A Message From Steve Ebbert

Optimism Prevails In Uncertain Market

Here we are at the beginning of the 3rd quarter of 2008, and there’s no doubt that there’s a bit of confusion in the land market. Some of the talking heads say that things are getting better, and others say that things are getting worse. But anybody who tells you that he knows exactly what’s going on is probably hiding the fact that he doesn’t have a clue about where things are headed.

Here at Southern Land Exchange (SLE), we know there’s only one certainty when it comes to real estate: People are still buying property, and people are still selling property, and that won’t change as long the planet keeps spinning.

Tom and I are optimists. Our brokers and employees are optimists, too. That’s why SLE has turned a blind eye to the talking heads and pundits, and managed to have a pretty good spring. We are selling and listing properties at a faster pace than we have over the past few years, and we’re confident that things will continue to improve. Sure, we’ve seen land prices drop some, but even with the recent price correction, prices are still strong. And let’s never lose sight of the fact that land is still the best long-term investment a person can make, bar none.

Some folks will tell you that they’re going to wait before they buy their dream tract. They figure that if they hold out for a few more years, they might find a bargain. But there’s another way to look at it: These folks aren’t only holding out for a price, but they’re also holding out on fishing with their grandchildren, and hunting with their sons, and escaping the workweek drudgery of the city for the weekend splendor of the country. You can’t put a worth on experiences and you can’t put a cost on memories, so our advice to them is, “Quit worrying about whether prices have hit bottom and get in the game, or you might miss an opportunity to invest in your dreams.”

In an effort to make that possible, we at SLE continue to grow our business through a number of great relationships and associations. We attended the Cabela’s Trophy Properties Anual Meeting in Reno in April and learned how to expand our sales territory through cooperative marketing. We helped sponsor a Wildlife Trends field day near Columbia, South Carolina, where Tom, Jesse Johnson, and Stuart McLean shared ideas on how to improve a property without breaking the bank. On May 9th, we had a customer appreciation barbecue for 600 of our closest friends where we showed off several of our listings. Then we went striper fishing with our friends at Ag South Farm Credit and AgGeorgia Farm Credit and learned that they are having their best year out of the last five years in financing farms and timberland.

So there you have it - the land market, like life, is what you choose to make of it, and we choose to prosper along with our customers, clients and associates. So, get in the game, and give us a call. I told you we were optimists!

Sincerely,

Steve Ebbert

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Corporate News

SLE Welcomes Two New Agents

We at Southern Land Exchange (SLE) are proud to announce two new editions to our ever-growing stable of excellent agents.

Brent Blackmon will represent SLE in Alabama. Brent’s roots in the state run deep. Brent currently owns and operates Crow Creek Hunting Preserve in Stevenson, Alabama, where he has used his knowledge as an outdoorsman to create a thriving wildlife habitat. Brent has experience with all facets of timber and land management, including procurement, pond management, prescribed burning, developing road networks, and creating food plots. ÊBrent has been in the real estate business for twelve years. Whether you want to sell your land or find the perfect recreational property, Brent is the authentic outdoor realtor!

Email Brent at
brentwooddevelopmentcompany@yahoo.com,
or call 256-599-8865.

Phillip Chastain has also joined the SLE family of agents. Phillip is a 1993 graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. He is a registered land surveyor, and has owned his own surveying company for the past ten years. PhillipÕs experience and network of contacts led him to enter the land brokerage business. ÊAs a sales agent for SLE, Phillip will work diligently for buyers and sellers to make their real estate goals and dreams a reality.

Email Phillip at pchastain@southernlandexchange.com,
or call 706.614.4784.

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SLE Attends CTP Annual Meeting In Reno

The Southern Land Exchange staff and team of agents attended the Cabela’s Trophy Properties (CTP) Annual Meeting held in Reno, Nevada from April 16 - 19, 2008. It was a great opportunity to gather with other CTP agents from all over the United States. It's easy to stay connected through electronic means, but there's no substitute for face-to-face contact, and thatis exactly what the CTP Annual Meeting allowed us to do. We were able to shake hands with folks we work with often, but rarely get to see. We had opportunities to socialize over great food and the occasional game of Black Jack!

The meetings featured testimonies about successful ventures as well as speakers from organizations that can assist us in serving our clients. We heard from other CTP agents, mapping specialists, lenders, and 1031 exchange experts. We were able to share ideas about marketing and ways that we would like to see our businesses grow. Tom and Steve spoke about their February trip to the International Property Show in Dubai as an example of international sales and marketing opportunities. The CTP Annual Meeting is just another way in which SLE and Cabela's Trophy Properties expresses its commitment to being the best in the recreational land business. Meetings like these open doors to contacts all across the globe and allow SLE to expose our listings to a worldwide market. This is just another way in which SLE takes advantage of the most innovative marketing techniques unmatched by any other recreational land broker.

