Agriculture shines on Capitol Hill
Annual event showcases the importance of Tennessee’s top industry
Story by Page Haynes Photos by Glen Liford and Page Haynes
Governor Bill Lee welcomes the crowd on March 18 to the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville to celebrate Ag Day on the Hill, which coincided with National Agriculture Day. Flanked by Representative Chris Todd on his left and United States Senator Marsha Blackburn on his right, Governor Lee emphasized the vital role of agriculture and forestry in Tennessee, and the importance of supporting young farmers and agricultural education programs like 4-H and FFA.
Agriculture shines on Capitol Hill
Annual event showcases the importance of Tennessee’s top industry
Story by Page Haynes Photos by Glen Liford and Page Haynes
Governor Bill Lee welcomes the crowd on March 18 to the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville to celebrate Ag Day on the Hill, which coincided with National Agriculture Day. Flanked by Representative Chris Todd on his left and United States Senator Marsha Blackburn on his right, Governor Lee emphasized the vital role of agriculture and forestry in Tennessee, and the importance of supporting young farmers and agricultural education programs like 4-H and FFA.
Tennessee’s agriculture industry was celebrated on March 18 during the annual Ag Day on the Hill event, a special occasion observed each spring to commemorate the importance of the agriculture and forestry industry, the number one economic driver in the volunteer state.
The celebration coincided with National Ag Day, proclaimed by the President of the United States, on which date Americans pay tribute to every farmer and rancher who makes our country strong.
At the event, Governor Bill Lee was joined by key industry leaders, lawmakers, agricultural students, and community supporters to show their strong collaboration and dedication to the advancement of farming and forestry in the state. The vital role of agriculture and forestry was emphasized and the importance of supporting young farmers and agricultural education programs like 4-H and FFA.
“Agriculture and forestry are Tennessee’s number one industry, driving not only our economy but also our way of life,” said Charlie Hatcher, the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, as he spoke to the crowd at the celebration on the Capitol grounds. “And agriculture and forestry are basically the solutions to many of the world’s problems whether it’s food, clean air, or water. We have it all here in Tennessee.”
“Ag Day on the Hill gives us the opportunity to celebrate the incredible work being done by farmers, forest landowners, and all those who support our industry,” he added. “It also underscores the importance of empowering our youth to continue this vital work in the future.”
To highlight the industry, livestock and agricultural exhibits were on display, interactive activities were presented at various booths, and biscuits with pork, chicken, and steak prepared by Tennessee FFA and 4-H members were offered to attendees. The Dairy Alliance provided award-winning chocolate and white milk from Middle Tennessee State University.
Governor Lee said that he was grateful to see all the young people who are involved in FFA and 4-H at the event, calling them “the future of agriculture for our state.”
“We want to continue to lead the country in agriculture, in agriculture technology, and in agriculture education,” emphasized Gov. Lee. “And to do so, we must continue to invest in young people who are involved in youth development programs. As part of this reason, we are making a historic, significant investment in 4-H and FFA this year in our proposed budget to the General Assembly, and it’s a continuation.”
Statewide officers from both 4-H and FFA were on hand to celebrate the event with Governor Lee in Nashville. The group took an active part in the activities, from preparing breakfast to mingling through the crowd to speaking and being present at the agricultural subcommittee meeting.
The anticipated event of the day was the annual agricultural challenge, sponsored by the Tennessee Agritourism Association. This year, state legislators, judicial members, and state executive leaders competed in a corn-shelling contest.
Going first in the competition was the Senate team, made up of Chairman Shane Reeves, and Senators Adam Lowe and Page Walley, who shelled 3.35 pounds of corn. Taking the stage for the second round was the House of Representatives team comprised of Chairman Chris Todd, Vice Chairman Greg Martin, and Subcommittee Chairman Rusty Grills, who shelled 6.63 pounds of corn. And rounding out the last leg of the competition was the executive branch team. Governor Bill Lee, Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, and Deputy Commissioner Andy Holt shelled an impressive 10.45 pounds of corn, winning first-place and a commemorative award. The Farm and Forest Families of Tennessee organization presented a $1,000 check in their honor to the Shooting Hunger Backpack Program.
Following the corn-shelling competition, remarks by agricultural leaders, farmers, and foresters were welcomed in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee meeting in the Cordell Hull Building. Both 4-H and FFA representatives, among many other agriculture students, farmers, and representatives, spoke to thank the committee for their on-going funding for agricultural programs and to raise awareness of various agricultural topics.
Benjie Daniel, a fulltime farmer and chairman of Tennessee Farmers Cooperative’s (TFC) board of directors, thanked Commissioner Hatcher and the Department of Agriculture for establishing programs like the Tennessee Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program. He, along with TFC Board Members Robert Thompson and Matthew Miller, are currently in the inaugural class, which has a goal to advance the industry by providing leadership and networking opportunities for farmers, foresters, and the agriculture community.
“I believe that leadership is a journey that requires continuous skill development,” Daniel told the commissioners. “This new program will help those of us in agriculture and forestry continue to improve our industry.”
Agriculture and forestry contribute more than $81 billion annually to Tennessee’s economy, according to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and employ hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans, making them essential to the state’s success. Ag Day on the Hill serves as an annual reminder of the tremendous impact agriculture and forestry have on Tennessee and the state government’s commitment to supporting this crucial industry.
During the meeting of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, farmer Benjie Daniel, chairman of the board at Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, thanked Commissioner Charlie Hatcher and members of the Department of Agriculture and other agricultural institutions for developing and providing educational programs and opportunities to producers across the state.
Representing the Senate team, from left, Chairman Shane Reeves and Senators Page Walley and Adam Lowe shelled 3.35 pounds of corn to garner third place in the corn-shelling contest at Ag Day on Capitol Hill.
Knox Logan and his younger brother, Kamden, of K-LO Show Goats in Dickson, share a 1-month-old goat with Ag Day attendees.
Harper Armstrong, 5, and her 3-year-old brother, Wade, came to the event with their mom and dad, Emmy and Scott Armstrong, so Emmy could work the booth for the TN Agritourism Association in Greene County.
It’s not every day that Kilyn Booker, a Tennessee State University student from Indianapolis, Indiana, gets to pet a piglet in downtown Nashville! The six-week-old piglet is held by Kayla Jenkins, a Macon County 4-H Extension agent.
