The Cumberland County Soil Conservation District (CCSCD) recently honored Gerald and Steve Christian as the 2017 Outstanding Conservation Farmers at its Annual Awards Dinner.

Gerald and Steve Christian own a family beef cattle farm in the Vandever Community of Cumberland County. Their current farming operation consists of a commercial beef cow/calf operation. Their farming operation is managed on approximately 350 acres of pasture and hayland.

The Christians, which is a father and son operation, participates in cost-share programs and utilizes the services of the Cumberland County Soil Conservation District, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to install best management practices and improve their farming operation.

Some of the Best Management Practices that Gerald and Steve have incorporated into their farming operation are rotational grazing, nutrient and pest management and riparian livestock exclusion areas. Some of the cost-shared items that has been installed are a water well and pumping plant, pipeline, freeze proof water tanks, heavy use protection areas, exclusion fence and forage and biomass plantings.
This year they participated in the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Drought Assistance Program where they tried a forage and biomass planting of Sudangrass to boost their summer forage production in fields that were damaged by the 2016 drought. This was their first experience with Sudangrass and were very pleased with the results.

The Christians take great pride in their livestock and farming operation. They work very hard at being a good conservationists and stewards of the land.

All programs and services of the Cumberland County Soil Conservation District (SCD) are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap.

Pictured are (from left) SCD Supervisor Al Wilson, SCD Chairman Jeff Dodson, Gerald Christian, Faye Christian, Lexi Christian, Steve Christian, SCD Vice-Chairman Terry Lowe and SCD Supervisor David Beaty.