Five individuals were recognized for going above and beyond in their volunteer spirit to the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation with the Distinguished Service Award.
Don Jones of Henry County is the recipient from District I. He and his family raise tobacco, corn and beef cattle on their family farm. Originally from Missouri, Don and his wife, Barbra, moved to Tennessee in 1966 to farm alongside his parents who had moved to Henry County a couple years earlier. Don got involved with Farm Bureau when he first purchased insurance and later was voted on to the Henry County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. During his time on the board, Don served as both vice president and president.
Paula Carr of Robertson County is the recipient from District II. Paula and her husband, Randall, ran a wild horse and burro refuge and adoption center on their farm for decades, and they also started similar operations in Ohio and Texas. Paula has been involved in Farm Bureau most of her life. Her parents had insurance, and she later became involved on the county level, serving on the women’s committee and volunteering for county farm days. Paula remains heavily involved in Farm Bureau and oversees 200 head of beef cattle on her farm.
Larry Tilley of Roane County is the recipient from District III. In his early years on the farm, Larry and the family raised tobacco, but today, Larry and his son, Travis, raise beef cattle and hay. His first involvement with Farm Bureau came when he purchased car insurance as a teenager, but he quickly learned the value of Farm Bureau for farmers once he started farming full-time as an adult. He served on the Roane County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for more than 40 years before recently retiring.
Gary Martin of Warren County is the recipient from District IV. Gary produces beef cattle, hay, silage, corn, soybeans and wheat. Before adding row crops to his farming operation, Gary had a dairy where he milked cows for more than 40 years. Farm Bureau has been a huge part of Gary’s life and career. He first purchased insurance and then was elected to the Warren County Farm Bureau Board of Directors where he served for more than 35 years, including as vice president and president.
David Saylor of Washington County is the recipient from District V. The Saylors started Sayland Dairy in 1948 and have been milking cows ever since. He and his son, Mike, still operate the dairy today, and it’s grown to be a staple dairy farm across the Southeast. For about as long as the dairy has been in business, Farm Bureau has been a part of David’s life – serving on the Washington County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for nearly five decades and the past 16 as county president.
