4-H Youth Development Agent Ann Ramsey represented Union County in Middle Tennessee earlier this month when she attended the Agent Showcase and Small Farm Expo on the main campus of Tennessee State University (TSU).
The two-day event, which was held last month in Nashville, was the 19th annual Small Farm Expo and the first time a Union County 4-H Agent participated. Ramsey, who is among the newest additions to the Union County 4-H team, is employed by TSU’s Cooperative Extension and works alongside University of Tennessee staff in a new partnership to enhance the educational opportunities available to the county’s youth.
Day one entailed a gathering of TSU 4-H Agents from across the state of Tennessee to share ideas and experiences from their individual counties. Each agent presented a poster highlighting their county’s achievements, and Ramsey was pleased showcase the recent Summer Day Camp she facilitated at Big Ridge State Park, as well as her efforts to support a highly competitive Outdoor Meat Cookery team this year.
She was able to exchange ideas and get feedback on plans for starting a county-wide horse club for 4-H members interested in learning about horse care, horse industries, horse and stable management, and training and riding in various disciplines.
It was an excellent day of networking with other TSU 4-H agents who work across the state of Tennessee to exchange ideas for growing programs and bringing new ideas and information from across the state back to Union County.
On the second day, TSU Agents assisted with the Small Farm Expo as several hundred of Tennessee farmers and their families poured out to interact with numerous exhibitors, speakers, educational workshops, and field tour programs offered.
Ramsey helped lead open-air trolley tours of the farm’s research plots, shuttling attendees between stops where they were able to walk around, see the experimental crops up close, and listen to faculty and graduate students discuss their research onsite.
The day’s events included interactive presentations on industrial hemp, grain amaranth varieties, and integrated pest management techniques. Part of the organic vegetable trials tour included sampling some delicious stews and other dishes prepared with bitter melon and tinda (2 gourd varieties native to India). Other topics covered included ruminant livestock management, beekeeping, and small-scale poultry production.
The afternoon culminated with a buffet lunch offering choices of Cajun, Mexican, or Indian fare, and awards were given for outstanding small farmers in the categories of: Best Management Practices, Alternative Enterprises, Innovative Marketing, and Most Improved Beginning Small Farmer. The day’s top prize “Tennessee Small Farmer of the Year” went to Danielle Buntyon, who manages a quarter-acre of hemp, sunflowers, and various produce she sells at her local farmer’s market in Memphis, TN.
The Small Farm Expo is a joint effort of various agriculture agencies in Tennessee, including Farm Bureau, and its mission is to identify and recognize exemplary efforts of small farmers across the state. The expo and the awards are open to any farm located in the State of Tennessee that is family-operated and has gross annual sales of less than $250,000. Nominations open each fall.
Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Charlie Hatcher said, “We need programs like TSU’s to help protect and promote this vital part of our economy. Small family farms are what makes Tennessee so special.”
Tennessee State University is a public land-grant university founded in 1912. Its 500-acre campus sits nestled in a bend of the Cumberland River just minutes from downtown Nashville. Aligned with the Tennessee Board of Regents, TSU is currently classified as an “R2: Doctoral University.”
The high degree and diversity of research activity was apparent throughout the 2023 Small Farm Expo. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in its College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Sciences and is an excellent choice for students interested in pursuing studies and careers in these fields.
Union County youth who are interested in learning more about TSU’s programs may contact Director of Recruitment and Retention Everett Jolley at (615) 993-6478.
Ramsey is also committed to providing high-quality programs and opportunities for Union County youth. For information on any of the programs mentioned or other 4-H opportunities, readers are encouraged to contact the Union County Extension office at (865) 992-8038.