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By Pettus L. Read

Got milk? Tennessee makes it ofcial

When I go into that region Im very aware of, and seem to sense, the history. Its just fascinating to me. Colleen Trenwith

As Tennessees legislature continues to debate numerous last-minute bills dealing with subjects from education to the naming of bridges, it is good to report that one piece of legislation passed recently has a refreshing content that should be welcomed by most Tennesseans. It is Senate Bill 0912 and House Bill 0580, that was signed by the governor April 2, making milk the ofcial beverage of Tennessee. Yes, thats right. That liquid that comes from a cow and has given the majority of us strong bones since our early beginning, is the ofcial beverage of the Volunteer State; ranking right up there with the raccoon as the ofcial state wild animal and the tomato as the ofcial fruit. Im sure there are those who are surprised and would have thought maybe something made from corn or another vegetative crop would have received some votes, but the lowly milk cows milk was voted the ofcial beverage unanimously by both governmental bodies as the top choice to represent our state. Having come from a dairy farm myself and with June being celebrated for the 72nd year as Dairy Month, it is certainly appreciated by this writer that our state leaders saw t to recognize milk as our ofcial beverage. A special thanks goes to District 15 Senator Charlotte Burks, who is a farmer herself, and Cookeville State Representative Henry Fincher for carrying this legislation to their respective chambers. The farmers on 533 dairy farms in this state, occupied by nearly 59,000 dairy cows, Im sure, would like to say thank you for this vote of condence from all the legislators. With more than 65 percent of the milk produced on Tennessee farms in 2008 being used and consumed in the form of uid milk, milk is an important commodity to all of us. June is National Dairy Month and has been a major celebration within the Volunteer State for many years. The dairy industry has generated billions of dollars over the years to our economy and continues to do so. Last year, more than $194.6 million was put back into Tennessees economy by Tennessees dairy production. In mid-May there were only 533 dairy farms in Tennessee compared to more than 900 at the same time in the year 2000. Numbers and production continue to decrease around the state, but those Tennessee dairy farmers who remain still produce perhaps the safest food product consumed in this country. From these dairy farms located in Tennessee, consumers receive a nutritious product containing nine essential vitamins and minerals, including protein, calcium and vitamins A and D. Seventy-one percent of our milk produced in this state is on family dairy farms that have fewer than 200 cows. Tennesseans diets are lacking when it comes to good nutrition. We only get half the amount of fruit and milk we need to meet our daily requirements, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By getting three servings of dairy products a day, we can help boost our nutritional needs. So, pour yourself a large glass of our ofcial beverage, milk, and toast the farmers who make it all possible.

New Zealand native studies history of Flag Ponds Jennie Moore Church
By Eileen Rush
Staff Writer

erush@erwinrecord.net Although their rst journeys to Flag Pond took place more than 100 years apart, Jennie Moore and Colleen Trenwith share many common loves. One of the biggest binding ties for these two women who have never met one a Presbyterian missionary, the other a bluegrass musician is a passion for the landscapes, culture and people of Appalachia. Moore fell in love with Flag Pond at the age of 30 and spent her lifetime working to improve the lives of those around her. Trenwith is a woman who found an interest in Appalachia from the other side of the world. Her story begins in Wellington, New Zealand, where the soft-spoken Trenwith and her lilting accent originate. Livin on a Prayer While stories passed down through generations say that Jennie Moore came to Flag Pond on the back of a horse by riding up a creek bed, Trenwith had a much easier route. Trenwith rst traveled through the area on the Old Asheville Highway, which winds itself right past Rocky Fork and Flag Pond. She was on an excursion, exploring the area, when the sign for the Jennie Moore Memorial Presbyterian Church caught her eye. I love that old road, she said of the Old Asheville Highway. The (church) sign captured my imagination. I wanted to nd out more about it. ... I imagined it would be unique from other Presbyterian churches in the U.S., because its in the mountains. Its a lovely little church. The 62-year-old Trenwith is studying the Jennie Moore Church for a Religion in Appalachia course at East Tennessee State University. Trenwith grew up in the Presbyterian tradition, so researching Presbyterianism in Appalachia was a special interest to her. I felt very comfortable when I rst went there, she said. I know enough to maintain a quiet spirit. Trenwith, an accomplished violinist, has played several times for the congregation during Sunday services. Im happy to play as often as they like, she said. While Trenwith appreciates the stories surrounding Jennie Moore and the church that was dedicated in her honor in 1942, the New Zealand nativ ive e is not without her own interesting life story. wi Tren Tr enwi w th rst came to the United Stat St a es si in n 1971, at age 25. However, her jour urne ey began a few years before that, when wh en a mus u ician named Mike Seeger visi vi s te ted d he her r ho home country. Bl lame e it i on the Bev B everly l Hillbillies Tren Tr nwi with th was alr lrea eady dy a member of a

