Join in the fun at Ag Day, Nov. 3

A three-hour festival in Knoxville on Saturday, Nov. 3, hosted by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, promises events and excitement for everyone.

Ag Day is an annual street fair held by the institute for alumni, friends and the general public. The event takes place on the university’s agricultural campus in Knoxville and starts four hours before the Vols take on the Troy Trojans, during UT’s homecoming weekend.

Fun Ag Day events this year include appearances by Charlie, the television personality of Farm Bureau Insurance, and the Vol’s mascot, Smokey. Ag Day’s ever-popular Insect Petting Zoo returns, offering chills and thrills, including the annual cricket-spitting contest, which is open to contestants of all ages.
 
This year’s Ag Day celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, which established land-grant colleges for education in agriculture and the mechanical arts.
 

Institute Chancellor Larry Arrington and other university leaders will unveil a historical marker commemorating the anniversary, tentatively scheduled for two hours before kickoff.
 
In honor of the Morrill Act, academic departments and institute units will feature advancements in their areas, as well as remember their histories in a variety of displays and exhibits. There will be plenty of giveaways, along with contests.
Students will lead tours of the new state-of-the art Food Science and Technology Building and Brehm Animal Science Building along with its show arena. The UT Gardens and the Living Light house, UT’s state-of-the-art zero-energy solar-powered house, also will be open for tours.

During Ag Day, three key areas of the institute’s Plant Biotechnology Building will be dedicated in memory of East Tennesseans Robert and Nancy Burchfiel, through a generous estate gift by their daughter, Edith Burchfiel Cooper.

For children, Ag Day will feature face painting, a bounce house and cornhole toss. Nearby an antique gristmill will grind corn, and vintage tractors will be on display, along with plenty of fall color from pumpkins, hay bales and corn stalks, providing great settings for photos.

Ag Day includes live music and free ice cream and popcorn. A ribeye meal is available for purchase.

For more information, please contact the UT Institute of Agriculture Development office at 865-974-1928.

The UT Institute of Agriculture provides instruction, research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; the UT College of Veterinary Medicine; UT AgResearch, including its system of 10 research and education centers; and UT Extension offices in every county in the state.

 
###

Contacts:

Donna Eason-Pile, Development, 865-974-7439,  deasonpi@tennessee.edu

Jean M. Hulsey, UTIA Marketing and Communications, 865-974-7141,  jmhulsey@tennessee.edu