385 Magazine Summer 2021

385 Summer • 2021

Our People • Our Stories

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385

Volume 5 | Issue 4

Staff

Publisher

Jack McNeely jack.mcneely@herald-citizen.com

Editor & Graphic Designer Don Foy don.foy@herald-citizen.com

Contributors Lindsay Pride Jim Herrin Ben Craven Advertising Roger Wells Dusty Smith Stephanie Garrett

Ad Composition Becky Watkins Business Manager Sandy Malin Circulation & Distribution Keith McCormick Ronda Dodson

385 Magazine is a publication of and distributed quarterly by the Herald-Citizen, a division of Cookeville Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored for retrieval by any means without written consent from the publisher.

385 Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited materials and the publisher accepts no responsibility for the contents or accuracy of claims in any advertisement in any issue. 385 Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or changes in information. The opinions of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine and its publisher.

Our mission is to promote the 385 zip code areas of the Upper Cumberland and to showcase their many attributes. We welcome ideas and suggestions for future editions of the magazine. Just send us a brief note via email. © 2021 Herald-Citizen 385 Magazine P.O. Box 2729 Cookeville, TN 38502 931.526.9715 Email: 385Magazine@herald-citizen.com

4•385 •Our People•Our Stories

from the

Editor Welcome to the first “normal” edition of 385 in more than a year and a half. By normal, I mean there are photo pages of an event. It’s been a long time since we had an event to take pictures at. So feast your eyes on photos from the “Red, White & Boom” celebration of our country’s 245th birthday.

And if you check on pages 26 and 27, you’ll see a calendar.

Really, there are events planned for late summer and early fall, and we list some of them for the first time since the Winter 2020 magazine, which came out in January last year, just before the tornado and the pandemic. I hope you enjoy our return to normal.

In addition to our returning regular features, we have two family features to present this time.

First up, with the Putnam County Fair in full swing as we distribute 385, we take a look at one family that’s all in at the mule competitions associated with the fair.

And when the pandemic shut down a lot of activities, the Bucher family took the opportunity to take back up a motorcycle hobby and turn it into three national championships.

I hope you enjoy, and thanks for reading.

Don Foy, Editor

10-year-old Carl Julian works with one of his family’s horses at the Draft Horse and Mule Show, a preliminary event to the Putnam County Fair.

on the

Cover

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Contents

8

14

22

Mule Skinner

Family Affair

Confident Campus

Putnam family wins coveted award led by 10-year-old.

When the pandemic hit, the Bucher family took the opportunity to strengthen family ties — by competing in motorcycle trials together.

Tennessee Tech moving past pandemic, but still putting students first.

26•

Calendar A selection of events happening in late summer and early fall.

28•

Red, White & Boom Putnam County celebrates America.

6•385 •Our People•Our Stories

30•

Why I Love…

Featuring Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Pam Ealey.

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8•385 •Our People•Our Stories

Mule Skinner Putnam family wins coveted award led by 10-year-old Story and Photos by LINDSAY PRIDE Summer•2021•9

Above: Craig and son, Carl Julian, feed the horses and mules on their Putnam County Farm. Below: Misty Julian and son, Carl, at the Draft Horse and Mule Show.

W

While the term “mule skinner” may sound unusual to those not familiar with livestock life in the country, it isn’t anything new. The term originated in the “Old West” more than 150 years ago and had little to do with actual skinning and more about a man who could outsmart the stereotypically stubborn animal and create a helpful asset for the family farm.

The Chester Sewell World Championship Mule Skinner Award is the prestigious title that’s been bestowed annually on the competitor that earns the most points in various classes of the Putnam County Agriculture and Industrial Fair’s Draft Horse and Mule Show.

This year, the top honor went to a family that included one of the

10•385 •Our People•Our Stories

youngest competitors in the award’s history — 10-year-old Carl Julian, the son of Craig and Misty Julian.

The Julians have been involved in showing mules and horses for several years.

“We started probably 20 years ago, building a little at a time,” Craig said.

Misty said, “We’ve always had an interest.”

Craig said, “Frank Goff got us started showing.”

Misty said, “He was friends with Matt (Goff). They got in a little friendly competition.”

Now they have 15 head of draft mare and five mule colts on their farm just west of Baxter, a storybook setting for an energetic young boy who’s been learning about mules, horses and how to work them on the farm since before he went to school.

Misty said, “When he was a baby, we got a picture of him in a mule collar.”

“I like to work with them and play with them, driving them and showing them,” Carl said of the horses and mules on his family’s farm.

The rising fifth-grader at Upperman Middle School boasts that he can “mow, rake and tedder” the hay on their property and that he has “air conditioner” on the tractor.

