Gleason Farmer Chosen as State Ag Commissioner

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Nashville – Gov. Phil Bredesen last week announced Terry J. Oliver as the next commissioner of the Department of Agriculture. Oliver of Gleason, who currently serves as deputy commissioner, assumed his new role on Monday, Aug. 16.

“I have personally known Terry and have sought his advice and counsel through the years on agricultural issues,” said Bredesen. “Always dependable and a man of his word, Terry made a great team with former Commissioner Ken Givens in leading our efforts to address the needs and opportunities of farmers and rural communities. He is the right person to assume leadership of the Department of Agriculture at this time, and I’m very pleased to announce his appointment.”

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture provides a variety of consumer protection services, promotes farm products and encourages the sustainable management of forest and farmland resources. Farming and forestry not only preserve a time-honored way of life, but they also fuel the state’s economy. Agricultural production generates more than $3.1 billion annually in farm cash receipts and another $329 million generated by timber sales.

“I very much appreciate the opportunity to serve Governor Bredesen and the state of Tennessee as commissioner,” Oliver said. “The Department of Agriculture touches the lives of Tennesseans every day through the food we eat, the fuel we pump, the clothes we wear, the wood products we use and the land we enjoy. It will be an honor for me to serve Tennesseans in this new role.”

“I am extremely proud of this honor and appreciate the support of the folks in Northwest Tennessee. These are the people that know me and who have believed in me as a member of the agriculture community,” Oliver added.

A West Tennessee farmer and businessman, Oliver has nearly 20 years of public service and experience in state government and has served four commissioners of Agriculture as deputy commissioner. He returned to state government in February 2003 having served previously in the same capacity from 1987 to 1995.

Oliver has led efforts to improve the effectiveness of the Division of Forestry and also played a significant role in the development and implementation of the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program, a cost share program established by Bredesen to spur farm innovation and agricultural development in Tennessee.

A native of Gleason, Oliver holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin. He is a member of the advisory council for the Governor’s School of Agriculture Sciences at UT Martin – one of only three enrichment programs in the nation for high school agriculture students. He is also a former member of the USDA Farm Services Agency state committee.

Oliver, a sixth generation farmer, and his wife Marsha reside on their family farm in Gleason.
The couple has two daughters – Melissa Overton of Dresden and Angie (Rusty) Morris of Gleason and three grandchildren – Lakin Overton, Rance Morris and Katelyn Morris.
Source: Weakley County Press 8.17.10

Gleason Home to Another Singing Sensation

By Sara Reid, Staff Writer
Posted: Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Micah Arnold

The City of Gleason has long been known as the home of Grand Old Opry star Mike Snider, but in the near future it may be able to add another name to that list. Last month, Gleason native Micah Arnold, 26, took to the stage in the West Tennessee Idol competition in Jackson and outshined over 200 contestants to take home the grand prize and the chance to move on to state competition. Initially, Arnold, who has been singing since the age of three, was hesitant to enter the competition, but with the encouragement of his parents, Jim and Donna Arnold, he decided to take the plunge. “Over 200 people were at the audition,” Arnold admitted. “First, you had to sing a capella and if you advanced past that, you’d perform to a live round onstage in front of the judges and then a radio round where people called in and voted.” Despite the fact that the competition was very much like the “American Idol” television show, Arnold admitted that the entire process did nothing to wrack his nerves. “I’m used to the stage,” he said. “I’m in a band called Leaving Sunday and we’ve played in Dresden, Paris, Jackson and McKenzie. I’ve sung in Nashville in most every place. I play guitar in the band, but lately, of course, I’ve been focusing on vocals.” Arnold hopes to take his passion much further than the competition stage. He’s hoping to make a career in the music industry. “I’d really like to go further with it,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to work on a career in the music industry for a while now.” Arnold cites his musical influences as being everything from Keith Urban to Merle Haggard to Hank Williams Jr. to Garth Brooks to, of course, his father who played music when Arnold was growing up, but he relates his own style of singing to no one. It’s uniquely his own. “I try not to sound like anyone. I try to be unique. I’ve been told that I sound like George Strait or I sound like Conway Twitty, but I don’t want to be a second-rate version of them,” he admitted. Arnold wasn’t the only Weakley Countian to sing on the West Tennessee Idol stage, however. Two other singers from Palmersville also made the finals and Arnold saw their presence as a comfort. “Emily Rook was there and Paul Jolley was there and it was very comforting,” he remarked. “I knew them even before the competition and it was great that we all had each other to talk to and cope with. It really made the competition easier. We banded together and it really felt good to see people I knew there rooting all of us on.” When Arnold won the competition and received his trophy, he knew all the years of hard work and practice had paid off and he had just taken one step closer to his dream. “It really felt good. It’s something I’ve been doing for a long time and it paid off,” he said. “I still have a long way to go as far as making a career in music, but this was a huge accomplishment. The judges were from the music industry and hearing the positive feedback from them made me feel good about myself.” “Every contestant there deserved to win,” he added. “It was not an easy win because everyone was so talented, but I’m pleased they chose me.” Arnold will now compete in the Tennessee Colgate State Finals in Monteagle on Sept. 6 and with a win, will move on to national competition at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville.