On Monday and Tuesday of last week, the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts (TACD) held its 69th Annual Convention.

Jack Rice, Vice Chairman of the Cocke County Soil Conservation District was recognized for his 56 years of service to Cocke County and TACD.

Rice along with his wife, Reva, farm 96 acres in the Bybee community. He retired from Quaker Oats in 1992 after 40 years. He operated a dairy and grew tobacco until the mid 80’s. He is a designated Tree farmer having planted between 15 and 20 thousand pine seedlings on areas of his farm that were untenable.

For more details, please see the Tuesday edition of the Newport Plain Talk.