Monday, June 3, 2013 3:25 pm

David Parker received the Tennessee Cattlemen Cow Calf Producer of the Year Award during the Tennessee Cattlemen's Annual Convention. Annually, a producer in Tennessee receives recognition for outstanding accomplishments in four categories, Cow-calf producer of the year, Outstanding Business Person and Outstanding Stocker Grower Producer.

David and the Parker Family have a long history in beef production in the Ivy Bluff community. The annual Parker Brothers Labor Day Polled Hereford sale has been an icon for over 45 years. It was no surprise when the Cannon County Cattlemen's Association recognized the Parker Family as the 2012 Cow Calf Producer of the Year. The association nominated David as their nominee for the State Award. Agritourism is a catch phrase used to promote agriculture, the Parker family has been promoting agricultural products for over 100 years. The Parker Family is most deserving of this award, remarked Bruce Steelman, County Director with the University of Tennessee Cannon County Extension. The Parker Family has a diverse operation producing Holstein heifers, row crop and purebred Polled Hereford cattle. Their newest venture will include "farm fresh beef" by daughter Angela Parker Moore. The Cannon County Cattlemen Association congratulates the Parker family for their historic past and contributions the Cannon County.

Below you will find a brief history of their operation.

The DKM Farm was founded in 1907 by R. L. and Myrtle Parker. They were the parents of Kenneth, Houston, Opal, Homer, Mamie and Hilary. On forty acres, the family raised corn, sweet potatoes, oats, wheat, hogs, cattle, mules and chickens. A progressive farmer, R. L. participated in the early stages of the soil conservation program and also in the Grange. The family remembers they that took part in "old fashioned farm face lifts." The family began a Registered Polled Hereford cattle business and held their first sale in 1966. This sale continues today after 45 years.

In 1958, Kenneth and Delois Parker, the son and daughter in law of the founders became the second generation to own the property. Their children are Marcus, David and Kathy. Kenneth and Delois increased the size of their farm from about 440 to about 1200 acres.

In 2004, the grandson of the founder, David Parker and his wife Paula became the owners and operators of the farm. Currently, the farm produces a wide variety of crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, crimson clover, peppers, alfalfa, and sweet corn. In addition, they raise cattle, dairy cattle, chickens, horses and sheep. The original barn stands and is used on a daily basis.

Three generations of the Parker family live on the farm today. The farm is home to David and Paula and their daughters Krista, along with her husband Lynn Trail and their daughters Kaitlynn and Kathryn, and Angela who is married to Don Moore and their children, D.J. and Abigail and son Brian which has recently become engaged. David's brother Mark is actively involved with the farm along with son Justin and wife Jessica which is expecting their first child in March.

The Parker Brothers Farm or better known today as DKM (named for David, his sister Kathy and brother Mark), is located half way between Manchester, TN (off I-24) and Woodbury. At DKM Farm/Parker Bros, row cropping and raising cattle is our way of life. Our livelihood depends on our crops and cattle.

Comments from friends and other cow calf producers;

"To insure the quality of his cattle, David uses artificial insemination from top producing registered bulls along with the high quality bulls he produces. The character and integrity of David as an individual carries through to the quality and integrity of his cattle production producing cattle that are healthy, performance oriented and an asset to the buyer.

David has been and continues to be very active in supporting his local Cattlemen's Association and Tennessee Polled Hereford Association. I have had several opportunities to serve with David in cattle committees. I have found David to be very easy to work with and he provides valuable ideas and leadership. His leadership and concern for others carries over into the area of cattle production and teaching his grandchildren, nieces and nephews the love of cattle and showing cattle."

From Tom Carmouche

"I feel that David's efforts as a Hereford breeder have greatly enhanced the popularity of Hereford cattle through-out Tennessee and the southeast. David is a strong advocate of performance type cattle and maintains the records to back that, from birth weights to the collection of carcass information. His efforts were again rewarded with a very successful production sale Labor Day week end. Parker genetics were in strong demand from breeders from all across the nation."

From Tommy Coley

"I have known David since he was a teenager. He served as the first President of the Tennessee Junior Polled Hereford Association which was organized in 1972. He has served in many capacities over the last 40 years to improve the beef cattle industry and help other individuals as cattle producers."

From Glenda Rickman, Rickman Farms

"Perhaps even more impressive than his credentials and status as a top tier cow/calf producer is the man himself. David is the type of person who will give everything he has to assure success. I have observed this not only with his cow/calf operation but also in his row crop operation as well as his care of feeding contract dairy heifers. David's dedication and determination also extends well beyond the farm. David is a community leader in the truest sense of the word. Whether it is serving on the local Telephone Cooperative Board, local Livestock Market Board, or working with his beloved church, David is the person people seek out for leadership and guidance."

From Bruce Steelman, County Director in Cannon County

"I told Kaitlynn (my oldest child, 11) that we had to come today to accept Poppie's award for being Tennessee Cattlemen's Outstanding Cow-Calf Producer. She asked me what that meant, and I told her that he was getting an award for being a top cattle producer and breeder for Tennessee. She replied "oh!, so Poppie is getting an award for being Poppie.""

From Granddaughter Kaitlynn Trail