The Land-Grant Ledger

Tennessee State University College of Agriculture

Dean’s Message:

Dear friends and supporters,

Greetings from the Tennessee State University College of Agriculture (TSUAg), where the weather is cooler, our wonderful undergraduate and graduate students are lining the hallways, meeting their new professors, and filling the air with sounds of laughter – the fall semester and the 20242025 academic year are upon us! For me, this is the most exciting time of the year. The coming year will be chalk-full of engaging events and happenings around campus designed to take our students to new heights, and I for one, am thrilled to have started.

We kicked of the academic year with a pair of important events. Before the semester began, we got together as a group for our biannual Faculty and Staff Institute meeting. This meeting is where my office outlines our plans for the coming semester and where we raise our spirits prior to reengaging our student body.

Secondly, we welcomed our students back to campus with Welcome Week, five days of studentthemed festivities aimed at rekindling their College of Agriculture spirit and refocusing their minds on what studying as an undergraduate or graduate student here at TSUAg entails. It was wonderful to interact with them during Welcome Week, an event that sets the stage for the semester.

A recent research highlight was the biannual gathering we call the TSU-UTIA Research Summit, a collaboration with our friends from the University of Tennessee during which we share research, garner feedback and network.

When it comes to Extension we had another wonderful summer of outreach to 60 counties across the state. This month was no exception and we were proud to see great initiatives taking place like the $10 Dollar Dash Challenge created by Shelby County SNAP-ED Program Assistant Jasmen Richmond. Great job to Jasmen and all of our Extension agents for another great month.

Enjoy this issue of the Land-Grant Ledger! We’ll see you next month!

Sincerely,

Dean Chandra Reddy

TSUAg Attends Research Summit

Marion County Extension Update

Rhea County Extension Update Disaster Planning Summit Davidson County Extension Update

Shelby County Extension Update Dr. Eric Magembe Talks Potato Partnership

2024 TSUAg Welcome Week

Former TSUAg Graduate Student Named New TN State Plant Pathologist

TSUAg Grad Student Lands Poultry Assn. Scholarship

2024-2025 Institute Meeting

Extension Faculty and Staff Attend Disaster Planning Summit (page 3)

Tennessee’s Land Grant Universities Partner for Research Summit

A group of 10 TSUAg environmental science faculty members attended the biannual TSU-UTIA Research Summit hosted by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture at the UT Arboretum on Friday, August 16. Leaders and scientists from both of Tennessee’s land-grant institutions gathered to exchange ideas and explore new collaborations on Forestry and Natural Resources. Following opening remarks from the two schools’ respective deans, TSU and UT researchers traded off with presentations on a wide variety of research topics.

Dr. Sarah Neumann presented on the role of plant-soil feedback in tree seedling establishment, Dr. Yujuan Chen spoke about how Extension agents think about urban forestry, Dr. Bill Sutton talked on the conservation of amphibian and reptile populations in the face of global change, Dr. Jianwei Li presented about the exploration of climate warming and nitrogen fertilization on switchgrass growth and Dr. Sudipta Rakshit spoke on biogeochemical cycling of micronutrient oxyanions. The group closed with a networking lunch and a discussion on next steps. We were thrilled to participate in this meaningful collaboration with our friends from Knoxville!

Extension

Marion County Extension Hosts ‘Wild

Child Day Camp’

TSUAg Extension Agent Elizabeth Lowrey and UT Extension Outdoor Recreation Specialist Ronnie Cowan acted on the philosophy that for kids, important learning happens outside the classroom in creating the Marion County Extension’s ‘Wild Child Day Camp.’ This two-day camp consisted of learning outdoor skills such as: casting a rod, knot tying, seining a pond, fish and amphibian identification, creating fishing lures, shooting sports, environmental carrying capacity, careers in conservation, and more! While students learned valuable skills such as how to tie different knots, the underlying emphasis of the day camp was life skills. Students had to work together while pretending to be frogs trying to survive in the wilderness strengthening their teamwork skills. While creating their own fishing lures, students practiced the skills of critical thinking, sharing, and goal setting. The favorite game of camp, “Oh Deer!” allowed students to practice leadership, cooperation, and planning skills. At the same time, they learned about predator/prey relationships and the carrying capacity of different species in relation to available resources. And of course, it was a lot of fun. Congrats Elizabeth and Ronnie!

Marion County Extension recently hosted ‘Wild Child Day Camp,’ with the intention of providing youth from the county the opportunity to have fun in an outdoor learning environment.

