Tuesday, September 23, 1997

Jones County Farm Bureau Convention: Nations raises alligators while building self-esteem

By J.T. SMITH Farm Editor

ANSON - Typically, farm organizations get politicians as speakers at annual meetings, and - as the old saying goes - that some times is about as exciting as kissing your sister.

But when an alligator-raising farmer from Palo Pinto County spoke to the 1997 Jones County Farm Bureau Convention here Monday night, you could have heard a pin drop.

Cotton farmers squirmed in their seats to get a better view of the slide show.

Mark Nations of Santo raises fish, vegetables, rabbits, earthworms, and ... alligators on his south Palo Pinto County farm. At the same time - he also attempts to raise the self-esteem of "the down-and-out" by employing men that are unable to find jobs elsewhere.

He's been nationally and internationally recognized for his work.

Nations' "no-waste ag system" is like its name. For example, all rabbit manure fertilizes plants. Earthworms are fed to fish. And any non-edible fish parts and other waste goes to alligators.

Nations and his wife launched the HHD Foundation - the acronym stands for "Help, Hope, and Dignity."

He doesn't like the term "street people" but admits the men he typically hires have hit bottom with no place left to go but up.

"When men begin to do something with their hands, they start to gain back their feeling of self-worth," Nations said.

For example, they make their own adobe blocks at HHD Foundation. They turn lumber into barns, and piece together intricate plumbing in the fish barns.

One employee had been on the streets from the time he was a teenager into his 50s.

For some it has been divorce, alcohol abuse, or drugs that led to their eventual lack of hope.

"We try to get them back on their feet," Nations noted.

Normally, HHD only accepts men for which the farm jobs are designed. Nevertheless, they have bent that rule on occasions.

One youth was kicked out of his house as a teen-ager. The youth had no place to go. He found plenty of work at HHD Foundation. He went on to show the grand champion pig in the county stock show and later went into the U.S. Air Force.

Another youngster didn't know where his parents were. He had roamed the streets throughout much of the United States. After working some time at HHD - in somewhat of a miracle - his mother was located in Arlington. Eventually, he was reunited with both his mother and dad.

Alligators always the hot topic

Nations has been featured in national farm publications for his no-waste ag system and has also captured the imagination of farmers in foreign countries.

This was especially true of his trip to Russia as part of the Fellowship of Christian Farmers.

"All they wanted to talk about in Russia was the alligators," Nations noted. "So I'm on Russian television - talking about raising alligators in Texas."

Nations said Central Texas is a bit cold for gators in the winter - so he has warm houses for them.

He gets his alligators when they are about a foot long, but in just six months, they grow to about 5- to 6-feet long.

"The only time alligators will mess with you is when they're hungry," Nations assured. "So we try to keep our alligators real full."

Like almost everyone these days - especially on any farm - Nations is coping with treacherous fire ants.

The menacing ants love to charge into the alligator houses when fish parts arrive, but they soon learn their lesson.

"Not even fire ants will mess with alligators," Nations reported.

Many school groups have visited the HHD Foundation farm, with the gators being a highlight of the tour.

Nations challenged the farmers in the Big Country to adapt to change, think of diverse ways of farming and not be afraid to try new ideas - even though their neighbors may think they are crazy.

Other Farm Bureau action

Gayle Lovvorn of Stamford was recognized with the Farm Bureau "Member of the Year" award.

Meanwhile, elected Jones County FB directors were Dale Spurgin of Anson; Marie Clayton, Anson; Tim Shields, Merkel; and Kenneth Carman, Anson.

Selected as delegates to the Texas Farm Bureau state convention Nov. 30-Dec. 3 in Arlington were Jones County FB members: Ab Hunter, Tony Jones, Kirby Clayton, Kenneth Carman, Darrell Richards, Carl Marugg, Joe Howle, Tim Shields, Bill DeBusk, J.F. Dozier and B.C. Spraberry.