[486] Obion County Farm Joins Rank of State's Century Farms Program

For Release: June 1, 2011
Contact: Caneta Hankins, Center for Historic Preservation, 615-898-2947


OBION COUNTY FARM JOINS RANK OF STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM

Hutchison’s Dixie Chicks Farm Recognized for Agricultural Contributions

(MURFREESBORO)— Hutchison’s Dixie Chicks Farm, located in Obion County, has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reports Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms Program at the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU.
The Century Farms Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have owned and kept family land in continuous agricultural production for at least 100 years.
With $1,200, William Mack Tidwell and his wife, Elizabeth Susan McClure Tidwell, purchased a 120-acre farm in the Twelfth District of Obion County in 1906. The Tidwells, who were the parents of four children, primarily raised corn, cattle and hogs as well as other row crops and livestock traditional to the area.
In 1910, William Tidwell sold 65 acres of his farm to his daughter, Sarah Francis, and her husband, Jacob “Jake” Franklin Hutchison. Jake and Sarah had seven children. For a half-century, they continued to raise corn, cattle and hogs on their acreage. Charlie B. Franklin Hutchinson, son of Sarah and Jake, acquired the family farm in 1959. He and his wife, Helen Hunt Hickman, had five children. In 1995, the twin sons of Helen and Charlie, Donald Franklin and Ronald Masa Hutchison, acquired the farm.
Donald “Donnie” Hutchison and his wife, Debbie Pickett Hutchison, own slightly more than 27 acres and raise cattle and poultry. In 2001, Tyson Foods awarded the “Grower of the Year” title to the owners of Dixie Chicks Farm. Donnie and Debbie manage and work their farming enterprise and are the parents of Brittany and Joshua, who also live on the farm.
Hutchison’s Dixie Chicks Farm is the 30th Century Farm to be certified in Obion County.

Since 1984, the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farms Program.
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit www.tncenturyfarms.org. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132 or 615-898-2947.

• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owner or request jpegs of the farm for editorial use, please contact the CHP at 615-898-2947.



Founded in 1911, Middle Tennessee State University is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution located in Murfreesboro and is the state’s largest public undergraduate institution. In September 2011, MTSU will celebrate its 100th year anniversary with special events and activities throughout the year kicked off by a Blue-Tie Centennial Gala on Friday, Sept. 9.