Richie Owens
Richie Owens can’t help who he is!! The man was born into a family whose lineage has pre-determined his path in life. How far do you want to go back? How about the American Civil War? The true story of “Cold Mountain” (movie) is a good start. The fiddle player portrayed and killed in the movie is George Grooms. George was shot with his brother, Henry by Captain Teague’s Raiders, after playing “Bonaparte’s Retreat”. Henry Grooms is the Great–Great-Great Grandfather of Richie Owens and Dolly Parton. Yes, Richie and Dolly are first cousins. After the American Civil War, Richie’s family moved from North Carolina into the Madison and Cocke County area of Tennessee. The lives of this Tennessee family are just as colorful with occupations ranging from moonshining, share cropping, and preaching the Gospel, all the while playing and writing classic mountain music. Richie’s grandfather wrote songs for Kitty Wells. Richie was born the son of Louis and Colleen Owens, half raised in the Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee. As a child, one of Richie’s early experiences was singing and playing on the radio at the age of 8! Another early experience was playing on The Ralph Emery Morning Show in Nashville and as a teen backing Joe and Rose Lee Maphis, and Leon Russell. As a young man Richie went to work in the Shobud guitar factory. The owner, Shot Jackson, was a friend of the Owens Family. The guitar building and design bug took hold as Richie went on to work for Dobro. Richie has built Resonators for Ron Wood, Sonny Landreth, and Jerry Douglas. Richie later built his own “Owens Guitars” for folks like Niles Lofgren (Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young), and Bob Weir (Grateful Dead). Washburn guitars were so impressed with Richie that they created his own signature model mandolin. Richie’s talent doesn’t stop there. He has an incredible ear in the studio also. Richie’s studio credits include engineering The Georgia Satellites platinum and gold records,to producing Dolly Parton’s “Hungry Again” on Decca Records. Richie has also engineered for Jason and The Scorchers, Vince Gill, Michael Stipe (REM), Social Distortion, and The Bangles. Richie has spent a big portion of his life in the background as a band member for his cousin, Dolly Parton. Dolly has always been a fan and supporter of Richie and his music. Richie’s ideas of music and playing throughout his life have led him to his current project, ”Richie Owens and The Farm Bureau”. The Farm Bureau has turned out to be the perfect outlet for his rich blend of mountain/country/bluegrass/rock music. Along with longtime friend Bob Ocker, Richie has been able to write the music that will define his life and at the same time pay homage to his fore fathers’ heritage. As a song writing pair, the duo had the song “Ain’t Going Back Again” in Clive Owens’ 2009 hit movie “The Boys Are Back”. Along with working on their own tunes, Richie Owens and The Farm Bureau have been busy in the studio with Dolly Parton acting as her back up band for her song demos.

 Bob Ocker
Born in Maryland and raised in the mountains of Pennsylvania, Bob cut his musical teeth on Classic Rock and Metal. When Bob was in his early teens his family moved to Nashville and he was exposed to Country and southern music of all sorts. Soon after that Bob was touring the Southeast backing up various traditional Country artists such as Barbara Fairchild, Nat Stucky, and Narvel Felts. Some time after that he joined “The Movement” with new friend Richie Owens, performing and recording original alternative roots rock music. “The Movement” became a local and regional favorite recording and touring extensively.  The bond with Richie Owens was formed and their friendship led to the forming of the popular “Shinola”. The success of that band led the two friends to recording demos for the legendary Dolly Parton and recorded her record “Hungry Again” for Decca records. The two went on to tour extensively with Dolly Parton doing national television and sold out venues around the world. Bob and Richie have never given up on the idea of what is now “The Farm Bureau”. Bob’s incredible talents with electric guitar, acoustic guitar, lap steel, mandolin, and vocal harmonies make him someone to watch on stage. Bob’s unbelievable talents are truly a highlight of any “Farm Bureau” show.

Randy Hunt
 Born in Los Angeles, Randy was raised in a family musical environment. His mother taught piano and voice, as well as performances in local musicals. Being surrounded by artists, actors and musicians, the creative spark was lit at an early age. Randy gravitated to the bass guitar and found his calling after trying out piano and drums.

