Knoxville, Tenn. — Country music star John Rich will endorse Zach Wamp in his campaign for Governor and entertain guests at a big fundraising event for Wamp next Monday night, October 26th in Knoxville.

The event’s general reception begins at 6 p.m. at Gettysvue, 9317 Linksvue Drive, off Pellissippi Parkway in West Knoxville.  Reservations to attend the $250 per person general reception can be made by contacting paulina@zachwamp.com or by calling 423-648-9946.   

Wamp’s event with John Rich in Knoxville is just the latest in a series of celebrity-filled fundraising events designed to help Wamp in his bid for Governor in 2010.

Last week, former U.S. Senator and Republican National Committee chairman Bill Brock joined Wamp and more than 700 other supporters for a major fundraising event in support of Wamp at the Downtown Trade Center in Chattanooga.  Brock has strongly endorsed Wamp in his campaign for Governor.

Earlier this fall, Grammy-award winning Christian contemporary artist Michael W. Smith, and Grammy-award winning country legend Larry Gatlin, both endorsed and joined Wamp at important events in Nashville and Chattanooga, respectively.  

Other big fundraising events for Wamp are scheduled and coming up soon.  In early December, John Rich will be joined by country star Gretchen Wilson for another key fundraising event for Wamp in Nashville.  Such notable patriotic and Christian artists as Chattanooga native and national music artist James Rogers, Grammy-nominated Christian singer/songwriter Paul Colman and many others are scheduled to perform and entertain at other upcoming Wamp events around the state. 

“We are blessed to have the enthusiastic support from so many folks and from so many different areas all across our state,” Wamp said.  “Our campaign is building. Our momentum is growing.  And we are right on track to raise the money we will need to run the kind of campaign it will take to communicate our 20/20 Vision for Tennessee’s future to voters statewide.” 

To help voters clearly understand his priorities in his campaign for Governor, Wamp recently released a two-minute video, now posted at zachwamp.com detailing his 20/20 Vision for Tennessee.

From better schools and universities to healthier children and families – from more high-wage jobs to a modern infrastructure with better roads, bridges and broadband – from strong and conservative state fiscal management to just saying “no” to a state income tax – Zach has a clear 20/20 vision of what we need to do to create an even better and brighter Tennessee and to move our state up in the national rankings.

The founder of the nationally-recognized “Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor” economic development organization, Zach has become well-known as a dynamic and visionary leader during the past 15 years of serving Tennessee’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.  

Wamp and his wife, Kim, live in Chattanooga, and they have a son, Weston, a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee, and a daughter, Coty, who is a student at UT Knoxville.

Nashville, Tenn. – A grassroots coalition of Tennessee growers, farmers, ranchers and agri-business leaders today formally announced their support for Zach Wamp in his campaign for Governor, and invited other farmers and agri-business leaders to join their growing Farmers for Zach Wamp Leadership Team. (See attached and below for the initial leadership list.)

“Zach Wamp has a proven record of supporting Tennessee farmers and free and fair markets for Tennessee products,” said Jere Griggs, former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture under then Governor Lamar Alexander, and honorary chair of Farmers for Zach Wamp.  “I am proud not only to support and endorse Zach, but our coalition intends to do all we can to help others who are committed to agriculture in Tennessee learn why Zach Wamp will be such an outstanding Governor for our great state.”

The Farmers for Zach Wamp Leadership Team will serve in an advisory role to Wamp during the campaign on agriculture and agri-business issues.  Leaders on the committee are already actively building a strong grassroots network of farmers, ranchers and their family members who are strongly supporting Zach in their local counties and communities all across the state.
Joining Griggs, as chair of the Farmers for Zach Wamp team, is Jim Jones from Clinton, Tenn.  For the last 35 years, Jim has farmed strawberries, peaches, cattle, and hay in Anderson County.  During those 35 years, Jones has served on the Anderson County Farm Bureau board, with 30 of those years serving as President of that board.  Mr. Jones is also the past President and board member of the Tennessee Fruit and Vegetable Association.

“Zach has truly been a friend to every farmer and agri-business across this state,” said Jones.  “He has worked tirelessly in Washington through the years in support of Tennessee family farms, small businesses and on agricultural issues important to every Tennessee farmer.  Now we are pleased that Zach is offering that same vision, strength and leadership on these and other issues important to Tennessee.”

“I couldn’t be more honored to have the support of this team of Tennessee leaders,” Wamp said. “Our growers were our state’s first manufacturers.  That’s why my 20/20 Vision for Tennessee’s Future includes a bold new ‘production agenda’ with an aggressive new emphasis on agriculture to elevate Tennessee growers, farmers and ranchers to their deserved place in Tennessee’s economy.”

“As Governor, I look forward to working with them to provide an environment in which Tennessee family farms can thrive, succeed and flourish because Tennessee farmers and their commodities are vitally important to the economic future and security of our great state,” Wamp said.

Wamp said today’s Farmers for Zach Wamp coalition joins the previously announced Veterans for Zach Wamp group as the second of several key coalition groups already coalescing around and actively at work in his grassroots campaign for Governor.  Wamp said more coalition announcements will follow soon. 

From better schools and universities to healthier children and families – from more high-wage jobs to a modern infrastructure with better roads, bridges and broadband – from strong and conservative state fiscal management to just saying “no” to a state income tax – Zach has a clear 20/20 vision of what we need to do to create an even better and brighter Tennessee and to move our state up in the national rankings.

