– Every Farmer has a Story with Raymond Blevins –
Through thick and thin
Despite obstacles, the Blevins brothers of Sequatchie County carry on farming traditions
Story and photos by Page Haynes
– Every Farmer has a Story with Raymond Blevins –
Through thick and thin
Despite obstacles, the Blevins brothers of Sequatchie County carry on farming traditions
Story and photos by Page Haynes
It’s been decades of ups and downs for the Blevins family who farm in Sequatchie County near Dunlap. From farm relocations, falling commodity prices, and retirements due to COVID-19 and tornados, the family has faced its share of challenges. But brothers Raymond and Dwight Blevins, dedicated members of Sequatchie Farmers Cooperative, rely on each other’s expertise and teamwork and are determined to work together to keep the farm running.
“It’s all we’ve ever known,” says Raymond, who, along with younger brother, Dwight, best known as “Weasel” to friends and family, was part of Glenn Blevins and Sons farming operation before their daddy passed away three years ago. “We’ve never farmed anywhere else or moved away from Sequatchie Valley. It’s all we’ve ever done.”
Located in the heart of Sequatchie Valley, the Blevins farm is comprised of 700 acres situated in the scenic valley, which is bounded by a mountainous portion of the Cumberland Plateau to the west and Walden Ridge to the east.
The brothers’ grandparents, Riley and Liddy Blevins, first acquired the property in the 1960s. They relocated to the area when their dairy at New Hope in Marion County was displaced due to the development of property around what would become Nickajack Lake. Their sons, Glen and Harold went into farming with their father and grew row crops and haylage and raised hogs and cattle.
“Papa, Daddy, and Uncle Harold farmed together, and Uncle Harold bought a 300-acre farm next door,” explains Raymond. “When Papa Riley passed away, Daddy bought out Uncle Harold’s part and kept everything going.”
Over the next several years, Glenn and his wife, Peggy, had five children: Marvin, Raymond, Karen, Weasel, and Keith. As the children grew up, one by one, they left for off-the-farm jobs, while Raymond and Weasel stayed on to help their daddy with the farm. Keith, who’s a welder at Komatsu, also assists when he can.
“Farming has its share of challenges. You can’t be lazy. There’s usually something to do eight days a week to maintain a farm. But the work is rewarding and enjoyable.”
— Raymond Blevins
Glenn concentrated on raising row crops and beef cattle, and Raymond and Weasel have carried on those pursuits. The brothers grow about 350 acres of corn, 350 acres of soybeans, and 100 acres of wheat, rotating the crops every other year. They also raise hay to feed their cattle herd of about 70 Angus and Hereford mama cows.
For a while in the 1980s, they also had an impressive 120-sow swine operation until pork prices declined, and corn prices rose, forcing them to raise beef cattle and row crops exclusively.
“Farming has its ups and downs,” says Raymond, as he recalls the transitions. “But overall, it’s been rewarding.”
Rewarding but not easy, says Raymond, noting that there are constant obstacles to deal with that can’t be anticipated. As examples, he cites a tornado and the COVID-19 pandemic.
A high-end EF2 tornado came through the farm at an odd time, he says, just after Thanksgiving on November 29, 2016, instead of the typical March to May span. It swept through around 11 p.m., destroying several buildings and damaging equipment. Two combines were also demolished as well as a Quonset hut, sheds, and a big barn. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
“It was the driest year we’d had in a while,” recalls Raymond. “The storm hit, and it rained about three inches that night. We had about 5,000 bales of straw stacked up and the top five layers all got wet. We only saved around 2,000 bales. The next morning, the roof and everything was gone.”
Four years later in 2020, the pandemic struck, and Raymond was hit hard by the virus. He recalls testing positive but needing to haul 6,000 bushels of corn in a single-axle truck, moving 400 bushels at the time.
“I was so weak, I just barely could climb up and down in the truck,” he says.
Despite those challenges, Raymond sees farming as a good way of life that has provided for his family. The close-knit family dynamic and working together with family are among the best parts of being a farmer, he says, however, it’s difficult to give advice to anyone just starting out as he and his family were all just “grandfathered in.”
“Farming has been good to me,” says Raymond. “I’ve always been able to pay my bills while working with my family. We’ve had some memorable times together. Weasel and I have worked together for so long, we can basically read each other’s minds. That makes everything flow better and we can really get things accomplished. We’ve been very fortunate.”
In 1983, Howard, fourth from left, trained Ebony’s Double for Priscilla Presley, holding frame, in preparation for an exhibition at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.
“Smile for the camera” Howard tells his 12-year-old palomino Southern Sundown.
Howard gives his daughter, Lauren, a big high five after his horse, A Titleist Masterpiece, was named 2023 Park Pleasure Champion.
Matthew Tillman of Carroll Farmers Co-op, left, visits with Howard at his Southern Serenity Ranch in Cedar Grove, just outside of Jackson, TN. Howard says his family has been purchasing horse feed from the Co-op ever since his father started feeding it long ago.
Howard Hamilton was named the Trainer of the Year in 2002 and was inducted into the Mid-South Horse Show Association Hall of Fame in 2004. He says his facility has shown more than 350 world or world grand champion horses since his career first started.
Howard enjoys teaching horses all types of tricks and says working with horses is very rewarding.
“Have a seat,” Howard tells Sundown, who follows orders to back up and sit down with him on a bale of hay with his back legs lifted off the ground.
By Page Haynes,
Contact phaynes@ourcoop.com