News Releases

(KNOXVILLE, Tenn.) — Leaders of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will head to upper East Tennessee for their third annual road trip on October 27-29.

The goal of UTIA’s In Touch with Tennesseetour is to strengthen existing relationships with the Tennessee agroforestry industry and the state’s network of veterinary medicine practitioners, said Dr. Jack Britt, UT vice president for agriculture.

“We visit businesses and organizations that are related to what we do in the institute. These on-site contacts help us to better understand the needs of the constituents we serve, and they underscore the importance of working together by partnering on projects in which there is a mutual interest.”

The 2003 tour focuses on the region consisting of Campbell, Claiborne, Hancock, Hawkins, Sullivan, Johnson, Carter, Unicoi, Washington, Greene, Hamblen, Grainger, Jefferson, and Union counties.

Previous tours have taken the group to West and Middle Tennessee, with about a dozen stops in each region. Meetings with civic and community leaders are also on the agenda.

In addition to Britt, participants on this year’s tour include top administrators from the four units that comprise the UT Institute of Agriculture: Dr. Michael Blackwell, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine; Dr. Mary Albrecht, associate dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Dr. Tom Klindt, associate dean of the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station; and Dr. Charles Norman, dean of the Agricultural Extension Service. Sharon Littlepage, director of external relations, will also accompany the group.

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Contact: Patricia McDaniels, 865-974-7141