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 academic, research and Extension activities of the fall semester are really picking up steam. Student groups are coming together, research partners are being established, students are nervous about upcoming tests... the semester has begun in earnest here in September.
Earlier this month we celebrated the 20th annual Tennessee Small Farm Expo by cutting the ribbon on a trio of new facilities built after the March 2020 tornado devastated our Agriculture Research Education Center, aka “the Farm.”
TSU Interim President Dr. Ronald Johnson gave the keynote address at the ceremony and assisted me in cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Congratulations to the fine small farmers who took home awards as part of the Small Farmer of the Year Awardee Luncheon as well.
There were a number of notable career development events the College of Agriculture either hosted or took part in over the past month as well. Not only did we have an excellent turnout for our fall 2024 TSUAg Career Fair, in terms of both students and companies exhibiting at the event, it was just one of many career-focused events on campus and beyond. The Bayer Campus Takeover event further cemented our solid relationship with the biotech giant, and our MANRRS students were invited to the headquarters of John Deere earlier this month, one of only a few chapters invited to attend.
In other Extension news, we were pleased to welcome the entirety of our Cooperative Extension agents to campus for the fall 2024 Extension Agent Showcase. It’s wonderful to see these amazing people in person after witnessing their excellent work from afar in the preceding months. Some of their stories are in this issue as well.
Enjoy this issue of the Land-Grant Ledger! We’ll see you next month!
Sincerely,
Dean Chandra Reddy
Dean’s Message
20th Annual Small Farm Expo
Claiborne County Extension Update
Haywood County Extension Update
Annual Extension Agent Showcase
Johnson County Extension Update
Shelby County Extension Update
Dr. Loc Tran Secures Grants
Bayer Campus Takeover
TSU MANRRS Chapter Visits John Deere
2024 TSUAg Career Fair
AGSA Elects New Leadership for 2024/25 Academic Year
TSU TOPP Program Hosting
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (page 2)
20 Years and Counting
The Tennessee State University College of Agriculture (TSUAg) celebrated its forever support of the Tennessee small farming community and its 20th year hosting when it held the 2024 Tennessee Small Farm Expo here on campus in early September. This year’s Small Farm Expo once again brought together hundreds of industry leaders, small farmers, and students for a day of workshops, presentations, farm tours, and the annual Small Farmer of the Year Awardee Luncheon, and this year even had a bonus event a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially announcing the opening of three new buildings out at the TSUAg Agriculture Research Education Center (AREC) where the Expo was held.
The Small Farmer of the Year Awardee Luncheon saw a new class for 2024. Ryan McCaffrey of Wears Valley Ranch was named both the winner of the Best Management Practices category and the overall 2024 Tennessee Small Farmer of the Year, awarding him $3,000. Other award recipients, each receiving $1,000, included Debra Lockard of Lockard’s Produce for the Alternative Enterprises Award, Briley Dodge of Beech Hill Beef and The Local Farmer store for the Innovative Marketing Award and Adam Clark from Pop’s Produce as the Most Improved Farmer of the Year.
TSU Interim President Dr. Ronald Johnson joined the group who cut the ribbon during a ceremony officially announcing the opening of three new buildings out at the TSUAg Agriculture Research Education Center (AREC) where the Small Farm Expo was held.
Ryan McCaffrey of Wears Valley Ranch was named both the winner of the Best Management Practices category and the overall 2024 Tennessee Small Farmer of the Year.
Claiborne County hosts Bovine Artificial Insemination Course
In mid-August the UT/TSU Cooperative Extension’s Claiborne County Extension Office participated in an important, informative course on bovine artificial insemination. The two-day bovine artificial insemination course was taught by ABS Global technicians and hosted by UT/TSU Claiborne County Extension and Lee County Virginia Tech Extension. Each morning of the event started at the Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, Virginia with classroom education and practicing on reproductive tracts. In the afternoons the group traveled to a local farm for participants to practice artificial insemination on cull cows. This event aimed to get producers certified in artificial insemination to help improve their herd genetics and increase their profits when selling calves. This is the third year UT/TSU Extension has taken part in this course that is limited to 16 participants. TSU Extension Agent Jennifer Gilbert was brought in on the project because, since 1999, she’s been a Certified Artificial Insemination Technician. The event is open to anyone in Tennessee and Virginia, not just Claiborne and Lee Counties. Great job Jennifer!
A Bronze for Haywood County 4-H
Led by the leadership of TSU Cooperative Extension Agent Karen Jones, the Haywood County Extension Office supported senior high consumer decision making judging team took home third place at the recent regional fall judging event on August 24. The team, made up of 10th graders Kimora Hurt, Kendyl Hutcherson and Reagan Taylor, along with 11th grader Kenedie Young, finished a strong third behind just Dyer County (first place) and Madison County (second place), and ahead of teams from Crockett and Tipton counties. Haywood County’s third-place finish nets them a visit to Knoxville on October 5 to compete in the State Fall Judging competition. Consumer Decision Making trains young people in decision making skills related to purchasing decisions. The contest teaches how to observe, compare and make decisions based on facts collected. It also provides experience in organizing thoughts and defending decisions with oral reasons.
