Across the state and all 95 counties, University of Tennessee and Tennessee State Extension agents work every day to educate and help people. The organization has a mission to deliver unbiased research-based information from the universities to the public. On this edition of AgCast, how agents statewide share a common goal of impacting lives. Hello, I'm Charles Denny.
This is AgCast, brought to you by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. A gathering of public servants, some 600 UT and TSU Extension agents, meet to learn and find new ways to be effective. Extension recently had a statewide conference in Chattanooga, but these agents are from all over. Extension is the university in your hometown.
Our state's land grant system on your front porch, all 95 counties as one campus. Jerry Lamb leads Extension's western region and has worked in all areas of the state as an agent. Well, I think in my experience over the last 30 years, you know, extension agents or extension programs, you have to be a calling. I think it's something like being in the ministry.
I've had the opportunity to work across the state in three regions and actually three districts as well. And so, you know, the needs of our communities across the state are the same, whether it's an urban environment, a metro area or even a rural environment. Emily Barton is an agent in Hawkins County. So for me, of course, you know, we have all of our veteran agents that I can call when I need something.
They can give so many different takes on different experiences. If we run into something that we need to know about, they've usually experienced it. And then I'm coming to a point in the career where I'm starting to break over into that, that some of the younger ones behind me call me for that advice, but then I still have folks that can go on. So getting to turn around and be that mentor to some of the younger agents coming in has been a true blessing.
You know, you get to help them through some of those challenges that you came through. So that connection, I mean, it's all about relationships and partnerships. With no matter what county you're in, getting out there, connecting to the people, getting involved in boards and committees and groups, those connections and the passion that your community has for serving and you get to help with that. You get to build those relationships, connect to others, and really all be working towards the same goal.
If you remember Green Acres from decades ago, Hank Kimball may be your misinformed view of a county agent. And you know how we have a serious problem, all right? It's on our hands, it's on our corn. Well, now do you know what kind of a bucket is?
At first I thought it was a European corn forest, but I eliminated him. Well, I didn't eliminate him as long as I was still running around. But Loveable Hank was comedy, not reality. Agents today work in agriculture, family and consumer sciences, for-age youth development, and community economic development.
Kane Reeves was a 4-H-er who grew up to be a 4-H agent in Madison County. Talk about you being an agent. I was surprised you're a young guy, but you've been added 11 years already. What's the best thing about being an agent?
I think the difference that we make in the lives of people in our communities, me specifically working with youth, I think being able to see them grow up and be prosperous in the things that they are doing, especially in the lives of other people, specifically just seeing some be teachers and do the things that I have done in the past with them has been pretty awesome. June Pughitt has served Hamilton County in FCS the past 42 years. 42 years in counting. Yeah.
I mean, what did you think back around 1980 that you do this for 42 years? No, I did not. I still don't think I want to keep doing it, but I'm just motivated and seeing the impact I make on people and the difference I make in the community, the partnerships I've built, I'm not ready to leave it yet. It's been eight years since Tennessee Extension last held a face-to-face state-wide agents meeting.
In that time, the organization has seen some changes, lots of retirements, but also new younger agents joining up. Bridget Passman is one of the youngest county directors in the state and an effective 4-H leader. I've been in Tipton County for five years now and I can say that my 4-H-ers that have been there and have stuck with me for five years, they're being my talking billboards, they're going back and recruiting friends, and to return they're talking to their family and they're coming back and doing our adult programming and extension. So, people are a key in extension and getting those key stakeholders involved to get the greatest success you can with Extension.
And today veteran agents mentor their younger counterparts, 38 years with Extension for David Perrin, now a leader in the Eastern region. September 1, 1984. So, we've seen the technology change drastically, but the mission of doing a one-on-one visit with a family, a person, a partner, all the same. We just use different tools to make it happen.
It might be the zoom of the part of the world that we're talking with them, but we're still having a face-to-face conversation through some type of a media. Extension is always looking for new employees in every region. Check the websites for the respective universities for openings. Extension is outreach and engagement.
Agents and specialists work and make their homes all over the state, proudly having their roots in the area where they serve. They say they love this connection, knowing what people care about, what they need, and how Extension can help. Thanks for listening. I'm Charles Denny.