About the Farmer

Sometime in the middle of the nineteenth century, Minnie Sentelle’s great-great-grandfather left his native Missouri to build a new life homesteading in present-day Greene County, Tenn. 

                His name was William Roscoe, but everyone called him “Tanner Bill,” and his hard work carving out a life on that farm began a legacy, unbroken so far, that has kept the land in his descendants’ hands and continuously farmed for well over one hundred years. 

                “Up in the house, there’s an old picture of him on a mule with his two six-shooters,” said Minnie Sentelle’s husband, Jimmy.   That image serves to remind the Sentelles of the rich history behind them as they take their turn and take on the challenge of farming full-time, raising hogs for their new business, Sentelle’s Homemade Sausage Company.

                “We’ve always raised a few hogs,” Minnie said.  “Then Jimmy retired from GE a couple of years ago, and that’s when we turned it into a real business.”  The company was officially established in November of 2010. 

                With 44 hogs on the farm and more to be born in June, the Sentelles are constantly busy.

                “There’s been a time or two I’ve thought, ‘Maybe I ought to go back to GE,’” Jimmy said with a laugh.  “But to spend the time on raising something that I know everything that goes into it—that’s worth doing.”

                Minnie, too, dedicates long hours to the farm.  On a typical Wednesday, she will spend a few hours in the early morning helping Jimmy begin packing up for the farmers market, then head to her full-time job as a cafeteria manager for Greeneville schools. Finally, she will join her husband at the market, where they spend the afternoon selling the farm’s signature nitrate- and preservative-free sausage, bacon, ribs, and loins. 

                “It’s a very long day,” she said at the Greeneville Farmers Market on May 11.  “But when school gets out in six days—”

                “I’ll have a hired hand full-time,” Jimmy interjected, grinning. 

                The Sentelles run the business with help from their son John, a full-time manager at Lowe’s, and his wife, Cassie.  Their daughter Ann also pitches in as much as possible despite a brain injury that affected her eyesight and compromised the function of one hand eight years ago.     

                Minnie and Jimmy hope that the skills they are cultivating with their children will help the family farm continue to thrive in future generations, just as they depend on skills learned from Minnie’s parents.

                “Not a lot of people know how to really cure hams,” Jimmy said.  “[Minnie’s] dad’s recipe is so good.  Any country ham is going to have a bite of salt to it, but his recipe isn’t nearly as salty, and it’s much better.”

                The Sentelles use a traditional method of curing meat, which can only be done over the winter months when cold temperatures allow the curing salts to take effect faster than the meat would otherwise spoil.   That means, they explained, that when the quantity they produce in a given winter is gone, they can only wait until the next winter to make more.

                The farm’s overall production is also on a smaller scale than many others because the Sentelles stock Berkshire hogs, a heritage breed that grows slower than most.  “That’s why commercial growers don’t like it,” Jimmy said.  But the quality, he said, is superior.  “Every cut has a nice marbled texture.”

                He speaks from experience.  “We’re really picky about our product,” said Minnie, “so every batch, we fry up a piece to taste test before we sell it.  We want to make sure our products are the best they can be.” 

                The family’s dedication to their farm comes not just from the legacy they are continuing, but also the personal satisfaction of working their own land and seeing the tangible results.

                “We always hoped to do this,” Minnie said.  “This is our adventure.”

                Through May, the Sentelles’ products are available on Wednesdays from 3-6 at the Greeneville Farmers Market and Saturdays from 7-2 at the Johnson City Farmers Market.  In June, they will set up shop in Johnson City on Wednesdays from 7-2 and Greeneville on Saturdays from 9-12.  (The schedule will switch back and forth each month through the rest of the season.)  You can also buy directly from their farm, which is located at 238 Dude Lane in Bulls Gap and open Thursdays-Saturdays from 1-6.  Visit www.greenevillefarmersmarket.com and www.johnsoncityfarmersmarket.com for more information.  Contact the Sentelles at sentelleshomemadesaugage@yahoo.com or 423-329-1306.

Article and picture by Paige Campbell