Meet Whitt
A farmer, a butcher, and your neighbor
Whitt Shuford has spent his whole life in Claiborne County, working its ground, making payroll here, and answering to the people who live here.
“Lines divide, bridges unite. One strong county feels just right.”
The farm came first
Whitt took over the family's century farm in 2009, after his uncle passed away. For a while he worked it alone: before daylight, after dark, and every weekend in between. That's where he learned what a budget really is: you plan for the year you're going to have, not the one you hope for.
A Tennessee education
Years before he ever took over the farm, Whitt started at the University of Tennessee in 1987 and earned his degree in Agricultural Economics from the ag campus in 1991. It's the same math either way: land, labor, and what's left over at the end.
Whitt's Place
Whitt's Place started with a single cooler in the barn. Neighbors wanted beef they could trace to a pasture they'd driven past, and word got around. The cooler became a counter. The counter outgrew the barn. Today Whitt's Place operates out of the renovated farmhouse, selling beef Whitt raises himself alongside cattle from five local sister farms, every bit of it finished right here on the farm, alongside locally raised pork, chicken, lamb, bison, and a whole lineup of other local products, and signing the front of paychecks instead of the back.
Running a small business in a small county teaches you something no seminar can: every dollar you spend came off somebody's table first.
12 years on the County Commission
Whitt has served 12 years as First District County Commissioner, including as Chairman of the Finance Committee. In that seat he pushed the county toward long-range budget planning.
Home
Whitt and his wife have been married 25 years. They raised two children in Claiborne County, and they now have one grandson, the sixth generation to run around that farm.
Lifelong Claiborne Countian · Century Farmer · Small Business Owner · Married 25 years · Two children, one grandson
More of Whitt's story
Read on
- The Farmer Taking over the century farm in 2009, and working it alone at first.
- The Small Business Owner His own beef, a lineup of other local producers, and a payroll he signs every week.
- The Volunteer Agricultural Economics on the UT ag campus, and four generations of Vols in one family.
- The Family Dorothy, the kids, a grandson named partly for Whitt, and three generations of community service.
Talk to him
Call or text Whitt
Porch Sittin' with Whitt and Coffee with the Candidate wrapped up on Friday, October 9. Early voting runs October 14 – 29, and Whitt needs to be there.
He's still a phone call away. Call or text Whitt at 423-526-7777 — he's happy to come to you.