Jul 24 2008
East Tennessee Farmers Relief Benefit!
Over the past several years, the move towards renewable and alternative fuels is undoubtedly a positive development. The growth of the “green movement” is a positive effort by many diverse groups and individuals. Much has been said about the use of corn and soy as a fuel source.
Many farmers who grow these crops have seen an increase in the value as a direct result. 
An unforeseen consequence of the increased value of these crops has prompted a shift away from supplying cattle and dairy farmers with the grain that has historically been used as nutritional supplements for their herds. The drought conditions that have plagued much of the farming industry has not spared the cattle and dairy industries either. Much of the hay that is grown as the dietary staple has been stunted or simply not grown in recent years. Though the farmers are finally beginning to recover from the past drought conditions, last year Knox County Farm Bureau paid the transportation costs for hay that had to be imported from Canada which saved cattle and diary farmers about $2 per bail in fuel costs.
In a similar effort this year a new nonprofit organization called East Tennessee Farmers Relief was organized this past January. This organization’s efforts will shift as needed but always focus on providing relief to farmers in six local counties: Knox , Grainger , Sevier , Hamblen , Cocke, and Jefferson . The nonprofit has organized a benefit concert to be held on Friday, July 25, 2008 at Walters State Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center in Morristown, Tennessee . Click HERE for a map! 
The event is hoping to raise an estimated $120,000 for distribution to cattle and dairy farmers by an independent board of area farmers selected by the University of Tennessee’s agricultural extension programs agents who represent the counties that East Tennessee Farmers Relief is set up to serve. Scheduled to perform are David Nail , Carolina Rain , and Aaron Tippin (pictured at left). There are still many tickets remaining and starting at $20 each they are a real bargain! Tickets can be purchased online at Lakeway Tickets ! If you are a fan of country music, why not come out and see some of today’s hottest country stars and support a good cause all at the same time!
