UT agriculture institute exceeds campaign goal

Posted: Monday, May 28, 2012 8:00 pm

KNOXVILLE— University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture officials have announced the results of its fundraising efforts during the university-wide Campaign for Tennessee.
The institute exceeded its original goal by more than 200 percent. The original goal of $55 million was the expected percentage of gifts that UTIA would receive from a $1 billion campaign based on historical giving to UT. UTIA exceeded the $55 million mark early in the campaign and raised the goal to $85 million. In the latter stages of the campaign, UTIA exceeded the $85 million mark and completed the campaign with a total of $113,769,691 in gifts received.
“Certainly, that is a success by any measure and exceptional within the units of the University of Tennessee system,” Buddy Mitchell, vice chancellor for Development explained. “Performance in the campaign demonstrated that we have outstanding faculty, loyal and well-served clientele, satisfied alumni and a strong external presence across the state and the nation. While we can take great pride in the way these gifts enhance the Institute of Agriculture, the important point is the gifts were given primarily to programs of the Institute that serve the people of Tennessee and beyond, not the institute itself.  We are the mechanism, not the end result that a gift achieves.”
The institute’s campaign was led by volunteer leaders, and the campaign chairman and UT Board of Trustee member Charles Wharton. “We owe Charles Wharton and all of these individuals special thanks and praise for their gifts, time and a job well done,” Larry Arrington, UTIA chancellor said. “Our programs are better and the institute is empowered for greater success in the days ahead. Faculty positions have been enhanced, more students will receive scholarships and funded enrichment activities, and new programs have been created and existing programs strengthened for greater achievement.”
While the campaign was a success, Charles Wharton said that it is the reality of almost all campaigns, that many needs remain unmet. “Many of the gifts were designated for specific programs, rather than being unrestricted for general use.
“We still have work to do as we look to the future and the need to continue fundraising for unmet needs,” Wharton said. “The campaign has strengthened the fundraising skill of the development staff, deans and department heads who gave great leadership to the campaign effort. We are now campaign tested and have the fundamental skill set to raise additional dollars in the days ahead.”
The UT Institute of Agriculture engages in close off-campus relationships as a part of its normal course of activity — whether it is 4-H, owners of animals treated by the Veterinary Medical Center, students who are exceptionally well served and have a close relationship to their professors in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources or agricultural companies and Tennessee farmers with whom the institute is engaged through Extension and AgResearch.
The Institute of Agriculture Campaign Executive Committee consisted of Waymon Hickman of Columbia, Ben Kimbrough of Clarksville, Milton Magee of Dyersburg, Myers Parsons of Murfreesboro, Jim Rainey of Gallatin, Jeff Ray of Murfreesboro, Al Samsel of Bean Station, Jim Webb of Cleveland and Steve Williams of Collierville.
The UT Institute of Agriculture provides teaching, research and outreach through the colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and Veterinary Medicine; AgResearch, including its system of 10 research and education centers; and UT Extension offices in every Tennessee county.

Published in The Messenger 5.28.12