FEATURED NEWS FROM THE TENNESSEE CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION


TCA Talk’s On The Farm Series Debuts By Featuring Award-Winner Aubie Smith

TCA Talk, the Official Podcast of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association, is launching a new series entitled On The Farm, which will take viewers onsite to feature cattle producers who are also TCA members.  


For the premiere edition of On The Farm, TCA Talk travels to Aubie Smith Farms in Ooltewah, Tenn. Shortly after his On The Farm interview was recorded, Aubie Smith earned the honor of being named the Farmer of the Year for East Tennessee. The award was presented by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.

Through TCA Talk’s On The Farm segment,  you’ll meet Aubie and hear his inspiring story of how he was called to lead his family’s multi-generational farming operation at just 21 years old following the passing of his father. Aubie recalls the challenges of those early days as he was running the cattle operation and overseeing the farm while also working part-time for UPS and continuing to take classes to earn his college degree. 

Aubie takes us through the evolution of the operation through the 90s, the 2000s, and into the present day, including how he built relationships with key contacts in beef production and what he learned along the way. You’ll also learn how Aubie expanded the scope of the farm to incorporate new streams of revenue over the years to include agritourism and crops, such as sunflowers, strawberries, pumpkins, and tulips. 

 Following his first opportunity to see his On The Farm segment, Aubie told TCA Talk, “This was the best video that has been done on my farm. It was really great. I am proud to be a member of TCA, and I hope the video gets shared out many times.” 

Aubie values his membership with the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association, and he discusses how the TCA has helped him and his operation through providing timely information and effective advocacy over the years. Through the On The Farm segment, Aubie shares some advice and his business philosophy for those interested in entering production agriculture. He notes that it’s important to research what performs best in local markets, treat the operation as a business, and, in these times when land prices can be a barrier to getting started, Aubie advises looking for opportunities to work with existing farms.

Tennessee Cattlemen's Association Awards Four Educational Scholarships

Melinda Hart | July 22, 2025

Tennessee Cattlemen's Association Awards Four Educational Scholarships

Murfreesboro, TN— The Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA) and Tennessee CattleWomen’s (TNCW) Association awarded four educational scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

These scholarships are awarded on an application basis. The application includes 4-H and FFA involvement, a letter of reference from a teacher or industry leader, and an essay. Applicants must also be a member of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Youth Association, TNCW, or their parent/grandparent must be a member of TCA. 

Levi Keeton from Decaturville, TN, received the Bill Tyrell Memorial Scholarship. Blaire Lamon from Cottage Grove, TN, was the recipient of the Joe Houston Memorial Scholarship. Lauren Wingler from Christiana, TN, received the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association Scholarship. Caleb Limpert from Christiana, TN, was the recipient of the Tennessee CattleWomen’s Scholarship. All four scholarship recipients will be attending the University of Tennessee at Martin. 

“It is an honor to receive a Cattlemen’s Association scholarship,” said Caleb Limpert. “I am excited to keep learning, growing, and finding ways to give back to the agriculture industry.” 

The Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association believes in investing in the future. “These impressive young adults have a deep interest in the agricultural industry. They are the future of the cattle business, and we look forward to seeing where their educational endeavors lead them,” said Melinda Hart, TCA Director of Youth Programs & Outreach. 

TCA is honored to recognize these young leaders with scholarships and wishes them the best this academic year. 

TCA was founded in 1985 and has over 5,000 members from across the state and the southeast. The organization works to provide the cattlemen of Tennessee with an organization through which they may function collectively to protect their interests and work toward the solution of cattle industry problems and to build the necessary goodwill that will bring both governmental esteem and recognition to the industry. 

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For more information visit www.tncattle.org, email [email protected] or call (615) 896-2333. Be sure to follow the TCA on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/tncattle and Twitter/Instagram accounts: @TennesseeCattle.