By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Describing himself as a “farmer and servant”, Tennessee Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt addressed a large crowd of around 80 people gathered for the annual Century Farm Breakfast at the Henry County Fair.
The invitation-only gathering each year honors the number of Century Farms in Henry County.
Breakfast was provided by ABLE Farms and was hearty, with pancakes, sausages, eggs, biscuits, cinammon rolls and fruit. Kyle Stephens of ABLE Farms provided an update on the progress they’ve made building the equine therapy program on Sulphur Well Academy Rd.
Stephens thanked “this incredibly generous community” for its donations. The aim of the program is to help children and adults with disabilities and for those dealing with trauma. “The farm is probably the best classroom and the best way to heal,” he said.
Holt, who lives in Weakley County, praised the Henry County Fair and the Century Farm group, noting that Weakley County does not have a fair “and that’s a real shame”. He noted there are close to 2,300 Century Farms in Tennessee, out of a total 63,000 farms in the state.
He said agriculture is still the state’s largest industry, with $103 Billion generated by the agriculture industry here each year. The second largest industry is tourism, which generates $31M. “So you can see that agriculture is three times larger than the second largest industry,” he said.
Farms and farming provide the best background for living, he said. “We live the best life known to man right here,” Holt said.
Photo: Andy Holt speaking with Don and Carol Norwood at the Century Farm Breakfast. Shannon McFarlin photo.