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Alabama farmer introduces Australian White sheep to farmers from all over the world

August 16, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

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Inspired Southerner Australian White Sheep
Daniel Fagerman debuts Australian White Sheep to the U.S. Photo by Iven V. Holt

Daniel Fagerman considered farming his hobby. After meeting Graham Gilmore of the Tattykeel farm in Australia, he decided farming would no longer be just a hobby. Gilmore was instrumental in introducing Fagerman to the Australian White sheep, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Sustainable food and farming

Fagerman is the sole distributor and registrar of this breed of sheep in the Americas. Australian White is a low-maintenance, hair replacing breed that produces a Wagyu quality meat.

Inspired Southerner Australian White Sheep
Australian White sheep provide a sustainable food source. Photo by Iven V. Holt

Fagerman recently introduced the breed at a symposium held at his farm in Hartselle, Alabama. Those who participated in the symposium learned how to become a producer of the breed.

Additionally, attendees learned that Australian White sheep have less impact on the environment. Like goats, these sheep eat grass, brush, trees, and shrubbery. These sheep are a more sustainable food source for communities.

Inspired Southerner Fagerman Farm
Graham Gilmore of Tattykeel Farm in Australia produced the Australian White. Photo by Iven V. Holt

“The introduction of the Australian White in the United States is a history-makingevent. And it happened right here in the state of Alabama,” said Daniel Fagerman. “I also wanted to show farmers and producers a livestock that is sustainable and which produces a high-end quality meat product. This sheep revolutionizes the lamb industry.”

Inspired Southerner Australian White sheep
Award-winning chef Rick Vonk put together a team for the After-Party. Jon Jackson and Matthew Deaton were asked to help. Photo by Iven V. Holt

After-Party at Fagerman Farms 

To showcase what makes lamb special, Fagerman planned an after-party. The event attracted Alabama politicians, the Alabama Farmers Federation, and other high-level state representatives.

Inspired Southerner Fagerman Farm
Pitmaster Matthew Deaton cooked the Australian White lamb. Photo by Iven V. Holt

Fagerman enlisted the talent of Huntsville chef Rick Vonk to cook the Australian White lamb. To create the perfect meal, Vonk solicited help from chef Jon Jackson of Columbus, Georgia and Matthew Deaton a pitmaster from Washington, DC. They put together a dream-team for the event.

Cooking Australian White

To preserve the meat’s flavor, Vonk and Jackson first experimented with the meat. They decided to cook the meat on two Kudu Grills over an open flame. They knew that this method would be the best way to retain its flavor. Jackson used Africa Brii wood for the fire.

Inspired Southerner Cooking lamb
Two Kudu Grills to cook the lamb over an open fire. He used Africa Brii wood for the fire. Photo by Iven V. Holt

“I have never experienced anything like this breed of sheep. The lamb has this amazing micro-marbling that I have never seen in lamb ever. It’s so tender and melts in your mouth and there is nothing, let me say that again, there is nothing that even comes close to this quality,” said Jon Jackson, owner of Comfort Farms. 

Inspired Southerner Cooking lamb
Australian White lamb melts in your mouth. Photo by Iven V. Holt

Attendees raved about each dish that was presented by Vonk and his team.

“What a humbling, eye-opening week this has been. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the opportunity I was given by the Fagermans to prepare the dinner for their debut event of the Australian White lamb,” said chef Rick Vonk. “I also would like to say that I am eternally grateful to my team, Matthew Deaton and Jon Jackson for their willingness to travel and work with me on this history-making event.”

Inspired Southerner Jon Jackson
Jon Jackson of Columbus, Georgia explains the cooking process. Photo by Iven V. Holt

Fagerman hopes to make the Australian White dinner an annual event at Fagerman Farm.

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Filed Under: Food, Inspiration, Life, Outdoors, Uncategorized Tagged With: Alabama, Australian White, Daniel Fagerman, Fagerman Farm, Farm, Hartselle, Sheep

Alabama optometrist Alexia Vaughn advocates for diabetes prevention

August 8, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

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Inspired Southerner Dr. Alexia Vaughn
Dr. Alexia Vaughn is helping to increase awareness about Type 2 diabetes.