One of the best things about being affiliated with Cabela's Trophy Properties is the network that we have become a part of. The benefits of this are invaluable to our company and its customers. We look forward to future meetings, while still enjoying the memories of this one. While some left Reno with a lighter wallet, we all agreed it was a great time and were grateful for the chance to build a few more relationships with others who share our passion for the land business.

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Southern Land Exchange associate broker Stuart McLean and his wife Beth welcomed their second daughter Anna Shi McLean into the world on June 4, 2008. Anna Shi was 8lbs 11oz and 19 ½ inches long upon arrival. Baby Anna, big sister Kate, and Mom and Dad are all doing well.

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SLE Hosts Another Well-Attended Barbecue

Southern Land Exchange hosted another successful client appreciation barbecue on May 9th. We were joined by 600 of our friends and associates on a gorgeous day for our famous pork, roasted corn, slaw and great fellowship. We're already planning for the next event, and we'll announce it in our newsletter. Y'all come join us!

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Practical Wildlife Management

ATV or UTV: Which is right for you?

By Jesse Johnson

Do you remember traveling around the farm and forest with your Dad or Granddad? Chances are good it was in a pickup truck, probably a full-size pickup with a bench seat and not much else. You know the truck, that sort of plain-Jane version that put the "U" in utility. Granddaddy used that truck for work, play and everything in between.

With that one vehicle he would commute to work, hunt, fish, trailer most anything, and haul everything from feed-n-seed to kids-n-dogs. That old truck performed all those functions by necessity; after all, trucks and tractors were all that where available for the rural folks. Then along came the 3-wheeler, and a new industry was born. Who could have imagined the exciting variety of utility vehicle options available to today's forest landowner?

Chances are you have noticed the many different types of recreational vehicles that are being hauled in the beds of pickups or towed behind SUVs today. These vehicles range from the typical 4-wheeler or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to what most people refer to as gators, mules or rangers. In the recreational vehicle industry, these types of vehicles are more commonly referred to as Recreational Utility Vehicles or UTVs. Today it is hard to find a landowner that does not have an ATV or UTV stirring up dust on their property. It appears they are taking the place of granddaddy's old, dented pickup for many forest landowners.

Being in the recreational land business, over the last few years I have noticed the increasing presence of UTVs in the field. From cattle farmers to tree farmers, more and more landowners seem to be choosing UTVs to meet their recreation and utility needs. However, ATVs are still popular with a large number of landowners and recreational users. So, how do you decide which one is right for you?

To learn more, I spoke with several ATV and UTV dealers in Georgia. All agreed that sales of UTVs have skyrocketed in recent years. One dealer said that 5 years ago, he sold only 1 UTV for every 5 ATVs he sold. Now he sells 1 UTV for every 2 ATVs. It appears that UTVs are becoming the shining star for consumers.

I also learned that ATV buyers tend to be younger, typically 16-25 years old, and looking for a more adventurous ride. UTV buyers are likely to be over 30 and are looking for more utility than adventure. One dealer said that as the baby boomers are maturing, they are replacing their ATVs with UTVs. But, to avoid costly mistakes and long-term dissatisfaction, savvy landowners shouldn't rely upon popularity to make their decision. They should become familiar with the characteristics of both vehicle types in order to get the best value for their hard-earned dollar. So let's look at the real differences between ATVs and UTVs.

The old 3-wheeler has gone the way of the Dodo bird, but its more powerful and stable offspring, the ATV, is here to stay. When you think "ATV", you should think 4-wheeled motorcycle. You sit astride a saddle, accelerate with a thumb throttle, brake with levers, and steer with handlebars. ATVs are shorter and narrower than UTVs so they can be more maneuverable in tight spots. Their maneuverability and ability to fit in the bed of a pickup has made ATVs very popular with hunters. Also, they can be quite fast!

Adult-sized ATVs generally cost less than UTVs, somewhere in the $3,000 to $9,000 range. You can compound the financial savings because you don't necessarily have to buy a trailer. But good luck toting your tree stand or chainsaw on your ATV without some serious bungee cords. And honestly, how comfortable do you feel riding front-and-back with your hunting buddy or forestland guest?

