UTM Agriculture Awareness Day works to bridge gap between consumer, farmer

Posted: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 8:00 pm

Increasing awareness about agriculture and its importance in today’s economy is the focus of a group of agriculture students at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
The group is sponsoring the UT Martin Agriculture Awareness Day from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 27 on the north patio of Boling University Center.
“The average American consumer is about two to three generations away from the family farm and this is going to hopefully make a connection between the farmer and consumer,” said Chris Martin, UT Martin Agriculture Awareness Day student coordinator. “There are going to be a lot of activities that will include students that aren’t necessarily involved with agriculture.”
Vendors from companies such as Monsanto, Tennessee Farmers’ Cooperative and Tennessee Farm Bureau, will present during the event. Vendors will set up interactive displays where students can learn about the agriculture industry during a trade-show like portion of the day. Tennessee Tractor LLC will also have tractors and other farm equipment on hand for students to ask questions about the different types of farming equipment.
Several UT Martin student organizations will also be involved in Agriculture Awareness Day, including Collegiate FFA, Collegiate 4-H, Alpha Gamma Rho and Sigma Alpha.
Later that evening a reception and program will be held to honor several local farmers, as well as celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act of 1862, which established land-grant institutions in the United States, including the University of Tennessee system.
“One of the reasons we are doing this is because we want to better interact with the consumer. We want them to understand that they can trust the American farmer, and everything we are doing is for the benefit of the consumer,” Martin said.
For more information, contact Martin at chrrmart@ut.utm.edu.

Published in The Messenger 3.20.12