Tennessee

TSU New Farmer Academy graduated prospective farmers from across the country (TSU News Service). East TN New Farmer Academy graduated 20 beginning farmers. TN AgrAbility referred and sponsored 30 veterans with disabilities to attend the New Farmer Academy across the state of Tennessee.

The 2019 TN AgrAbility Ag-Run-Ability 5K/2 mi. WALK to raise awareness for TN AgrAbility within the UTIA system was held September 14-19. Thirty-one registered and 23 participated in this event. Thank you to TN Farmers Coop for being a sponsor. Some of the participants shared their experiences: they walked for their dad who was a farmer veteran; ran in honor/memory of producers in their county; ran in honor of youth in agriculture who have a disability; and one enjoyed mother-daughter time.

"The Dust Rolls" with 40 days of 90+ degree temperatures and only 1/2 inch of rain in Tennessee. Harvest set in, and TNAP distributed goodie bags of water, ear plugs, soap in a hose, paper towels, and window cleaner to combines, tractors, sprayers, grain trucks, and cotton pickers that were sitting in fields during early morning hours. All were compliments of TN AgrAbility to show a little love during the hot and dusty harvest season.

TNAP participated in various webinars promoting National Farm Health and Safety Week 2019. To date, in Gibson County, TN, there have been three cotton picker fires and one field fire (20 acres of irrigated corn possibly from a cigarette) and in a neighboring county a combine blew up while the 70-year-old driver was climbing up the steps; sad to report, he was killed instantly. Always remember to "Shift Farm Safety into High Gear!"

Submitted by Tennessee AgrAbility Project