Even as a child living in Killen, Alabama, Alexia Vaughn knew she would one day be a doctor. She just wasn’t sure which type of doctor she wanted to be. Her education led her down the path to becoming an optometrist.

Inspired Southerner Dr. Alexia Vaughn
Yearly eye exams play a role in early detection of Type 2 diabetes.

Educating Patients about Type 2 diabetes

As president and owner of Advanced Eye Care in Birmingham, she has dedicated her practice to providing excellent eye care to her patients. She also uses her practice to educate people about the risks of diabetes.

“I love helping my patients by advising them about how to live a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Alexia Vaughn, owner of Advanced Eye Care. “It’s important that people understand that what they eat and drink does affect the overall health of their eyes.”

Inspired Southerner Dr. Alexia Vaughn
Get physically active to reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Leading a Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle, Vaughn states, includes at least eight hours of sleep, regular exercise, smart food choices and eye exams to protect vision. Her main reason for advocating for a healthier lifestyle is to prevent diabetes. More than 100 million adults are currently living with diabetes. Alabama ranks third in the United States for people being diagnosed with diabetes. However many with the condition remain undiagnosed. 

Inspired Southerner Dr. Alexia Vaughn
Regular exercise will reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Yearly Eye Exams

Type 1 diabetes is autoimmune and many times diagnosed in childhood. Type 2 diabetes risk factors include obesity, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition. Having your eyes examined once a year is one way to detect the uncontrolled disease adds Vaughn. She goes on to say that African-Americans and the elderly are significantly more likely to have and die from diabetes. And, the disease is more prevalent in rural areas.

Inspired Southerner Dr. Alexia Vaughn
Diets complete with fruits and vegetables also reduces your risk Type 2 diabetes

“I have chosen to advocate for early detection of diabetes and changing one’s lifestyle because it is predicted that in the next 30 years, one in three will be living with the disease. The number of people living with diabetes is on the rise because of an increase in obesity rates, lack of physical activity and poor nutrition. That means the rate of blindness from this disease will rise as well,” added Vaughn.

Inspired Southerner Dr. Alexia Vaughn
Alabama’s Black Belt region is known as the diabetes belt.

Diabetes in Alabama’s Black Belt

Alabama’s Black Belt is known as the diabetes belt. Vaughn is working towards decreasing the increased rate of the disease by educating the people who live in the area. “Until we increase educational programs in the Black Belt, the number of people being diagnosed or undiagnosed will continue to rise. I am working every day to close the gap between health disparities in this part of the state,” she stated.

Inspired Southerner Dr. Alexia Vaughn
Healthy lifestyles mean staying active every day, even on weekends.

Vaughn recommends that people get regular exercise at least 150 minutes per week, eat a proper diet low in processed foods and high in fruits and vegetables, and to maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

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Filed Under: Family, Food, Health, Inspiration, Life, Outdoors Tagged With: Alabama, diabetes, education, eye exams, health, healthy lifestyle, optometrist, type 2

Daniel Fagerman will debut Australian White Sheep Aug. 14 on his farm in Hartselle, Alabama

August 1, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

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Inspired Southerner Australian White
Daniel Fagerman and Graham Gilmore in Australia at the Australian White Sheep birthplace.

Food lovers of Alabama will have the rare opportunity to see history in the making at the AustralianWhite USA Sheep Symposium and Breed Debut on Aug. 14 in Hartselle, Alabama. Daniel Fagerman, the owner of Fagerman Farm, is hosting a symposium and After Party dinner at the farm to introduce the breed to United States farmers and producers. Fagerman will be the sole distributor and registrar of the Australian White sheep in the Americas.

Inspired Southerner Australian White Sheep
Daniel Fagerman at his farm in Hartselle, Alabama

Sustainable Farming

As part of a sustainable farming network in Alabama, Daniel Fagerman is hoping to show attendees what makes Australian White USA so appealing. T Australian White sheep have less of an impact on the environment than cows; They also graze and browse. Like goats, not only do they eat grass, but they also eat brush, trees, and shrubbery.

