About Us

Katherine serves as the director of the Tipton County Museum, Veteran's Memorial, and Nature Center.  With a passion for service and a commitment to making a difference, she has been actively involved in various local initiatives aimed at improving education, community service, and preservation of history. She holds a board member position at the Covington-Tipton County Chamber of Commerce and Fort Wright Historical, Inc. Katherine has a background in economic development and post-secondary education attainment. She actively supports the community and volunteers as much as possible, believing in the value of giving back in any capacity. As an enthusiastic bird watcher and outdoor lover, she champions the education and appreciation of nature. Katherine is excited to make the festival an unforgettable event and warmly invites you to the Bird Fest to discover the splendor of nature and its marvels.

Sherl is a naturalist at the Tipton County Museum, Veteran's Memorial and Nature Center. She is the club leader for the Nature Journaler's Club. She is an avid birder, gardener, and butterfly mom! She is an amateur lepidopterist, as she has rescued and released several different species of butterflies, on many occasions, including the endangered monarch butterfly. she will be giving lectures on Backyard Birds, bird feeder and bird house maintenace, pollinators and their habitats, and how to become a Certified Watchable Wildlife Habitat.

Julie is a children's author, wildlife, nature, and urban style photographer, and owner of Julie Hartsfield Photography. She serves as a board member and longtime volunteer at the Tipton County Museum, Veteran's Memorial and Nature Center. She is a member of Duck's Unlimited and Tennessee Wildlife Federation. She is a certified hunter safety instructor and a longtime volunteer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, and an active community volunteer. Julie brings together her passions for writing, birds, and photography through her leadership and involvement in local birding programming, including the development of community birding events, the creation of ongoing educational content such as daily bird features on the festival Facebook page, and the founding of the  Tipton County Birdwatchers Club.She is a board member of the Hatchie River Conservancy. Her dedication to the Hatchie River is reflected both in her conservation efforts and in her writing, including a children's book inspired by the river and it's significance. She is an avid birder, gardener, and outdoor enthusiast. She is a proponent of conservation initiatives and the preservation of natural and historical heritage.

Dexter has dedicated many years to volunteering at the Tipton County Museum, Veteran's Memorial, and Nature Center. He serves on the board of the Hatchie River Conservancy and has volunteered extensively with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. His commitment to community service is unwavering. Professionally, he works as a Field Service Technician for Shred-Tech, a company at the forefront of the shredding and recycling industry.Dexter has dedicated many years to volunteering at the Tipton County Museum, Veteran’s Memorial, and Nature Center, where he has been actively involved in supporting education, history, and conservation efforts within the community. He also serves on the board of the Hatchie River Conservancy, where his deep appreciation for and commitment to the Hatchie River guide his efforts to help protect and preserve this vital natural resource. He has contributed countless hours volunteering with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, including his role as a certified hunter safety instructor. He is alsoa member of the Tipton County Birdwatchers Club. A passionate advocate for the outdoors, Dexter enjoys spending time in nature and is deeply committed to conservation and responsible stewardship of wildlife and natural resources. His enthusiasm for volunteering reflects a genuine desire to give back to his community and to help preserve the natural spaces that make West Tennessee unique. Professionally, Dexter works as a Field Service Technician for Shred-Tech, a company at the forefront of the shredding and recycling industry, where he applies his technical expertise and strong work ethic. His dedication to both his career and his community service reflects a lifelong commitment to hard work, conservation, and making a positive impact.

Ted has been a longstanding member of Leigh's Chapel Community, where he and his wife Carolyn, married for 63 years, raised their two sons, Mike and Charles. Ted, along with his wife Carolyn, and Mike have owned and operated Turner Game Birds for 23 years and continue to do so now with a host of grandkids, and great grandkids. He raises cattle, sheep, quail, pheasant, and chuckar. He earned a Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1965, then returned to Turner Angus Farms, established in 1854. In 1968, he started teaching agriculture at Covington High School, retiring after 39 years. His wildlife management class constructed an observation deck in the wetland area of our museum trail. He also helped found the Covington Clay Target Trap Team. A certified auctioneer, Ted performs for organizations like Ducks Unlimited, Wild Turkey Federation, and Delta Waterfowl. His memberships include Ducks Unlimited, Quails Unlimited, Pheasants Unlimited, Tennessee Cattleman's Association, Tennessee Farm Bureau, and Tipton Farmers' Cooperative (Greenpoint AG), among others. He was instrumental in creating Covington's first swim team and served as a certified lifeguard. He has always been a very active member of our community, whether through the schools, cattle and shows, or various committees. Ted will deliver a lecture on quails, their habitats, and conservation, and will lead a quail walk on his farm. An avid outdoor enthusiast and wildlife management expert, he has dedicated his career to teaching wildlife and environmental management and conservation. We are honored to have him on our team.

Keith is a birder, naturalist, content creator, musician, former professional natural resource manager, and Tennessee State Park Ranger with 10+ years' experience in environmental education. In 2008 he began his career as an Interpretive Ranger for Tennessee State Parks. in 2013 He became a Tennessee State Park Ranger. In 2018 he became a Natural Resources Manager and the Ranger Division Director for the city of Germantown Parks and Recreations. He was on Season 15 of NBC's the Voice. He is currently the lead singer of 3x Grammy-winning jazz/rock fusion band Blood, Sweat, and Tears, where he actively tours. In 2020, due to social distancing, concerts were shut down. He then went back to work as a Park Ranger for Meeman Shelby State Park. He now lives in Munford, TN with his family, pets, and an enormous collection of plants and bird feeder stations.