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Tennessee governor proclaims July as Beef Month in state
 
By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has proclaimed July as Beef Month, recognizing the role of the beef cattle industry in the state’s economy, environment and food supply.
Beef is Tennessee’s second highest-grossing commodity (behind soybeans), generating $5.2 billion in agricultural cash receipts annually. The Volunteer State is home to approximately 1.6 million head of cattle and calves, ranking ninth in the nation for the total number of cattle farms and 16th in cattle production.
“Our cattle producers are the backbone of Tennessee agriculture,” said Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M.
And while Hatcher calls the state’s 37,000 producers the state’s “backbone of agriculture,” their work may be back breaking at times. Ask most any of the state’s cattlemen, though, and they’ll tell it to you straight: they perform their tasks with passion and commitment, with the goal of making their land sustainable for future generations.
Russ Uselton, of Shelbyville, and Stephanie Barnett, of Clarksville, are just two of the state’s 37,000 cattle ranchers devoted to keeping their land sustainable for future generations.
“Sometimes when I hear the word ‘sustainability’ it puts a smile on my face,” Uselton said, “because we cattle farmers were all about sustainability before it became a well-known term.”
Uselton owns and operates approximately 1,500 acres scattered across several farms in Shelbyville and said that farmers are the original environmentalists.
“Everything we do comes from the soil and the water and we’ve known for years that if we don’t nurture the land, it won’t produce for us,” Uselton said. “All my management decisions revolve around sustainability, because I have to think about tomorrow. I’m investing for 10 to 20 years down the road.”
Having received an agriculture business degree from Middle Tennessee State University, Uselton said he learned the farming business from square one, unlike many cattle farmers who have been farming for generations. He soon realized that cattle farming would require him to also be a scientist.
“Yes, science goes into cattle farming,” he added. “We regularly conduct soil test to analyze the nutrients available in the soil.”
For Barnett, cattle farming is in the bloodline. She is the eighth or ninth generation of farmers. She and her husband grew up on farms in Montgomery and Robertson counties and now a new generation of children hope to continue their work.
Like Uselton, Barnett says a cattle farmer needs that science touch.
“Indeed, you have to put back into the soil what you’re taking out of it,” Barnett said. “We cattle ranchers have been doing that for years. I feel part scientist, too. It’s a game of soil samples and testing to see what’s needed in the land.”
Barnett loves cattle farming, even though she said most Kentuckians don’t know what she does on a typical day.
“I doubt many people understand the complexity or size of a cattle farming operation,” Barnett said. “We need agricultural accountants, feed salesmen, chemists, veterinarians. We invest in expensive equipment, plant seed, birth calves and even pray for rain. It’s a way of life we’re coming to, generation after generation. For sure, it’s not an easy job. But we cattle farmers are committed to sustaining the land that sustains us.”
Uselton said, “I love being a cattle rancher. When I was a little kid I never dreamed I’d be doing this because I didn’t grow up a farm kid. The fact that I get up every morning and get to do what I love is awesome. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.
“My land and my cattle come first. The worst thing I can do is make plans. I don’t care what else is going on, the cattle come first. That’s why I’ve missed games, parties and holidays over the years. I am so lucky that my wife understands and is with me on this journey.”
According to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), cattle are among the most efficient animals at converting forage into human food. Tennessee’s more than 5 million acres of pasture and dry hay play an important role in conserving soil and protecting water quality. Furthermore, TDA calls beef “a powerhouse of nutrition.”
“The beef industry supplies high-quality, nutrient-rich food, supports jobs, promotes soil conservation, and helps fuel our state’s economy,” Hatcher said. “We’re proud to celebrate Beef Month and recognize the hard work and dedication of the men and women who make it possible.”
7/7/2025