Friday, February 23, 2007 - Fam Day 2007

Farm Day 2007 Features Dr. Jim Byford of UT-Martin

      Today, Union City Rotarians welcome many of their farming friends and ag-related businessmen from the community as Dr. Jim Byford of UT-Martin keynotes the annual Farm Day Program.
     Dr. Byford, Professor and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at UT-Martin, received his B.S. degree from UTM in 1966. He earned a Ph. D. from Auburn in 1970, majoring in wildlife biology with minors in forest ecology and fisheries biology. He has served as Dean at UTM for the past 17 years and has been with the UT system for 33 years.  His scholarly interests include natural resource conservation and management, conservation and education, deer management, wildlife biology and biofuel technology development.
     In 2002, there were 700 farms in Obion County producing $62 million in crops and livestock.  The numbers continue to decline as the years roll by!

Joe Antal Reports on Lennox Hearth  Products

     Next week, Rotarians will hear from fellow Rotarian Joe Antal, who’ll provide us with an update on life inside the Lennox-Hearth Products, Inc.
     LHP offers a diverse family of brands for every style and budget, including the new Radium, vent-free catalytic gas fireplace.
     Joe Antal has spent his entire career in manufacturing and has held many positions in materials management, strategic and capital planning, and plant management.  Since the late 1980’s, Joe is a strong supporter of Toyota’s “Lean Manufacturing” production methodology.
     Born and raised in Philly, Joe received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Drexel University. He moved to the South and earned his MBA from Alabama while attending night school.  Tennessee is the eighth state Joe has lived in.  Joe has been a Rotarian for the past eight years.

Randy Phillips “Thanks” UC for Helping Grow His Career

     Last week, Rotarians heard from former Union Citian and former Rotarian Randy Phillips, now the senior associate vice president and director of research at Union University in Jackson.
     Union University has just under 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 45 states and 35 countries.  The Faculty to Student Ratio is 12:1.  Union was founded in 1823 and is the oldest institution affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.  Union is located on a 290-acre campus in Jackson.
     Randy started his talk by presenting a short video on Union University and how the Baptist-sponsored school has grown in recent years under the leadership of Dr. David Dockery.
     “We’re preparing students to become ‘change agents’,” Phillips said. “Union would be nothing without the support we get from communities like Union City and your students.”
     Randy spoke of several new, exciting programs coming to Union—including a nursing anesthesiology program, a new engineering program, and an advanced health care program.
     Randy paused during his talk to reflect on the recent passing of Mike Dickerson and others from the community who have given so much to so many.
     “I owe a lot to Union City and to the many businessmen and community leaders who have stood shoulder to shoulder through the years,” Phillips said.
     In a talk that obviously hit home for Randy in many ways, the speaker asked some poignant questions.
     “Did you ever pray for a certain type of cancer?  It’s the rarest thing to do.”
     Randy closed by stating the obvious.
     “Life is oh so precious.”

Coming Attractions

3/9      Retiring UTM Chancellor Nick Dunagan on Tennessee Scholars Program
3/16    Ron Green with update on Boys & Girls Club plus visit by B&G Club Choir
3/23    Pat Fligor--Retail Recruitment in Obion County
3/30     Gary Roach—UTM Rodeo
4/6       JoAnn Spears and Ron Cooper on Coming Airport Improvements
4/13     Virginia Betts—TN Commissioner of Mental Health
4/19     (Thursday)—DSA Banquet featuring Jim Ellis
4/20     No Meeting Today
4/27     Rotary Relays and visit from Paul Tinkle of Thunderbolt  Broadcasting
5/4        Rotary Scholarship Program

Happy Birthdays

2/24     John Clendenin
2/27     Porter Keightley
3/1       Howard Ragsdale

OC Ag Stats as of 2002

Number of Farms
         701in 2002, 847 in 1997 (down 17%)
Land in Farms
         263,914 acres in 2002, 255,738 acres in 1997 (up 3%)
Average Size of Farms
         376 acres in 2002, 302 acres in 1997 (up 25%)

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