Lifelong farmer named director for New Farmer Academy By JOAN KITE
Some might say it was a given Finis Stribling, III would be named director for the College’s New Farmer Academy and Small Farm Programs. After all, he’s been training for this position all of his life. “I’ve been in this position (at TSU) for seven years,” Stribling said. “It’s been a good fit.” The New Farmer Academy Program seeks to train new and aspiring farmers during a seven-month certification program. Participants are exposed to a bit of everything including farm economics and marketing and agricultural and livestock production. Participants get real-life experience working with techniques or equipment on TSU’s own research farm or by touring other farms in Tennessee.
Stribling was raised on his parents’ farm in Arkansas where he grew up helping them raise cotton, soybean, and wheat. They also raised saddle bred horses and hogs. As a teenager in 4-H and FFA programs, Stribling had his own side gigs raising and selling sweet potatoes, pears, and firewood. When he went to college at the University of Arkansas, he started as an accounting major, but the Universe was having none of that. Stribling quickly changed his major to farm management and agricultural economics. Fresh out of college at the age of 24, Stribling applied for and was accepted to serve as a 4-H Agent for the University of Arkansas in Madison County. FARMER, Turn to page 46
Summer / Fall 2021 | AgLINK 31