Craig said they roll between 400 and 600 rolls of hay each year, and they also have cattle and do some logging on the property, where they moved five years ago and began renovating the 1940s home there.

The Julians brought about a dozen of their horses and mules to compete at the Putnam County Fair’s opening event earlier this month.

But Craig said it was a last-minute decision that gave them a shot at the mule skinner award.

“Danny Vaughn had a team of mules, and he asked if he (Carl) wanted to drive in the mule classes,” Craig said.

Whoever earns the most points in each class and competes in the cart

10-year-old Carl Julian with his pony, Jody.

Summer•2021•11

Above: Craig, left, and Carl, captured $1,600 in prizes at the Draft Horse and Mule Show. Below: Carl with a few of the horses and mules at his family farm. and wagon classes has a chance at the mule skinner award.

It was Carl’s first time to compete in a show with the cart and wagon, and he won second place in the pony and cart with his four-year-old pony, Jody, and second place in the wagon class.

“We won champion in the Jack and Jenny. The rest of them were mixed up so much,” Craig said of trying to keep up with every class they entered. “By the time I’d tie one up, we’d tie another.”

How do you decide who wins?

Carl said, “You rush ‘em, make ‘em look nice.”

Craig added, “You wash ‘em. The rest of it’s up to the judge.”

Hours of showing the best of their mules and horses at the opening event of the Putnam County Fair ended unexpectedly for the Julians.

12•385 •Our People•Our Stories

“He was just as shocked as we was,” Craig said about their win.

The top prize included $1,000 for the mule skinner award, and all together, the family garnered $1,600 in cash prizes.

“This kid is amazing,” Putnam County Fair President John Allen said. “You should have seen him hang on to that $1,000 check.”

Craig thanked the Sewell family and the Putnam County Fair for the award.

“He said he wanted me to cash the check, put it in the bank and get $100 out for spending money,” Craig laughed.

Carl said he doesn’t know yet how he wants to spend his winnings.

But he hasn’t reached the finale of competitions for the season.

He and his family were preparing earlier this month to show their horses and mules at other county fairs before the end of the summer, including Overton and Macon.

Misty said, “We try to go to all the local county fairs.”

The 95th Putnam County Agriculture and Industrial Fair continues daily through Saturday, Aug. 7, the last time the fair will be held at the fairgrounds between Walnut and Jefferson avenues. A new fairgrounds will be built on nearly 200 acres on Tennessee Avenue.

•385•

Misty and Carl show one of their horses at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.

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14•385 •Our People•Our Stories

FAMILY AFFAIR How the pandemic led the Bucher family to national championships in motorcycle trials Story by BEN CRAVEN Photos by BEN CRAVEN & the Bucher family While the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges, it brought opportunities for families to become closer than ever.

Weston and Tiffany Bucher, and their 13-year-old daughter, Julian, seized that opportunity, diving back into the sport of motorcycle trials and winning three national Summer•2021•15

16•385 •Our People•Our Stories

Summer•2021•17

Weston Bucher, left, and wife Tiffany practice their balance on opposite sides of a tree at their summer home in Silver Point. competitions.

“My parents had me on a bike when I was, like, two years old,” Julian said. “I loved riding around on that thing, and I competed some too.

When I got to be about six or seven, I took a break because I had gotten a little tired of it. When COVID came, I got interested in it again. I needed something to do, and I thought it was cool because you don’t meet someone who does trials randomly.”

Moto trials are also known as observed trials, a sport where competitors ride specialized motorcy-

18•385 •Our People•Our Stories

cles with no seats through obstacle courses.

Competitors must complete a loop with several obstacle sections, and in each section, an observer adds points to a rider’s score for touching the ground with their feet (dabbing), stopping or going out of bounds. The competitor with the lowest score (fewest mistakes) wins.

Weston, a native of Douglas, Kansas, competed in moto trials at an early age before moving to motocross and other off-road racing competitions. Injuries slowed and eventually

halted his riding until 1995, when he met Tiffany, a native of Cookeville and CHS graduate.

“I had just gotten out of the Air Force and come back to Tennessee when I met (Weston),” Tiffany said. “I went to live with him in Kansas, and I saw some old pictures of him on his trials bike bouncing on a tree. I had a street bike from Japan at the time, and I told him he needed to start riding again and that I wanted one of those bikes.”

Weston said, “I decided to get back into it, bought a bike for myself and

(Tiffany) ended up riding it more than I did. She’s the reason we all got into this and compete at the national level.”

The Buchers live in Kansas and are members of the Ark Valley Trials Association, which competes in regional events in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska and Missouri.

Tiffany has competed in more than 120 events, and since the beginning of 2021, all three have placed first in the club’s monthly events.

