Dresser Winn, a Nutrien Ag Solutions intern and University of Tennessee at Martin agriculture student, preparing to plant seeds that will become a display of crops that will include cotton, soybeans, corn and hemp on Discovery Park’s Innovation Farm.

May 28, 2020 – We’re so excited to announce new partners and more details for “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival,” a permanent exhibit dedicated to telling the story of innovation in agriculture. The exhibit will open Dec. 5, 2020 in the Simmons Bank Ag Center.

New partners include The Dairy Alliance; East Tennessee Nursery and Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry; H&R Agri-Power and Case IH; Roundstone Native Seed; “Silo”; Star Pastures Apiary; Tennessee Beef Promotion Board; and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Tennessee Beef Promotion Board has contributed $50,000 to the exhibit that tells the story of farming innovation in the past, present—and especially—future in a fun and interactive way. Visitors of all ages will gain an understanding of how food and fiber get from the farm to the family and the role technological, scientific and genetic innovation in agriculture plays in society and culture around the world. “Those of us who work every day in the agriculture industry are always looking for fun ways to educate the public on where their food comes from,” said Valerie Bass, executive director of the board. “The board and I believe an exhibit with facts about innovation in all areas of agriculture is going to fill that need in a unique way.”

Guests to Discovery Park have seen a completely refurbished 1914 Case steam engine on display in front of the Simmons Bank Ag Center. When the new exhibit opens, that example of innovation of the past will be on display next to a modern tractor of today loaded with new technology thanks to H&R Agri-Power and Case IH. “We’re excited about this opportunity to help educate the public on the latest and greatest advancements in farm equipment,” said Wayne Hunt, president of a 17-store Case IH dealership with stores in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi and Alabama. “I’m certain visitors to this exhibit are going to be surprised at how modern tools are allowing farmers to maximize both their time and their resources,” said Hunt. H&R Agri-Power and Case IH are also making a $50,000 contribution to the exhibit.

The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families of the Southeast, is contributing $15,000 to the project. “On behalf of dairy farm families, we work to educate the public with facts about dairy foods and the innovation taking place in dairy that allows farmers to do more with less,” said Denise Jones, manager for farm relations for Kentucky and Tennessee. “We believe a fun exhibit like this one is a great way to help people learn more about this important aspect of agriculture.”

The exhibit designers at Solid Light, the firm chosen by Discovery Park to create this new exhibit, are also working with Samuel Goldberg, producer of “Silo”, to tell the story of how innovation impacts farm safety. “Silo” is a film inspired by the story of an 18-year-old farmhand who got stuck in a grain silo. Goldberg spent five years researching with farmers and rural fire departments on the topic of farm safety in order to produce the film.

Major sponsors of this exhibit are Nutrien Ag Solutions and Simmons Bank. To learn about more of our sponsors, click here.

For a current list of Champions of Agriculture, visit the website.

To partner with Discovery Park on this very important exhibit, email Mary Nita Bondurant at mbondurant@discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com or call 731-676-3556.