Tennessee Agricultural Hall of Fame

Tennessee was the first state to honor its agricultural leaders with an Agricultural Hall of Fame, established by the state legislature in February, 1937. 

Members of the Hall of Fame have shown distinguished and exemplary service to the art and science of agriculture. Each member is honored with their likeness on a bronze plaque. All plaques are on permanent exhibit in the Hall of Fame at the Tennessee Agricultural Museum.

From 1937 to 2014 there have been 13 inductees.  

Those recognized in the Tennessee Agricultural Hall of Fame for their significant contributions to the art and science of agriculture are:

William Neal, Wilson County (1859-1934). He began field selection of corn in 1898. By 1914 he had developed “Neal’s Paymaster” corn, a variety that produced two ears on one corn stalk.  

Induction - 1937

Mark R. Cockrill, Davidson County (1788-1872).  “Wool King of the World.” Cockrill imported the first Merino sheep into Davidson County in 1815. He won first prize for the finest wool in the world at London’s 1851 Crystal Palace Exposition. Queen Victoria presented him the gold medal.  

Induction - 1944

Dr. Marion Dorset, Maury County (1872-1935). He discovered the hog cholera virus and developed the serum. Developed the tuberculin for bovine tuberculosis.  Perfected control methods for poultry pullorum. Dorset served as Chief of the USDA Biochemic Lab from 1904 - 1935.  

Induction – 1949

Goodlettsville Lamb & Wool Club, Davidson County. In 1877 a group of Goodlettsville farmers organized the first cooperative livestock marketing association in the United States. The farmers were: Capt. J.O. Bass; J.M. Cantrell; J.B. Cartwright; R.A. Cartwright; W.A. Cartwright; William Connell; J.N. Crosswy; I.W. Cunningham; S.L. Draper; W.H. Draper; G.W. Jackson; William Luton; John Bell Mathes; Jim Peay; J.M. Shivers; M.L. Roscoe; Capt. J.W. Roscoe; Dr. W.S. Roscoe; and T.H. Williamson.

Induction - 1950

Dr. Harcourt A. Morgan, Knox County (1867-1950). As director of the University of Tennessee Ag Experiment Station, he established a modern state-wide research system. Established the Ag Extension Service while dean of the University of Tennessee School of Agriculture, 1913-1919. Served as president of the University of Tennessee from 1919 to 1933. Morgan was one of the first directors of TVA and served as chairman from 1938 to 1941.   

Induction – 1951

Dr. Tait Butler, Shelby County (1862-1939). He was responsible for the first systematic eradication of cattle tick. A pioneer in agricultural journalism in the South and editor of Progressive Farmer. He was an aggressive champion of rural progress for 30 years.  

Induction - 1957

Governor Andrew Johnson, Greene County (1808-1875). Tennessee governor and seventeenth U.S. president. He founded the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in 1850. Father of the National Homestead Act of 1862 and author of the agricultural survey. 

Induction - 1957

Joseph Buchner Killebrew, Montgomery County (1831-1906). Became the first commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in 1875. He was editor of the Southern Farm magazine, a noted author, educator and agricultural pioneer.  

Induction – 1972

Joseph Frank Porter, Maury County (1880-1951). He became the first president of Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation in 1921 and served for the next 25 years.  

Induction - 1972

D.M. Clements, Henry County (1889-1950). The first vo-ag teacher in the nation. Organized Future Farmers of Tennessee and Future Farmers of America. He was the founder of “Camp Clements” located in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains.  

Induction - 1974

Harry Purple Ogden, Knox County (1888-1940). As a scientist he worked to vastly improve crop production. While at the University of Tennessee, he researched soy bean breeding and improvement. His “Ogden Soy Bean,” released in 1938, was number one in the South for 30 years. Strains of the “Ogden” are found in modern soybean stock.  

Induction - 1974 

Ethel Mayo Bond, Madison County (1881-1967). The first chairman of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Women from 1924 until her death in 1967. She also served as the southern regional chairman of the American Farm Bureau Women. Her efforts guided farm women to gather and share ideas for better living, citizenship and telling the farm story to their city neighbors. In 1945, the Progressive Farmermagazine named her “Woman of the Year in Tennessee Agriculture.”  

Induction - 1997

Ed Jones, Gibson County (1912-1999).   

Induction - 2014