A SMATTERING OF sepia-toned photographs lies on the coffee table in Tracy Vannatta’s den. The pictures feature an old piece of farming equipment dating back to the 1920s. The Red River Special, a thrashing machine for harvesting wheat, is the thread that ties the Vannatta family to their ancestors, who have been farming in Tennessee for nearly two centuries.
Six generations of Vannattas have farmed Bedford County soil since James Vannatta first settled here in 1850, attracted to Big Springs’ reliable water source. James had a son, George, and George’s son, William Cleveland “WC” Vannatta, initially purchased The Red River Special brand new in 1920. It was the only one in the area, so farming neighbors all over Bedford County would pay for the family to bring it over to harvest their crops.
“They would mount the thrashing machine in the field and then cut the wheat with a binder, which was pulled with mules, and then they would bring the bundles of wheat over to the thrashing machine,” Tracy said. “Somebody had to throw the shocks of wheat into the thrasher. As it thrashed, it would auger it down into a sack, and then they would manually sew that sack up and put it on that wagon. Everything had to be done by hand.”
This process required over 20 workers to accomplish, but today, given the advancement of technology, it only takes three people to do the same job. Tracy said that in those days, 90% of the families were farmers, and now that number has gone down drastically.
As farming evolved and required fewer hands, WC’s children grew up and pursued different ventures, and the Vannattas focused on their 200-acre family farm. In the late 1960s, there was no longer a need in the Vannatta farming operation for the Red River Special thrasher. A close family friend, Powell Smith, made an offer to WC for the machine. As a lover of agricultural antiques, Smith dedicated time and energy to the preservation of the thrasher with a promise that it would one day be returned to the Vannatta family. Smith and Bobby Vannatta had been great friends their whole lives, going to the same schools and living near each other. Terry Smith, Powell’s son, said the two were always hanging out and having fun while working.
“When they were young, they were out on a tractor — Tracy’s daddy and my daddy,” said Terry. “And his daddy actually ran over my daddy with a tractor. They were out goofing around when it happened. He went to Vanderbilt with broken bones, but he survived, and they stayed good friends. The families have been together for a long time.”
Marie Smith, Powell’s wife, said her husband cared deeply for his friend Bobby Vannatta, and she was not surprised that he wanted to leave the thrashing machine to the Vannatta family when he passed away.
“Powell told me when he came home with [the Red River Special],” Marie said. “He said, ‘I told Bobby, I’d like to keep it in my lifetime, but after that, his family would get it. That’s the way I want it.’”
Mechanically, the Red River Special had become obsolete, but it held a priceless piece of history that Powell wanted to preserve. He built a special shed just for the machine so that it would stay in good condition.
Tracy’s father, Bobby, stayed close to Powell his whole life and passed away before his longtime friend, who died in 2018. The Smiths say they wish Bobby could have lived to see the equipment restored to the Vannatta family. He was a good man and well-respected.
“Dad was a community leader. He was the county commissioner on the Duck River Board and the chairman of the Solid Waste Committee. He was an elder of the church. He was somebody that was always there for people. He was the deputy commissioner of Agriculture in Tennessee. Everybody knew him,” Tracy said.
Even though Bobby was not around when his dear friend Powell died, the Smith family honored Powell’s wishes to return the Red River Special to the Vannatta Farm. Tracy Vannatta said this gesture was so special because people do not always give generously and keep their word, especially when the man to whom the promise was made was already gone. The Smiths were heartbroken to lose Powell, but they were filled with joy to be able to help fulfill his promise to his friend.
The Vannattas are still deciding what to do next with the historical machine that shaped so much of their family history. They intend to find a way for others to enjoy its heritage and learn about where farming started.
Today, Tracy says the Vannatta Farms operation includes Tracy’s mother, Linda, and his wife, Vida. His siblings, Sharon Edwards and Troy Vannatta, don’t work the farm directly, but remain invested in its success. The seventh generation of Vannatta farmers is already preparing: Tracy’s son, Drew Vannatta, an agriculture extension agent, is poised to continue this long-standing family tradition. GN
