Tennessee
Local farmers gather for annual West Tennessee Grain and Soybean Producers Conference – WBBJ TV
DYER COUNTY, Tenn. — If you’ve been around West Tennessee farming, you know there’s one event farmers mark on their calendars every year—and this week, hundreds of them packed the Dyer County fairgrounds for it.
We’re talking about the 2026 West Tennessee grain and soybean producers conference, and it’s become pretty much the place to be for anyone serious about their crops.
It’s no surprise that UT Extension makes this conference a priority. According to Aaron Smith, interim assistant dean of extension, this isn’t just another event on their calendar.
“This is one of our showpiece events for UT Extension. The west tennessee grain conference is one of four main conferences we run for row crop producers across Tennessee, but this is by far our largest—obviously because most of our acreage is in West Tennessee,” said Smith.
And when you walk the floor, you see why. Vendors from all corners of the agriculture industry set up shop, ready to show off the latest products and innovations.
But here’s the thing—farmers don’t just show up for the booths. They’re here to learn. We talked to one local farmer who’s been making this trip for years, and he explained exactly why he can’t miss it.
“I’ve been coming to this for many, many years just to keep up with what’s going on in agriculture. You find out about the new traits, and you learn what you’re going to be dealing with as far as weeds and pest problems year after year,” said Eric Maupin, local farmer.
For farmers like Maupin, who’s spent his whole life working the land, this conference is about something bigger than just picking up tips. It’s about staying connected.
“It’s vital in the Ag community for us to keep up with what’s going on in agriculture on our individual farms. This West Tennessee grain conference brings it right down to us here in West Tennessee,” said Maupin.
Jake McNeal, the UT Extension corn and soybean specialist, says the past couple of years have been tough on West Tennessee farmers. Rainfall has been way down, and that’s created some real challenges.
That’s exactly why events like this matter so much. It’s a chance to learn from the experts and prepare for whatever the next growing season throws at you.
The good news? This annual event stays true to its roots—it’s always free and open to anyone who wants to learn more about farming in West Tennessee.
So whether you’re a seasoned farmer or just curious about agriculture, that’s something worth marking down for next year.
For more news in the Jackson area, click here.
UConn-Tennessee historic rivalry is a big memory for basketball fans
UConn and Tennessee have held a historic rivalry that has stuck with Geno Auriemma for years. He recalls how games drew fans out during snowstorms to watch.
Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kim Caldwell is struggling in her second year with the Lady Vols.
“We just had a lot of quit in us tonight,” Caldwell said after a 93-50 loss to South Carolina on Sunday; the 43-point margin a record for the largest defeat in Tennessee women’s basketball history.
“And that’s been something that’s been consistent with our team is ― we’re not comfortable, and things don’t go our way, and I have a team that’ll just quit on you. And you can’t do that in big games, can’t do that anytime in the SEC, but you certainly can’t do that at a program like this.”
Caldwell had no answers for why, when things are going badly, the Lady Vols struggle to stay composed. They seemingly unravel to the point of no return. (This season, the team has five ranked losses of 15 points or more, including a 30-point loss to UConn and 43-point loss to the Gamecocks. Three of those losses to top teams also included 20 turnovers.) Caldwell appeared to shift the blame to her team.
“That’s a question for them, about why they can’t stick together,” the Tennessee coach said.
When asked if she had advice for Caldwell as a young head coach, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley offered up some reassuring words after Caldwell’s head-turning admissions.
“For a young coach like Kim [Caldwell], coaching for the traditional powerhouse of Tennessee ― for me, I probably wouldn’t say it publicly. That’s one,” Staley said.
“For two, you gotta get your team to buy in, and sometimes, it’s tricking them because it’s a game. It’s a game that you really have to balance playing with the players because they know they played like ish, right? They know they did. Sometimes you need to bring what good happened. If you can find some good in it … some of that might just kind of relax them a little bit.”
Staley also shared what she thinks Caldwell and Tennessee can do to get back on track after losing three of their last four games.
“Competitors know when they don’t play well. Competitors know when they need to change their mindsets,” the Gamecocks coach said.
“You need the majority of your team thinking the same way, and it has to be positive. If it’s negative, you’re going to get negative results. So, I would start from there.”
The Tennessee Sports Writers Association and USA TODAY Network in Tennessee has released its boys TSSAA basketball statewide rankings for Feb. 9.
The TSWA/USA TODAY Network poll will be released each week until the conclusion of the Tennessee high school basketball season.
In Division I, each first-place vote receives 10 points, second place receives nine points and that continues to the 10th-place vote, which receives one point. First-place votes are listed in parentheses.
In Division II, the first-place team receives five points and is reduced by one point for each additional place. The DII rankings are the top five teams in each class.
Tennessee high school boys basketball rankings for TSSAA season
Division I
Class 1A
1. Eagleville (12), 120 points. Record (20-0). Last week: Ranked No. 1.
2. Pickett County, 108 points. Record (24-3). Last week: Ranked No. 2.
3. Jackson County, 88 points. Record (20-5). Last week: Ranked No. 3.
4. Richland, 84 points. Record (16-4). Last week: Ranked No. 4.
5. Humboldt, 74 points. Record (12-6). Last week: Ranked No. 5.
6. Perry County, 60 points. Record (14-5). Last week: Ranked No. 6.
7. Gleason, 49 points. Record (20-3). Last week: Ranked No. 7.
8. Booker T. Washington, 37 points. Record (14-4). Last week: Ranked No. 8.
9. Wayne County, 17 points. Record (15-9). Last week: Ranked No. 9.
10. Jo Byrns, 16 points. Record (14-6). Last week: Ranked No. 10.
Other teams that received 10 or more points: None.
