Meet a Corn Farmer: George McDonald
Ask George McDonald, and he’ll tell you he was born and raised to be a farmer. His family’s farming operation, Catesa Farms, is located just 50 miles Northeast of Nashville in Riddleton, TN.
A Family Affair
Started by his great-grandfather in 1927, the McDonald family legacy of caring for the land, the community and the environment has grown with the operation, which now spans five Tennessee counties.
"My farm is a family operation," says George, who farms alongside his daughter Sarah, mother Linda, and wife Susan. The farm also enlists an extended family of nine full-time team members and around 25 seasonal workers collaborating to grow corn, soybeans, wheat, strawberries, and watermelons.
George hopes his grandchildren and generations of his family to come will love to farm as well.
“I hope for my farm to continue,” says George. “That is our plan, because we want Catesa Farms to be here for generation after generation to support families who make a living off this farm and continue supporting our community.”
This hope for his family and love for his community doesn’t just power his passion for farming, it also drives George’s commitment to the environment daily.
“I was born and raised to be a farmer. I’m proud to be a part of our community and our agricultural communities.”
Caring for the Environment
Catesa Farms practices no-till farming to leave the soil undisturbed and protected from erosion.
"Corn farmers definitely care about the environment," says George. "It's part of who we are."
George makes it clear where he stands in a world increasingly focused on sustainability.
"I feel like Tennessee corn is very sustainable," he said, “My family has been farming this land for nearly a century. That sounds pretty sustainable to me."
In his view, sustainability isn't just about trends or buzzwords – it's about tangible actions. By utilizing GPS technology paired with soil sampling, Catesa Farms manages nutrients in the soil and fertilizer use on the farm to maximize the productivity of their land and ensure they are accountable for their impact on the environment.
Catesa Farms also practices no-till farming to leave the soil undisturbed, protecting their land from erosion.
Throughout the farm, the McDonald family has also created pollinator habits to add value to the environment and ecosystem.
While these conservation practices demonstrate the McDonald family’s commitment to sustainability, perhaps it’s their main crop, corn, delivering the greatest benefit.
“Corn farmers definitely care about the environment. It’s part of who we are. ”
Fuel: Locally Grown
"I love growing corn," says George, emphasizing that the variety they grow - dent corn - is not the sweet variant you’ll find in your grocer’s case or a roadside farm stand. Dent corn is a high-starch corn used predominantly as livestock feed and for distillation purposes, including making ethanol or whiskey.
Much of the corn grown on Catesa Farms is used to create ethanol, one of our nation's best renewable energy resources. This eco-friendly fuel is safe for most gasoline-powered vehicles built after 2000. Up to 10% ethanol is already included in most gasoline you buy at the pump today. Other blends with additional ethanol are available at a reduced cost compared to standard gasoline.
Not only is corn ethanol reducing our reliance on non-renewable fuels, but it’s also grown and processed locally, supporting the economy of Tennessee.
George, a Tennessee farmer walks through a wheat field with his grandson.
"The wonderful part about Tennessee corn is that it supports the local economies," says George. “It's safe for our vehicles. It's economical, costs less than straight-grade gasoline, and it supports local people.”
Working for the Future
Like corn farmers across Tennessee, what George McDonald does today, he does for the future.
"I love what I do. I'm proud to be a farmer," he says.
But his passion for his work and his commitment to sustainability are rooted in his love of family, the community, and the land where he works and lives every day.
"Our own environment is where all Tennessee farmers live,” says George. “So we want to be responsible. We want to be accountable for what we do.”
Farming has a unique set of challenges, but George McDonald, a corn farmer from Smith County, Tennessee, loves what he does.