 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cannon Farms |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Cannon Farms is a small family farm located in northwest Tennessee. We are located 2 1/2 miles southeast of the twin cities of South Fulton, TN, and Fulton, KY. We live in Obion county and within 3 miles of 4 counties, Fulton, Hickman, and Graves in Ky, and Weakley county in TN. The twin cities are 120 miles north of Memphis, TN and 50 miles south of Paducah, KY.
Our land is gently rolling and of the deep loess soil origin. Our soil types are Memphis, Loring, Grenada, and Calloway types. We have no rocks of any type in the area. The soils are very fertile and evolved under hardwood forests.
Our farm consists of 270 acres of which 240 are owned and 30 are rented. 160 acres of it has been in the family close to 100 years. The land is set up in a sod based rotation. Corn is grown one year, followed by wheat with fescue, red clover, white clover, and lespedeza interseeded in it. After the wheat is harvested and straw is baled, the land is used for hay and pasture for at least 4 years and the rotation starts again. The advantages of this program are fresh pastures every year, less weed pressure, less pesticide use, and less fescue toxicity problems. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ginny and I are both 1973 graduates of the University of Tennessee Martin. My degree in ag science and Ginny's in animal science. We have two daughters. Bonny graduated from UTKnoxville with a degree in ag education and extension and is living in NC working for Ralph Lauren Polo company. Julie graduated from Mississippi State in 2004, worked for USDA in Frankfort, Kentucky until starting graduate school at UK in fall of 2005. She got married to Michael Riddell in May of 2008. She just recently finished her masters degree in ruminant nutrition at UK. Both Bonny and Julie were very active in both 4-H and FFA. Bonny was a state 4-H winner in the agricultural project in 1995. She showed sheep, hogs, and steers and was instrumental in our establishing our Southdown flock. She went to MillerDowns in Carlock, IL and picked out a ewe lamb and a yearling ewe in 1994. Winnie, the ewe lamb, was chosen as the Grand Champion overall Southdown ewe at TN Expo in 1995 and has raised some excellent lambs since then. Bonny was involved in livestock judging going to state all 4 years. Bonny also had the Grand Champion market lamb at the Obion County Fair. Julie was a state 4-H winner in the sheep project in 1999. She also showed sheep, hogs and steers and won the $1000 Bert Lee scholarship award for having the champion overall bred by ewe with a Southdown at TN Expo in 1998. Julie also livestock judged at the state contest 3 years in 4-H and at the state FFA contest in 1999 being 4th high individual. She also meat judged at the state level in FFA. Julie had Grand Champion market lamb at the Obion County fair 2 years. She was also a member of the Collegiate Livestock Judging team at MSU and active in B&B. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
We raise purebred Angus cattle. The herd began in 1960 with 2 heifers that my brother and I showed. I was 10 years old at the time. There have been no females added to the herd since the early 70's. I have used bulls from the O'Neill Angus Farm in Logan, Iowa since 1977. We have used sons and grandsons of Blackcap Grandeur, Marshall Pride 514, Thomas Chaps, Genetic Engineer, Tall Texan, and Renovator. My father sold his herd in the 80's, and I am the only family member still farming and raising cattle. We strive to produce cattle that are highly productive, easy fleshing, and with eye appeal. We maintain a 65 cow herd.
Our sheep flock consists of 15 Suffolks, 9 Southdowns and and some crossbred ewes. Since we are no longer showing sheep, we have stopped registering any. We still have some purebred Suffolks and Southdowns, but mainly have crossbred ewes. We have one Southdown ram left and are using a Dorset on most of our ewes. We are using a farrowing house to lamb in and a cargill type hog floor for ewes and lambs before they go to pasture. These buildings are available because of the corporate hog operations putting us out of the hog business in 1996. With a little renovation, they have served the purpose well and at least are not setting empty. Most of our lambs are finished out and sold up north. We try to get them born as early as possible and then push them so they will be finished before the hot, humid July weather. To continue our story click here.
|
|