Rhea County 4-H BB Team Competes in Nationals

The Rhea County 4-H BB team proudly represented their community at the Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match national finals held in Rogers, Arkansas, from June 30 to July 3. This impressive opportunity followed their first-place victory at the State BB Jamboree, which secured their advancement to the national stage. The team’s journey to the Daisy National involved countless hours of practice in the four shooting positions: sitting, standing, kneeling, and prone. Competing against 57 teams, Rhea County’s team finished 29th overall. Team members Anna O’Keefe, Sky Dixon, Alyssa Jouben, Myca Butler, and Anderson Cathey each played a crucial role in their performance. Individually, Anna O’Keefe achieved remarkable success, placing 9th overall in the standing position and 4th in the prone position. Sky Dixon also excelled, securing 6th place overall in the kneeling position. In the champion division, Colt Darnell distinguished himself by placing 2nd overall in the kneeling position. “The Rhea County BB team’s hard work and dedication were evident in their performance, showcasing their skills and making their community proud,” said Rhea County Extension Agent Chasity Phillips.

Extension Faculty and Staff Team Attend Disaster

Planning Summit

Cooperative Extension professionals from TSUAg joined their counterparts from across the 1890 University system at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T) to plan for natural and man-made disasters during the 1890 Extension Disaster Education Network Advisory Group (EDEN AG) 2024 face-to-face workshop and business meeting. TSUAg Assistant Professor Rita Fleming joined Extension staffer Finis Stribling, III in attending the three-day annual meeting from June 4-6 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Participants focused on building community and cultural competency in disaster education. Dr. Ray McKinnie, associate dean and administrator for Cooperative Extension at NCA&T gave opening remarks to attendees and welcomed them to campus. In addition, Dr. Alton Thompson, executive director for the Association of 1890 Research Directors, and Dr. Albert Essel, executive director for the Association of Extension Administrators expressed appreciation for the work of the 1890-EDEN AG. Each offered their perspective for why it is critically essential for 1890 Land-grant professionals to provide research-based information and services to communities and citizen groups impacted by disasters.

The Rhea County 4-H BB Team (from left to right) of Brooke Reeves, Sky Dixon, coach Ryan O’Keefe, Josiah O’Keefe, Anna O’Keefe, Alyssa Jouben, Myca Butler, Colt Darnell and Anderson Cathey (back row) placed an impressive 29th overall in the Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match.

TSUAg Assistant Professor Rita Fleming joined Extension staffer Finis Stribling, III in attending the 1890 Extension Disaster Education Network Advisory Group 2024 face-to-face workshop and business meeting earlier this month at NCA&T.

Davidson County SNAP-Ed Team Supports Health at Senior Living Community

TSU Extension Davidson County SNAP-Ed Agent Angela Settles and Nutrition Educator Latasha Holloway recently spearheaded a project to install distance marking signs at the Gernert Studio Apartments senior living community to assist members of particularly the community’s walking group in tracking the distance they’d walked. TSU SNAP-Ed Davidson not only purchased the signs, they had them made and installed on the property. Always looking for a change to improve community health, Settles heard about the walking group at Gernert Studios Apartments residence through Holloway, and took action. The walking group is excited to improve their health and well-being in their community.

Shelby County Extension’s Richmond Kicks Off $10 Dollar Dash Challenge

Shelby County Extension Program Assistant Jasmen Richmond recently kicked off a new monthly partnership with the South Memphis Farmers Market to be able to run her new $10 Dollar Dash Challenge initiative and cooking class. The Challenge is not just a cooking class, it’s an engaging and educational experience designed to empower our community with essential skills in nutrition and budget-friendly meal preparation. Participants are given $10 to create a healthy and delicious meal. The challenge is not just about cooking, it’s about learning how to shop, prepare, and enjoy nutritious meals on a budget. Participants work in teams, and throughout the session, we incorporate games and activities that promote healthier habits and provide useful nutritional tips. “I created the $10 Dollar Dash Challenge to break this misconception and to show that with a little creativity and knowledge, anyone can prepare nutritious meals without overspending,” said Richmond. “The goal is to make healthy eating accessible and enjoyable for everyone in our community.”

Gernert Studio Apartments residents pose with a new sign installed by TSU’s Davidson County SNAP-Ed personnel to help the monitor how much they walk.

$10 Dollar Dash Challenge participants Dwight, Dedra, Joyce, Evelyn, Robert, Alana, Keenan, Evan, Ashley, Miss Rodgers, Reeyal and Kennedy take a moment to shoot a photo after their recent event.

TSUAg Talks Potato Partnership with Former Visiting Scholar Magembe

TSU’s College of Agriculture continues to expand and strengthen partnerships with international research institutions such as the International Potato Center (CIP) based in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Eric Magembe, a scientist at the CIP visited the TSU’s College of Agriculture last month to discuss continuation and further strengthening of research collaborations and both faculty and student exchange opportunities between TSU and CIP, especially in plant biotechnology. He had a very productive engagement with biotechnology faculty in the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering and the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Dr. Chandra Reddy.

