UT Extension Central Region

It was a few days late but today we celebrated the legendary Melissa Henry! We hope your day was as special as you are Melissa!

This week our County Directors were able to go through the Poverty Simulation where they role-played one month in poverty to better understand the struggles and challenges faced by many of our low-income families. It was an eye opening activity and we appreciate the agents, staff, and volunteers who helped make it happen!

We are seeking individuals with a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics or a closely related field who are passionate about working directly with farm families on farm financial management. We have openings in West and Middle Tennessee. The MANAGE program prides itself on working with individual farm families creating specific financial analysis for each farm.

West Tennessee Position: tiny.utk.edu/westTN
Middle Tennessee Position: tiny.utk.edu/middleTN

Excellent turnout for our UTIA Central Area Retirees Association Spring Meeting!

Strong 4-H representation in action at TN Extension Advisory Council Meeting! 💚🍀

Raquel shared the incredible impact of her Rutherford County 4-H Teen Living Program—empowering youth with cooking skills and leadership opportunities for MTSU students as interns.

Doug highlighted the growth of the Williamson County 4-H program, showcasing how it has evolved since 2017 to better serve and engage young people across the county.

It’s always a highlight when we gather for our Central Region Admin Day! Yesterday we learned new skills, shared information with each other, and talked about how to have a “shark” mindset. We also recognized our 2026 A.C. Clark award winner, White County’s Jennifer Hatfield!