LOUISVILLE, TN – Everyone is invited to visit the University of Tennessee’s East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center on October 6 for the Ag in the Foothills Field Day. The free event will be held from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the center’s Blount Unit located at 4341 UT Farm Road in Louisville.

These Black Angus are on pasture at UT's East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center Blount Unit. A cattle handling demonstration will be featured at the Ag in the Foothills Field Day at the unit on October 6. Visitors planning to attend are encouraged to preregister at their local county UT Extension Office. Photo courtesy UTIA.

Ag in the Foothills will introduce visitors to some of the research efforts ongoing at the center and present educational seminars on topics such as soil health and forage production as well as a live animal handling demonstration. Those who own small-acreage tracts will be interested in presentations that focus on these topics:

• Small Poultry Flock Management
• Bee Health
• Small Ruminant Management
• Marketing
• Buying a Tractor

Of particular community interest will be a special session that will focus on beginning farmers and veterans as farmers. Members from Tennessee AgrAbility Project, Tennessee State University’s Small Farm Veteran Outreach, and Homegrown by Heroes will be on hand to discuss resources available as well as the potential formation of a Tennessee State Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC).

The free event will also feature a trade show and lunch. Preregister at your local county UT Extension Office for a lunch ticket. For more information, call the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at 865-974-7201. Those who arrive early will be treated to biscuits and coffee while supplies last.

Details about the event and directions are available online at east.tennessee.edu.

The East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center is one of 10 research facilities operated by UT AgResearch as part of the UT Institute of Agriculture. Through its mission of research, teaching and service, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu.