Southern Traditions Outdoors - January 2021

1 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2021
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
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REELFOOT
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EAGLES
FAMILY FARMS · COLD WEATHER CRAPPIE
SMALLMOUTH – THE OTHER BASS
YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNT · THE WILD, WILD WEST

JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2021 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 3

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Southern Traditions Outdoors | Rob Somerville
(731) 446-8052 stomag1@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER - Neither the authors or Southern Traditions Outdoors
Magazine LLC assume any responsibility or liability for any actions
by readers who utilize any information contained within. Readers
are advised that the use of any and all information contained within
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On the Cover
Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine Mission Statement:
Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine vows to put forth a publication to
promote the outdoors lifestyle in a positive manner. We will strive to encourage
veteran and novice outdoorsmen, women, kids, and the physically challenged
to participate in the outdoors in a safe and ethical manner. Our publication will
bring positive attention to the wondrous beauty of the world of Nature in the
mid-south.
Field Staff Editors
Owners - Eddie Anderson
Rob Somerville
Kevin Griffith

Publisher - Eddie Anderson
Editor - Rob Somerville
Advertising Sales
Rob Somerville - Managing
Partner
Distribution
Johnathan Anderson
Mike Robinson
Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine, LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This pair of bald eagles scans the waters of Reelfoot Lake for fish or fowl for their dinner. Eagles
that migrate south for the winter are a common sight on the great “Quake Lake.”
Photo by wildlife photographer - Jere Hughes
PG..................... ARTICLE ............................................................AUTHOR
8 ........................... The Eagles of Reelfoot Lake.............................................Jere Hughes
12 ......................... Smallmouth - The Other Bass ..........................................Richard Hines
20 ........................ Family Farming..................................................................Jon Holden/Erin Mallory
28 ......................... The Future of Farming is Female......................................Cynthia Cunningham
34 ......................... The Wild, Wild West..........................................................Sam Bradshaw
40 ......................... Reelfoot Lake Cold Water Crappie....................................Cody Rodriquez
44 ......................... Youth Waterfowl Hunt........................................................Steve McCadams
52 ......................... Trophy Room.....................................................................STO
Garry Mason
Walter Wilkerson
Terry Wilkerson
Steve McCadams
Kelley Powers
Shawn Todd
Eddie Brunswick
Larry Self
Cody Rodriquez
Sharon Somerville
Richard Simms
Dana Watford
Buck Gardner
Richard Hines
Ed Lankford
Drew Brooks
John Latham
Will Gregory
John Roberts
Richard Hines
Rob Hurt
Mark Buehler
Richard A. Fagan
Neill McLaurin
Sam Bradshaw
Daryl Ratajczak
Jonathon Holden

The year 2020 was challeng-
ing for us all. I believe there is
no doubt in that. Political up-
heaval, sensational media lies,
and of course – the Corona vi-
rus have affected us all. I had a
mini stroke in October and my
good friend and STO Maga-
zine partner – Eddie Anderson
went through both a kidney
and liver transplant. Luckily,
God has blessed us with strong
and loving people around us
that helped us get through
these transforming times.
America – as a people – are
resilient. When mountains are
put in our path, we make them
into speed bumps. We may be
forced to slow down … but we
will not quit. Our long term
goal is not merely to survive,
but to thrive.
We will get through these
trying times. We always do. I
believe in the power of prayer,
and I bet this past year has
seen more people praying with
knees bent than ever before.
Personally, I have witnessed
God’s blessings more than ever
this past year. I feel the need
to tell those that are close to
me how much I love and ap-
preciate them. My prayers are
more filled with thanks than
with requests.
I believe that we all will come
out stronger in 2021. We will
learn from our mistakes and
move forward. STO Magazine
took a pretty big hit, as we lost
several advertisers that had to
shut down due to the Corona
Virus. But somehow, each time
one of our friends had to opt
out, a window would open and
a new advertiser would join us.
Here is my challenge to all
who are reading this. Try to
stay positive every day. Look
for the good in others, instead
of criticizing the bad. Tell
your family and friends that
you love and appreciate them.
Squash any petty grudges you
may have with someone. Last-
ly, thank the Good Lord for
all he has blessed you with,
instead of complaining about
what you do not have. I am
personally going to make this
challenge my New Year’s reso-
lution. Will you join me?
Have a blessed New Year!
SO READY FOR THE NEW YEAR!!
From the Desk of Rob S omer v ille
Rob Somerville
L etter from the E ditor

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The photographer cast an
anxious glance to the east while
exiting his truck on Long Point
National Wildlife Refuge. The
sounds of the refuge’s waterfowl
filled the predawn cold air as
the golden retriever paused, mo-
mentarily to listen, while jump-
ing from the truck. However,
the scents of the night’s wildlife
pulled her toward the abandoned
ranger’s station where the scold-
ing of a squirrel greeted her.
The photographer hurriedly
connected a camera onto his tri-
pod and made last minute checks
on the Nikon’s settings. With a
large number of migrating wa-
terfowl present on the lake, he re-
alizes that eagles, and other lake
raptors, will be in the area.
By Jere Hughes
Photo by Author

While observing the increasing
glow that promises the coming of
dawn, thoughts of other lake lo-
cations to explore flow through
the photographer’s mind. As a
pianist lightly running fingers
across piano keys, the photog-
rapher’s thoughts run across the
locations of Keystone Park, Mis-
sissippi River Levee, Greys Camp
Willow Run, Black Bayou, Air
Park Ramp, Upper Basin, Grassy
Unit, Kirby’s Pocket and the Low-
er End of the lake to explore. If
time allows, experience brings to
mind the fields lying between the
river levee and the lake.
As the morning’s glow pushed
back the night’s exiting dark-
ness, a silhouette of an eagle was
observed, perched in a tree top,
presiding over the refuge’s water-
fowl filled fields. The image was
captured along with other pic-
tures of waterfowl lifting across
the horizon from the fields. Soon
the soft nudging of the retriever’s
muzzle sent a reminder that it
was time to pack up and explore
the lake’s other areas. The glow
of the dawn soon brightened to
reveal the day’s appearance. The
partial clouds suspended against
the cold, clear sky promised great
lighting for an entire day of im-
age captures.
The day’s agenda was main-
tained with many sightings of ea-
gles and other raptors. One of the
lake’s winter wheat sowed fields
provided multiple eagles compet-
ing over snow goose carcasses.
Often, eagles glide through these
masses of geese feeding on the
winter wheat causing the geese
to arise and resulting in many of
them colliding and falling from
injuries. Riding the Mississippi
Photo by Author

River levee offered many individ-
ual and pairs of eagle sightings.
Adults were busy establishing
boundaries around repaired nests
and previous year’s juveniles were
being chased away. While eagles
were the primary interest, other
raptors were sighted. The riding
of the lake’s fields, levees, and wa-
terways produced additional ob-
servations of harriers, owls, red-
tail and kestrel hawks. Gulls were
seen in masses in the fields bor-
dering the levee and blue herons
were regularly observed along the
lake’s shoreline.
Some fellow photographers
were encountered. Each one ex-
changed the day’s image cap-
tures with raptor sightings be-
ing shared between old and new
friends. While driving home the
retriever’s paws lightly danced
while sleeping in the truck’s back
seat, exhausted from the day’s
squirrel chases. All too soon the
night’s darkness began to push
back against the fading day’s set-
ting sun. Just as the day started,
it ends with the same sounds of
the lake’s waterfowl rafting to-
gether under the night’s bright-
ening stars. Serenaded by the
night’s owl greetings, the lakes,
eagles, and photographers retire
to their lodgings as each prepare
for the next day’s dawn.
This adventure awaits anyone
wishing to visit Reelfoot Lake
and its abundant wildlife pop-
ulations. Reelfoot Lake holds a
strong resident eagle population,
and its numbers grow when mi-
grating waterfowl arrive on the
lake accompanied by additional
eagles. The Reelfoot Lake State
Park, a member of the Tennes-
see State Park System, and the
Reelfoot Lake Tourism Coun-
sel sponsor the Eagle Festival
which promotes the regions ea-
gles. This year’s 17th annual fes-
tival is scheduled for February
5th, 6th, and 7th of 2021. Attend-
ees of the festival will have access
to guided eagle bus tours by the
state park. Additionally, the state
park offers guided pontoon cruise
tours giving attendees special
views of the lake and its inhabi-
tants. The sunset cruise is by far
the favorite of all the cruises. The
Reelfoot National Wildlife Ref-
uge will offer a self-guided eagle
tour packet, which will include
step-by-step directions of all their
popular eagle stops with descrip-
tions on where to look and in-
formation regarding the refuge’s
bald eagles. The packets will also
contain their “Tips to Successful-
ly Finding Bald Eagles.” Those in-
terested can email Refuge Rang-
er Tara Dowdy at Tara_Dowdy@
fws.gov to receive a packet. In-
terested individuals can visit the
websites and Facebook pages of
the Reelfoot Lake State Park and
the Reelfoot Lake Tourism Coun-
cil for a listing of all their festival
activities.
Festival attendees can find
lodging opportunities at the state
park cabins and other lake side
hotels/motels at Reelfoot Lake
Tourism Council’s website www.
reelfoottourism.com. Blue Bank
Resort offers a great opportunity
for lodging along with their ex-
cellent restaurant. While there,
visitors can enjoy the resort’s
butterfly garden. Boyette’s and
Lakeview Restaurants provide
dining experiences that com-
bine rich lake tradition with food
that will be remembered long af-
ter their guests return home. So,
if the winter and holidays have
drained your internal batteries,
come enjoy the 17th Annual Reel-
foot Eagle Festival and allow the
lake to recharge your inner you.
Hope to see you there and you
might find a friendly golden re-
triever awaiting.

Sportsman’s Resort North & South
Our two Campgrounds have full hookup with water, electricity and
sewer. They are located at the lake’s edge. We offer yearly, nightly or
weekly campsites. The south campground has a boat ramp. Our yearly
rates start January 1 and run through December 31st. We also offer 3
day camping packages that include the R.V. spot, boat, motor, gas and
bait. Please check out our web site for more information.
North Campground has in-ground pool for guests of either location!
SOUTH CAMPGROUND
NORTH CAMPGROUND
Sportsman’s Resort
100 Sportsman’s Resort Lane
Tiptonville, Tn. 38079
731-253-6581 or 731-334-2309
www.reelfootlake.com

If you live in west Tennes-
see smallmouth bass are far
and few between. Smallmouth
bass require slightly higher dis-
solved oxygen levels, cooler wa-
ter temperatures and flowing
water that is generally swifter
than most of the area streams.
When talking about small-
mouth bass, there is absolute-
ly no doubt, there is not a bass
anywhere in the country that
can take a lure and fight like a
smallmouth.
To find smallmouth bass
in Tennessee, you will need to
travel at least east of Kentucky
Lake. Although there may be a
few locations I am not familiar
with {such as in Kentucky and
Pickwick Lakes}, this seems to
be the rule for their distribu-
tion across the Volunteer State.
Smallmouth bass do best
in a lotic environment mean-
ing they prefer moving water
and although smallmouth bass
are in lakes, they are river fish.
The one exception are the nat-
ural lakes found in the north-
ern portion of the U.S. As most
anglers know, smallmouth have
adapted well to the numerous
reservoirs across the state and
today, smallmouth bass inhab-
it every sizable stream from the
Appalachian Mountains west to
the Buffalo River.
And you might wonder
how big they get in Tennessee,
well one lake shared by both
S
m
a
l
l
mo
uth
- The other Bass
By Richard Hines
Shown here is a happy customer of Scenic City Fishing Tours,
owned by Richard Simms

Tennessee and Kentucky; Dale
Hollow, has the world record
smallmouth bass. Caught in
1955, this 11-pound 15-ounce
bruiser remains at the top.
For STO readers across West
Tennessee finding a small-
mouth close to home may be
tough but one stream, the Buf-
falo River is nearby, and it is
one of my favorite stops for
small stream smallies.
When floating the Buffalo,
as well as other streams across
Tennessee, smallmouth will
inhabit the same water with
spotted bass and sometimes
largemouth bass. Each species
selects preferred habitat along
a river for their home range.
Smallmouths will need cool-
Here is Captain Richard Simms with a hefty smallmouth bass.

er water and higher dissolved
oxygen levels {which is associ-
ated with swifter water} while
largemouth bass will be staged
in the pools with lower wa-
ter velocity and spotted bass
hanging somewhere in between
these two extremes. Spots are
more generalized in their hab-
itat preferences.
Where a smallmouth will
stake out his claim will have
several essential stream charac-
teristics, fast flow, rocks, shade,
and eddies. The fast flow is the
delivery system bringing food
through the smallmouth’s do-
main; while the rock shade and
eddies are their retreat. While
smallmouths live in fast water,
they cannot maintain a position
in the swift flow all day, so they
retreat and sit motionless in ed-
dies just below riffles.
As the current turns and
swirls in the eddy, food is con-
tinually being presenting as it
moves through the swifter wa-
ter. These are prime locations
to cast an artificial crawfish,
crankbait, or spinner baits such
as Roadrunners. My preferred
method for fishing the Buffa-
lo River is in a canoe or kayak.
Here is an angler, wading a
stream for smallmouth in Central
Tennessee.
Photo by Richard Hines
The author has pulled over his kayak to fish a shoal on the
Buffalo River.

If you really want to get into
big smallmouth, it may well
be worth your time to venture
east. Just about any angler with
smallmouth on their mind will
consider Dale Hollow, but there
are other areas as productive in
east Tennessee.
According to fishing guide,
Captain Richard Simms, “Our
local water is a solid small-
mouth fishery, in fact you can
bet that most of the Tennessee
River tailwater areas (down-
stream from TVA Dams) pro-
vide good smallmouth habitat”
Simms’s guide service: Sce-
nic City Fishing Charters fish-
es for smallmouth almost ex-
clusively on the headwaters of
Nickajack Reservoir (Chicka-
mauga Dam tailwaters, which
is literally in the city limits of
Chattanooga.
Simms added, “Just like
Dale Hollow, our section of
the Tennessee River is man-
aged as “trophy smallmouth
water.” The creel limit is only
one smallmouth per day, per
person, and it must be a mini-
mum of 18-inches long. How-
ever virtually all serious small-
mouth anglers practice catch
& release”
Scenic City Fishing Char-
ters only guides for smallmouth
in the late fall, winter and in
the spring. Once temperatures
reach 70 degrees, smallies are
tough to locate in the larger
lakes. It might be possible for
some limited nighttime fishing,
but for the most part summer is
not the best time for lake small-
mouth bass.
This is where small stream
anglers seem to do OK. Small-
mouth bass tend to remain ac-
cessible year-round, but the
question is, will they bite or
not. The solution at this point
is going through a range of
baits until you can entice a
smallmouth to bite.
Simms prefers using live bait
such as threadfin shad that he
catches with cast nets, but large
shiners can also be purchased
around many of the lakes. Sev-
eral of the guides that fish with
Scenic City Charters are ex-
clusively artificial, using small
On small streams, a 19-inch smallmouth is typically a trophy, especially on 4-pound test line!
Photo by Richard Hines

swim baits, jigs (hair and rub-
ber) and sometimes jerk baits.
Simms says that overall live bait
will generally outperform arti-
ficial bait at about 5 to 1. Sur-
prisingly, good odds that would
make any angler reconsider a
change in methods.
So, when is the best time
to schedule a trip to east Ten-
nessee? Simms said, “In early
December we boated 15 small-
mouth, which I think is an av-
erage day for early winter…
and 25 fish days are not too
unusual”
When fishing live bait, you
can also count on a mixed bag
of fish that include spotted
bass, largemouth, and white
bass.
Simms said, “Late March
to early-May is usually our
peak for the spring smallmouth
bite. This past year, I experi-
enced my best day EVER small-
mouth fishing with a client on
May 13th. It was incredible.
We boated 54 smallmouth and
there were virtually NO DINKS
(which are those little 10-12-
inch smallmouth) … we had
several 5-pound-class fish”
In the world of bass fish-
ing, I think smallmouth anglers
probably have the widest range
of equipment at their dispos-
al. From $70,000 bass boats, to
kayaks, to just an old pair of
tennis shoes for wading small
streams, smallmouth anglers
will find a wide range of lakes,
rivers and small streams.to try
and in most cases with mini-
mal gear.
If you go after smallmouth
bass, you will quickly under-
stand why it is a favorite fish
for stream and lake fishing.
There is no doubt they hit
harder, fight harder, ounce for
ounce than about any fish you
will catch in Tennessee streams.
If you want to schedule a
trip to east Tennessee, consid-
er contacting Richard Simms
at 423-509-4655 or Scenic City
Fishing Charters, Inc.at www.
ScenicCityFishing.com.
You can also check out Rich-
ard Simms video, a day on the
water with Scenic City Fishing.
https://youtu.be/lMJwm-LbBll

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Where do most values and
traditions come from? They come
from family. This includes the
generational practice of family
farming. This lifelong heritage,
although it has its downsides and
struggles, will continue to remain
a vital part of agriculture and
farming life as we know it. Farm-
ing has always been a vital part of
life and remains a vital way of life
for many in America.
Family farms also play an
important role in the Ameri-
can economy, whether it be our
Gross Domestic Product, their
simplicity compared to facto-
ry farming, or their potential to
maximize profits. It is also at the
point in time where the sustain-
ability and long term dedication
to family farming is in ques-
tion, due to newer opportunities
and ways of life for many gen-
erational farming families. With
these questions, there are also
many hardships that involve fam-
ily farms and their operations.
There are many factors that go
in to where the future of fami-
ly farms will be, but they will al-
ways play an important part in
our growing world, no matter the
By Jon Holden & Erin Mallory
The Grills farm is a ninth generation, Tennessee farm and has been dated back to the 1800’s.
PhotobyJonathanHolden

The Schultz brothers (Joseph and William) are carrying on the family farming operation in Finley, TN.
Photo by Jonathan Holden

circumstances.
Farming has been a way of
life since the beginning of time.
Before industrialization and the
practice of factory farming, there
were simple, family owned farms.
A family farm is defined as “a
farm that is owned and operated
by a family, especially one that
has been handed down from one
generation to another”.
Family farms have served as
the basis of farming for the world.
They began on a small scale of
family operations and continued
to serve as the template for Amer-
ican farming and agriculture. Ev-
erything that is vital to American
agriculture today came from the
hard work and dedication of fam-
ily farmers everywhere. Without
family farmers serving as the be-
ginners of agricultore, farming
would not be where it is today.
Family farms, although very vital,
have dropped in numbers since
the 1900’s until today. In 1935,
there were 6.8 million farms in
the United States, but that num-
ber has dropped drastically to
around 2.02 million farms today.
With 97% of farms in the United
States being family owned oper-
ations, family farms have proven
to have dropped significantly over
time, but they still play a large
The Schultz family farming workers are pictured here in 1983. Marvin and Joel Schultz along with Benny
Leach and Eddie Anderson pose by their combine after a long day’s work.

part in the agriculture market in
the United States. With this drop
in farm numbers, it is a possibil-
ity that these numbers will con-
tinue to drop, but there is also
the hope that family operations
will continue to stay in business
and still serve as the template for
American farming.
Family farms also make a
great contribution to our na-
tion’s economy. Whether it be
in the United States’ Gross Do-
mestic Product, the advantages
they hold compared to factory
farming, or their profit maximiz-
ing power, family farms are vi-
tal in our economy. Agriculture
and related industries contribut-
ed $1.109 trillion of the United
States’ Gross Domestic Product
in 2019. American farms con-
tributed $136.1 billion of that
sum, which is roughly around
0.6% of our nation’s Gross Do-
mestic Product, although agri-
culture and farming play a big-
ger role in our GDP based on the
amounts of agricultural inputs
that are put into agriculture re-
lated products.
Besides contributing to our
nation’s GDP, family farms are
also currently more sustainable
and realistic compared to factory
farming operations. While fam-
ily farms are not as large scale
as factory farms, they are more
affordable compared to all the
costs that would go into creating
a factory style operation. While
they may not be able to produce
as much as factory farms, fami-
ly farms are more economical at
this point in our economy. They
provide local jobs and local eco-
nomic security to people living
in the area. Family farms also
have the potential to maximize
their profits. Family farms make
up 98% of farms in the United
State and have been able to keep
Here you can see Mr. Tommy and Herman Reed pose with the
next generation of farmers Kyle and Nate Brock in Finley, TN.
Marvin and Carl Schultz are pouring seeds into the planter and discuss-
ing the plans of the day. Photo by Jonathan Holden

Mr. Richard Wilkerson and grandson, Hunter Holden are posing for a picture after working the ground.

up their financial stability by
maximizing profits. All of these
factors contribute greatly to the
economic stability of our nation.
On the other hand, a major
question concerning the future
of family farming is the decision
of continuing the tradition of
century and generational family
farms. While family farms make
up a significant portion of U.S.
farms, there will always be other
interests to those involved. With
today’s changing society, and the
constant expansion of industri-
alization, many people are turn-
ing to other fields of work and
deciding to continue in higher
education rather than returning
to the family farm. Another part
of this is the difficulty of starting
a new small farm is not having
generational backing. Most fam-
ily farms are generational and
have been passed down through
family, so it is more difficult for
a new farmer to start their own
operation. This is also related to
the age of farmers today.
Today, primary producers
over 65 now outnumber farm-
ers under 35. With the average
age of farmers continuing to
rise, this leaves a gap of young-
er generations not taking over
family farms, or not being able
to start their own operations.
This is an issue, along with oth-
ers, that needs to be taken into
major considerations when de-
ciding who will run out future
family farms after older farmers
retire or “age out” from farming.
Along with these factors,
family farms also have many
hardships that go along with
the farming profession. Family
farms face the issues of not hav-
Mr. Richard Wilkerson is combining while his family is helping him to get another field ready.

ing adequate resources, as well
as many economic and financial
burdens. It is difficult for family
farms to expand due to the lack
of land availability that exists
that is suitable for farming. With
our growing world, expansion of
land is a concern that troubles
many farmers. For some farm-
ers that rent their property, it
is difficult for them to keep up
with rent prices if a crop year is
unsuccessful, or there are differ-
ent hardships that occur. Prices
of crops and equipment are also
ongoing issues for small fami-
ly farms. With the current pan-
demic, crop prices have fluctu-
ated greatly and are cause for
concern for many farmers. Also,
the need for proper equipment
and upgrades on operations are
often more than small farmers
are able to combat with the ever
changing economy today.
In summary, family farms
have served as a great example
for the basis of farming and ag-
riculture. Family farms play a
great role in our economy, but
there are many hardships and
concerns that come along with
it, but family farms will always
serve as the standard for Amer-
ican agriculture.
Erin Mallory is a student at Dres-
den High School, President of the
Dresden FFA, and the secretary
of the West Tennessee regional
officer team.
Editor’s Note: Jonathan Holden is
an Agriculture Education Teach-
er at Dresden High School. His
background is in Agriculture and
Animal Science.

It is no secret that agriculture
is a male dominated industry, but
women are making strides every
day to be successful. The USDA’s
2017 Census of Agriculture has
shown that over one-third of U.S.
farmers are female, and the num-
ber is ever growing every year.
Women are not just farming, but
are pursuing many other aspects
of agriculture.
There is no doubt that the
agriculture industry is chang-
ing every day, and those chang-
es make a great impact. A larger
variety of jobs are now available,
which means that universities of-
fer more agricultural degrees. The
University of Tennessee now of-
fers twenty-eight different bach-
elor’s degrees in agricultural sci-
ence. Young men and women are
offered the opportunities in busi-
ness, communications, engineer-
ing, wildlife and so much more!
Carol Reed and Kim Holmberg
are two very successful women
influencing other young women
in agriculture. Carol Reed grew
up on a row crop operation in
Kentucky that specialized in corn,
soybeans, and wheat. She attend-
ed Western Kentucky University
where she got a degree in Busi-
ness Administration. At the time,
she was one of few women that
were enrolled in the program. Af-
ter college she worked in finan-
cial services in Nashville for a few
years, later moving to Georgia.
In Georgia, she worked in fi-
nancial services as well. During
this time, she met her husband,
David Reed. She and David
moved back to Weakley Coun-
ty in 1997. Carol found work
in banks very quickly in Weak-
ley County. After a few years,
she began working for a state of
Tennessee program, where she
helped business owners to start
up a business or improve their
current business. All of these ca-
reers prepared her for her current
position as Executive Director of
Tennessee Corn.
Tennessee Corn is the per-
fect trifecta of organizations for
corn promotion. Tennessee Corn
Growers Associations is an orga-
nization that advocates for agri-
cultural issues on a federal and
state level. Tennessee Corn Pro-
motion Board collects and ad-
ministers the corn checkoff funds
into various aspects of corn mar-
ket. Tennessee Corn Promotion
Council protects and invests the
corn checkoff funds.
Corn checkoff funds are col-
lected when a corn producer sells
corn. Corn checkoff funds are uti-
lized to expand existing markets
markets and invest in new mar-
kets. Funds are also used for ed-
ucational courses and to conduct
research. All of which will im-
prove the value of corn and en-
sure a lifetime of successful hauls
for corn producers.
As Executive Director, Carol
has an important role in all of the
organizations. She handles a lot
of the responsibilities that include
the financial management of the
three organizations, and imple-
menting the program of work for
each. She remains involved with
the stake holders of Tennessee
corn and other media outlets to
advocate for the corn industry
and improve farmer profitability.
Despite seeing few women
THE FUTURE
OF FARMING
IS FEMALEBy Cynthia Cunningham