In August, the UT/TSU Cooperative Extension’s Claiborne County Extension Office held an important, informative course on bovine artificial insemination
The Haywood County 4-H senior high consumer decision making judging team or from left to right are Kimora Hurt, Kendyl Hutcherson, Reagan Taylor and Kenedie Young took home third place at the recent regional fall judging event on August 24.
From Farm to Table
Lost in the excitement of the 20th annual Small Farm Expo event held in early September was another important happening, the fall 2024 TSU Extension Agent Showcase. Held the day before the annual Expo, the Extension Agent Showcase brings to campus TSU Cooperative Extension Agents from 60 counties across the state for informative presentations, the showcase itself, and networking with fellow agents. The showcase itself allowed each of our amazing Extension agents to show off some of the impactful work they’re doing across the state of Tennessee. Thanks to each and every incredible agent for their dedication to outreach.
Johnson County 4-H Chick Chain Wraps with Poultry Show
The 2024 UT/TSU Johnson County Extension Office’s 4-H Chick Chain project wrapped up with the annual poultry show and sale on Saturday, Aug. 24th. Fifteen participants entered a pen of pullets in the show to compete for breed champion as well as the Bill Brookshire 4-H Poultry Champion award. Youth registered for the project in January and began preparing for the arrival of their chicks in April. At the time of the show, the pullets are approximately twenty weeks old and are nearing maturity. Bright red combs and waddles, feather condition, overall size, ideal breed characteristics and uniformity of the group are all considered when judging. Although fewer pens were entered in the show this year, the pullet quality was excellent. Colman Rider’s pullets were selected as the Black Sexlink champion pen, with Cooper Ingle’s pullets earning the Black Sexlink Reserve Champion title. The Barred Rock Breed Champion was awarded to Luke Guinn, with the Barred Rock Reserve Champion going to Corbin Hood. Bonnie and Chris Reese as well as Teresa and Ted Sillstrop presented the Bill Brookshire 4-H Poultry Grand Champion to Luke Guinn and his barred rock pullets. Congrats champs!
The College of Agriculture held its annual Extension Agent Showcase meeting in early September and was well attended by agents from across the state
The 2024 UT/TSU Johnson County Extension Office’s 4-H Chick Chain project wrapped up in late August with the annual poultry show and sale. Fifteen youth presented their pullets of chickens as part of the competition.
Shelby County Completes August Wellness Awakening Challenge
Shelby County Extension SNAP-Ed Agent Jasmen Richmond wrapped up a busy month of August with her August Wellness Awakening Challenge, a 31-day health and wellness challenge designed to educate participants on what healthy lifestyle choices look like. The goal of the program was to encourage participants to adopt healthier habits through consistent practices. Participants incorporated daily activities like exercise and healthy eating. Participants posted pictures of their healthy meals to share their progress while inspiring others, during the 31 days. On August 31st, some of the members, along with Shelby County Extension SNAP-Ed Agent Jasmen Richmond, decided to meet at the annual Healthier 901 wellness event to watch a cooking demo, showcased by Chef Ragan Phillips, Owner of New Memphis Restaurant Perch 74 Bistro. Great program Jasmen!
Research
TSUAg’s Tran Brings in Pair of Grants
TSUAg research professor Dr. Doc Lap Tran recently secured a pair of grants to support two new research projects he’s heading up. The first, funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Agriculture Research Service Grant, kicks off a collaboration between TSUAg and Nong Lam University in Vietnam to study sustainable agriculture practices among limited-resource farmers in Vietnam. The three-phased project will integrate research and education, seeking to develop implement and evaluate a training program on farmers’ productivity, income levels, market access, and the environment. Dr. Tran’s second project hits closer to home in analyzing the food security resilience capacity of rural households post-COVID-19 pandemic for policy implications. The project aims to analyze the resilience capacity of rural households and quantify the impacts of the resilience capacity of rural households to food security post-COVID-19 pandemic. Congrats Dr. Tran! Keep up the fine work!
Shelby County Extension SNAP-Ed Agent Jasmen Richmond recently wrapped up her August Wellness Awakening Challenge, the culmination of which was a live cooking demo at Healthier 901 wellness. From left to right, Ashley Evans, Maria, Lisa Curry, Ashley Porter, Chef Ragan Phillips, Jasmine, and Jaihern.
TSUAg research professor Dr. Doc Lap Tran recently secured a pair of grants to support two new research projects he’s heading up.