UTVs represent a blend between ATVs and Granddaddy's truck. You sit side-by-side and operate it with a steering wheel and foot pedals. Roll bars and seatbelts provide added safety, which is especially valuable to those of us with child passengers. The bench seats, and frequently a roof enhance comfort. There are even after-market cabs available for some models which offer total protection from the elements. UTVs can seat 2 - 6 people and have a small utility bed for tools and equipment. 4-wheel drive versions will go almost anywhere an ATV will.

With all these advantages, it's no surprise that UTVs have made huge inroads in the off-road market segment. They have a lot to offer today's forest landowner. Of course, we all know that there is no such thing as a free lunch. The larger footprint of a UTV makes it less maneuverable than an ATV, and you'll need a trailer to move it off property. Also, while UTVs are powerful, they are generally not as fast as ATVs. And they cost more, running between $8,000 and $12,000.

To add to their utility, there are an incredible number of implements available for both ATVs and UTVs. During a brief search, I found box scrapers, disc cultivators, tine cultivators, drag harrows, log haulers, mowers, sprayers, spreaders, 3-point hitches, trailers, and winches. At least one UTV is available with hydraulic lift-and-lower on the 3-point hitch. This makes it a snap for one person to change implements and can provide extra downward pressure on your implement if necessary. I don't think anyone would suggest that an ATV or UTV could match the utility of a tractor for big work. But, if you can't afford a tractor, or if your needs don't justify that expense, you can get a lot of bang for your buck with one of these off-road vehicles.

So, what's the upshot? If you hunt and work alone, are on a tight budget or have the need for speed, an ATV might be right for you. And you will still be able to handle smaller farm and forest chores. If you plan to put out duck boxes in the morning, plant a few small food plots by noon, and then take Jimmy, Suzy and Spot down to the pond for some fishing, you may opt for a UTV.

Don't forget to do your research, though. I especially recommend that you talk with other landowners and visit several dealers. You can also visit Web magazines like ATV Connection Magazine Forum and UTV Today Magazine.

Have fun and happy hunting.

Jesse Johnson is a Registered Forester/Sales Agent with Southeastern Land Exchange specializing in timberland/recreational properties.

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Trends in Land Sales

How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?

One AgSouth Member Has a Clue

By Pat Calhoun
Senior Vice President

You won't find Walthourville Village anywhere on a map, but it does exist. It's a small town - make that a VERY small town - in Long County, Ga.: population, two. Yet Walthourville Village has a police department, a general goods store, a church, a Ford tractor dealership, a city hall, a fire station, a sawmill, a steam-powered cotton gin, and even two locomotives that run on their own personal track.

This small historical town exists not in the playroom of a child with a room full of toys, but on 100 acres of property owned by Danny Norman of Long County, Ga., near the town of Walthourville. AgSouth member Danny Norman has been collecting and building bits of the past since he was 11 and storing them on the 800-acre family farm in the southeastern part of the county. His collection is quite unusual in both scope and items collected. Unless you ever visited Tweetsie Railroad in the North Carolina mountains during its heyday, my guess is that you've never seen anything remotely like what Norman has in his "yard." He has brought in or built a complete "ole timey" town right on his farm. Every building is functional. The church has even been used for services in the past. Danny Norman has a passion for the past, and is bringing it home piece by piece.

Norman is a collector. What he collects is history, specializing on rural history in the form of antique tractors, old cars, signs, farm equipment, and other memorabilia from the past. He currently has nearly 400 tractors of all kinds from all different eras - all but a few in running condition. If you were to ask him why he has nearly 400 tractors, his answer would probably be "because I'm still collecting.'

He began putting the village together as a way to bring back memories of his childhood. "I remember family and friends gathering here every year to celebrate birthdays, holidays, and just enjoy one another's company," he says. As the years passed, people moved away, got older, and stopped coming. He thought building the village on the farm might hold enough interest as a curiosity to bring family and friends back to the farm to reminisce about the good old days. At one time the family would come together to grind cane, and Danny rebuilt the cane mill. His plan worked. For years, the family returned to the farm for free syrup, to see the latest addition to Danny's collection, and to share stories and memories. In fact, his plan worked so well that he kept collecting and eventually opened Walthourville Village to the public. The village was so popular as a curiosity that he hosted an annual "Walthourville Village Festival," the second weekend of March, which at its heyday saw 30,000 visitors in a single weekend. People came from all over the United States, Canada and Mexico. "The festival eventually got too huge to handle," says Norman, "and we had to stop, which was unfortunate." He now contents himself with sharing his passion and knowledge with school groups and the occasional visitor, but has no plans to stop collecting or preserving history. He is a history buff and a master storyteller, and nothing pleases him more than captivating students of all ages with his stories. He says that when the groups of kids come in, he can tell right away who is really interested in history and who is just glad to have a day outside of school.