in her classes, Carol pushed for
a career in agriculture and be-
came one of the most successful
women in the business. Over the
course of her career, she has no-
ticed that more women are be-
coming agriculturists, and men
are becoming more accepting to
the aspect of female farming. She
proudly serves as the only wom-
an on the Weakley County Farm
Bureau council. She is truly one
of the most influential women in
the industry that we know today.
Kim Holmberg is another very
successful woman in the agricul-
ture industry. As the daughter of
a high school agriculture educa-
tor, she was exposed to agricul-
ture from an early age. Her family
raised various livestock on their
small farm in Crockett County.
The intended use of their live-
stock was to be exhibited in local,
state, and national fairs for 4-H
and Future Farmers of Amer-
ica. As an active FFA member
she engaged in chapter and state
leadership roles. In 2001-2002
she serves as the Tennessee State
FFA president. Her experiences
with 4-H and FFA, allowed for
experience in a variety of aspects
in agriculture.
Kim is now serving as the
Chief Operating Officer of Jour-
nal Communication Incorpo-
rated. She has been working
for the company for nearly 15
years. When she first started, she
worked as an editor on smaller
projects. She then moved up to
signing new clients and manag-
ing larger projects. Now that she
is Chief Operating Officer, she
manages her teams and oversees
Carol Reed, Executive Director Tennessee Corn Growers Association

each aspect of major projects
for her clients. she works close-
ly with each of her teams to en-
sure that they prepared for the
task at hand.
Journal Communications
is a company that works state
department of agriculture and
state farm bureaus to promote
the importance of agriculture.
Farm Flavor Media is a team of
individuals that turn a client’s vi-
sion into a reality. Kim’s prima-
ry focus is to inform the general
public and people that are not
informed about agriculture. She
speaks on behalf of farmers using
various mediums, such as maga-
zines, websites, videos and more.
Kim has invested much of her
time and energy into growing
the agriculture industry in many
ways over the years. As a com-
munications person she feels an
obligation to inform the public
about the food and shed a pos-
itive light on the farmers. More
importantly, she wants consum-
ers to be educated on their food
and the processes of obtaining it.
Aside from her career, she
continues to volunteer for FFA
events to influence young wom-
en to also pursue a career in ag-
riculture. Another way that she
is influencing young minds is by
teaching a course at the Univer-
sity of Tennessee at Martin. Her
course is taken by senior agri-
culture communications majors.
During the semester, she helps
them build their portfolio, en-
hance their resumes, and set up
job interviews. The first class
she had was all female students,
the “real world” experience that
Kim Holmberg, Chief Operating Officer Journal Communication
Incorporated

they are getting will an edge in
the industry.
These are just two women
that have been successful in the
agriculture industry. There are
many more around the world,
and new generations of female
farmers are being cultivated dai-
ly. Agriculture is an industry that
grows and changes every day. As
individuals, we must grow and
change with the industry to en-
sure its success.
Editor’s Note: Cynthia Cunning-
ham is an Agriculture Commu-
nications graduate of the Univer-
sity of Tennessee at Martin. Her
passion is advocating for agricul-
ture to help educate others about
the industry.
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HOMETOWN
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State slogans were likely writ-
ten with several meanings in
mind; however some state slogans
hit your soul once you experience
the actual slogan. For myself,
the “Land of Enchantment” has
meant one thing in New Mexico
and that is September elk hunt-
ing for bugling bulls with archery
equipment.
As a young boy I dreamed of
the adventure going out west and
that dream was started by my fa-
ther and his friends preparing
an entire summer to depart on a
journey west to hunt public land
elk. On my first journey west I
didn’t know what to expect and
The sites seen on hunts can never be beat when you’re conquering a goal set for yourself.
Photo by author
THE
WILD
WEST
WILD,
By Sam Bradshaw

I was quickly reminded I knew
absolutely nothing about hunt-
ing in the mountains. However, I
almost instantly fell in love with
the chase of matching wits with a
mature bull elk. When consider-
ing an adventure of this kind time
is well spent to prepare and plan
for the adventure ahead no mat-
ter the state, nor game species.
Primarily the biggest parts of a
hunt are the tag, gear, and weap-
on. All of which must be thought
through before you let the spark
become a flame.
Typically, western states have
tags systems in place to even be
able to hunt certain game species
such as deer, elk, or even bighorn
sheep. The first step in an ad-
venture of the west is to acquire
a tag. There are many ways one
may go about this and there are
tons of websites out there that
will guide you in the right direc-
tion when trying to locate what
tags to put in the draw. First you
must decide if you are going to
do a DIY {do it yourself} hunt
with no guide or to go through an
outfitter to set up the hunt. Tags
can be used many ways, but the
most common is either a drawn
tag through the lottery, an over
the counter tag or a landowner
tag purchased from a landown-
er. When applying for the lottery
draw your credit card numbers
are held in the system and then
upon the draw if you are success-
ful it charges you for the tag fee.
So, in other words if you don’t
get drawn it won’t cost you to
apply other than some fees you
may run into.
If you are considering a DIY
hunt this may be the most pop-
ular hunt in the state so be cau-
tious of what you are signing up
for. Apply for the tags and units
you are interested in then post
draw you can regroup to an over
the counter tag that may be pur-
chased at any time. Hunting units
are an entirely different topic, but
I will say when considering where
to go for a trophy it is probably
the most important factor. Game
units are vast areas that can con-
sist of millions of acres, so nar-
rowing down a spot to hunt can
be difficult. Often times your tag
selection and unit selection go
hand in hand and there is more
information out today at your
fingertips than ever before to
make the best decision for your
hunt. Websites such as toprut.
com. gohunt.com, and many oth-
ers are out there and I can guar-
Optics can make or break certain hunting strategies. Plan your weapon
and handheld optics accordingly. Photo by author

