

Gus Flener, president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, said the purpose of the event is to educate residents about the importance of the industry to the economy.

According to the chamber — which is a sponsor of the event — the farm and ranch industry is one of the largest sources of income in the county.

“The major production areas include beef cattle, nursery crops, fruits and vegetables, hay production, timber and horses,” according to information provided by the Chamber of Commerce.

“The response to the tour is extremely positive. The insight they get, even the business leaders recognize how important agriculture is to the county,” Hirsch said.

He said the buses will each have a tour guide on board to explain interesting facts.

Henderson County District Attorney Donna Bennett has been a tour guide for about three years.

“I think it is a great idea. Most of the people are greatly surprised about the places in the county,” Bennett said.

She said tour guides also provide information during the ride to and from the destinations.

Hirsch said the farmers are happy to participate in the tour. He said they view it as an opportunity to educate the public about the operations and advancements.

The tour will cover some issues that have been affecting the local and national agricultural industries, such as cost of feed.

Hirsch said the cost of range cubes is a good barometer for the cost of feed. Tiare McGee with Ag Services, in Athens, said the cost of range cubes has risen about a dollar since last year.

“They are coping with it. It is something people are looking at with a watchful eye,” Hirsch said.

Hirsch said each farm and ranch will be toured for about 30 to 40 minutes.

“Most of the stops are designed to be hands-on,” he said. “We work with the landowners to make sure the stop is as user-friendly as possible.”

A free luncheon will be served after the tour.

For more information call the Chamber of Commerce at 903-675-5181.

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