MIDDLEBURG – The faint sound of Creedence Clearwater Revival songs was interrupted by a whiny router and the screeching sounds of wood being trimmed on a typically hot Sunday afternoon last week.

Brad Satcher was covered in a working man’s glitter of sweat, woodchips and serenity when the cutting stopped.

Hot and grubby, Satcher never felt better. His horse stalls-turned-studio is where he finds peace. And it’s where he turns his passion for his community into one-of-a-kind projects that have attracted national attention.

Networks have called to do stories, but he’d rather spend his time turning stacks of boards into flags and keepsakes for first responders, military and friends. Their friendship and appreciation are all the recognition he desires.

“I just don’t have time. I’m just me,” Satcher said. “I love what I do. It ain’t about me putting myself out. I don’t want to nationalize anything. I’m a patriot. I love my family. I love my friends. I love this county with my whole heart.”

Satcher’s workshop is called “The Patriot’s Barn.” The floors are made of sawdust. Sunlight peeks through wooden slats. And the walls are covered with flags and other handmade patriotic commemorations.

His hands are hard and honest. His words aren’t articulate, yet imminently profound. And his word, not a signature, is all he needs to keep a promise.

Satcher goes to his safe place when he’s not working the canning line during the day at Anheuser-Busch in Jacksonville. There are no televisions in the Barn. His mind is too busy for that kind of blather. He has a stereo in a small office that plays old Creedence songs. Other than the constant hum of a fan and the pulsating sounds of power tools, it’s the only distractions he allows.

His family is 50 yards away – in air conditioning or in the swimming pool. They come out to the Barn to check on him but they largely leave him to his creative hobby.

“They know my passions. They know my passion is to not be in the house,” he said. “I’ve always been an outdoors person. I’d rather smell the air. I’d rather see the rain. I’d rather work with my hands than sit with a remote control, changing the channel. Being out here opens my mind up and my thought process. Looking around helps me do stuff, not watching a TV show. There’s no script out here.”

Florida Rep. Sam Garrison (Fleming Island) has known Satcher for years. He describes his friend with one word: “genuine.”

Satcher’s flag-making started in 2017. He got tired of replacing the cloth flag at his workshop, so he crafted one from wood. Each stripe is a separate board, held together by glue, paint, polish and reverence.

He worked with Nassau County Commissioner Klynt Farmer at Anheuser-Busch and he asked Satcher to make one for him.

He completed the job and took it to work, but Farmer took the week off. Satcher left the flag at the brewery. Within days, he had 30 more requests from other employees.

Six years later, Satcher has crafted more than 1,000 of them – so many, “I’m not so sure. I never numbered them. Actually, it’s a bit overwhelming.”

Most now adorn the walls of national, state and local officials, law enforcement, first responders and the military.

“Brad is very eccentric and eclectic, and people don’t realize how gifted he is as an artist,” said Sheriff Michelle Cook. “And it’s clear he loves his family. He loves this country. But he says that one of his biggest loves is Clay County.”

Satcher’s work has allowed him to meet President Donald Trump. He has members of the U.S. Congress, particularly Reps. Aaron Bean, John Rutherford and Kat Cammack, on speed dial. State officials like Rob and Jennifer Bradley,and Garrison regularly visit the Barn.

“I just think in today’s age, it is hard to find people that truly care about other people,” said the President of Fraternal Order of Police, Steve Zona. “You know, whether you know Brad or not, he’s always willing to help. He’s the kind of guy who’d give you the shirt off his back whether he knows you or not.”

Satcher said politics can’t define his work. Being a patriot means doing the right thing, regardless of affiliations.

“It’s just a blessing – the friends, the family. The friends I’ve met throughout this, the politicians, the senators, the governor, President (Donald) Trump, people on both sides – Republicans, Democrats, Independents,” he said. “I’ve met so many people. You can’t get involved in politics unless you get both sides, listening to each one’s story and what they can provide, what they can do for you – not just what they can do for you but the community.”

Cook not only visits, but she’s also comfortable grabbing a saw, getting grimy and helping her dear friend create art.

“I would describe him as a family man, a patriot and a gifted artist,” she said.

One of Satcher’s biggest projects was constructing a map of the United States. He took a drawing of the states, hand-drew them to lumber and created the country state by state. It took 86 days to complete the job, and the 10-foot by seven-foot creation remains one of his most popular pieces.

“You know what, he doesn’t have any angles,” Garrison said. “He’s not running for office. He’s not trying to leverage power control or all that stuff. He just cares about people. He has an infectious personality. As far as I’m concerned, he’s the mayor of Middleburg.”