Chang Suhn Lee Named 2009 Small Farmer of the Year

The Tennessee State University School of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences recently named Chang Suhn Lee the Tennessee Small Farmer of the Year at its Sixth Annual Small Farm Expo and Tennessee Small Farmer Recognition Program.

Chang, a resident of Grundy County, accepted the award before a crowd of over 200 people at the TSU Agricultural Research and Education Center in Ashland City.  The owner of a 45 acre vegetable farm, Chang immigrated to the United States in 1980.  He worked in Los Angeles, Cal. for ten years before moving to Coalmont, Tenn. and purchasing a 25 acre property that reminded him of his homeland, South Korea.

“I’ve learned to always have faith, be willing to learn, and in this country everyone has an opportunity to succeed,” he said.  Chang spent five years clearing about five acres of the land on which he grew medicinal herbs, ginseng and garden vegetables for his family. Following encouraging results from selling his excess produce to the general public, Chang realized his gardening efforts could be expanded to generate income.  After clearing seven more acres and growing “American” type vegetables, he expanded to sell his goods at the Farmers Market in Nashville and currently expanded to selling Korean vegetables in Atlanta, Ga. Chicago, Ill. and Dallas, Texas.

Chang accepted his award along with three other Tennessee farmers at the Tennessee Small Farmer Recognition Program.  The complete list of winners includes:

• Best Management Practices, Small Farms under $50,000 in sales: Brian Neal McLerran, , Clay County
• Best Management Practices, Small Farms from $50,000 to $250,000 in sales: Glen Joseph David Shores, , Cheatham County
• Alternative Enterprises, Small Farms under $50,000 in sales: Johnny W. Wall, Montgomery County
• Alternative Enterprises, Small Farms over $50,000 to $250,000 in sales: Marianne Chang Suhn Lee , (Small Farmer of The Year)

 

Speakers at the 2009 Small Farm Expo included Gayle and Jim Tanner who spoke about their successes with goats and marketing goat cheese and other products locally, and Andrew Dixon of Grandaddy’s Farm in Franklin County who spoke about Agricultural Tourism. Also, speakers from various funding agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Farm Credit Corporation were present.

Sponsors for the event included Tennessee State University, the University of Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, BASF Group, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.