bluegrass band by the time Seeger came to New Zealand in the 1960s. Our band, being the only bluegrass band, accompanied him, she said. Her band began with her husband, who discovered a love for old time, country and bluegrass music when he rst watched the TV show, The Beverly Hillbillies. Her husband taught himself to play the banjo. Trenwith, once a classical violinist, began to pick out ddle tunes by ear. I saw it as a technical exercise, she said. I had to learn straight off of the records. There was nothing written down. I grew to love it. She quickly discovered a passion for the mountain music that originated halfway across the world. After their tour with Seeger ended, he asked them to come to the United States. Seeger hosted them in Nashville and took them to multiple music festivals. We came over to see the music and immerse ourselves in the bluegrass scene over here, to learn as much as we could, she said. Thanks to Seeger, they ended up playing with Bill Monroe, the celebrated Father of Bluegrass, on the Grand Ol Opry. When she met Monroe, she said she had no idea of how signicant he was as a musician. Along the way she also ran into other well-known musicians, like Sam Bush, Kenny Baker and Earl Scruggs. They were a similar age to us, so we got on well with them, she said. Now, in her Appalachian Studies classes at East Tennessee State University, shes learning about these legends who were at one time just pals. I didnt realize how signicant that was at the time, she said. Upon returning home, she also was able to tour with Slim Dusty known as the Johnny Cash of Australia for two and a half years. She and her husband also began importing records from the Southern United States, and continued the trend of learning music by ear. There was no choice, she said. It makes for a pretty determined musician. After her rst visit, Trenwith did not make it back again until 1990, when she and her husband brought their four sons. We drove right through here, she said of Erwin and the Old Asheville Highway. Sh he h had ha d no idea d then h that h 19 years later, , she would be studying at ETSU, or that she would immerse herself in the rhythms of a small mountain church. Im striking a balance of absorbing all I can of Appalachian studies and Appalachia an culture and the music, but I also think it would be great to nish a degree th at ETSU, Trenwith said. My future is a bit uncertain, but its not like I need a degree for a career, at my age. Im doing it because I want to.
Please see MOUNTAINS, Page 7-B

Colleen Trenwith, above, has enjoyed playing the ddle during Sunday services at the Jennie Moore Memorial Presbyterian Church. At right, Jennie Moore was instrumental in ministering to the communities of Rocky Fork and Flag Pond.

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THE ERWIN RECORD, Tuesday, June 2, 2009, Page 7-B

4-H NEWS
Fourth grade, rst place, Rock Creek Elementary, Mrs. Ingram, Kristen Blizard, Savannah Comer, Dakota Ollis,Thomas Springer; second place: Unicoi Elementary, Ms. Sparks, Breanna Banner,Cassie Foster,Chase McNabb, Brooke Rose, Garrett Yarber.Third place:Temple Hill Elementary, Mrs. Peterson,Ashley Edwards,Courtney Harris,Noah Higgins,Jessie Stamey, Caylee Tilson Fifth grade, rst place: Mrs. Lamie, Alex Lamie, Isaac Lewis,Trey Parsley, Abbey True, Gabriel Thomas (alternate); second place: Mrs. Wilson, Daniel Hicks, Jacob Lance, Carter Powers, Noah Wagner,Stephanie Richardson (alternate); third place: Mr. Scott, Lincoln Hensley, Seth Lucas, Kirsten Phillips, Katlyn Phillips,Will Collins (alternate) and Mrs. Bishop, Delani Bailey, Brandon Cauldwell, Zack Jefson,Colton Myers.

CHURCH NEWS & EVENTS

Youth events, fundraiser set at Unicoi United Methodist
Unicoi United Methodist will hold several youth events and invites the public to attend. Nothing But Nets is a sports tournament to raise money to help children in Africa. This is open to youth and adults from our area. Tournaments include 3-on3 basketball, 6-on-6 soccer and 3-on-3 horseshoes. Cost is $10 per team. Pizza and fellowship follow the tournaments at a cost of $4 per person. The church would love to see other local youth, adults and church youth groups attend. Also on June 22 at 6 p.m., Erik Bledsoe, nationally recognized Christian recording artist will hold a free concert (love offering) at the New Life Center at Unicoi United Methodist Church. Bledsoe will be the opening act for an upcoming Steven Mark Chapman concert in July. Also, the church will host a hamburger lunch fundraiser at the Ruritan Shed in Unicoi Sunday, June 7, from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The event will raise money for youth mission trips to Texas (Hurricane Ike relief) and Iowa (Cedar Rapids ooding relief) this summer. Keep on the Watch! District Convention to be held at Freedom Hall Civic Center on June 12-14 and June 19-21 in Johnson City. The three-day event in Johnson City begins Friday, June 12, at 9:20 a.m. Admission to the convention is free, and no collections will be taken. A total of 93 Witness congregations from East Tennessee, South West Virginia, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina will be supporting this concerted effort to increase awareness of the conventions.

Fishery Community Church sets Vacation Bible School

Fishery Community Church will host Vacation Bible School June 7-12. The church is inviting children, ages 3 to 12, to pack their bags and hop on board with the theme of Boomerang Express: It All Comes Back to Jesus. The VBS will be held each night from 6-8:30 p.m. at 501 Fishery Community Church Road. For more information, please call 743-5791 or visit http://sherychurch.org. The Rev. Bryan L. Kent is the pastor of Fishery Community Church.

Jehovahs Witnesses set convention in Johnson City

Jehovahs Witnesses are launching a vigorous campaign to invite all to hear interesting discussions about the Bibles description of what many people refer to as the end of the world. Jehovahs Witnesses will hold the 2009

VBS set at Love Chapel Christian Church

Love Chapel Christian Church will host Vacation Bible School June 8-12. The theme for this year is Crocodile Dock. The time is 6:30-8:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The closing program will be on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Classes will be provided for ages 4 through fth grade. Van service will be provided. For information, call 743-5890 or 743-5321.

GOTTA DANCE!

Sixth grade, rst place: Mrs. Grindstaff, Destinie Hayes, Adam Hill, Jacob Ingram, Grifn Porche, Nick Fain (alternate),Tiffany Lauren (alternate); second place: Mrs. Longcrier, Emory Hampton, Loraleia Norman, Kevin Sams, Jared Sanchez, D. J. Whitson (alternate), Austin Williams (alternate); third place: Mrs. Laws, Deanna Cooper, Sierra Frosley, Ashleigh Helton, Nathaniel Holmes, Mandy Nutter (alternate) and third place: Mrs. Lynch, Dara Carney-Nedelman, Kaitlyn Holsclaw, Will Hubbard, William Simerly , Iris Fregoso (alternate).

4-Hers participate in annual Clover Bowl

Fom Staff Reports Several local 4-H members recently participated in school, county and regional 4-H Clover Bowl Contests. The 4-H Clover Bowl is a quiz bowl contest similar to a game show. Teams consist of four members who buzz in and answer questions about 4-H, Tennessee, agriculture, environment, or family and consumer science. The team that won the county contest in each grade traveled to The University of Tennessee on May 14 for the Eastern Region 4-H Clover Bowl Contest. The 4-H members competed against nearly 20 teams from 33 counties. Their preparation and studying paid off as all three Unicoi County teams placed. Fifth and sixth grades placed third at region, and fourth grade placed fth.

The Erwin-based Range School of Dance will hold a dance production titled Take Off With Us Friday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m. at Unicoi County High School. Above, dancers complete the routine Circus. Pictured are, from left: front row, Sable Arrowood and Hillary Edwards; second row, Emily Woods, Taylor Shelton, Lexis Morley, Carrie Frazier and Jessica Keller; and third row: Erin Tinker, Abby Woods and Whitney Dayton.

MOUNTAINS
Continued from Page 4-A

The winners and participants pose in front of Erwin Motors.

Model Car Contest winners announced

From Staff Reports The 32nd annual Unicoi County 4-H Model Car Contest was held April 23 at Erwin Motors. The Model Car Contest has been sponsored by the local Ford dealership for the past 32 years. The county winners are as follows: Explorer (fourth grade) First place, Hannah Jones, Love Chapel; second place, Tyler Hamby, Unicoi and Scottie Argabrite, Love Chapel third place. Other participants were Thomas Biggerstaff, Hannah Honeycutt, Jathaniel Stockfelt, Kaitlynn McInturff, Bailey Maupin and Justin Laughren. UCMS division: First place, Alex Lamie; second place, Abbey True and third place Chandra Edney. Other participants were Jordan Metcalf, Thatcher Keever, Barbara Tripp, Lincoln Hensley, Allison Taylor, Katie Larimer, Jacob T. Ingram, Sean Collins, Austin Ingram and Laura Rogers.