His collection of antique cars, fire engines, mail trucks, delivery trucks, army trucks and two hearses (one complete with casket that he sometimes lets the local haunted house use at Halloween) is just as vast as his collection of tractors. He scouts all over the world to find just the right purchase to aid him in his story telling. In addition to his main collection of U.S.-based autos and equipment, he has pieces from England and other countries. And Norman puts everything in place himself. Despite having thousands of items in his collection scattered around 100 acres, he says he knows where every piece is. "I need to do a better job of showcasing the items through the ages," he admits, "but with a collection this large, it's sometimes hard." He has even scouted around enough to own several first-off-the-assembly-line pieces of equipment.

What began as a childhood hobby has become a passion, but he says it's not the item itself, but the history of the item and how he got it that holds his heart the most. He can't even name a favorite piece, but he says one of the oldest pieces in his collection is a 1905 steam tractor. He also has a special place in his heart for a 1919 Stanley Steamer automobile and a 1907 Ford Model N. Norman also has a section of the farm devoted to the horse-drawn era, where he houses plows, carriages, sleighs, and other vehicles of this era.

His vehicles have been in parades and shows around the state and are in big demand. His wife, Kathy, doesn't share his passion, but he says she tolerates quite well the trips to scout for and pick up items. One family member who does share is passion is 10-year-old granddaughter, Harley Dawson. When she's not in ballet class or school, she loves roaming about the farm looking at and riding the old tractors, and even has her own, a special 1940 Ford 9N.

Norman has been an AgSouth member for 35 years. He is president of the local Georgia Farm Bureau and a former bank director and chairman of the loan committee of a commercial bank. He knows very well the benefits of doing business on a cooperative basis with AgSouth. "The people at AgSouth are professionals. They know what they're doing when it comes to financing land or equipment, and they'll even travel all the way out here to do business with me when I can't get into town. That's the best kind of personal service I know of," he says. Norman's loan officers frequently visit the farm.

Tea Grove Plantation has been in the Norman family for five generations. The main house was built in 1887 and was restored in the 1980s. Danny Norman's great-great grandfather actually grew tea on the farm. Through the years the families who lived there raised a variety of row crops. Under Danny's ownership, the farm is an Angus cattle and timber farm. Norman has set up a special trust to care for the antiques after he is gone. "It's my hope that my family will continue to care for the farm, he says, "but I'm wise enough to know that you can't push your own dreams onto someone else. With the trust in place, Walthourville Village can be taken care of for future generations who want to learn about farming and rural living in the old days."

AgSouth is the preferred lender of Southern Land Exchange.

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Upcoming Events

June 11-12

Inventorying and Merchandising Weights and Volumes for Pine and Hardwood Stands

The purpose of this course is to help foresters and realtors conduct more accurate inventories. With the value of timber now greatly depending on matching the merchandising of the standing timber to how the logger will merchandise the timber at harvest, the ability to merchandise tons by product is critical. Where: Georgia Center for Continuing Education, Campus of the University of Georgia. For information, visit their website.

June 18, 2008

Landowner Workshop

Learn about farm pond management, timber production, road construction and maintenance, wildlife law enforcement and wildlife food plots. CFE and CLE credits available. Where: Owens Farm, Toccoa, GA. Check-in Time: 8:00. Cost: $10. Participants will receive a Hunting Heritage Club membership. Registration Deadline is June 16th.
For information call Gregg Jameson (706) 542-9610.

July 7-8

GPS for Beginners

Natural resource management professionals and realtors who have little or no background with the Global Positioning System (GPS), yet have an interest in learning about the basics of GPS and experiencing data collection procedures procedures, post-processing procedures, and accuracy assessment methodology should check out this course offered thru the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. Where: Georgia Center for Continuing Education, Campus of the University of Georgia. Check out their website.

July 22-23/h2>

Managing Existing Pine Stands for Investment Returns

Foresters, realtors, and landowners managing existing pine stands must make decisions every year that impact their investment returns for those stands. In most cases they must decide whether or not to spend money on a particular treatment based on their markets and on the expected response to the treatment. This course is intended to focus on those decisions and on how to estimate the expected responses, costs, and markets, and therefore the expected returns, so decisions made will be good ones Where: Georgia Center for Continuing Education, Campus of the University of Georgia. Visit them online.

September 6-20

Dove Season Begins

Limit 12 per day, 12 in possession.
Season dates may be subject to change pending the evaluation of public input.

September 13 - October 10

Archery Season Begins

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