Jeanette Austin: A lifetime of farming and conservation in Bledsoe County

Born and raised on Brockdell Mountain in Bledsoe County, Jeanette Austin grew up immersed in agriculture. Her parents, Otis and Daisy Prater, raised 11 children, nine girls and two boys on their family farm where dairy cows and other livestock were part of everyday life. That strong foundation in farming laid the groundwork for her lifelong commitment to agriculture and stewardship of the land.

In 1973, she married her husband, Anthony Austin, and moved to his family farm located in the upper Sequatchie River watershed, also in Bledsoe County. Together, they raised five daughters and managed a growing cattle operation, expanding from an 18-head cow/calf setup to over 50-head at its peak.

For more see the October 2 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.