Have a Boll at Lincoln County Cotton Farm

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Lincoln County Cotton

Josh Ogle naturally shares his affection for the way he makes a living.

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“I love being able to be outside every day and being able to produce food, fuel and fiber for the world,” says the Lincoln County row crop farmer.

He and his wife, Julieanna, partner with his parents, David and Sherry Ogle, in a 4,500-acre row crop operation near Flintville, producing corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton. Close to the Alabama line and in the dead center of the state, the area is a bit flatter than East Tennessee and offers rich soil for farming.

Cotton has always been crucial to the operation.

“My grandfather grew it, my dad grew it and now I’m growing it and teaching my kids how to grow it,” Ogle says. He and Julieanna have three children: Levi, 10; Abi, 8; and Travis, 5.

SEE ALSO: From Field to Fabric at Memphis Cotton Museum

A Case IH module express cotton picker is their current choice of equipment. The self-contained unit picks then packs the cotton in 16-by-8-by-8-foot modules. The cotton is then tarped in the field and retrieved by the gin for ginning, baling and storage.

“That’s where our ties to the cotton end,” Ogle says. “Once it gets to the warehouse and we get the grade reports back, then we get paid.”

Lincoln County Cotton

The cotton harvest can be anywhere from September through December, depending on weather and planting dates. Prices and demand vary from season to season.

“At the end of the 2011 crop, they were moving it out as fast as they could get it in. There was a shortage,” he says. “Last year, they weren’t moving it out as much. You just never know.”

Mention of that up-and-down price cycle, common to farmers, prompts him to recall a recent misleading media report. The article indicated farmers automatically become rich when commodity prices are high. That’s simply not how it works, Ogle explains.

“Yes, there is money to be made in agriculture,” he says. “Otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it for a living. But it’s not a get-rich-quick scene either.”

Lincoln County Cotton

Clarifying how agriculture works is one of the goals of an event held each fall at the Ogle farm. The Old-Fashioned Cotton Picking Day attracts between 100 and 150 people for lunch and a chance to pick cotton by hand. The media is invited as well. The Old-Fashioned Cotton Picking Day typically takes place in mid-late October. Read More>>

The free event “sheds a good light on agriculture,” Ogle says. “But it’s more or less about having a good time.” Participants range from babies to the elderly and from novices to experienced pickers. Ogle recalls one gentleman in his 90s who came to re-enact his long-ago picking days.

“He had a walking cane with him,” Ogle recalls. As the man entered a cotton row, he “took a few steps, threw down his walking cane, and went to picking with both hands!”

The Ogles decide the date for the fall event about two weeks ahead of time. For details, email CotnFarm(at)att(dot)net or check D&J River Farms Facebook page.

SEE ALSO: Farm Facts: Cotton

“Farming is a good way of life,” he says. “It teaches hard work. It teaches discipline and knowledge of the land and soil. There are other ways to make a living, and I’m going to encourage my children to follow their own ambitions. But there will always be a place on the farm for them if they want to farm.”

Lincoln County Cotton

Farmers-Turned-Musicians

Josh Ogle also ballyhoos agriculture through his band, Pork and Beans. Joined by Rutherford County farmer Brandon Whitt, the two friends play guitar and sing at various agriculture-related events, mostly performing original songs with lyrics that showcase rural life and farming. Ogle and Whitt were winners of the state’s Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

The musical duo tossed around the idea of writing songs together for a while before acting on it. Then Whitt in Murfreesboro texted two words to Ogle: Farm Strong. That kicked off Ogle writing and texting two verses to Whitt. “He sent me back a completed song that night,” Ogle says. “Farm Strong” became a hit, at least among the farming community.

The band’s name pays tribute to Whitt’s hog farming and Ogle’s soybean growing. With various band mates, Pork and Beans has performed at several farm-related meetings, including a live taping of the Today show with Al Roker as part of the Hatcher Family Dairy (Related: Hatcher Family Dairy Milks Farm for All It’s Worth) scholarship fundraiser in College Grove.

“We try to entertain, as well as promote farming and ag safety and awareness,” Ogle says. “With full-time operations, we don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to it. But any time we can make it work, we do.”

See Whitt’s website, bateyfarms.com, for more information about the Pork and Beans CD.

12 Comments

  1. faye hardiman says:

    I really enjoyed the article Josh.I would like to bring someone to the Cotton picking
    if it hasn’t already been.

  2. brent mccutcheon says:

    I would like to bring my son to the cotton picken, would you please send me a email to let me know when it is> THANKS

    Brent

  3. Jane Ogle says:

    Nice article on my husband’s uncle and cousin farming operation! The Cotton picking day is a priceless experience! I agree with Josh “Farm life is a great way to raise a family” we not unlike Josh are in the farming industry we raise beef cattle and operate a feed mill we purchase part of our grain from D & J River Farms, Josh and Uncle David. We also use the cottonseed and cotton hull byproduct in livestock feed. Nothing like a close family and a great industry to be involved with!

  4. Katrina Shannon says:

    I am an artist in St. Louis Missouri working a photographic project featuring cotton and I am very interested in the cotton picking experience.

    Looking forward to attending the Ogle Event! Hope to hear from you soon.

  5. Nina says:

    need date for the cotton picking day at your farm please! Great article, very excited!
    nina

  6. Pedro Reyes says:

    We want to visit to the festival day.
    What is the date?

    We Live in Morristown TN .

  7. Wayne&Bettye Frazier says:

    My husband Wayne was the oldest of 9 kids raised in the cotton patch.He was expected to help feed the family by pickin his share of cotton at age 8 he picked l sun up to sundown.At choppin time Wayne chopped sun up sun down he and his 8yr. old brother doubled up on a row. My family also did the same while I brought the water jug around I was 4.I also took naps on a 12 ft.cotton sack while my Momma picked and pulled me.At the time I had no idea how hard that was on her.I was the only 1 of 5 kids not picking for the reason @ age 41/2 I stuck a knife in my eye and lost sight in it.So Momma was afraid I might damage the other.So I was water girl and food setter upper.About 10 years ago I sit and wrote my Momma a long letter letting her know I realized how hard it was on her pickin and pullin me around and THANKED her for the sacrifices she made for me.Every year Wayne and I go back to Trenton,Tn. and have a cotton patch picnic.Me an RC cola,bologna and bread.Wayne Coca-cola viennas and crackers.Under a big cottonwood tree, then lay back and talk about childhood days.Oh to go back for just for a couple of hours is a BLESSING.Sometimes you can go back.If only once a year.We hope you will contact us Wayne would love to pick and I’ll carry his water jug. Cotton Pickin Friends,Wayne and Bettye Frazier

  8. Sheri Gramer says:

    I am one of the segment producers on NPT Volunteer Gardener. Would love to chat with you about the average person growing cotton in their gardens. Seed types, etc. I am looking for a segment on that subject. Would you be interested in calling me so we could chat?

    Thanks for your time,
    Sheri Gramer 615-476-3560 (cell)

    • Jessy Yancey says:

      Hi Sheri,

      Thanks for your note on our story about cotton. I am assuming you are interested in talking to Josh Ogle, not us at Tennessee Home & Farm, correct? If so, I will pass along his contact information to you via email.

      Best,
      Jessy Yancey
      editor, Tennessee Home & Farm

  9. Christabelle montgomery says:

    Good date for our first time visit to see cotton harvested thanks

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