Marty and Mark Tolley of Darden, Tennessee, are a father-and-son duo carrying on a family cattle tradition that began in the late 1940s. From Marty’s early start raising pigs with $20 earned picking cotton to today’s partnership in a 45,000-head Kansas feedyard, the Tolley family has built an operation rooted in hard work, faith, and generational values.

Now managing both their Henderson County herd and a growing beef business serving customers in more than 25 states, Marty and Mark share how family, farming, and Co-op have shaped their story—and how they’re preparing the next generation to carry it forward.

Benjie Daniel of Charlotte, Tennessee, carries on a remarkable family tradition spanning over 150 years. As the sixth generation on a century farm, Benjie has seen the operation evolve—from its start as a row crop and dairy farm into a thriving stocker and cow-calf beef business. Today, the farm manages about 150 cow-calf pairs, a few hundred stockers, and takes care of roughly 1,800 acres of stock, hay, pasture, and crops. With the eighth generation now joining the legacy, Benjie shares a story of resilience and adaptation that has kept their heritage strong through the decades.

Deeply rooted in the Co-op system, Benjie follows in his father’s footsteps—who served as a TFC board member—and now chairs the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative board of directors. Listen now to discover how family, farming, and community leadership come together on this historic Tennessee farm.

James Wright has worn a lot of hats—Co-op manager, farmer, mentor, and a James B. Walker Award honoree. In this episode of Feeding Traditions, he reflects on a career rooted in service and a legacy that’s still growing strong through his family’s farm in Rhea County. From the feed counter to the front pasture, his impact runs deep. Listen now!