The Buchers have a home in Silver Point they visit during the summer,

and they decided it would be the perfect headquarters for competing in national events in the eastern series. They started their national competition careers by winning the first two rounds of the eastern series in Farrandsville, Pennsylvania, then won the second two rounds in Little Hocking, Ohio. Their wins at the Eastern Youth and Women’s Nationals were in Sequatchie County.

“Three weeks on the road wears you down, but when you get out there doing your thing, it’s well worth it,” Weston said. “The awe-

some thing about the youth national competition in Sequatchie County is that (Julian) finally gets to meet kids and other girls her age that have something in common and can have fun with it.”

Tiffany said, “Competing was rough and definitely took more endurance than I thought. After sitting on the couch for a year, going out and riding those courses all day was a whooping.

“I’m excited about winning.

(Weston) doesn’t show a ton of excitement all the time, but I’m excited Summer•2021•19

Above: The Bucher family, from left, Julian, Tiffany and Weston show off some of their 1st place hardware from recent national moto trials competitions. Below, action shots of, from left, Weston, Julian and Tiffany.

20•385 •Our People•Our Stories

because it’s national recognition. Me and (Julian) have two titles now. She’s the 13 and under youth champion, I’m the women’s champion, and we both have NATC titles.”

The Buchers volunteered at national events in the past, but their eyes are on new competitions now. They plan to head for the western series, which none of them have competed in.

The first two rounds are July 31 in Kingman, Arizona, and the last two rounds are Oct. 2 in Tillamook, Oregon.

“My first national competitions have been fun, and I wasn’t really nervous,” Julian said. “I’ve had competitions in Kansas before, so I knew what to expect, but not completely. It was on a bigger scale, and I even had to ride alone for a day because (my parents) were doing their own events. There’s tons of really nice people that would always help people if they’re struggling or look confused.”

Weston said, “One great thing about trials is that it’s a family sport. It’s not as big as some of the other off-road competitions, but it is a very tight-knit community. We all support each other, and it’s not super competitive. We’ve made new connections with people in New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and more. Now, they’re just a part of our family.”

•385•

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Summer•2021•21

Confident

Tennessee Tech moving past pandemic, but still putting students first 22•385 •Our People•Our Stories

nt Campus

Summer•2021•23

A group of students gathers near Fearless Falls.

The best symbol of how Tennessee Tech’s community conquered the challenges of the past two years flows on the west side of Centennial Plaza.

Fearless Falls, a small waterfall crafted in the image of the beautiful falls throughout the region, runs steady. The water’s constant energy and rhythmic consistency match the way faculty, staff and students survived and thrived through a tornado, a pandemic, and the unknown. Its peaceful sitting areas beckon people to sit, rest and reflect.

“In honor of the fearless nature of our campus community, the waterfall’s name embodies who we are. But even bold, fearless, confident and kind Golden Eagles need to take time to pause, reflect and recharge,” said Jymon T. Scott, a Tech electrical engineering major.

Just the fact Fearless Falls was built during the same time that so much effort had to be refocused on managing the pandemic shows how Tech approached progress — with a bold determination to create something new, yet familiar and uniquely Tech.

classroom experience that was valuable,” President Phil Oldham said. “Our faculty worked tirelessly to connect with students and adapt their classes to make sure students could learn while dealing with an unprecedented situation.”

Those faculty created multiple options for holding classes, allowing students to attend classes remotely or to watch recorded classes if needed. As a result, no illness outbreak was connected to classroom attendance.

And the university took its lead from listening to sur-

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24•385 •Our People•Our Stories

vey results from students and faculty. Students overall said they were very satisfied with their courses, as well as faculty availability and communication.

“We read every comment to better understand the barriers faced by students and faculty,” said Provost Lori Bruce.

Understanding what students wanted led Tech to respond differently than many other universities.

Tech was the only public university in the state to hold in-person commencements and not limit guests at each ceremony for Spring 2020 graduates.

“We added ceremonies so we could have social distancing for graduates and guests, we found ways to avoid lines, we reworked the ceremonies to be impactful, but short and safe,” said Denise Colwell, who coordinates ceremonies for Tech. “We were determined to have our graduates walk across the stage.”

Growing While Managing Students now study in the new 165,000-square-foot Lab Science Commons, meet in the Stonecipher Lecture Hall and work out in the Marc L. Burnett Student Recreation and Fitness Center. These signature buildings were all completed, opened and celebrated while the campus managed the pandemic.

Other student spaces became more scenic and enjoyable, including the Roaden University Center’s Backyard, with a fire pit, tables and umbrellas, and rocking chairs.

Dozens of picnic tables were added around campus to encourage eating and socializing outdoors in a safe way.

Private funding hit an all-time high, as did research funding.

