Five individuals were recognized for going above and beyond in their volunteer spirit to the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation with the Distinguished Service Award.
Lee Wood Jones of Shelby County is the recipient from District I. He and his family operate Jones Orchard located in Millington.They raise 150 acres of fruits and vegetables, 110 acres of which are devoted to 25 peach varieties. His initial involvement with Farm Bureau began when he purchased auto insurance but grew from there as he served as the Shelby County Farm Bureau President and continues to serve on the county board of directors today.
John L. Batey of Rutherford County is the recipient from District II. In operation since 1807, Batey Farms raises hogs, row crops and hay. They also have a retail store with pork products and a u-pick strawberry patch. He first got involved with Young Farmers and Homemakers, serving as the YF&H state president and on the national committee. He’s also spent 60 years on the Rutherford County Board of Directors, five of those as county president.
Joan Jones of Franklin County is the recipient from District III. Growing up as a self-described city girl, Joan married into farm life where her and her husband, Harold, milked dairy cows until the early 1990s when they switched to beef cattle. They have both been active members of the Franklin County Farm Bureau for the past 40 years, Joan particularly with Farm Bureau Women as she served as chairman and helped with the farm city days each year.
Rowena Nash of Putnam County is the recipient from District IV. For many years, the Nash family had a Grade A dairy they built from the ground up, and today the farm consists of cattle and row crops. Rowena has served on the Putnam County Farm Bureau women’s committee and board of directors for the past 45 years and has always been a part of the county’s annual farm day, believing strongly in the power of sharing agriculture’s story to young people.
Cathy Campbell of Carter County is the recipient from District V. The Campbells started a dairy in 1974 and today still have a cow-calf operation. In 1988, Cathy was first elected to the Carter County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. She had been active with the Farm Bureau Women and because of her clear leadership qualities, she was elected county president in 1990 and remained there until 2019. *Mike Nidiffer, Carter County president, pictured accepting the award on Cathy’s behalf.
