Co-op delegates elect newcomers McDonald, Cherry, and Steelman as directors

Dec 05, 2022


Scot McDonald, Jason Cherry, and Kevin Steelman were elected to serve a three-year term as directors on the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative (TFC) board during TFC’s annual meeting on Nov. 28 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville.

McDonald, who resides in the Monroe community of Overton County, replaces outgoing TFC board member George Smartt as a Zone 3 director. Steelman of Lincoln County’s Mulberry community was chosen to fill the Zone 2 vacancy left by outgoing TFC board member Stephen Philpott. Cherry, who lives in the small town of Enville in Chester and McNairy counties, will represent Zone 1 and replaces outgoing TFC board member Tim Luckey.
McDonald, along with his wife, Kim, raises 400 acres of crops, 400 beef cows, and 500 yearlings. He is a construction consultant for Twin K. Construction, a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and a member of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association. 

“I have served for the past five years on the Ag1 Farmers Co-op board,” says McDonald. “I am proud of our Co-op system and am looking forward to playing a role in its continued success.”

Steelman and his wife, Janet, are longtime member of Lincoln Farmers Co-op. They raise dairy heifers and beef cattle and are poultry contract growers.

“Co-op is a necessary entity for farmers, and I am looking forward to playing a role in maintaining the health and success of the cooperative,” says Steelman. “As a farmer, I am proud to be selected to serve on the TFC board.”
Steelman is a past member of the Lincoln Farmers Co-op board and served as a member of the advisory board for the Bank of Lincoln County and Farm Credit. 

Cherry, along with his family, row crop 4,000 acres and raise commercial cattle and registered Herefords in Chester County. Cherry has served as a director and past chairman of the First Farmers Co-op board and chairman and director of the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board.

“I am looking forward to serving on the TFC board,” says Cherry. “It’s been a few years since there has been a TFC board member from the First Farmers Co-op territory, and I’m excited to be involved in important decisions facing Tennessee agriculture.”  

He currently serves as a director for the Southern Soybean Research Board, secretary for the Chester County Soil Conservation Board, and treasurer of the Tennessee Soybean Association.

Read More News

Mar 12, 2024
Heather Slayton has been selected as the Tennessee State Forester and Assistant Commissioner for the Forestry Division. She succeeds David Arnold, who is retiring after more than three decades of public service.
 
Mar 04, 2024

Value-added agriculture continues to show strong growth in Tennessee, reaching a value of $142.8 million with gains of more than 65% recorded in the sectors of sales to retail markets, processed or value-added products, and agritourism, according to the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture.

Feb 27, 2024
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is now accepting applications for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).