antee you time spent planning
the hunt is far more valuable than
time spent in the field when con-
sidering success.
Now that you’ve gotten there
what should you plan for? Well,
the answer to that is simple, ev-
erything. From flat tires to hail
storms you better believe if it
can happen it will happen, and if
you’re not prepared for it you can
guarantee it will happen! If there
is one crucial piece of wisdom, it
is the importance of layering your
clothing. On a recent Big Horn
sheep hunt in November of 2020
the temperatures started in the
mid-thirties before daylight and
by mid-afternoon they were hit-
ting the mid-eighties. Throughout
the day I shed layers as the tem-
peratures rose and by afternoon
my backpack was nothing more
than a clothing satchel.
Another noteworthy item to
consider when preparing is the
type of clothing you are taking.
Today’s technology of Merino
wools and fabrics are far supe-
rior to any item ever used in the
past. Companies like Sitka, First
Lite, Kuiu, and many others have
paved the way for first class gar-
ments designed to keep you com-
fortable when battling any condi-
tion. Typical September Elk hunts
can range from 25 to 80 degrees
and I can promise you the last
thing you want to regret is the
clothing setup you brought to
protect you during these unpre-
dictable days afield. One lesson
to always note in the mountains
is that your rain gear does you
no good at the house, and that
is told from experience! If there
is one major noteworthy item
from this article you take away
it is this; take care of your feet at
all cost. They are your wheels in
the mountains and if they start
to malfunction your hunt can go
from bad to worse in one pair of
dirty socks. Just like lieutenant
Dan told Forrest Gump, the most
important part is your feet!
Lastly, the weapon of choice.
Here in Tennessee most deer
hunters consider a long shot with
archery equipment to be forty
yards and I would think that any-
where after 300 yards with a rifle
you’re getting into someone who
knows their stuff. In the west, a
forty-yard bow shot should be a
chip shot, and a 300-yard rifle
All day hikes call for packing everything needed for a day. Hydration is crucial, but food soothes the
mind! Photo by author

shot should almost be your rifle
zero. Although all hunting units
and areas are different the gener-
al norm is that you will be faced
with a longer distance shot. Just
the same as planning for your tag,
your weapon choice and prac-
tice should start months if not
years prior to your hunt. The last
thing you want to do when hik-
ing a mountain is to look at your
weapon and have any lack of con-
fidence in it no matter the type.
When preparing for my first
archery elk hunt I started shoot-
ing every day six months prior,
and by the time I walked onto the
mountain I had complete con-
fidence in my setup. That con-
fidence led me to draw back on
my first archery elk at 38 yards
and place one arrow right where
it needed to be. The funny thing
to me was I didn’t know how I
did it, it just happened as I had
watched it hundreds if not thou-
sands of times the previous sum-
mer. Except this time a real elk
was waiting at the end of the ar-
row flight.
While I thoroughly enjoy typ-
ing this article and scratching the
surface of adventures in the west
my mind is in so many places on
how much of an adventure trav-
eling to hunt really can be. The
journey starts when you consid-
er the goal. From the first step
toward it all of them count to-
wards success. When sitting on a
mountain side on day five of my
first elk hunt I was told the gold-
en rule of life, but more impor-
tantly to me, the successful way
to hunt in the west. Most of you
may know it. The five P’s. Prior
Planning Prevents Poor Perfor-
mance. Live by those rules when
traveling to hunt and your jour-
ney will thrive!
Intimidation can set in when carrying a bow in such vast countryside. Confidence in the arrow placement
is the key to continuing the hunt. Photo by author

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When Old Man Winter sets
in on beautiful Reelfoot Lake,
there is more to do than just
hunt ducks! Most anglers put
their boats up for winter and do
not take advantage of some awe-
some crappie fishing opportu-
nities. One of the best times to
catch Reelfoot’s largest slab crap-
pie is during the winter months.
Much has changed in the crappie
fishing world over the last year
with more fisherman going to the
Garmin Livescope. Since Reelfoot
is steeped with folklore and tradi-
tion, this article is going to take a
look back an old school favorite
and discuss spider rigging. Spi-
der rigging is still one of the most
popular ways to fish Reelfoot. Es-
pecially in winter.
While sharing a cold and
frosty morning in the duck blind
with crappie pro - Tony Hughes,
I decided to pick his brain about
cold water winter slabs. Tony
and his partner, Jeff Riddle, won
the 2018 American Crappie Trail
National Championship. In be-
tween groups of ducks and shot-
gun volleys we casually talked
about crappie fishing and certain
techniques and tricks that we use
Co ld W ater Crappie
R e e lf oot L ake
By Cody Rodriquez
Crappie pro - Tony Hughes, showing off a pair of nice Reelfoot
Lake slabs. Photo by Tony Hughes

during the winter that play a huge
role in the success we have while
chasing crappie. Winter fish-
ing can very rewarding, tricky,
yet rewarding. Small changes to
technique and bait presentation
can make all the difference in
the world.
STO: Tony, what is your best
piece of advice for someone who
wants to catch some winter time
Reelfoot slabs?
Tony: Fish slow! Really, really,
really slow. Fish a snail’s pace
slow! When it is cold on Reelfoot
you really can’t fish too slow.
STO: What is your preference for
winter time bait choices?
Tony: Along with fishing slow,
you need to downsize your baits.
My “go to” bait is a 1/16th oz
crappie magnet. On different days
some colors work better than
others, so you have to change it
up and give the fish a variety of
colors to choose from and adapt
to what the crappie tell you they
want.
STO: What about poles and oth-
er equipment?
Tony: I fish with 16 feet long -
BnM BGJP rods (Bucks Graphite
Jig Poles). The long rods help get
your baits farther away from the
boat which helps you to get clos-
er to the crappie with less chance
of spooking them. There are some
Jeff Riddle caught this slab on a
small, black and chartreuse jig
at the“Quake Lake”.
Photo by Tony Hughes
Bart Gillon is pictured her with two, huge Reelfoot crappie.
Photo by Tony Hughes

