By AMY TRINIDAD
Sheep Industry News Editor

(March 1, 2010)  Whiskey, Horses and Ewe – the theme for the industry tour at the convention – provided attendees an opportunity to learn more about the unique aspects of Tennessee.

The day started in Columbia, Tenn., at the sale barn built by the Tennessee Livestock Producers (TLP), the marketing affiliate of the Tennessee Farm Bureau since 1932 which helps maintain a competitive bid for livestock throughout the state and is a National Livestock Producers Association member organization. The facility opened in 2008 and has been designed to consider the movement of animals. It is less stressful for the animals, safer for employees and is home to the largest sheep and goat sale in the Southeast.

According to Darrell Ailshie, TLP general manager, the facility sells 25,000 head of sheep and goats every year in addition to 12,000 to 15,000 head of cattle with a good majority – 95 percent – leaving the facility for slaughter.

“Prior to the development of this facility, the bulk of sheep and goats in this area were sold one at a time,” explained Ailshie to a group of 110 sheep producers from all across the country. “Now, every animal gets a USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) grade and is pinned off scales with like-kind groups. Our goal is to try to maximize the value for our producers according to what they bring here.”

Producers come from all across the Southeast to market their livestock at the Columbia sale barn. In fact, there is always at least four states represented at the sale and it’s not uncommon to have people from eight different states attending.

The next stop on the tour was in Shelbyville, home to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, the premier event for the walking horse during which the breed’s world champions are named. The Celebration is housed in a 105-acre complex with 63 barns that contain 1,650 stalls, an outdoor stadium that seats approximately 30,000, a covered warm-up ring and a 4,400 seat indoor arena.

Members talked about how the walking horse industry has come under attack for alleged abuse of its animals and other reported indiscretions. However, the industry has come together to demonstrate their commitment and bring about reform where needed. They adopted the S.H.O.W. campaign, which stands for sound horses, honest judging, objective inspections and winning fairly. Members have come together to embrace the values of this program to enhance the integrity of the industry and to protect the horses.

The home of Jack – the Jack Daniels Distillery – was the final stop on the tour. It is the oldest distillery in the United States where Daniels himself first crafted the recipe for Old No. 7 Jack Daniels whiskey and where the sipping whiskey is still made today.

One of the unique aspects of this distillery is that the whiskey is made today with the same pure, iron-free cave spring water as it was made in 1866. This water flows year-round at 800 gallons per minute at a constant temperature of 56 degrees and is the reason why the distillery was located in the original spot.

The attendees got to check-out each stage involved in making Jack Daniels, from the charcoal mellowing, to the maturation process and the barrel making.

As one participant said, “The tour really took you back in time. Mixing the history with the more modern equipment used today to make the whiskey made the tour interesting and memorable.”