“As we head into fall, we have momentum and a sense of camaraderie that is taking us forward,” said Oldham.

In Full Flight When students return in mid-August, Tech classrooms will be at 100 percent capacity this fall, and almost 90 percent of undergraduate classes will be in-person.

Outdoor spaces will host student activities again, and intramurals will restart.

“Students can expect to see their favorite events return this fall, such as the Mix & Mingle, SOLO concerts and Homecoming activities,” said Dean of Students Katie Williams. “During the spring, student activities and events looked a bit different with COVID safety proto-

cols in place. Still, we continued to host many in-person events along with providing virtual options. We look forward to returning to a vibrant and active student experience in the fall.”

A groundbreaking for the new engineering building will be held in early fall, while the companion innovation residence hall will break ground a few months later.

Walton Park on Dixie will be the new home to band activities and a place for students to play and relax.

All the while, a leadership group continues to meet regularly to discuss CDC guidelines, campus health and safety. Tech’s Health Services offers daily testing and vaccines.

“In full flight means we are fully informed, fully prepared, and fully committed to deliver the best experience for students,” said Oldham.

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Summer•2021•25

Calendar

To submit major community events for consideration in the next issue, send them to 385Magazine@herald-citizen.com.

August through

7

Putnam County Fair

14

Wine on the West Side The 10th annual event on Cookeville’s historic WestSide features more than 125 wines and craft beers alongside restaurants and food trucks, a live band and DJ. Purchase tickets at wineonthewestside.com/.

September

10-11 Fall FunFest The 95th Putnam County Agriculture & Industrial Fair is July 29 to August 7 with the theme, Kids, Country & the County Fair. For more information about events, food and rides at the 10-day event that will be held for the last time at the current fairgrounds, go to putnamcountyfair.org.

26•385 •Our People•Our Stories

Cookeville’s Main Street festival returns with live music, arts & craft booths, food vendors and WCTE’s Stations of Imagination.

October

16 Haunted Half The Haunted Half Marathon benefits the Upper Cumberland’s educational television station, WCTE.

28

Cooking on the Square Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity presents its primary fundraiser featuring gumbo and other delectable delights on the historic Courthouse Square in Cookeville.

25-26 Parade of Homes Upper Cumberland Home Builders Association Parade of Homes.

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RED WHITE

& BOOM Cookeville/Putnam County’s celebration of Independence Day returned with a bang July 4 at the fairgrounds.

Photos by Megan Trotter

The band Robbing Reality.

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Jake Hoot’s wife, Brittney, and daughter, Macy, sing Happy Birthday to a musician.

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Jamie Dailey, left, and Jake Hoot.

Samuel LeFave and Lora Hicks hand out water.

A giant flag flies over the fairgrounds.

Summer•2021•29

Why I Love… Cookeville What do you love about your job?

There are so many aspects of this job that I love. First of all the ability to serve God through this ministry, plus watching His children grow and prosper as they thrive as successful homeowners. Witnessing God work on the volunteers that get engaged with us to the homebuyers whose lives are impacted for generations with the opportunity to purchase an affordable home. And in the past six months, we’ve had several homeowners pay off their mortgages. To see the joy on their faces of now truly owning their home with no more debt is extremely emotional for all of us. Plus now we witness seniors needing help with their homes and we’re able to assist them to continue living in their precious homes. And I love the team we have here, from our staff, volunteers, and donors. This community is so giving of their time, talents and treasure to further our ministry’s mission.

Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity Executive Director

Pam Ealey

How did you get involved in Habitat?

I started volunteering in 2001, working to assist Gayle Haggard and Judy Dronebarger with some marketing and fundraising support. Next step was joining the board and then in June 2003 I was hired as the first development staff member.

What plans do you have for Habitat’s future in Putnam County and the Upper Cumberland?

We’re expanding our staff this summer as we see the demand of our senior repair program growing exponentially. That need is not going away. We’re looking to secure a more retail-friendly location for our popular ReStore. We will be working on developing the final phase of our West End Place Neighborhood within the next 12-18 months, which will add around 30 more building lots for our future. Expanding our service area into all of our neighboring counties is a long-term priority. And the 25th Cooking on the Square is set for Oct. 29.

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30•385 •Our People•Our Stories

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Putnam County Strong!

Summer•2021•31

For us at Tennessee Tech, it’s personal. We want to offer our students the best educational experience possible while also making their time with us meaningful. While the hallmark of a Tennessee Tech education is our strong academics, our mission is to also serve students and foster student-faculty relationships and friendships that last a lifetime.That’s why we are preparing to resume primarily in-person classes, activities and events on campus this fall.

learn more at

TNTECH.EDU/INFULLFLIGHT

OCM023-PRNT-22