Class 2A
1. Chattanooga Prep (9), 116 points. Record (10-10). Last week: Ranked No. 1.
2. Tellico Plains (3), 109 points. Record (18-4). Last week: Ranked No. 2.
3. Huntingdon, 88 points. Record (13-3). Last week: Ranked No. 4.
4. Gatlinburg-Pittman, 79 points. Record (18-4). Last week: Ranked No. 5.
5. Peabody, 72 points. Record (18-3). Last week: Ranked No. 3.
T-6. White House Heritage, 48 points. Record (17-5). Last week: Ranked No. 6.
T-6. Westview, 48 points. Record (15-6). Last week: Not ranked.
8. Cannon County, 37 points. Record (18-6). Last week: Ranked No. 8.
9. Tyner Academy, 30 points. Record (15-8). Last week: Ranked No. 7.
10. Summertown, 18 points. Record (18-4). Last week: Ranked No. 9.
Other teams that received 10 or more points: Hillcrest (10).
Class 3A
1. Upperman (11), 119 points. Record (21-5). Last week: Ranked No. 1.
2. Tullahoma (1), 106 points. Record (18-4). Last week: Ranked No. 2.
3. Jackson North Side, 95 points. Record (18-2). Last week: Ranked No. 3.
4. Alcoa, 81 points. Record (15-9). Last week: Ranked No. 5.
5. Fayette-Ware, 70 points. Record (16-3). Last week: Ranked No. 6.
6. Fulton, 62 points. Record (16-8). Last week: Ranked No. 4.
7. Heritage, 52 points. Record (19-6). Last week: Ranked No. 7.
8. Stone Memorial, 36 points. Record (15-7). Last week: Ranked No. 8.
9. Red Bank, 19 points. Record (19-7). Last week: Ranked No. 10.
10. Cumberland County, 12 points. Record (17-7). Last week: Not ranked.
Other teams that received 10 or more points: None.
Class 4A
1. Bartlett (12), 120 points. Record (21-4). Last week: Ranked No. 1.
2. Bearden, 108 points. Record (27-1). Last week: Ranked No. 2.
3. Houston 94 points, Record (15-5). Last week: Ranked No. 3.
4. Maryville, 85 points. Record (20-3). Last week: Ranked No. 4.
5. Walker Valley, 68 points. Record (21-2). Last week: Ranked No. 5.
6. Whitehaven, 58 points. Record (19-7). Last week: Ranked No. 7.
7. Beech, 51 points. Record (24-2). Last week: Ranked No. 8.
8. Brentwood, 31 points. Record (22-3). Last week: Ranked No. 6.
9. Blackman, 29 points. Record (20-3). Last week: Ranked No. 9.
10. Southwind, 13 points. Record (19-6). Last week: Ranked No. 10.
Other teams that received 10 or more points: None.
Division II-A
1. Providence Christian Academy (12), 60 points. Record (20-6). Last week: Ranked No. 1.
2. Battle Ground Academy, 48 points. Record (24-5). Last week: Ranked No. 2.
3. St. George’s, 36 points. Record (18-5). Last week: Ranked No. 4.
4. Boyd Buchanan, 17 points. Record (17-11). Last week: Ranked No. 5.
5. Franklin Road Academy, 13 points. Record (18-6). Last week: Ranked No. 3.
Other teams that received 10 or more points: None.
Division II-AA
1. Knoxville Webb (12), 60 points. Record (27-2). Last week: Ranked No. 1.
2. Briarcrest Christian, 45 points. Record (20-3). Last week: Ranked No. 4.
3. Knoxville Catholic, 38 points. Record (18-5). Last week: Ranked No. 3.
4. Lipscomb Academy, 17 points. Record (24-3). Last week: Ranked No. 2.
5. Pope Saint John Paul II, 11 points. Record (20-6). Last week: Not ranked.
Other teams that received 10 or more points: None.
Publications that participated in the voting include The Tennessean in Nashville, the Knoxville News Sentinel, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, The Daily Herald in Columbia, The Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville, The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, The Chattanooga Times Free Press, The Mirror-Exchange in Milan, The Herald-Citizen in Cookeville and Tri-Cities Sports.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean’s high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — State representative and Hixson native Greg Martin is proposing a bill that would make any action to “intentionally obstruct, disturb or interfere with the activities of the religious institution” a misdemeanor crime.
This comes after an anti-ICE protester interrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota last month.
Bishop Kevin Adams of Olivet Baptist Church in Chattanooga says political protest has no place in a church.
“It is a sacred place in every house of worship, and it should be just that,” Says Bishop Adams. “It’s even interesting that we’re living in times where that’s been questions or we have to even address that.”
In 2021, a man named Marcus Trammell Williams interrupted a service at Olivet Baptist Church. Police charged Williams with assault after he punched the church’s youth pastor in the face.
Adams says for there needs to be consequences for those actions, and for the actions of anyone who comes in to disrupt church services in general.
Tennessee is making a statement that we’re not going to have it here or that we’re going to make some serious steps to deter people from this type of behavior.
According to the bill, interruptions in places of worship would be considered a class B misdemeanor. Violators would face up to 6 months behind bars, and could be fined up to $500.
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If signed into law, it will go into effect on July 1st.
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