Phil Ayers looks over this stand of Switch grass with his son Van. Both think there is a place in forage systems for these native warm season grasses. (Photo submitted by John Teague) [Click to enlarge]

Wisdom is a good thing to have. One of the old Biblical characters, Solomon, asked for wisdom instead of riches. It helped to get him richer than he was at the start of his reign. Wisdom is both spoken and shown. We all could use more of it.

Phil Ayers of Normandy is a wise man. He shows it. He is soft spoken, but he says a lot of wise things. He does some wise things. His humbleness, one guesses, he would claim to be foolish at times, but his wisdom is a great example.

Ayers and his late wife worked hard, operating a dairy for years and raising their three sons on the farm. There he taught them some wise things.

Once a field man for one of the milk companies, Ayers has always been known for his fairness and honesty. He is respected by all who know him, and many see or hear his wisdom.

Ayers converted his cow herd over the years from dairy genetics to beef genetics, using different breeds to bring in hybrid vigor and increased beef production. He is proud of these cattle, and he is concerned about quality when he purchases a new herd bull or selects replacement heifers.

Ayers operates the farms with his two sons, Van and Sam. His son Sam is a USDA employee and is active in working with the cows. He has partnered with his dad to buy herd bulls and some purebred heifers for his own children to get them started like his dad did.

Van is an agricultural specialist with the University of Missouri in the southeastern area. His interest in warm season grasses led him to bring these forages to the farm where his dad helped him establish the Gamma grass, Switchgrass, Big Bluestem and Indian grass.

Now others are interested in how the grasses perform, and while they are suffering from dry weather, it is obvious that they have a place in production systems here.

Van's ready to share his insights with those who ask.

Recognizing how important it is to protect the precious forages produced on the farm, Ayers built a storage shed to put the hay into. He applied to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for cost-share funds to build the shed, and after these funds were depleted before he was approved, he went on and built it anyway. The legislature added more funds in view of the great need and he eventually got reimbursed.

Ayers and son Sam belong to the Middle Tennessee Beef Producers Association. They will be attending the field day to be held Saturday at the Bedford County Ag Center.

The field day will feature speakers on feed resources for drought times, financial facts due to drought sales, NRCS programs for pasture management and more on the Ag Enhancement funds for genetics and hay storage from Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

The morning field day will be held in conjunction with the 4-H Livestock Show, in which both Sam and Van took part when they were growing up.

Registration for the event starts at 8 a.m. with speakers beginning at 9. There will be a trade show with agricultural businesses, who will provide lunch.

Attendance is free but reservations requested. For more information or to register a spot, call 684-5971 to let us know that you are coming.