The founder of the nationally-recognized “Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor” economic development organization, Zach has become well-known as a dynamic and visionary leader during the past 15 years of serving Tennessee’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.  

Wamp and his wife, Kim, live in Chattanooga, and they have a son, Weston, and a daughter, Coty, who is a student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. 

To get involved in the campaign or to learn more about Zach Wamp, please visit www.ZachWamp.com.

Farmers for Zach Wamp Leadership Team
(ongoing and in process as of 10/5/09)

Jere Griggs (Honorary Chairman) — Served as the Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture from 1979 through 1981 and recently retired from his role as Agribusiness Development Coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.  Mr. Griggs was also a partner and Co-Manager of Griggs Family Partnership engaged in farming, cotton gin and grain elevator operations in Crockett and Gibson Counties, Tennessee.

Jim Jones (Chairman) – for the past 35 years has grown strawberries, peaches, cattle, and hay in Anderson County.  During those 35 years he has served on the Anderson County Farm Bureau board with 30 of those years serving as President of that board.  Mr. Jones is the past President and board member of the Tennessee Fruit and Vegetable Association.  He also serves on the local Natural Resource Conservation Board, the Anderson County Co-op Board, the Soil Conservation Board and has served at the State Level as Chairman of the Tennessee’s Commodity Boards for Fruit and Vegetables, Natural Resources, Resolutions, and Forestry.  Mr. Jones served as the Anderson County representative for “Farmers for Frist” and was a member of the Bush/Cheney Farmer and Rancher Team.  

Rod Barnes – produces beef and is a Vocational Agriculture teacher at McNairy Central High School in McNairy County.  Mr. Barnes is the past president of the Tennessee 4-H Alumni Association and the Tennessee 4-H Council.  He is the past winner of the American Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farmer Award and Farm Family of the Year award.

Jerry Barr – farms hay, wheat, straw and switchgrass in Monroe County.  Mr. Barr is a former national chair and state chair of the Young Farmer and Ranchers Program, and he currently serves on the Monroe County Farm Bureau Board.  

Bobby Carter – farms tobacco and cattle in McMinn County.  Mr. Carter served on the McMinn County Commission for 20 years.  Currently he serves as Board Chairman for the Sweetwater Burley Tobacco Warehouse Cooperative and on the Board of Directors of the Chattanooga Ag Credit Association.  He is a long time Tennessee Farm Bureau member were he previously served on the Commodities Committee.  In addition, Carter served on the Tennessee Bush/Cheney Farmer and Ranch Team, the Farmers and Rural Coalition for former Governor Don Sundquist and the Van Hilleary Ag Advisory Committee.

Cheryl and William Elliott – Purebred Angus breeders and tobacco farmers from Robertson County.  The Elliotts also raise and market hay and also farm corn.  They are long time members of the Tennessee Farm Bureau.  Mrs. Elliott currently serves on the Robertson County Soil Conservation District Board.

Edsel Freels – farms tobacco in Rhea County.  Mr. Freels previously served on the Bush/Cheney Farmer and Rancher Team and was a member of Van Hilleary’s Ag Advisory Committee.

Gary Garr – from Shelby County, has worked in the agri-business industry for thirty years and currently works for Bayer.  He is the former chair of the Agri-Center in Memphis.

Steve Harrison – operates a dairy farm in Loudon County, and he was a member of the Tennessee Bush/Cheney Farmer and Ranch Team.

Frank McGinley – is a cotton, soybean and wheat farmer in Hardin County.  He currently serves on the Tennessee State Water Pollution Board.  He is a member of the Tennessee Farm Bureau, where he previously served as president of the Hardin County Farm Bureau Board.

George McGrath – is a timber farmer in Morgan County.  Mr. McGrath is the past chair of the Tennessee Forestry Commission and a long time active member of the Tennessee Farm Bureau.

Chuck McSpadden – operates the Apple Valley Orchards in Bradley County.  He served on the Bradley County Farm Bureau Board, and is a former board member of the Tennessee Fruits and Vegetables Association.  

Bob Strasser – operates a dairy farm in Davidson County and also farms corn, tobacco, soybeans and alfalfa hay in Robertson County.  Mr. Strasser previously served on the Bush/Cheney Farmer and Ranch Team, the Farmers and Rural Coalition for former Governor Don Sundquist, and he was the chairman of the Van Hilleary Ag Advisory Committee.  In addition, Mr. Strasser has served on the Davidson County Farm Bureau Board for the past 30 years.

Dale Rogers – owns and operates a farm supply business and grain elevator in Henderson County that serves farmers from across the area.  Mr. Rogers also farms 1200 acres of corn and soybeans. 

Lewis Walker – runs and owns the Tennessee Vegetable Packers in Cumberland County where he and his family have shipped Tennessee products all over the US and Canada since 1941.  He is a long time member of the Tennessee Farm Bureau, and served as an advisor to former Agriculture Commissioner Cotton Ivey during the McWherter administration.  

Ray Weaver – has a vineyard and farms pork, cattle, wheat, sweet corn, soybeans and pumpkins in Franklin and Coffee Counties.  He is a member of the Tennessee Farm Bureau and is a past president of the Coffee County Farm Bureau Board.  Mr. Weaver is the past president of the Tennessee Pork Producers Association and he currently sits on their executive committee.  He is also the Vice President of the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts.

Bob Willis – farms corn, wheat, soy beans and beef cattle in Coffee County.  He is a former member of the Farm Bureau State Board and is a member of the Beef Industry Council.