The origin of this site and our
families love of these birds began many years ago. Our
family was introduced to birding by Bearl Snow.
Bearl was from a tiny country town in East Tennessee
named Oakdale. About 45 minutes west of Knoxville,
Oakdale was and still is one of the most rural places in
Tennessee. Bearl was raised and spent his entire life on
this hilltop farm.
During and after a career at Oak Ridge National
Laboratory (ORNL) and selling Liberty National Insurance,
Bearl had a true love of birds. He raised many types of
animals including fox hounds, rabbits, cattle, pigs,
beagles, goats, and especially birds. Of these many
species he raised and sold worldwide, here is but a short
list: peacocks, pheasants, quail, chukar, guinea, ducks,
geese, game chickens, bantys of every shape and color,
turkeys, and well you name it and he probably had a pair.
Bearl also had several varieties of pigeons and doves,
from fantails to tumblers and homers to ring neck doves.
He had many lofts on the farm including a house that he
raised several of his five children that was eventually
turned into a chicken house and loft.
Bearl’s farm was indeed a veritable zoo. Much of his
breeding and rearing experience was learned through trial
and error. Long before e-mail and the worldwide web, he
corresponded with others and exchanged thoughts and ideas
at the county fair or country stores and co-op.
Descendants of his birds are still flown by our family
today.
Bearl passed away in July 1979 and is survived by his
wife Ella and five children, Allen, Harold, Don, Cathy,
and David. The families birding tradition has been kept
alive and well by Bearl’s middle son Don.
Don Snow served in the Marines, came home and went to
school at Tennessee Tech, where he graduated. He soon
started a job with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources
Agency (TWRA) as a wildlife officer in Pikeville,
Tennessee. Don eventually bought a farm of his own near
Pikeville where he could rear birds of his own.
Don has raised many types of animals over the course of
his life including some of the best beagles around, award
winning chickens, and some of the fastest racing pigeons
in the southeast, if not the nation.
Pigeons, especially homers, are Don’s specialty. His
knowledge of birds is known and respected nationwide.
Don’s home is littered with trophies, plaques,
awards, and ribbons that he has won over the years. His
love of birds has resulted in this site and a successful
hobby and business in releases for special occasions.
With the help of his daughter Amy, and grandchildren Erin
and Austin, this business has flourished in the
Chattanooga to Crossville area. The business has expanded
toward the Knoxville area with the addition of nephew
Robbie Snow, his wife Scherry, and their daughter Morgan
Snow of Kingston, Tennessee.
The Kingston Snows are fairly new to homers but are
quickly learning all Don can teach them. They should be
ready to offer releases by the Spring of 2005.
So, there you have it. Four generations bringing birds to
the public.
Thanks Bearl !
Our beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather
you are missed.
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