State Programs
State Summary 2010 — Tennessee
State Contact
Mr. Charles Curtis
Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
P.O. Box 313
Columbia, TN 38402-0313
P: 931.388.7872
F: 931.388.5818
E: ccurtis@tfbf.com
Website
Classroom Resources
ACE Grant Summaries CD Www.agclassroom.org/tn
Major Program Accomplishments or Outputs
Our summer institutes continued to be successful.
Seventy Farm Days sponsored by County Farm Bureaus continued to strengthen the tie between the local schools, farms and AITC program. Another project provided 41 grants to fund counties that develop a farm tour program. The grants were awarded totaled $19,950 for farm tours. This was an increase over the previous year. Funds were generated by the sale of Tennessee Country: In The Land of Their Fathers" a coffee-table book featuring photos and essays about Tennessee. The book was commissioned by two of Tennessee Farm Bureau's service companies and provides 100% profit to the grant program.
The Foundation's fundraising efforts continue to attract new donors and find new avenues for raising funds. The golf tournaments broke records for participation and funds raised.
The Farm Bureau Women's two cookbooks continue to sell. The Vol. I book is in its fourth printing. The books are sold through the county offices as well as phone orders handled in our state office.
The Tennessee Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom provides grants to schools that establish outdoor classroom gardens. Thirty-four schools received funds ($13,500 ) this year to start or continue their garden projects. This was a 31% increase over last year. Many schools that have been funded for projects in the past have become self-sufficient.
Major Program Impacts or Outcomes
All of the teachers participating in our summer institutes said that they intend to incorporate AITC materials into their classroom activities. This represents a minimum of 7,500 additional students being introduced to agriculture's role in our society. 60,000 students participated in farm tours. Volunteers representing production agriculture, agriculture businesses and associations developed displays to share with teachers and students at seventy locations.
By providing training to Extension Agents, the Foundation extends the reach of AITC materials to Tennessee's 328,086 4-H members. Lesson plans are distributed online and on cd-roms to agents. Since our 4-H program is still in the schools, contact with students is maintained through teachers, agents, volunteers and AITC staff. Our Extension Agents do not list their time separately for the AITC activities since they are an integral part of 4-H.
Our partnership with the Tennessee FFA Association and the Tennessee Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association allows our materials to be used in a mentoring program. Agriculture Education teachers use our materials in their classes to reach the 31,337 students enrolled in Tennessee's various agriculture courses. The students use our materials during mentoring opportunities with younger students during visits with elementary and middle schools. These opportunities are also excellent recruiting tools for attracting future students into agriculture education.
Biosketch
Charles Curtis graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science in 1969. He began his career in Agriculture as the Farm Manager for Senator Albert Gore, before becoming a loan officer for Production Credit. In 1983 Charles came to work for Tennessee Farm Bureau as a Field Service Director. During this time he participated with AITC at the ground level conducting farm days, tours, etc.. In 1995 Charles became the Director of Special Programs for TFBF with responsibilities over AITC, YF&R, and Farm Bureau Women. Charles has served two terms as President of the AITC Consortium and currently serves on the American Foundation for Agriculture Board of Directors for the American Farm Bureau Federation.