UT TSU Extension - Polk County

08/19/2026

Today is National Potato Day! Stop by the 4-H Fair Booth tonight and celebrate with a loaded potato!

08/18/2026

Come and support your local 4H food booth at the Polk County fair! We have hamburgers, hotdogs, BBQ sandwiches, BBQ baked potatoes and BBQ nachos!

07/30/2026

Join us for the Poultry Show and Sale. Saturday September 12th! We will begin at 10am at the Polk County Showbarn! Any questions contact us at 423-338-4503 or [email protected]

07/29/2026

Help Polk County be represented at the State Fair! As of today, Polk County has no entries.

Tomorrow July 30 is the last day to bring your jams or jellies to the UT TSU Extension - Polk County office.

State Fair Jams, Jellies and Preserves Contest

What a great opportunity to showcase your food preservation skills at the Tennessee State Fair in Wilson County this year.

Bring any jam, jelly or preserves you have made this year to me at the Extension office by July 30 and I will get it entered in the fair.

Prize money will be awarded.

Awesome to have our county represented there.

Contact me (423) 338-4503 or [email protected] for more information.

07/22/2026

Our next UT TSU Extension Garden Club meeting will be Tuesday July 28th at 5 PM. We will meet at Oak Grove Baptist Church located at 642 Oak Grove Rd, Benton, TN 37307. Our speaker this month will be Melissa Coffey Extension Agent from McMinn County who will be presenting the Tennessee Smart Yard program. We will also have a representative from the Polk County Fair who will update us on the upcoming Fair and exhibit entries. New and Seasoned Gardeners are invited!

07/20/2026

It is almost Fair Time!

🌟 Showcase Your Talent at the 2026 Polk County Fair! 🌟

Do you have a talent you'd love to share? The 2026 Polk County Fair Exhibit Catalog is now available on our website!

Whether you're an experienced exhibitor or entering for the first time, we'd love to see what you've created. Enter your best:

🧵 Quilts & Sewing
🥫 Canned Goods & Preserves
🌽 Crops & Garden Produce
📸 Photography
🎨 Artwork
🥧 Baked Goods
🌻 Flowers
🧶 Crafts & Handmade Items
…and so much more!

There are categories for all ages, so everyone is encouraged to participate. It's a wonderful way to share your talents, celebrate our community, and compete for ribbons and bragging rights!

📖 View the Exhibit Catalog, entry information, and rules at:
🌐 PolkCountyTNFair.com

🎡 Join us August 17–22, 2026, at the Showbarn in Benton, Tennessee, and help make this year's Polk County Fair the best one yet!

We can't wait to see your creativity on display! ❤️💙🤍

07/20/2026

The 2026 Steak and Potatoes Field Day will be held on Thursday August 20th at the UT Plateau Research and Education Center in Crossville. Registration begins at 8:00. Program is from 8:30 to 11:30 with a sponsored lunch at 11:30.

07/15/2026

Cyclospora Outbreak

• Cyclospora is the shortened name for the parasite, but cyclosporiasis is the intestinal illness it causes.

• The current outbreak has around 1.645 people officially reported since May 1, 2026. The CDC is still investigating another 5,000 potential cases. 34 states have reported cases, with 141 hospitalizations and no deaths. There is still no identified source, but high-risk foods include bagged lettuce and salad mixes, cilantro, parsley, berries, vegetable trays, coleslaw mixes, and fresh peas.

• Symptoms can range from low-grade fever, watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps to none at all. Typically, symptoms begin about one week after exposure.

• If someone suspects that they may have this illness, please encourage them to contact their primary care provider for stool testing ASAP. They will also need a round of antibiotics, as this illness can continue to relapse and return if not treated.

07/13/2026

Polk County Hay Producers are encouraged to enter the State Fair Hay Contest for 2026! Entry into the contest is easy. Hay samples can be dropped off at the Extension office now until Aug 1st or contact the Extension Office for Farm Pick-Up. Sample size is about the size of a ½ bushel basket.

07/09/2026

State Fair Jams, Jellies and Preserves Contest

What a great opportunity to showcase your food preservation skills at the Tennessee State Fair in Wilson County this year.

Bring any jam, jelly or preserves you have made this year to me at the Extension office by July 30 and I will get it entered in the fair.

Prize money will be awarded.

Awesome to have our county represented there.

Contact me (423) 338-4503 or [email protected] for more information.