University of Tennessee School of Natural Resources

10/26/2026

Tennessee’s annual White Oak Acorn Collection is underway through November 15. Help grow the next generation of these important trees and support Tennessee’s forests for years to come.

Read more and find a collection site: https://www.tnforestry.com/news-updates/2026-white-oak-acorn-collection-tennessee

Tennessee Forestry Association Tennessee Department of Agriculture Forestry Division University of Tennessee School of Natural Resources

10/23/2026

Thanks to everyone who came out for the first joint University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and SNR tailgate on Oct. 17 before the Alabama game! A special thanks to Keith Carver, UTIA Senior Leader, Brett Huebner (UTIA), Kristin England (UTIA), Adam Ahlers (SNR), and Matt Gray (SNR) for making this event a huge success! The next SNR tailgate will be before the LSU game on Nov. 21. Go Vols!

10/23/2026

We love being outside in the fall 🍂
Happy Friday!

Friday Photo at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

Springville, TN autumn mornings 🍁

10/21/2026

Fall camp check-in!
Forestry students spent last week with Tennessee State Forester Heather Slayton. She and Robert Walters taught students while visiting different sites. They saw two Straight Fork Forest Management hardwood logging jobs on Wednesday in Scott County. The group also visited Lone Mountain State Forest in Morgan County on Thursday. They heard from Shawn Hendrickson and Danny Johnson about how the Tennessee Division of Forestry manages the forest.

Thank you for teaching our students!

Protect Tennessee Forests
Tennessee Department of Agriculture

10/19/2026

🦌 FROM THE FIELD TO THE TABLE! 🦌
Ever wondered how to take a deer from the field and turn it into a delicious, wholesome meal? Here's your chance to learn!
Join us for a FREE, HANDS-ON Field to Table Workshop!
We're going to walk you through the entire process, from the hoof to the table!
🔪 Deer Processing – Learn how to break down a deer carcass into usable cuts of meat.
🐦 Quail Processing – Learn how to clean and prepare small game.
🥩 Wild Game Food Safety – Learn proper handling, storage, and preservation techniques.
🔥 Outdoor Cooking – Learn how to grill, smoke, and deep-fry wild game!
🍽️ FREE Wild Game Tasting! – Sample the finished products!
🎁 Door Prizes!
WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2026
TIME: 10 AM – 1 PM
WHERE: KaTom Chef Supply Store, 305 KaTom Drive, Kodak, TN
COST: ABSOLUTELY FREE!
Whether you're a seasoned hunter, just getting started, or simply interested in learning how to prepare your own food, this event is for YOU!
You don't have to be a hunter to participate!
FREE admission with preregistration: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=2RNYUX1x3UWeypqhnAnW-U0zIk2BvlNPqDivK2oU16pUODVNMkpGMkhORkVPQUI2TzhXTldJU1Q4RC4u&origin=QRCode
Come hungry, bring your questions, and learn how to turn a wild game harvest into a meal your whole family can enjoy!
UT Extension Sevier County

10/19/2026

SNR associate professor Mi Li is leading a project aimed at breaking down harmful farming chemicals!

Center for Renewable Carbon

What if plant-based materials could help detect and clean up harmful chemicals on farms and in the environment?

UTIA researcher Mi Li has received $300,000 in USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture funding to develop innovative materials that can absorb, detect and break down pollutants from pesticides, fertilizers and more.

Learn how this research could help advance agricultural sustainability and environmental protection at the link in the comments ⤵️

University of Tennessee School of Natural Resources | UT AgResearch

10/16/2026

Happy Forestry Friday!

Monroe County will represent Tennessee at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational! The team made up of Thomas Stroud, Levi West, William Warwick, and Lucas Partin won first place at the Tennessee 4-H Forestry State Competition at the UT Arboretum last week. Ella Stanford of Henderson County placed Top Individual based on her score across all categories. The competition included Tree Identification, Insect Identification, Disease Identification, Wood Identification, Compass and Pacing, Tree Measurements, and Forest Evaluation based on a forest landowner scenario.

“It is so impressive to see young people across our great state who care about natural resources and possess such a tree-mendous amount of knowledge,” Chris Graves, forestry and wildlife management Extension specialist, says.

He thanked Dr. Kevin Hoyt and the staff at the UT Arboretum for hosting the competition. He also thanked the family members, UT Extension staff, coaches, and volunteers for helping with the event.

UT Extension - Monroe County

10/09/2026

Fall camp check-in!
This week students visited Ijams Nature Center for the Wildlife and Fisheries Education Outreach course. They learned how the center teaches people about the outdoors and environment through observational and experiential activities, animal ambassadors, and games. They caught newts, tadpoles, and a baby snapping turtle. They also met Narcissa, the center's gray rat snake.

Thanks, Ijams Nature Center!

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

10/07/2026

The tailgate will start at 9 a.m. and go until 3 p.m.! If you plan to join, please RSVP by Friday to help us cut down on food waste. We look forward to seeing everyone on Oct. 17!

10/05/2026

They're still taking applicants for this position! Apply today!

Looking for a part-time job where you're outside and talking to people? You're in luck!

UT is hiring field research assistants for a recreation/visitor use assessment in the northern districts of Cherokee National Forest. They will collect information from visitors about their recreation experiences in the Cherokee National Forest and count visitors at specific locations.

These positions are great for volunteer campground hosts, U.S. Forest Service retirees and volunteers, or active retirees. The positions run through mid-September 2027.

Qualified candidates must live close to the northern parts of Cherokee National Forest (e.g., Greeneville, Johnson City), be willing to work independently, and have a reliable vehicle for project work.

Contact Susan Schexnayder ([email protected]) for more information. Apply by emailing your resume and statement of interest.

U.S. Forest Service - Cherokee National Forest
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture