The Winery at Seven Springs Farm hosted a special guest May 3, as Tennessee USDA Director Jim Tracy dropped in to meet the Riddle family and celebrate their success.

Tracy has been Tennessee's USDA director since November 2017, and since then he's been touring the state to meet farmers and farm businesses. A former District 14 state Senator with a degree in agriculture education, Tracy was complimentary of the farm, the winery, and the family's contribution to Union County's economy.

"I'm very impressed with the whole business, how (the Riddles) took an idea of starting a winery and creating a business with this farm and utilizing the land," Tracy said. "They're creating jobs and growing sales tax revenue."

Seven Springs Farm and the winery employ 15 people, not including Riddle family members.

With Tracy were USDA Area Specialist Charles Morris and Acting USDA Area Director Mary Short. Morris said Seven Springs Farm, the winery and the Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association have received multiple USDA and Rural Development grants for equipment, marketing and other business improvements. The farm has also applied for a rural energy grant to install solar panels.

Tracy said he hopes to address issues facing rural communities and farmers, including roads, access to water and sewer, access to broadband Internet, and education.

"Creating a trained workforce and trying, when they graduate, to keep them in that county, so you have a quality workforce with quality jobs," he said. "We're also looking for other ways for smaller farmers to make a living on their farms.

"It's an interesting job, and if we can help people with grants and loans to get moving in their businesses, that's what it's all about. We're about helping rural America."

Attending the tour and meet-and-greet were Union County Mayor Mike Williams, Debra Keck of the Union County Mayor's Office, Union County Commissioner Stan Dail and Union County Commission candidate Martin Shafer.