Shes also found an interest in studying the old time ddle players of East Tennessee. I love the hymns, she said. I listened to the music from this area for years. However, learning music from halfway across the world is almost less daunting than jumping in, feet rst, here in the Appalachians. I was a bit intimidated by the whole thing, she said. Her rst year here she said she barely scratched the surface. This year I feel as though Im going deeper into the culture and meeting more people, she said. Now, however, she compares it to being like a kid in a candy store. There are many more resources to feed her interests in the musical styles of Appalachia. Ive always felt very much at home when I arrive over here, she said. I just dont feel my age, I guess. I still have a sense of adventure. Give Me that Old Time Religion Jennie Moore, too, must have had a sense of adventure. On April 24, 1924, Moore wrote about her own experiences at Rocky Fork, where she helped to found a school in 1903. More than 20 years ago I came to Rocky Fork for a stay of three months, so you can see Ive extended my time. We began with one room a combined school and church house. We were told we could get together 13 pupils (all we could accept), but on our rst opening day we had 24, and 58

4-H camp sponsors sought

From Staff Reports Summer time is fast approaching and many parents look for a fun, safe and educational experience in which their child can participate. 4-H camp could be an option. The Clyde Austin 4-H Center near Greeneville is a modern facility. The Center is nestled in he beautiful hills of East Tennessee and has a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains. The camp is AAA accrediated by the American Camping Association. The special programs this summer for morning educational adventure is SET or Science, Engineering and Technology. Youth will experience using GPS Garmin units for geocashing, build rockets, learn to make rockets and be an investigator a sort of CSI meets CLUE. Afternoon activities include swimming, shing boating, air-brush, crafts, volleyball, softball, ping-pong and much more. Many Unicoi County citizens have special memories of attending 4-H Camp as a child. This year, applications from students for nancial assistance to attend 4-H Camp has doubled. The Unicoi County Extension ofce is seeking sponsors to help send a child to camp. If you would like to sponsor a child to attend 4-H Camp, call Ty Petty at the 4-H ofce at 743-9584.

by the end of three months. The next year ... we had an eight-month school, with 98 pupils seated on boxes, crates and nail kegs. Mr. Louis Gentry gave us land, and the men went into the forest for lumber. Everybody helped, and some of the men labored for 52 days to give us better quarters. One little boy gave us two cents, the rst money received. With this I bought a postage stamp, and the letter it carried brought us back a reply with $45 toward the good cause. The stories and words of Jennie Moore, echoing out from the gray stone church nestled quietly in a remote spot off of the Old Asheville Highway, with the South Indian Creek owing beside it, are just one aspect of Flag Ponds history that Trenwith loves. Ive read the history of how the Presbyterians came to this region, she said. I am so impressed with how determined they were to spread the Gospel. When I go into that region Im very aware of, and seem to sense, the history. Its just fascinating to me. It seems to be a pocket where a lot of things have happened, and a community that is rich in education. In a report that Trenwith wrote about the church, which was established in 1901, she describes some of her reasons for focusing on the Jennie Moore church. It is a small mountain church with a fascinating history, which has served the people in the rural community of Flag Pond and Rocky Fork well, and has not only managed to accommodate and preserve the culture of the mountain folk, but it has greatly enriched the community

since its inception in 1901, Trenwith writes. The oldest member of the present Jennie Moore Memorial Presbyterian Church, Louise Treadway, told the story of Jennie Moores arrival to Trenwith. There wasnt anything but a creek bed, Treadway said. No roads or bridges, just a wagon trail which came up from Erwin. They sent her to start a school. She came into just a wilderness ... at just a young age. In her own way, Trenwith also traveled into a wilderness. From halfway across the world, she began to immerse herself in a culture and place completely foreign to her. Choosing to attend college in her 60s was stepping into the wilderness. Playing her ddle for an unfamiliar church congregation was another unknown. All those unknowns have led to a deep understanding and care for and of the people of the Jennie Moore Memorial Presbyterian Church. Trenwith writes towards the end of her report, The Jennie Moore Church is not typical of all Presbyterian churches in many ways, but from its inception until the present day, has maintained all of the quality, the appreciation of higher education, balanced and well grounded theology, balanced and well grounded mountain culture and sense of place in the mountains which is now the embodiment of the vision and foundational work of all of the Presbyterian pioneers, both clergy and missionaries, who rst walked and rode their horses into Appalachia with the Word of God.