Meet Ronnie Haislip

Ronnie Haislip recalls the first time he set foot in Nolensville. He was about 7-8 years old in the mid-1960s running around the 12½ acres of land his parents Alfred (Red), and the late Melba had bought.

“They just let me go. I think I was ADD back then,” the now 66-year-old said. “I would just play in the creeks. They just turned me loose.

“It was an investment that they had until I bought property out here (83 acres) about 25 years ago. I don’t think they had any intention of building anything on it. My sister (Renee) did keep a horse on the property and it had a barn on it. It was just a place for us to get out and go.”

Through the years, Haislip saw his share of critters, including snakes, frogs, skunks, raccoons, dogs, and birds. They made quite an impression on him as for about 10 years, he was part of underground groups that rescued and fed animals so they would not be euthanized. 

“It was hard work. But it was a labor of love,” he said. “I don’t think I want to do it now.

“When we moved here we had this Facebook page – Nolensville 411 – where people were bragging on how they killed this copperhead or water moccasin or other snakes. It really hurt. I let them know it wasn’t something to be proud of. You just killed something that helps keep rodents and other things away. I’ve probably caught the most critters of anyone here in Nolensville and never found a venomous snake.”

Perhaps because of his efforts, the Facebook posts diminished considerably in ensuring years. 

Today, he helps his wife Jeanette with farming chores, including maintaining the equipment while she works full-time as a clerk at Publix Grocery Store. They have owned up to a dozen cows plus chickens, ducks, geese, donkeys, and a horse though they lost all of their chickens to the Avians Flu.

“We’ve taken in a lot of animals in the last 10 years,” he said. “Over our lifetime we’d do what has been called fostering or rescuing of animals. To me it didn’t have a name. It’s just what we did. Over the years that’s all we’ve ever done. Even before we got married in 2003 that’s what we’ve done.”

That includes Herman the Crow, who had his own Facebook page until leaving about five years ago. 

Haislip joined the automobile sales business (Nolensville Road Auto Park) his father started in 1963 in Nashville right after graduating from Antioch High School in 1974. He worked there full-time until about 10 years ago when he turned over management to his only child Jordan whose 5½-month-old boy named Halls is his parents’ first grandchild. 

“Our kids are our animals,” said Ronnie, who has two pit bulls. 

For the past five years, he has also collected muscle cars and travels about five days a month to places like Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Michigan with a high school buddy drag racing them. He and Jeanette also own a house on Old Hickory Lake, where he likes to jet-ski. 

“We’re slowing down though I don’t want to,” said Haislip, who previously did cross-fit for about 13 years. “It’s like I woke up and I’m 66 years old.” 

Having lived in the area for so long, the Haislips have made many friends. 

“We are recognized a lot when we go out I guess from all the rescue work we’ve done,” he said. “A lot of people who have moved to Nolensville are really into animals. They really aren’t killing them any more. They seem to be more into preserving wildlife.”