By Steve Flairty
NKyTribune columnist
The vital fragrance of earth, wind, and sun. His words are akin
To the waters of a wooded stream—rippled waves of sound woven
With song: threaded with strands of sunlight.
— Sherry A. Farmer (mother of Tim Farmer), from “The Woodsman”
I met Tim Farmer in 2004 through a mutual friend, Roger Singleton, of Lexington. It was just about the time my writing career was starting to pick up a little steam, and Roger had an idea to share.
“I’ve got a guy somebody needs to do a story on,” he said. “He lost the use of his right arm in a motorcycle accident about 20 years ago, but he can do about anything anyone else can do. He’s real dynamic, one of the most upbeat people I’ve ever met, a real inspiration. He’s the host of that outdoors program on public TV, Kentucky Afield.”
I initially was cool to the idea of doing a story on Tim because he was a hunter and fisherman; nothing against them, but after doing both in my youth, I’d totally lost interest in those recreational outlets, resigning myself to outdoor walking. Writing profiles takes time and much work, and passion helps get them done. I was ready to say no until Roger mentioned Tim visited places such as Shriners Hospital and Cardinal Hill, in Lexington, to encourage both children and adults with challenging physical disabilities.
Hunting and fishing, according to Roger, was Tim’s realm, but his story was an inspiring one–really a universal demonstration of overcoming—and any obstacle one might encounter fits.
With those sentiments, the story now made sense to me; it was a story larger than merely catching largemouth bass or shooting game in the woods.
And so with Roger’s continued encouragement, I pitched the idea to Kentucky Monthly editor Mike Embry. He figured it might work, though outdoor life articles were not often seen in the magazine. Soon, Roger arranged a meeting with all three of us. Tim talked about the events in his life that led him to where he was then, as the popular host of the longest continuously-running outdoors program in America.
He shared details of his youth growing up in Georgetown, Maysville, and later Grayson, where he graduated from East Carter High School and set records running track and enjoyed playing a guitar and listening to Elvis, plus worked part-time at a local K-Mart.
But when Tim spoke to me that day, he talked mostly about his love for the woods and the critters, or being in a boat with a fishing pole. He loved it, always did, and now he was, ironically, making his living doing just those things.
It really got interesting when Tim shared the details of the motorcycle accident that nearly took his life. That happened in 1984, at age 20 and a recent U.S. Marine Corps boot camp graduate. Loose gravel caused his vehicle to slide against the guard rail, flipping him over the bank as he merged onto I-64 at Grayson after a weekend furlough visit to his parents. What ensued was a riveting account of months of hospital stays, rehabilitation therapy, and a time of, Tim said, “figuring out how I could continue to do the things I loved after losing the use of my right arm.”
The cover article on Tim Farmer appeared in the May, 2005, Kentucky Monthly issue. Though he appreciated the honor, Tim was a bit embarrassed by the title calling him “Kentucky’s premier outdoorsman.” Many of his colleagues and friends, he thought, were more worthy of that distinction. The article, however, was well-received, and that got Roger thinking again…that there was a whole lot more to Tim’s life than could be told in a magazine piece.
Tim Farmer (left) and Steve Flairty traveled the state after collaborating on Farmer’s biography (Photo Provided)
Why not write a biography—a whole book—on Tim’s life?
This time, Roger had two to convince, both Tim and me. I was a bit hesitant because, well, I’d never written a book. Plus, I knew it would be a tremendous time commitment and would mean setting aside some activities I was already doing. Tim was hesitant because, well, he wasn’t sold on the idea that he was worthy of a book about him.
In time, I softened. Being a relative unknown author, the book would likely need to be self-published, and Roger offered to finance the project. And, Tim heard from enough people that an inspiring book about overcoming life challenges would be a good thing for people to read. Let me also modestly say that Tim told others that he trusted me, and no other person, to write it.
About a month or so after the magazine article was published, I started writing my first book. The publisher, McClanahan Publishing House, strongly recommended that the manuscript be completed by late August in order to beat the deadline for entering it into the November Kentucky Book Fair. That would be, it seemed to me, a Herculean task. Fortunately, I had done a lot of research for the magazine article, so I had a basic structure of Tim’s life in mind.
Still, there were lots of enriching details to gather from Tim, his parents, and others. The little anecdotes, often humorous, would become a treasure of gold in coloring the biography. On a trip to Maysville with Tim, he showed me Orangeburg Elementary School, close to Olivet Church Road. At the school, he recalled once being the ring-leader of a food-throwing fight at lunchtime.
“It was in the early seventies, when paddling was still being done,” he said. “Our principal got me out in front of everybody in the cafeteria and whacked me hard. I probably deserved it.”
Tim Farmer will retire as host of Kentucky Afield, but will continue to produce Tim Farmer’s County Kitchen with his wife, Nicki (Photo provided)
Another teacher, and a favorite, administered the same punishment for various infractions in her classroom. Her oft-repeated phrase, said Tim, was: “Farmer, I’m going to crown you into Gloryland.” And according to Tim, she did.
I spent productive time with Tim’s parents, Jerry and Sherry Farmer. They shared stories of young Tim, such as the time he found a skull—in a neighbor’s cave–with a couple of arrowheads inside. The event initiated an outright adventure. A TV news station did a feature on the 15-year-old Farmer and his finding, but Tim’s activity also provoked the owner of the cave property to threaten him.
I spoke to dozens of Tim’s friends, and without fail, they talked in amazement of his love of life, tenacity, and spirit of overcoming his physical challenges. His sense of gratitude, I found, enamored him to help others who had similar obstacles to face.
When the book, Tim Farmer: A Kentucky Woodsman Restored, was released, we traveled to all parts of the state on a signing tour, with Tim drawing nice crowds. Time after time, I watched him give special and personal time to those with physical disabilities, usually in wheelchairs. I found out about hospital visits Tim made to encourage those who had lost a limb in an accident, and saw him encourage kids who liked to fish and hunt.
The subtitle and theme of the book, A Kentucky Woodsman Restored, is also the theme of his life. Some traumatic luck back in 1984 caused what he termed a simple “aggravation,” but it also provided a model of fortitude and a positive outlook for thousands who have watched his show since 1995 or met him in person. I’ve been blessed to know Tim and his wife, Nicki, as they meet life head on with enthusiasm.
Farmer announced recently that he is retiring from his job with the Kentucky Department for Fish and Wildlife Resources and he will give up his hosting job on Kentucky Afield at the end of December. The good news for Tim’s fans is that he’ll continue on the air with two other TV programs: Tim Farmer’s Country Kitchen and Tim Farmer’s Homeade Jam.
Steve Flairty is a teacher, public speaker and an author of six books: a biography of Kentucky Afield host Tim Farmer and five in the Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes series, including a kids’ version. His new book, “Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes #4,” has recently been released and is available for purchase here. Flairty is a senior correspondent for Kentucky Monthly, as well as a weekly KyForward and NKyTribune columnist and a member of the Kentucky Humanities Council Speakers Bureau. Read his past columns for excerpts from all his books. Contact him at sflairty2001@yahoo.com or friend him on Facebook. (Steve’s photo by Connie McDonald)
