Discovery Park of America Captures the Faces of Farming
Union City, Tenn.—At the Northwest Tennessee Food Processing & Agri-Business Conference held Thurs., Oct. 10 at the University of Tennessee at Martin, Discovery Park of America captured the photos of more than 85 farmers, agriculture students and others who work in the agriculture industry. The photos will be used as part of an upcoming exhibit dedicated to telling the story of innovation in agriculture. Opening Oct. 22, 2020, “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival” will be located in the 8,900-square-foot red barn building that currently houses the museum and heritage park’s antique tractor collection.
“Through focus groups and other research we’ve done to create the content for our new Ag exhibit, we’re finding that people in general have an image of farmers today that is just not accurate,” said Scott Williams, president and CEO of Discovery Park. “We’re calling this a ‘mind-blowing, myth-busting farming exhibit that will change the world’ and exposing our guests to some of the real faces of farming today is just one of the ways we’re going to accomplish that.”
Those whose photos were captured at the booth and who will be included as one of the “Faces of Farming” include Dr. Charlie Hatcher, Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture; Dr. Keith Carver, UT Martin Chancellor; David Kustoff, US Congressman; Dr. Molly Warren and Roger Williams from Williams Sausage Company and others.
Louisville, KY-based Solid Light, a leader in the exhibit design and fabrication field, has been selected to head the project and is currently finalizing the initial script and design.
Research shows that consumers are unaware of even the basic innovations and applications of technology used by farmers today. That absence of knowledge has contributed to a world in which innovation in agriculture is often misunderstood and even feared. Among other topics, the exhibit, when it opens, will include sections on innovation relating to row crops, animals, precision agriculture, the truth about GMOs, sustainability, tools and technology, and agri-business.
“AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival” is made possible by The Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council, The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation and The University of Tennessee at Martin.
For more information on “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival,” visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com/Agriculture.
Major Sponsors
Partners
Tennessee Corn Promotion Board, Tennessee Department of Agriculture; Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, Tennessee Beef Industry Council and the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board
Supporters
Obion County Farm Bureau; Tosh Farms; Will Wade and Pat Wade
In-Kind Partners
AgLaunch Initiative; Danny Larcom Heating & Air; FarmSpace Systems, LLC; The University of Tennessee at Martin; Silo; Star Pastures Apiary; and WCTE, Upper Cumberland PBS
To partner with Discovery Park on this very important exhibit, email Mary Nita Bondurant at mbondurant@discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com or call 731-676-3556.
Champions of Agriculture
Numerous gifts by farm families and individuals who support this project
C&W Farms | Ginger C. Terry | Polly Brasher | Scott, Michelle, Alex and Liv Williams | Clinton Evans & Family | Chad and Heather Hardy | Flynn Jowers (Farm Bureau Insurance Agent) | Mr. and Mrs. Tim Hazlewood | Tony and Margie Jones | BERG Livestock | Brad and Emalee Buttrey | Rachel C. Buttrey | Grady J. Buttrey | David W. Howell | Platt Farms – Jeanne and Chuck McMillen | Mike and Penny Holman | Alice and Marcus Fennel | Matthew, Colby, Harrison, Carsen, Mattie Jane and Ally Anne Gray | Veronica Steer – Sunbow Jerseys | Yeargin Farms | Carol and Charles Steer
The mission of Discovery Park of America, a premier world-class museum and heritage park located in Union City, Tennessee, is to inspire children and adults to see beyond. Included in the complex is a 50-acre heritage park and a 100,000-square-foot museum featuring ten interactive exhibit galleries with additional space for temporary exhibits from around the world. Discovery Park of America is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations including its principal funder, the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation.