big slabs in Reelfoot, so you bet-
ter be sure to have a good dip net
handy also!
Spider rigging on Reelfoot is
one of the most tried and true
practices that exist for catching
crappie. Spider rigging doesn’t
mean you have to put out twenty
rods, fish with what you are com-
fortable with. Most anglers fish
with between 6 and 10 rods at a
time. That may seem like a lot to
try to keep your eye on, but after
a short while it becomes second
nature. Another thing that tends
to hinder anglers from chasing
winter crappie is that they are not
real sure where to begin looking
for crappie when its cold. As a
general starting point, most an-
glers concentrate their efforts on
the south end of the lake in the
big basin.
The deepest water on Reelfoot
can be found in this area. When
you start your search for slabs
keep a few things in mind. The
crappie might be in the deepest
water, but they may be suspend-
ed shallower in the water column.
It is a pretty common occurrence
during the winter for the fish to
be in fourteen or sixteen feet of
water and be suspended eight to
ten feet deep. On warm calm days
with lots of sunshine those fish
may move up and suspend four
or five feet deep. Don’t be afraid
to try different water depths in
the water column.
Another bait presentation to
use while it is chilly outside is the
double minnow rig. The Capps
and Coleman double minnow
rig is a staple to Reelfoot crappie
fishing all year long and winter is
no different. Sometimes it’s just
hard for a slab to turn down the
enticing wiggle of a live minnow.
The main thing to remember is
to fish slow. Winter time crap-
pie can be very lethargic. Fish-
ing slow and stealthy keeps you
from spooking the fish, but it also
keeps your bait in the strike zone
longer. The longer you can keep
your bait in front of a slab the
better opportunity you have of
getting that crappie to bite. When
you think you are fishing slow
enough…slow down some more!
The final tip I want to leave
you with is to just go fishing! You
can’t catch them sitting on the
couch at home. Get out and en-
joy some fresh air and the beau-
tiful nature of Reelfoot Lake, but
remember to dress warm!
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Each year, Tennessee joins
several other states along the
Mississippi Flyway in offering
special waterfowl hunts for kids
only. It’s billed as the Youth Wa-
terfowl Hunting Seasons as there
are two of them; the first one
occurs February 6th this year,
followed by another day just a
week later slated for February
13th, 2021.
During that same time frame
are some other special hunts for
veterans and active military per-
sonnel, who can scan the skies
and hunt waterfowl on two sep-
arate days as well. Their oppor-
tunities will occur February 7th
and February 14th, 2021.
It’s fair to say these are a
few special days for some spe-
cial people. The youngsters are
the future of our outdoors and
hunting. The veterans are some
of the people who made great
sacrifices for things like this to
happen, providing the freedom
we enjoy today to pursue the
great outdoors.
Seems only fitting that we
should set aside a few days
during the annual duck season
to pay homage to these select
groups of sportsmen. Let’s hope
the ducks and geese honor them
with their presence too!
Youth hunters in Tennessee
also get special opportunities
during both the deer and turkey
season. Each year two special
youth deer hunts occur; one is
prior to the opening of the reg-
ular gun season and another one
is scheduled each year the week-
end after it closes.
Young turkey hunters get
to head to the woods first each
spring before hunting pressure
has educated the gobblers and
increased their wariness. As a
result, youngsters often get the
By Steve McCadams
Sharing a morning hunt with youngsters forges a bond that will last
a lifetime. From teaching gun safety to waterfowling do’s and don’ts,
youth hunts pave the way for successful future outings.
Photo by Steve McCadams

first shot of the season and it
helps introduce kids to the sport
on their own terms without hav-
ing to compete with adults who
are likely to be more experienced
and savvy.
Actually, that’s the whole
idea in hosting special hunts
for youngsters. A young nov-
ice hunter cannot compete
against seasoned adults in the
duck blind, turkey woods or deer
stand. That why state wildlife
agencies across the country of-
fer these special season hunts to
youngsters or perhaps military
personnel who may not have as
many opportunities as the gen-
eral public.
For several years youngsters
falling in the age bracket of 6-16
years of age have had the oppor-
tunity to participate in the spe-
cial youth waterfowl hunts. Some
states hold their youth hunts be-
fore season opens, while Tennes-
see has traditionally opted to of-
fer it the weekends after regular
season closes.
Youngsters reaching the 16-
year age mark are required to
possess a valid Federal Migratory
Bird and Conservation Stamp,
commonly referred to as the
Federal Duck Stamp.
Regulations from Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency state
that non-hunting adults at least
21 years of age shall accompany
the youngsters in the field during
the hunt and must remain in a
position to take immediate con-
trol of the hunting device.
Multiple kids may be ac-
companied by a single qual-
ifying adult; however, adults
and other persons accompany-
ing youth shall not hunt during
these waterfowl hunts. How-
ever, adults not accompanied
by youth 6-16 may still harvest
Bagging a bunch of ducks will get kids on fire for more days in the outdoors. Good hunting with great
friends, in a nice blind, with hot food is a recipe for success! Photo by Steve McCadams