Developing in the rich San Francisco bay area music scene of the early ‘90’s, Randy performed in a variety original rock, funk, jazz, blues bands, symphonic orchestras and big bands. As his musical horizons expanded, so did his music education. Randy was accepted an graduated from the renowned Mannes/ New School jazz and contemporary music program at New York’s New School for Social Research.

His strong bass and cello skills and creative energy have kept him in demand for a variety of work with a long list of jazz innovators.  Along this time Randy met Richie Owens and Jace Aaron in California. Randy helped Richie in the building of Richie’s “Owens Guitar Co.” Randy’s innate ability for crafting fine instruments and his outstanding bass playing made him a true gem in the eyes of Owens. So the bond was formed and Randy followed Richie back to east Tennessee and The Farm Bureau was born. Randy also came to Nashville with Richie where he has become an in demand luthier, as well as a respected bass player in the Nashville scene with The Farm Bureau. Randy graces the stage with the classic upright bass as well as his standard electric.

 Mike "Ferg" Ferguson
Ferg was born and half raised in southern Louisiana. His parents uprooted to Texas when he was a rough and tough 10 years old. Ferg was raised with southern grace and Texas pride. Music shaped his life since the age of 4. As a young child he was constantly drawn to musical instruments of all sorts and loved the R&B and Rock his parents exposed him to. By the age of 7 he had built his first drum set out of plastic ice cream buckets. By the age of 11 he took his paper route earnings and bought a real drum set. The fire was lit and he played his first gig at the age of 14. He has yet to slow down, playing in bands has been his chosen way of life. Ferg gained notoriety in the Dallas music scene playing with cow glam rockers "Rodeo Love Gods", as well as "Spiders", and "Astrogin". Along the way working with producer legends Nick Griffiths, Bufurd Jones, Vinnie Paul Abbott, and Beau Hill. Astrogin scored with an Adult Contemporary Top 40 single. All bands were huge draws in the southwest. Ferg recently uprooted his family to Nashville to continue his dream of being the best. The great Billy Block introduced Ferg to Richie Owens one night at the legendary Tootsies, and the two developed a kinship that would later turn into a permanent seat with Richie Owens" Farm Bureau. Drumming in The Farm Bureau draws from a long list of influences from backyard crawfish boils to smokey dives and culminates into the foundation of "The Farm".

Tommy is what we call, “Nashville Smooth”. Tommy McRae was born and raised in
Nashville, all the while soaking up everything the Music City has to offer. The elder
McRaes were very religious and instilled in young Tommy a sense of moral goodness
and charitable responsibility. All the while exposing him to rootsy gospel music. By
the age of 15, Tommy was branching out musically to feed his soul on some rock
music. Though not old enough to get in a bar, Tommy was playing professionally
around Nashville. The clubs had no choice because Tommy and his band mates were
drawing crowds with their brand of alternative rock that was sweeping the Nashville
music scene. This is where Tommy first met Richie Owens and Bob Ocker. Tommy
shared the stage with Richie and Bob’s, The Movement, as well as The Circle Jerks,
Jesus and Mary Chain, and Gene Loves Jezebel. Tommy moved on to Belmont
University and formed a musical friendship with Steve Earle. The two wrote songs
together for McRae’s band “Guilt”. Together they wrote and produced two albums.
Tommy has also performed on Earle’s album, “The Hard Way”. They were the first
band to have a video featured on MTV’s “120 Minutes”, and “Headbangers Ball”.
Tommy also had success with his next project, “Child’s Play”. They were signed to
Chrysalis Records and toured the northeast extensively. Tommy eventually worked
his way home to Nashville and focused himself on writing and recording his own
material and getting back to his musical roots. Tommy has enjoyed success in the
Nashville area and to date, Tommy has raised over $300,000 for local children’s
charities. His parents are very proud of the man he has turned out to be. Since
Tommy has that strong sense of family, he was a natural to be brought into
the “Farm Family”. Tommy is the sparkling guitar strumming, vocal harmonizing,
mandolin picking, keyboardist that Richie and the fellas need to round out the Farm
Bureau sound.