TFC celebrates 80 years
Grand event marks eight decades of service to farmers
Story and photos by Page Haynes
First Farmers Cooperative General Manager Rob White, left, and Henderson Branch Manager Matt Hearn were on hand to welcome everyone to the grand opening of their new fertilizer facility in Henderson on August 8, 2025. The impressive building boasts heated floors, a spacious office, a restroom, and eight 16-feet-wide by 50-feet-deep storage bins.
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative (TFC) commemorated its 80th anniversary at its La Vergne headquarters on September 9 as it hosted a gathering of employees and agricultural industry supporters in recognition of the milestone.
Supporting TFC in this historic moment were representatives from throughout the agricultural industry and the local community. The Tennessee Pork Producers Association (TPPA) sponsored the celebratory meal of pork barbecue sandwiches, slaw, baked beans, and potato salad. TPPA Executive Vice President Phyllis Ferguson and Director Katie Sherman were on hand to offer congratulations.
Other guests included Dr. Charlie Hatcher, former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture; Andy Holt, Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture; Tennessee Farm Bureau President Eric Mayberry, Executive Vice President Bryan Wright, and Director of Communications Lee Maddox; Jason Cole, mayor of La Vergne; Tennessee State Senator Shane Reeves; Lewis McIntyre and Mary Beth Shackelford of CoBank; Keith Harrison with the UT Institute of Agriculture; Zach Gihorski representing the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and many others, including the TFC Board of Directors.
“Let’s go back to 1944 when the board of directors of the Farm Bureau formed that committee to conduct a nationwide study of farm supply stores,” said Harrison, UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), director of development for Central Tennessee, who previously worked at TFC for 16 years, serving as TFC Marketing Communications Manager among other roles. “There were farmers on that committee from each of the three grand regions of Tennessee. They represented the major sectors of agriculture in our state at the time, including cotton, grain, dairy, and other livestock.
“If you look at the participants at this celebration, you will see the same groups representing and serving Tennessee agriculture,” he added. “That’s significant. In TFC’s 50th Anniversary book, “Tapestry of Success,” author Forrest Bradley wrote that if any one person on the committee could be credited for getting the Co-op movement in Tennessee off to a successful start, it was Al Jerdan. At that time, he was the marketing specialist with UT Extension. He preached that a federated cooperative system was needed to keep control of the Co-ops in the hands of the farmers. And that system has served Tennessee agriculture well for the last 80 years.”
The cooperative has played a significant role in shaping Tennessee's agricultural landscape over the decades, Harrison continued, supporting farmers and ensuring food security.
“And this year’s 80th Anniversary theme centers around an 80th Anniversary commemorative quilt,” he said. “Similarly, our Co-op system is made of multiple layers throughout the state, but it’s all held together as one. It’s a team concept. And we are all here to stand ready to support the Co-op team.”
Dr. Charlie Hatcher, former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture, told the group that the future is bright for agriculture and rallied the attendees — made up of various ag leaders in the industry — to continue working together to keep agriculture and forestry strong, adding that over 80 percent of the state’s land mass is controlled by the two industries.
TFC personnel and guests were treated to a barbecue lunch sponsored by the Tennessee Pork Producers Association.
Bryan Wright, executive vice president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, told the group that the close working relationship that personnel in the Tennessee agricultural industry have is something special.
Bryan Wright, executive vice president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, agreed.
“We have something special here in Tennessee that no other state has that I’m aware of,” said Wright. “We all work together towards the common goal of keeping
Tennessee agriculture strong. Our roots at the Farm Bureau come from the same tree that your roots come from here at TFC. The goal that Farm Bureau, the Co-op commodity groups, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and other academic organizations share is to strengthen our farmers and agricultural interests. That’s truly what makes our relationships here something special.”
TFC’s year-long 80th Anniversary celebration in 2025 will conclude at the the cooperative’s annual meeting on November 30 and December 1 at Opryland Hotel in Nashville. TFC personnel would like to thank all the farmers, producers, students, educators, and agricultural partners who have supported us through the years to help us reach this 80-year milestone
