You would think Hobart Carnes, 85, is growing vegetables for the ‘Guinness Book of World Records.’  Carnes is a retired Blount County employee, who has a ‘green thumb’ and a 110-acre farm at the corner of Highway 411 and Keener Road.
Holding up a three-pound turnip and an apple, Carnes proudly exclaimed, “It’s taken me years to grow this turnip!  I’ve grown fields of lettuce, tomatoes, corn, okra, and ‘half-runner’ beans. But this three-pound turnip is the largest I’ve ever grown.”
Carnes was elected to three, 4-year terms as a Blount County Road
Commissioner, and had responsibilities paving many of the highways here in East Tennessee. He and his wife were married 65 years ago on the Sevier County Courthouse lawn by Judge Allen, back in 1937. They now have two daughters, and three grandchildren, who also enjoy working with
them in their huge garden in rural Seymour.
“Turnips are cultivated here for their nutritious roots and edible green leaves,” Carnes knowledgeably explained. Holding out the three-pounder with both hands he continued, “And they’re rich in minerals, and carbohydrates, and vitamins A and C.” He smiled and asked, “Do you think I have a chance of winning that ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ contest?” We did some quick research, and found that B. Laverly of Wales, Great Britain has some impressive win’s in the category of world’s largest vegetables. For instance, he grew a 124-lb. cabbage; a 46-lb celery; a 20-lb. cucumber; a 16-ft. carrot; and a 171-inch parsnip, … but no
turnips!
Oh!  Gerry Checkon, of Pennsylvania, grew the world’s largest pumpkin, a record 1,131 pounds.  But here it was, … A. Foster, of Alnwick, Great Britain, who grew the world’s largest turnip; weighing a whopping 48-pounds-12-ounces, back in 1980. 
Those Brit’s must have some fertile earth over there. Wow! That’s more
than 16 times larger than Hobart’s entry. Maybe next time, Mr. Carnes. Maybe next time!

… read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.