Inspired Southerner Australian White Sheep
Fagerman Farm in Hartselle, Alabama

“These sheep are more appealing to producers because of their conversion of feed, their rapid rate of growth, their uniformity and ability to adapt to their environment,” said Fagerman. “These lambs have been successfully produced in the extreme cold of Mongolia and in the dry heat of Australia.”

Australian White Healthier Lamb

Inspired Southerner Australian White Sheep
Omega 3’s and other health benefits of the Australian White Sheep

Australian White sheep are exceptional because they have been selectively bred for their meat quality. Their meat has lower fat-melting points, increased Omega 3’s, and increased intramuscular fat. Many people in the United States have a negative view of the lamb because it tastes gamey, but with the Australian White lamb, there is a significant taste difference. 

Inspired Southerner Australian White Sheep
Australian White lamb meat has a ‘melt in your mouth’ effect.

Australian White Symposium

“This meat has similar positive effects of Wagyu,” Fagerman added. “In addition, the increase in Omega 3’s as compared to other lamb or red meat gives you a major health benefit and the “melt in your mouth” effect because of its fat-melting points. This factor gives people a much better eating experience. They have found these same two attributes in Wagyu also are in the Australian White sheep lamb meat, which gives consumers a more palatable taste. There is no other breed of sheep in the world that has been developed with these improved traits to provide a better consumer dining experience. Which means this product is more consistent in delivering these same values, over and over.”

Inspired Southerner Australian White Sheep
The Australian White USA will debut at a symposium on August 14

Farmers and producers from all over the world are expected to attend the Australian White USA Symposium and Breed Debut to learn how to develop the breed, and the plan for its expansion across the U.S. and Central and South America.

Fagerman Farms After Party

Inspired Southerner Australian White Sheep
Award-winning chef, Rick Vonk, will prepare a six-course meal featuring the Australian White lamb meat

Following the symposium, attendees and the general public will have the opportunity to see what makes Australian White lamb so special at the Fagerman Farm After Party. Chef Rick Vonk, an award-winning chef from Huntsville, Alabama will prepare the dinner. Vonk has put together a special six-course menu that will give guests a sampling of how the lamb can be cooked. “This dinner will be an eye-opening, history-making culinary experience,” said Rick Vonk. “Whatever preconceived opinions people have about lamb will hopefully be proven wrong at this dinner.”

Inspired Southerner Australian White Sheep
Brandon Elder of American Idol will perform at the After Party.
Photo courtesy of American Idol

After dinner, guests will be entertained by Brandon Elder, a season 16 American Idol contestant.

Get Your Ticket to the After Party

Don’t miss your chance to attend this once in a lifetime dinner. You will make history! Tickets are $100 per person. Click here to buy your ticket.

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Inspired Southerner Australian White Sheep


Filed Under: Food, Life, Outdoors, Uncategorized Tagged With: Alabama, American Idol, Australian White, Chef Rick Vonk, Daniel Fagerman, Fagerman Farm, lamb, Rick Vonk, Sheep, Souther food

Nashville singer-songwriter, Mark Elliott releases The Sons of Starmount a book about childhood innocence and adventure

July 17, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

Inspired Southerner Mark Elliott
Elliott is an award-winning singer-songwriter in Nashville

We sat down with Nashville singer-songwriter Mark Elliott to interview him about his new book The Sons of Starmount, which is about childhood innocence and adventure, to see what the response has been since he released it back in February. The audiobook will come out in the fall. There also is a companion EP Sons of Starmount now available. 

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
The Sons of Starmount

The book was born from Elliott’s love of songwriting, blogging and telling stories about his childhood. We found the book intriguing, quirky, funny and reminiscent of what life was like growing up in the South in the late 70s. Most who grew up in that era had a pack of friends who were adventurous, who dared us to do things, who we got in trouble with and who helped us shape who we are today. Elliott’s book takes you back to days when kids let their imaginations captivated them, and before children lost their innocence to screens and instant notoriety. 

