Tennessee Lawmakers to Celebrate "Ag Day on the Hill"
Tennessee lawmakers will celebrate “Ag Day on the Hill” this year beginning with an awards presentation Monday, March 23 at 4:30 p.m. on Charlotte Avenue between the Capitol and War Memorial Plaza.
In January, three Tennessee Farm Bureau members were runners-up in a national competition to recognize top farmers and agriculturalists. Each will be presented with a Case IH tractor.
The festivities continue on Tuesday, March 24 starting at 8 a.m. with displays from agricultural organizations, including outdoor exhibits of live animals and farm equipment at the entrance of Legislative Plaza on 6th Avenue. At 9 a.m., lawmakers will compete in a corn shucking/shelling contest. The Farm and Forest Families of Tennessee organization will present a check to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in honor of contest participants.
The day’s activities will also include a “Potato Drop” bagging project to benefit the Society of St. Andrew and a silent auction to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and the Ag In The Classroom program.
VIDEO/PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:
- Corn Shucking/Shelling contest between Senate and House Members – 9 a.m.
- Silent Auction benefiting Second Harvest and Ag In The Classroom – 8 a.m. to Noon
- Live animals – Horses, cattle, chickens, goats, sheep, pigs
- Farm equipment
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
- Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson
- Legislators
- Farmers
- 4-H and FFA Members
Agriculture is one of the top industries in Tennessee, contributing more than $66 billion a year to the state’s economy and employing more than 337,000 citizens. The state has more than 68,000 farms representing 10.9 million acres.
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