UC Outdoors

Brad Halfacre sits down with Tammy Wright, one of the original members of the Red Silo Runners. Originally from Nashville, Tammy shares how a casual walking group with friends after lunch at Crawdaddy’s grew into a vibrant community centered around the Red Silo Brewing Company. With over 800 online members across the country, the Red Silo Runners welcome walkers, joggers, and runners of all levels—no membership required, just a friendly attitude and a love for staying active. Tammy also talks about the group’s involvement in local events, fundraising for shelters through marathons, and how their church-rooted, family-friendly atmosphere keeps their community strong and growing.

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Brad Halfacre chats with Tonya and Joey Posten, owners of Old Mill Campgrounds, located right next to Cummins Falls State Park. They share what makes their campground special including 41 RV sites with electricity, water, and Wi-Fi, as well as cozy cottages and two Airbnb rentals. Tonya and Joey talk about booking details, pricing, upcoming local music events, and the joy of camping as a way to relax and unplug (even though Wi-Fi is still available). They also highlight local treats from the nearby Muddy Pond Amish store—which recently had a visit from Reba McEntire’s son, who stopped in to enjoy some of the homemade food.

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Brad Halfacre sits down with Mandy and Jenny from the Putnam County YMCA to talk about the wide range of programs they offer for families and individuals of all ages and abilities. With over 30 years of combined experience at the Y, they share details about youth day camps, swimming lessons for all ages, and soccer clinics that will prepare you for their Soccer Saturdays. A big focus of the conversation is water safety—including their "Phone Down, Eyes Up" campaign, which encourages parents to stay alert and engaged at the pool. They also share a fun, catchy tune to help kids remember how to wear life jackets properly, and explain how to reserve pool lanes and sign up for public or private adult swim lessons.

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Brad Halfacre chats with Ranger Kristen Willis from Burgess Falls State Park to dive into the challenges and beauty of the Window Cliffs Trail—a 5.4-mile hike she describes as strenuous but rewarding. Kristen shares tips on how to stay safe and prepared on the trail, and gives details about upcoming events in July, including night hikes, nature hikes, and the Advanced Junior Ranger Program. She also discusses the park's impressive transformation of a 7-acre grassland area, once 85% overrun by invasive species, now restored to native habitat teeming with wildlife. Tune in to hear Kristen’s journey into becoming a park ranger and how you can get involved in the park's guided hikes and programs.

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Brad Halfacre sits down with Lieutenant Mike Beaty from the TWRA to talk all things boating safety. They cover where and how to access both in-person and online boating education classes, share a quick pre-trip boating checklist, and explain how to be prepared for emergencies on the water—including the importance of creating a "float plan." While the focus is on boating, they also touch on a few key updates to Tennessee's hunting and fishing laws that outdoor enthusiasts should know.

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Guests Bobbie & Paul Abel join Brad Halfacre to discuss Manna Hana Riding Stables and share some insights on their programs designed to help children with special needs, veterans, and first responders by helping them heal with horses.

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Brad Halfacre chats with Upperman High School students Gunnar Ballard and Steven Clark about their recent achievements in the competitive bass fishing world. The duo shares how they’re preparing for the upcoming Tennessee Bass Federation Tournament in Grove, Oklahoma, taking place June 24–28. They also reflect on the tournaments that got them here, swap favorite fishing stories, and some fishing fails as well.

In this episode, host Brad Halfacre sits down with Victoria Whitley. We explore how to get involved with beekeeping, the many benefits it offers, and the critical role bees play in our environment.

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During this episode, our host Brad Halfacre sits down with Janet Dowlen. They discuss everything you need to know about the upcoming Birds, Bees, Bucks, and Trees event happening on June 14th.

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During this episode, learn more about the forming of Scott's Gulf State Park in Sparta as our host Brad Halfacre sits down with vice president of the Friend's Group, Dylan Dunn. Also hear about event organization, the Sparta speaker series, and more!

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