Inspired Southerner Mark Elliott
Mark Elliott wrote a chart-topping song for Neal McCoy

Where did you get the idea for your book?

Mark Elliott: I’ve been a singer/songwriter for the past three decades, and have written for many of Nashville’s music publishers. With the music business changing by the day, and sometimes not for the better, I thought I’d search out the one creative industry uglier and more poverty-producing than music. I found it in being an author.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
The innocence of adventure

Mark Elliott: In all seriousness though, starting a blog a few years ago, and having the room (500-1,000 words a week) to write, intrigued me and sparked a new interest in writing. I enjoyed having room to develop thoughts beyond a two-and-a-half-minute song. As I began thinking beyond the blog, a book seemed the next step for me.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
The adventures of Sons of Starmount

“The memories of friends, the outdoors, and all the adventures I had on Starmount, in 1977 have stayed with me throughout my life I wasn’t necessarily looking to start my author career with a memoir, but you tell the story begging to be told,” said Elliott.

What is the Sons of Starmount from your perspective?

Mark Elliott: We all have a place and time in our childhoods that help define the adults we eventually become. Seeds are planted, and habits are formed. The experiences and relationships we share when the world is still wild, and our hearts are still open to it all – sculpt a life like the forces of wind and water do upon canyon walls and ancient river beds. This is the story of how an era as free as the seventies, with its parental permissiveness and music, coupled with a one-in-a-million neighborhood filled with friends, swamps, creeks, woods and tree forts, set in motion a creative and adventurous life rarely devoid of either. 

Inspired Southerner Mark Ellott
Singer-Songwriter Mark Elliot releases his first book, The Sons of Starmount

What did your friends think of The Sons of Starmount?

Mark Elliott: Two or three of the old friends seemed interested and enthusiastic and helped to fill in my 40-year-old memories. And others were either care-a-less about me telling our story or outright uncooperative. It had been 40 years since I had seen all of them and nearly 20 since I had seen some of them. I thought that the dilution of time and circumstance was the main problem.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
Elliott hopes that readers find their own Starmount

Mark Elliott: But in writing the book and having some of the conversations, it became clear that I left Starmount at the perfect time. I left the neighborhood while the waters were still wild and the trees were still tall. I left before the bull dossiers pushed through the dead end and the woods, all the way to the mall parking lot. The rest of my friends, those who stayed on Starmount through their teen years, witnessed the slow undoing of Neverland, to the point where it was just another street in any town USA.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
Actors in the book trailer

What do you hope people take away from the book?

Mark Elliott: The stories in the book are, I hope, funny and poignant, and filled with an Americana zeitgeist that most will relate to. My earnest hope for the reader is that they find their own Starmount, no matter what generation or geography it may lie in. The experience of finding those straight lines between the man or woman you’ve become and the boy or girl you once were, is a unique one. The journey is not always easy or obvious, but I believe it to be for all of us, a journey well worth the taking. I hope my Starmount points the way to the reader’s Starmount.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
Book Cover

Mark Elliott and Runaway Home

We first met Mark Elliott and his band Runaway Home six years ago in Alabama at the Black Creek Arts Festival. The band was the headliner for the festival. He continues to tour with the band. He also has received accolades for his songwriting. The song he wrote for Neal McCoy, Everyman for Himself, hit the top 40 Billboard Chart. Billboard called the song, “a song with rare lyrical and musical edge and the best cut on the album.” He also has written other award-winning songs. Elliott is currently working on Rippers, a novel with co-author Joe Johnston. Click to purchase The Sons of Starmount and companion EP.

Inspired Southerner Sons of Starmount
Companion EP for Sons of Starmount

Filed Under: Entertainment, Family, Life, Music Tagged With: author, Mark Elliott, Music, seventies, singer, songwriter, Sons of Starmount, Writers & Writing

Plan your visit to Kentucky’s Horse Park, America’s only equine theme park

July 15, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

Inspired Southerner Kentucky Horse Park
Kentucky Horse Park’s memorial to Secretariat

If you’re traveling to Lexington, Kentucky anytime soon, you’ll want to put the Kentucky Horse Park on your must-see list. The 1,200-acre park is located off of Hwy, 1973 and I-75 in the heart of Lexington, and is the only known horse theme park in America. The park is a working horse farm, educational park and equine competition facility. Incidentally, the drive to the park is breathtaking and filled with horse farms with rolling hills and grazing horses.  

