My working farm on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee is one of my passions. Another is paddling the region’s rivers. Because of that I have, for years, worked with other landowners, the government, non-profits and environmentalists to ensure the preservation of these regional treasures. We were successful in having Piney River named as a Wild and Scenic River, a designation that gave it special protection. But the job wasn’t done, maybe it will never be done. But working with dozens of people over several years we have recently acquired property that ensures that both Soak Creek and Piney Creek have significantly greater protection. It’s not just about protecting the environment, though. It’s about recognizing that an investment in environmental protection is an investment in economic vitality—ecotourism. Congratulations to everyone who worked on this.