Columbia, TN. January 13, 2020 – The Tennessee Farm Bureau family, made up of Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee and Tennessee Farm Bureau Health Plans, pledged a two year commitment of $125,000 to UT Extension, a unit of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA). The donation will be used for a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) barn at the Youth Education Center at Lone Oaks Farm in Middleton, Tenn.
“We are thrilled to contribute to the positive effort University of Tennessee Extension has at Lone Oaks Farm in preparing the future generation of farmers and agricultural advocates, and we look forward to how this investment will not only increase Extension’s outreach, but also provide a strong teaching tool for 4-Hers and others to learn valuable agricultural knowledge,” said Tennessee Farm Bureau President Jeff Aiken.
UTIA will honor Tennessee Farm Bureau’s generosity by naming the facility the Tennessee Farm Bureau STEM Barn. The facility will provide indoor and outdoor areas for teaching and serve as a special place to teach students STEM principles with hands-on, fun learning experiences centered on agriculture and natural resources.
“Our vision for Lone Oaks Farm has always been to create a premier youth education facility to develop a deep appreciation for the land, conservation and agriculture. “ said University of Tennessee Senior Vice President and Vice Chancellor of UTIA Tim Cross. “We are extremely grateful to the Tennessee Farm Bureau for investing in youth, agriculture and education at this impressive location.”
Tennessee Farm Bureau is the largest Farm Bureau in the nation with a membership of more than 675,000. The goal of the organization is to develop, foster, promote and protect programs for the general welfare, including economic, social, educational and political well-being of farm people of the great state of Tennessee.