oN THE FARM

Farmer Bill retired from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) after 20 years of serving Louisiana residents. He has fulfilled his retirement dream of moving back to Eastern Tennessee and becoming a gentleman farmer.

Bill, born in Milton, Florida, spent many years with his father and stepmother on their farm in East Tennessee. After graduation from Milton High School in 1980, Bill attended Nichols State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana majoring in criminal justice. 

Bill joined the U. S. Navy in June of 1986 and served until his discharge in June 1999, earning the rank of Petty Officer Second Class (E-5). Bill served in Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and Operation Enduring Freedom. Bill completed four deployments to the North Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Baltic. 

In November of 1999, Bill began his career with the LDWF Law Enforcement Division. Bill graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Cadet Academy in June of 2000. Bill had many assignments during his 20-year career with his last being part of the headquarters staff.

During Bill's career, he was awarded Agent of the Year twice and the Chief's Award from the Colonel of the Law Enforcement Division. After 20 years, Bill retired from LDWF Law Enforcement Division in October of 2019 as a captain.

Bill is married to Jamie Mabile, who he considers his best friend and confidant. Bill has two daughters and six granddaughters, who live in Louisiana.  

Jamie’s love for the outdoors and country life harkens back to her childhood, where she would spend her days outside playing in the woods or sugarcane fields of Iberville Parish, Louisiana. She made many memories with her grandmother and cousins on Lone Star Farm, which gave rise to Lone Star North Farm. Jamie fondly remembers picking blackberries that her grandmother would turn into blackberry dumplings and figs that she would eat straight off the tree. She remembers helping her grandmother make breakfast before heading outside to sit on the swing and process vegetables from the garden. She remembers the large box fan that cooled the old farmhouse, running barefoot through the cool St. Augustine grass beneath the expansive pecan trees, and the cool well water that cooled her down on hot summer days. Jamie derived her love of cooking and baking from both her grandmothers and continues to this day to make some of the family recipes, such as pralines, crawfish bisque, crawfish stew, patty pan squash pie, apple cakes, and cocoons. Her favorite place on the farm is in the kitchen, as she enjoys cooking and feeding people. When not in the kitchen, Jamie can be found working in the garden or tending to the livestock. In her youth, Jamie participated in 4-H and grew a large garden with her parents and cared for rabbits. Activities she enjoys away from the farm include open-hearth cooking, hiking in the park, Smokies baseball games, live music events, and traveling.

To see what Jamie has been cooking, follow her on Instagram (@mountain.bakers) and Facebook. 

Dewey, the first animal to arrive on the farm, is an atypical donkey. We believe he thinks he is a human. He demands attention and invades personal space. He will bump and push one to get attention; however, he is a gentle giant and loved by all. Our farrier and veterinarian say they’ve never seen such a calm and sweet donkey in all their years. Dewey, a 10-year-old gelded mammoth donkey, came to the farm in November of 2019 after his owner passed away and he had no other place to go. We warmly welcomed Dewey to the farm and realized that he needed a friend. Dewey can never have enough treats, food, or attention. He enjoys playing the Dewey the Donkey Game with the other equines on the farm, but especially his buddy, Joseph.

To keep up with Dewey the Donkey, follow him on his personal Instagram (@dewey.the.donkey) and Facebook.

Joe-Joe, our smartest and most astute equine, is our smallest and toughest equine. He was adopted to be a friend for Dewey, and they are the best of friends. Almost daily, they can be seen playing with the orange construction cones, also known as the Dewey the Donkey Game, and mutually grooming each other. Joseph, previously known as Odysseus-Rhino, is a standard size gray Jerusalem donkey. Joseph, born on March 1, 2009, was a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) donkey. We adopted Joseph on June 17, 2020, from Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue in Concord, Virginia. Having wild genetics, Joseph is standoffish, but does a great job of keeping the pasture safe from predators. Joseph loves treats, especially tortilla chips, and sometimes lets us pet him when we’re feeding him treats.

Remi, our boss horse, loves to throw his weight around and pin his ears back at feeding time. He can be seen every evening waiting at the pasture gate for Farmer Bill. Once at the barn, he paces back and forth

or around the barn in circles keeping the other equines away.

Remington is a 19-year-old paint or pinto Quarter horse. Since arriving on the farm in September 2021,

he has become a reliable and steady trail horse. He is loving and wants nothing more than to be rubbed

and scratched on his head and face. Remi loves Bill and seeks out his attention when he sees him near

the pasture or at the barn.

 Cadet, our middle child, who is the fastest of all our equines, lets the others push him around. He has always been at the bottom of the herd, even at his previous home. He is smart, curious, and always attuned to his surroundings. He loves to work in the round pen and race Moo. He adores Jamie, whom he trusts more than anyone else. They can often be seen in his stall cuddling with his head on her shoulder while she scratches his head and ears. Air Force Cadet is a 16-hand, bay in color, retired thoroughbred racehorse. Cadet was foaled on April 3, 2013, in California. Cadet’s sire is Seracoque and his dam is Stage Colony. Cadet raced 11 times earning $16,014. Cadet came to the farm in February of 2020 and he and Riders Up instantly hit it off. Cadet and Rider would spend most of their days running and playing halter tag. They were best friends that rarely left each other’s side. Riders Up would whinny for Cadet if he was out of sight.

Moo, the baby of all the equines, loves to crib and pass gas. Moo likes to think he’s the boss, but he’s really just a curious toddler always getting into trouble. He is spoiled for Jamie, who sings to him while grooming him in the evening. Moo Lah is a 16-hand, bay in color, retired thoroughbred racehorse. Moo was foaled on April 3, 2016, in New York. Moo’s sire is More Than Ready and his dam is J’Ray. Moo raced 7 times in his career earning $7,664. Moo came to the farm in January of 2021 after being acquired from Thoroughbred Retirement Network of Louisiana, a non-profit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming of thoroughbred ex-racehorses.

Jack-Jack, the baby of our felines, hasn’t found his voice yet and doesn’t know how to meow. He makes a quiet, sad “ah” sound. He rushes home every night for belly rubs, brushing, and scratching behind his ears. Jackson, a 2-year-old male black cat, came to us from the Maryville Alcoa Animal Rescue Center’s Barn Cat program in March 2021. Being a feral cat, he could not be touched, which is why he was in the Barn Cat program and is why he has a notched ear. After six weeks of patience and hard work, we tamed Jackson, who is now a sweet and loving cat and the perfect friend for Bentley the Barn Cat.

Bentley, our first barn cat, is often referred to as a bad egg. He can be sweet and cuddly, begging for

belly rubs and the next day, he is missing in action and won’t listen when called to come inside.

Bentley, also known as Bentley the Barn Cat, is a 3-year-old male calico cat we adopted from a home

where he was unwanted.

Bentley, the boss of our barn cats, is strong willed and a true hunter. He often brings his trophies to the

steps of the barn shop. Many days, Bentley and his buddy Jackson can be seen chasing and playing in the

pasture, garden, and barn. Bentley enjoys a good belly rub before he is put up for the night, if you can

find him and catch him; it is always on his terms.