Tennessee
TN AgrAbility spoke to over 100 attendees at the West Tennessee Outreach Conference located at the UT TSU Extension-Madison County Agri-Plex. The conference was sponsored by a USDA OPPE outreach grant. The event focused on agricultural education and training for small and beginning farmers across the region. Attendees came from Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. Special thanks to Dr. Zena Clardy and the TSU ag Extension team. Participants included members of the West TN New Farmer Academy, TNAP, and TN AgVOLs.
Hurricane Helene left devastating impacts on agriculture in East Tennessee in 2024, but the Flood Recovery Field Day in Limestone, TN, showed that hope is taking root again. One hundred eighty farmers, neighbors, and UTIA experts gathered to share innovative solutions like soil restoration techniques, forage recovery, and riparian buffer projects that can help bring farmland back to life. Beyond the demonstrations, the day highlighted the power of resilience, collaboration with local partners like TN AgrAbility, and the community in building a stronger future for East Tennessee agriculture.
Attendees spent the day learning the latest in beef, fruit, and veggie production from UTIA experts at the 2025 Steak and Potatoes Field Day located on the Plateau Ag Research and Education Center in Crossville to learn, connect, and enjoy a delicious steak sandwich! Held on August 21 with over 200 attendees, this event featured UTIA-led sessions on cattle management, high-density fruit tree planting, disease diagnostics, and more. TN AgrAbility met four beginning farmer veterans who were invited to join TSU's upcoming Veteran Bootcamp in October.
TN AgrAbility had the pleasure of demonstrating assistive technology equipment and informing 62 New Farmer Academy participants about the TN AgrAbility and AgVOLS programs. The event was located at the AgriCenter International Farmer's Market. While TN AgrAbility staff was shopping for produce at the farmer's market, a vendor became a new TN AgrAbility farmer.
TN AgrAbility honored the memory of Jenni Goodrich, a passionate advocate for beginning farmers and veterans. Her impact through the East Tennessee New Farmer Academy, TN AgrAbility, and UT TSU Extension was profound. She gave those she came in contact with something to carry for life: "Always have something to do, something to love, and something to believe in." She lived those words every day. Jenni believed in growth, kindness, and purpose-both in the field and in life. She leaves behind a lasting legacy of service and inspiration. Read more about Jenni's life and legacy: https://shorturl.at/pd2ui
Submitted by Tennessee AgrAbility Project
Other News
The lives of a Moore County livestock family changed on August 6 when the farmer ran off the road into a ditch later to find out he had an aortic dissection. He was transported to a local hospital then airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical hospital where he spent four weeks and was later released to a rehab center for one week and sent home on September 6. On the night of August 6, doctors did not give the family much hope, but God has a higher power.
Meanwhile back on the farm, one neighbor farmer saw that the hay was ready to be cut on Millsaps Shorthorn Farms. He began to cut the hay, and others saw what he was doing and joined in. They were able to rake, bale, and move 140 bales of hay in less than three hours on a Sunday afternoon. There were two tractors with two 12-wheel rakes, three tractors with round balers, two tractors loading hay, two trucks with goosenecks hauling, and one tractor and one skid steer unloading. Now that is what agriculture is all about.
https://shorturl.at/MVFmH
https://thelynchburgtimes.com/gordan-millsaps-feature-082825/