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May 14, 2008

FARM AND RANCH TOUR: Herrington named Agriculturalist of the Year

By Lauren Ricks

James “J.D.” Herring-ton always knew he wanted to be a farmer. His lifetime of work has paid off.

The Athens Chamber of Commerce awarded the Joe B. Fulgham Agriculturist of the Year award to Herrington on Tuesday at the annual Farm and Ranch tour luncheon.

The 2007 recipient, Danny Davis, spoke on the selection of Herrington.

“When I heard who was winning this award this year I thought, ‘Why hasn’t he won this yet?’” Davis said.

Davis spoke about Herrington’s history in the agriculture business. He said Herrington was in the Future Farmers of America at Athens High School, a member of the Blackjack 4H Club and he even won the state championship in tractor driving.

Herrington’s family has been farming land near Blackjack for three generations, according to Davis.

His father, Buck, was also a winner of the award.

Davis said Herrington is an active supporter of the Henderson County Livestock Show, FFA and Young Farmers organizations.

Herrington said he is honored to have been given the award.

“I would like to thank everyone who has made this possible. I would like to thank my wife who has put up with me for 35 years so I could keep farming,” Herrington said.

He said his wife, Jovonna, worked with Henderson County for 32 years.

He said he raises cattle, grows hay and runs a custom farming operation.

“I do everything that anybody wants done,” he said.

Herrington’s farm is located on 1,200 acres in the Blackjack community east of Athens.

Prior to the luncheon, held at the Cain Center, four buses and several cars toured local agricultural sites. The group toured Pine Ridge Ranch, Champion Ranch and Dogwood Nursery.

Florence Richardson said she has been on the tour all 27 years.

“I enjoy it, it’s fun and I learn. I grew up on a farm,” she said. “We still have cows.”

Jacob Goforth, 11, said this is his second year to participate.

“It’s pretty fun. I like seeing the farms and what they have and how big they are,” Goforth said.

A representative at each stop spoke about the operation and importance of agriculture in Henderson county. Bill Travis, owner of Pine Ridge Ranch, spoke on his choice of cattle.

“We raise hot weather cattle. Simbrah can be raised anywhere grass grows,” Travis said.

He said the ranch has 422 head of cattle and 437 acres.

Champion Ranch was divided up by a developer to sell in tracts of land from two to 20 acres, according to property owners association president Bob Carter. The land had been part of McAdams Ranch before it was sold and developed. The ranch had been between 1,000 and 1,500 acres, according to Julie Moore. Moore works for the United States Department of Agriculture in the Natural Resources Conservation Service. She said the farm was split into several different developments.

“Areas near Dallas are really getting busted up,” Moore said. “We are not really losing land, we are changing how it’s being used.”

The last stop on the tour was Dogwood Nursery. It was established in 1969 by Jake McGee to grow products for McGee Nursery, according to Jon Allen.

Allen said some of the 65 greenhouses are the original structures built in 1969.

The business is owned by Don and Ninta McGee.

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