Dr. Magembe’s collaborations with TSU began in 2017 when he received the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)-USDA Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship. He became a Visiting Scholar at Tennessee State University in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences under the mentorship of Dr. Suping Zhou. During his fellowship, he conducted research to determine the T-DNA structure and identify the flanking genome sequences using next-generation sequencing (NGS) of late blight-resistant biotech potatoes. The joint project successfully identified the best late blight-resistant transgenic potato varieties, which the International Potato Center is currently deploying in Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda.

Former TSUAg visiting professor Dr. Eric Magembe from the Nairobi, Kenya-based International Potato Center paid the College a visit last month to talk about a potential potato partnership.

TSUAg Highlights Return to Classes with Welcome Week

The College of Agriculture welcomed back to campus the student body earlier this week, kicking off the fall semester and the new school year with ‘Welcome Week.’ The event featured five days of festivities designed to get the students back to their normal routines with both school spirit and enthusiasm. The week kicked off with a popcorn social where returning students stopped by the Biotechnology Building for some popcorn and conversation with faculty and staffers. Students posed for photos, gave some short interviews to TSUAg communications telling of their hopes for the coming semester, and generally had a good time. On day two the SNAP-Ed team handed out TSUAg and SNAP-Ed swag to students who also picked up a piece of fresh fruit after classes. Day three featured the Gateway 2 Success: Academic Expo where students caught up on some of the exciting research taking place on campus. The fourth day was all about the TSUAg potluck lunch, where students brought by campus some of their personal dishes, and the week wrapped with ‘Roar Together,’ a day of lunch, games and music. School spirit on campus right now is Tiger high!

Former TSUAg Graduate Student Named New TN State Plant Pathologist

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) has named former TSUAg master’s student and post-doctoral reasercher Dr. Prabha Liyanapathiranage the state’s new head plant pathologist. As the state’s plant pathologist, Liyanapathiranage is responsible for diagnosing plant diseases, identifying plant pests, educating plant inspectors and stakeholders about invasive pests, and collaborating with pathologists on existing and emerging pathogens of regional, national, and international significance. During her master’s degree program, Liyanapathiranage focused on identifying sustainable approaches for managing soil-borne diseases in woody ornamental nurseries in Tennessee. After completing her Ph.D., she joined Tennessee State University’s Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tenn., as a post-doctoral researcher. There, she played a crucial part in conducting research on vascular streak dieback, a significant threat to woody ornamental production in the southea st.

“I am looking forward to working closely with growers across the state,” Liyanapathiranage said. “I am excited to serve as a resource for Tennessee’s plants industry and eager to apply my expertise in identifying, preventing, and managing plant diseases that threaten the state’s agricultural production.”

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) has named former TSUAg master’s student and post-doctoral reasercher Dr. Prabha Liyanapathiranage the state’s new head Plant Pathologist

TSUAg welcomed the student body back to campus en masse this week, greeting scores of undergraduate and graduate students during our Welcome Week festivities.

TSUAg Grad Student Lands Lucrative TN Poultry Assn. Scholarship

TSUAg graduate student Rabin Raut was recently named an awardee of a $4,000 TN Poultry Association’s Career Track Scholarship! The TPA awards scholarships to recognize people and organizations in the poultry industry, particularly Tennessee residents pursuing a career in poultry. Students who grew up on a TPA member farm in Tennessee can apply for a Grower Member Scholarship, while other residents can apply for a Career Track Scholarship. Raut applied for and was awarded the latter. “Over the past two years, I have developed a passion for the poultry industry,” said Raut. “I have been involved in both applied and basic research projects, gaining a good understanding of the commercial poultry industry. This experience will make me highly marketable in my future career path.”

TSUAg Kicks off 2024-2025

Academic Year with Institute Meeting

The College of Agriculture kicked off the final week of summer before we welcomed back the student body with the biannual Faculty and Staff Insititute meeting. More than 100 faculty and staff members came for the gathering, which was held in the Farrell-Westbrook Complex auditorium. A handful of new College faculty members introduced themselves at the meeting, during which the TSUAg leadership laid out plans for the coming semester and beyond. Infrastructure improvements, mentoring techniques and travel planning were all items of interest. The group reviewed a number of key performance indicators for the past school year, caught up with some of the exciting events planned for the coming semester and took time to meet their new colleagues.

TSUAg graduate student Rabin Raut was recently named an awardee of a Tennessee Poultry Association Career Track Scholarship, netting him $4,000 in tuition assistance.

Over 100 faculty and staff members from the College of Agriculture gathered in mid-August for the biannual Faculty and Staff Institute meeting.

Editor/Writer: Charles Morrison

Graphic Designer: Christina Jacob

Phone/Fax: 615-963-7561

Website: www.tnstate.edu/agriculture

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