Inspired Southerner Kentucky Horse Park
Man o’ War is buried under this memorial at the Horse Park.

Memorial to Man o’ War A Most Famous Racehorse 

We visited the park last week and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of horses and horseracing. Once you enter the gates to make your way to the Visitor’s Center, you’ll see beautiful grounds and moments dedicated to Kentucky’s horse industry. To the left is the statue and grave of Man o’ War considered one of the most famous racehorses in America. Known as Big Red, he was sold to his owner, Samuel Riddle, for $5,000 and went on to win 20 out of 21 races. His owner didn’t race him in the Kentucky Derby, if he had, some believe he would have won the Triple Crown. Man o’ War did sire War Admiral who was a Triple Crown winner.

History of Horses  

 It’s at the Visitor’s Center is where you will buy your ticket for the day. You also will find the gift shop and the International Museum of the Horse. The International Museum of the Horse depicts the history and importance of horses and the impact they have made on human civilization. There are three additional museums at the Horse Park; the Saddlebred that gives the history of the American made horse and has a 2400 volume research library, the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Museum and the Wheeler Museum which displays equestrian memorabilia. 

Inspired Southerner Kentucky Horse Park
Point Given won the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes and was Horse of the Year in 2001.

The Kentucky Horse Park

If you choose to forgo the museums then you must catch some of the horse events. There’s a horse-drawn trolley, The Hall of Champions, where you can meet Kentucky Derby winners, a Draft Horse demonstration, Parade of Breeds and Groom & Shine for kids in the Big Barn. The former Kentucky Derby winners are a must-see! 

Several Kentucky Derby winners are in the horse park’s Hall of Champions.

Hall of Champions 

During our visit, we saw Funny Cide, the 2003 Kentucky Derby winner,  Western Dreamer, who won the 1997 U.S. Pacing Triple Crown and Point Given who won four races in a row including the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes at the Hall of Champions.

After the show, visitors are allowed to pet the horses.

Parade of Breeds 

Another fun and educational event at the Horse Park is the Parade of Breeds. This event included the American Saddlebred, an Arabian, the Gypsy Vanner, the Tennessee Walking Horse, the American Faso Pino, the Friesian and the Hanovarian breeds.  After the performance, you will get to pet the horses. We found that the horses thoroughly enjoy meeting and greeting visitors. 

Inspired Southerner Kentucky Horse Park
The Parade of Breeds educates visitors on the history of horses.

Big Barn Draft Horses

If you want to learn horse care, you’re in luck! The Draft Horse demonstration, you will learn about show prep, harnessing and breed history. You also will get to meet and greet the horses at this event. 

Inspired Southerner Kentucky Horse Park
The Parade of Breeds is a must-see at the horse park.

Kid’s Barn

Here your children will learn which tools are used to groom and care for horses. They will then get to groom the horses themselves. 

Inspired Southerner Inspired Southerner
Western Dreamer won the 1997 U.S. Pacing Triple Crown

Horseback and Pony Rides

In addition to the horse events, there are horseback and pony rides at the park. Riders must be seven years old and four feet tall to ride the horses. Pony rides are for children two through 12 and who are under 90 pounds. The horseback rides are 30-minutes long and on a guided trail ride. 

Inspired Southerner Kentucky Horse Park
The Kentucky Horse Park is America’s only equine theme park.

If you’re looking for other things to do at the park, there also is a summer camp series for children and Horse Country Farm tours. The park also hosts several special events throughout the year.

However, to take in all that the Horse Park has to offer, you should plan to visit for two days. Currently, the park offers free next day entry with a paid receipt from the day before. To plan your visit and for pricing information visit www.kyhorsepark.com 

Filed Under: Life, Southern Cities, Travel Tagged With: Horses, Kentucky, Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington

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