Through the eyes of a young hunter watching a trained dog retrieve is quite a sight. Youth Waterfowl
Hunts are known to make that happen. Photo by Steve McCadams

geese during those dates, accord-
ing to regulations.
Meanwhile, introducing kids
to the great sport of duck hunt-
ing can be done in a manner that
makes them want to return time
and again if the first hunt or two
makes a good first impression.
If youngsters can share the
sunrises with a few of their bud-
dies in a nice warm duck blind
that’s out of the rain and rel-
atively easy to reach, then the
stage is set for some good times.
Good camaraderie is a big ingre-
dient in the success story too.
Also in the recipe for success-
ful outings are good food and
hot ham with biscuits or sausage,
or even a few sweet rolls tossed
in there can really set the table
for good times with friends and
family out there.
Watching the sunrise and
witnessing the marsh wake up
from a winter’s nap with all her
critters is quite a sight. It’s edu-
cational too. All sorts of species
are encountered - from ducks to
deer, while watching the world
wake up from a duck blind hid-
den deep in the wetlands and off
the main roads of life.
Shooting a few ducks will put
the icing on the cake for these
eager beavers who are anxious
to pull the trigger and perhaps
witness the show when a trained
retriever lives up to his or her
breeding reputation. Seeing a
good dog navigate the frigid wa-
ters and locate downed ducks is
a sight for sore eyes of any age.
Dogs add another dimen-
sion to any sport. Kids and dogs
have long standing bonds any-
way, so having a canine com-
panion share the hunt is an add-
ed bonus.
At the same time adults play
a vital role here in the whole
equation of a youth hunt, as
they are the ones who make it
go smooth. There’s the utmost
respect for gun safety anytime,
but especially when among the
ranks of young hunters who are
new to the sporting list of do’s
and don’ts.
Handling a shotgun in the
duck blind requires a lot of re-
sponsibility. Both the user and
those surrounding them must all
be alert of each other’s presence.
Long before entering the duck
blind most adults should have
logged some hours outdoors
on a firing range or in the back
yard helping kids grow famil-
iar with loading and unloading
their hunting gun. Making sure
the safety is on until the gun is
shouldered and not pointing it
over other people’s head are but
a few of the items on the proto-
col list.
It’s easy - even for adults -
to let excitement override judge-
ment. When ducks begin work-
ing and descending from high in
the sky, responding to good call-
ing and decoy placement, hunt-
ers cannot let their guard down.
Staying still and not flaring
the illusive ducks who have keen
eyesight and quite a talent for
noticing abnormal movement
within the blind as they fly close
are other precautions.
That’s why having seasoned
adults around the whole hunt-
ing scenario are important. They
were young once too. Their ex-
perience can prevent accidents
and curtail many problems or
issues before they arise.
Here the author cooks up a hefty lunch for young hunters in the duck
blind that’s warm and dry even on a cold day. Keeping kids comfort-
able is important as they have limitations.
Photo by Steve McCadams

Meanwhile, youth hunts
have no doubt helped intro-
duced many boys and girls to
the outdoors that they other-
wise wouldn’t have chance to
partake in. For many, the youth
hunts are the first step on a jour-
ney to the outdoors, where they
experience wildlife in its true
environment.
Someone has to blaze the trail.
Lead them on a patch that’s free
of cellphones, video games and
blaring television sets. It’s hard
to hear the call of nature when
these gadgets are in their ears!
Seeing some diving ducks
whiz by at a high rate of speed
as they unload air from the high
heavens is quite a sight to see
and hear. Perhaps a chatter-
ing mallard circling the decoy
spread in a cautious approach.
Even a squawking alarm from a
disturbed Great Blue Heron who
voices displeasure at an early
wake-up call is an eye opener for
youngsters not accustomed to
the sights and sounds of marsh
madness.
Like a sponge the young-
sters are soaking it all in. The
whole scenario is new to them,
so it’s important they start off
the outdoor experience on the
right foot. Not too cold. Not too
wet and miserable. They do have
limitations.
For those of us fortunate to
have had a dad, uncle or grand-
father that helped introduce the
outdoors to us the blessing was
ours indeed. For others things
like youth hunts are their first
introduction to it all.
Lots of kids don’t have the op-
portunities or mentors to make
such things happen. A big tip
of the hat to those adults who
donate their time and efforts to
help make a memory for kids
who otherwise might never share
that sunrise with all its glory.
Out on a marsh where na-
ture’s splendid wake-up call has
something for everyone who
pauses to look and listen, is a
place that books and videos just
can’t capture the essence of it
all. There’s no substitute for be-
ing there!
Editor’s Note: Steve McCadams is
a professional guide and outdoor
writer from Paris, Tennessee. His
dad took him on his first duck
hunt in back in 1964 and he’s
been hooked ever since!
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IF YOU LOVE THE GREAT OUTDOORS,
BUT SOMETIMES YOUR BACK JUST DOESN’T
WANT TO COOPERATE, DO WHAT I DID AND SEE
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COLE CHIROPRACTIC
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731-285-2696 1-800-558-2696
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421 W. COURT ST.
DYERSBURG, TENNESSEE
731-285-5767
sam@bradshaw4insurance.com
Sam Bradshaw
Contact information:
While you’re hunting or fishing on Reelfoot
Lake, stop by and see Johanna and her crew
for a quick, delicious meal.
Or, beat the heat with their
“World Famous” ice cream.
Dine-in or eat outside on their Patio!!
Home Owned and operated
731-253-6311
HWY 78 - Tiptonville
Less than 5 min from Reelfoot Lake
“Something Different”
our hospitable

52 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2021MAY - JUNE 2019 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 5252 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2021
Pictured here is Ronnie Wilson on a recent
morning hunt, where he shot a double banded
{with tracker} duck. He was hunting with Lain
Wilson and Hunter Fraser.
This is our good buddy and STO field staff
contributor – Richard Fagan, with a large
racked buck.
Regular contributor and distribution manager
of STO Magazine – Robert “Doc” Jackson is
shown here holding up a Pickwick Lake slab
crappie.
This is Miss Ashley Hines, and
her smile says it all as she proudly
poses with her first deer ever. Girl
Power!!
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FIRST CITIZENS NATIONAL
BANK

JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2021 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 53MAY - JUNE 2019 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 53JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2021 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 53
Courtney Spaulding from
Hornbeak, Tennessee with the
nice 8-point buck she shot with
her muzzleloader.
Congratulations to Robin Rotgers. He loves hard, he works
hard and he hunts hard, so he deserved harvesting this
beautiful 10-point, 245 lb. field-dressed buck. Sent in by
his loving wife.
Look at Cayson Adams {10 years-old} posing with hisfirst deer. Congratulations buddy!
This is STO Magazine contrib-
utor – Cody Rodriquez, with a
multi-hunter limit of ducks his
party took at Reelfoot Lake.
SPONSORED BY
FIRST CITIZENS NATIONAL
BANK

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MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Southern Traditions Outdoors - January 2021

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