Bayer “Takes Over” TSU Campus
In September, TSU and the College of Agriculture welcomed a group from pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Bayer for a two-day event called the “Bayer Campus Takeover.” The group kicked off the Takeover by setting up a Meet and Greet tent outside of the Floyd-Payne Campus Center, which, with the Freshman Convocation going on that day, was a hive of activity. At lunchtime, most of the group from Bayer migrated over to the Farrell-Westbrook Auditorium for the next segment of the “Takeover,” the Lunch and Learn event. The topic of the event was the importance of fostering a growth mindset in life. The Bayer group concluded the day’s activities that evening with an again, well-attended informational session. Bayer representatives stuck around after the event to shake hands, meet students and set up interviews for the following morning. In the end, a handful of our best and brightest landed interviews with Bayer, some the next morning and others within the following weeks.
Tennessee State University MANRRS Chapter Visits John Deere HQ
Members of Tennessee State University’s outstanding chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) recently participated in the second-annual John Deere MANRRS Day event, held from September 12 – 14 at the company’s Moline, Illinois headquarters. The event, which brought students in from selected agriculture schools across the MANRRS network, saw the group participate in networking events and sessions with John Deere senior leadership, take tours the company’s facilities, take part in meaningful discussions on topics like aftermarket and customer support and the company’s social initiatives, relationship-building exercises and personal branding enhancement opportunities. John Deere, MANRRS’ first Titanium Plus sponsor, utilized the event to not only build stronger partnerships and relationships with MANRRS Chapters nationwide but also to actively recruit top talent for their internship and full-time job opportunities. That John Deere offered students an immersive experience at their headquarters and nearby equipment factories was a bonus.
Representatives from pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Bayer descended upon the College of Agriculture and TSU as a whole for the “Bayer Campus Takeover” event.
Tennessee State University’s outstanding MANRRS chapter recently participated in the second annual John Deere MANRRS Day event, held from September 12 – 14 at the company’s Moline, Illinois headquarters.
A Day of Discovery
Scores of TSUAg undergraduate and graduate students descended upon the Agriculture Pavilion out at “the Farm” in mid-September for the Fall 2024 TSUAg Career Fair. The well-attended, twohour event was a busy one, with representatives from a dozen private sector and public sector companies working in agriculture hosting students at their respective tables. The Career Fair featured companies such as Corteva Agriscience, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the USDA, the U.S. Forestry Service, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Peace Corps, Weed Man Lawn Care, USDA Rural Development, the Student Conservation Association, Memphis Light, Gas and Water and the Tennessee Farm Bureau. The Pavillion was abuzz with resumes, business cards, handshakes and hugs at the event, which was catered by Nashville favorite Slim and Husky’s Pizza.
AGSA Elects New Leadership for 2024/25 Academic Year
Graduate students at the Tennessee State University College of Agriculture (TSUAg) are a diverse group of students from across the globe who overcome language and other barriers to come together here on campus and bond through their shared passion for research and growth. The group’s diversity, and the fact that TSUAg students could be at various levels of their master’s or Ph.D. studies, means the group relies on a leadership team, the TSUAg Agriculture Graduate Student Association (AGSA), for guidance. With the arrival of the new academic year, the membership of AGSA elected a new group of leaders earlier this month, who will serve as the leaders of the organization for the 2024/2025 academic year. Mustapha Olawuni was elected to be the new AGSA President with Puja Sapkota serving as the organization’s next Vice President. The group’s new Secretary will be Diksha Tamang, the new Treasurer Ethan Denson and the group’s Communications Chair for the upcoming academic year will be Brian Kibirige.
The fall 2024 TSUAg Career Fair was a hit with students and exhibitors alike.
The new AGSA leadership team is made up of (from left) new Treasurer Ethan Denson, Vice President Puja Sapkota, President Mustapha Olawuni, Secretary Diksha Tamang and Communications Chair Brian Kibirige.
TSU TOPP Program Hosts Workshop and Training
The TSUAg Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) soil health workshop and in-service training was held at the Ag Education classroom, as well as hands-on at the TSU Organic farm last month. This training, was held Aug. 20-21 in collaboration with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Soil scientists and conservationists from NRCS conducted this training for the Agriculture Extension Agents and 22 participants registered. Soil health experts from the Natural Resources Conservation Service taught the basics of soil health principles, and their context within organic management systems. Presentations identified barriers, challenges, and potential solutions for fostering soil health on organic operations at any scale. Participants learned hands-on, low-cost methods for assessing soil health in a field setting. Instructors also c overed advanced soil testing for soil health indicators and interpretations. Field demonstrations showcased soil health management practices and their environmental and agronomic outcomes. This experiential course provides a nonjudgemental platform for participants to discuss the realities of providing support for organic growers.
The TSUAg Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) soil health workshop and in-service training was held at the Ag Education classroom, as well as hands-on at the TSU Organic farm last month.
Editor/Writer: Charles Morrison
Graphic Designer: Christina Jacob
Phone/Fax: 615-963-7561
Website: www.tnstate.edu/agriculture
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